The Just Shall Live By Faith
New King James Version Written by: David Hicks
Romans 1:17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."
Galatians 3:11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith."
Hebrews 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him."
Articles of Faith
(A Study in II Peter)
Lesson 4- Destructive Doctrines and Teachers:
Peter gave these brethren a solemn promise that they would always have a reminder; that through the graces he has mentioned they were to make their calling an election sure. This reminder was in the form of the prophetic word! It did not come in fancy words, or cunningly devised fables, but on the back of eye witness testimony. It stands on its own merits as a heavenly delivered message of salvation. It has no other interpretation other than that we would do well to heed it, as it has been delivered.
The prophetic word that they had and were still receiving came to them in the form of the writing of these letters from Peter, and the letters of Paul that they were already familiar with ( 3:14 -16 ). In the same way, you and I have the same promise, in this very same way.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 t hat the man of God may be complete , thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Peter 1:3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness , through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,
In this lesson, we are going to explore the undermining forces that distort this pure and undefiled prophetic word in order to apostatize and pollute its intent and saving power! Remember as we begin to look into this that the first letter dealt with outside influences, but this letter specifically looks at internal influences!
Text:
2 Peter 2:1-3
But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.
Throughout the history of God's people, as God spoke to them through the prophets, right along side, were always those who were pretenders and imitators. They saw the respect the people gave true prophets for their manner of life and the authority by which they spoke. Although there are more references to these false prophets than can be mentioned in this short lesson, consider the great battle of Elijah with the eight hundred idolatrous prophets of Baal and Asherah ( I Kings 18 ). Until this great battle, the false prophets were uncontested among the people, and they followed them willingly as they had great influence.
Peter denotes that from among these brethren false teachers would arise in the same fashion. We will go into all the motivating factors behind the actions of these false teachers later. For now, we want to focus on the effect.
This is not an original problem to this specific time in the history of the church. Similar problems have occurred within the churches of Christ long before this.
As early as the first letter to the church at Corinth , the Apostle Paul was made aware of heresies within that church (from the household of Chloe I Corinthians 1:11 ; and from a letter delivered to him from them 7:1 ). In this case the problems that existed were predominately self-inflicted from within the entire body of Christ in Corinth . Paul's response was swift and harsh through the prophetic word, setting them back on the correct path (restoration).
In the second letter, Paul found out through Titus that they had responded to the correction and had begun the process of repentance. However, there were still detractors, false teachers, and those who denied Paul's Apostolic authority.
Paul would still have to deal with the affection that the Corinthians had with these false teachers, note:
2 Corinthians 6:11-18 O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open. 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections . 13 Now in return for the same (I speak as to children), you also be open. 14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
"I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people." 17 Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you." 18 "I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the L ord Almighty."
2 Corinthians 10:10-11 "For his letters," they say , "are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible." 11 Let such a person consider this , that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such we will also be in deed when we are present.
2 Corinthians 11:12-15 But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast. 13 For such are false apostles , deceitful workers , transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
The point in all this being that even in the presence of Apostolic authority, there were pretenders and imitators among the brethren; whose intent was to undermine the truth delivered for salvation. Sometimes they come from recognizable sources (such as converted Jews who still cling to the commands of Moses Galatians 1:6-10 ), and sometimes from trusted sources (Paul told the elders of the church at Ephesus that some of them would be savage wolves Acts 20:29 -31 ).
In each case, just as Peter is doing in our text, the power of the Holy Spirit working through the Apostles restored and held in check the churches, from these perverse avenues. However, Paul would speak of a time, when without this protective guarding, provided by the Apostles, a great apostasy would occur. When unchecked, the man of sin, or son of perdition (same characteristic as one who pursues a course of destruction Jesus used this term concerning Judas, John 17:12 ), would prey on those who do not develop a love of the truth (the prophetic word), see: II Thessalonians 2:1-12 ).
However, restoration was actively practiced, even during the watch of the Apostles of the Lord over His church. The prophetic word which we have today consists, from Romans to Revelation, of specific instruction containing restoration and the teaching of our Lord for the protection of that which has been restored; so that a church today may span the time of dark apostasy, and by following the prophetic word restore themselves to true Christianity, as taught within its volumes.
As long as an accurate blue prints exists, one can always construct the edifice to proper specifications, as illustrated by the original architect.
This overture of the history of apostasy and its effects, as well as restoration, is vital in studying the effects of false teachers and doctrines. This way, we not only learn to recognize these doctrines and mark those who teach them, but we also learn how to restore the design that God has given us.
Is this really important?
Peter says that not only do these false teachers bring destruction on themselves ( Vs.1 ), but they bring with them many who follow their destructive ways ( Vs.2 ). So, anything taught apart from that which has been revealed in the prophetic word (this being the true source of authority, not the Pope! according to Peter , the first supposed Pope???), has a source (false teachers), a following (those who do not develop a love for the truth), and more specifically a sure and righteous judgment of destruction .
Keep in mind that Peter says that these heresies are brought in secretly, which is to say, a little at a time, in the form of righteousness ( II Timothy 3:5 ), and often un-contested because brethren are unlearned and cannot rightly divide the word of truth!
This opening thought to chapter two is designed to get your attention! Does the Christianity you practice resemble that which can be found in the prophetic word? Does the church you make up wear the name of Him, whose body it is? Are you just a Christian, or are you a Christian and one who follows a creed or doctrine of human origin (which takes away your name, as pertaining to Christ)?
Either we have been given all things that pertain to life and godliness, or the scriptures are lying! Either it is the prophetic word that makes a man of God complete, or the scriptures are lying! Either we can understand the word (just as the Christians they were written to), or the scriptures are lying!
I prefer to trust God over man, how about you?
As we look into chapter two , in the up-coming lessons, we must have the attitude of one who is part of the restoration solution and not part of the apostate problem!!!
Next: Judgment of False Teachers