“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 6- The Sure Doom of False Teachers:
2 Peter 2:3 “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 .”
Alongside the pure prophetic word (given to remind Christians of all things pertaining to life and godliness), came false teachers and prophets; delivering destructive doctrines that would blaspheme the holy word and many will follow their destructive ways ( 2:1-2 )!
In this statement and the opening verse, Peter points out three specific things we need to recognize, just as the Christians to whom he wrote this would need to recognize:
I. Every destructive doctrine has a source (false teachers, motivated by covetousness, exploiting with deceptive words).
II. Every destructive doctrine has a following (the un-learned and the weak, who did not develop a love of the truth).
III. Both the source and those who allow themselves to be deceived, face a sure and righteous judgment of destruction.
There is a natural part of us that screams out, “why does God allow this to happen?” This was probably the same sentiment these brethren in Asia Minor held (we think of justice as immediate, like John Wayne, so that those guilty of evil receive their just reward, now!). This is probably why Peter goes into detail at this point to explain how God has chosen to handle this issue.
So, before we look at the illustrations given by Peter, we want to go to the explanation that Peter summarizes God's sure judgment on false teachers with, note:
2 Peter 2:9-11 “then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, 10 and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, 11 whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord.”
The Lord Knows How to Deliver and Reserve: In this statement, Peter tells us how God handles true justice, to answer the question, “why does God allow this to happen?” Peter describes two categories being considered. Both categories are determined by behavioral choices made while alive in this body (God's righteous judgment is predicated on every man's response to his established righteousness). This is commentated best in the words of Jesus to Nicodemus, note:
John 3:17-21 “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed . 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God ."
Based on these two groups of responders that exist in the world, God is delivering from sin and reserving judgment on those practicing evil; through Christ Jesus the Lord (showing that we are banking the results of God's judgment based on our actions now!).
Thus, salvation is sweeter for those who have overcome the temptations of the world; seeking the light (the truth of God's pure prophetic word), and producing the works clearly seen in God!
In addition, the final judgment on the self-seeking, faithless, and those who practice evil is far more painful; as it is final, horrible, and eternal.
This is how God handles His righteous judgment! It is firm, fair, and consistent for every man who must answer for his or her response to the righteousness of God, presented to the world for salvation or condemnation.
Verse 10-11 : Peter would extend the final thoughts of verse 9 , by explaining the depravity of the unjust. They are so determined to walk after their own desires that they would denounce both the authority by which righteous behavior has originated from and the behavior itself. Thus, false teachers are universally guilty of unrestrained blasphemy, guided by their pure covetous nature (and are described as anyone who does not practice the doctrine of Christ – II John 9-11 ).
The angels mentioned in verse 11 , are those who have kept their proper domain and reverence to God (being different from the ones who were cast out – Vs. 4 , because they did not keep their proper domain – Jude 6 ); who being greater in power as the messengers of God, would not even dare to practice what these lowly men of evil demonstrate daily.
With this commentary under our belt, let's go back now and look at the illustrations Peter has given of his statement in verse 9 .
Illustration #1:
2 Peter 2:4 “For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment;”
Angels Who Sinned: There are many who have a great deal of trouble with the idea that angels could sin! Yet, consider that if this were not the case, Satan would not exist.
With this said, we dwell with what we know and not what God has not revealed. We know that Satan was cast out because of pride (he sought his own evil desires in contrast to that of God's, thus not staying within his proper domain as messenger and servants Of God), see: John 8:44 ; I Timothy3:16 . This may give us some insight as to what caused these to be cast out for not maintaining their proper domain – Jude 6 .
Now, if language means anything! Both here and in Jude 6 , the use of this statement is in the past tense, as already having occurred. Jesus said that He witnessed “Satan fall from heaven like lighting” – Luke 10:18 ; again, in the past tense. This tells us that this is not an ongoing process of rebellion, thus the statement of their being reserved or held for judgment.
Point of the Illustration: If God can hold or reserve sinful angels for a sure judgment (beings of greater power – Vs. 11 ); He will have no trouble dispensing the sure judgment these false teachers have laid up for themselves in the end!
Illustration #2:
2 Peter 2:5 “and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly;”
Did Not Spare The Ancient World: This refers directly to the people who lived in the days of Noah. The use of the Greek word, ‘ kosmos', better defines this statement as, “the inhabitants of the earth”.
Preacher of Righteousness: Unlike the false teachers, which are the subject, Noah was a preacher of what was right and pertained to the righteous needs of the day. However, the people were wicked and living after their evil imaginations. They were destroyed ultimately because they refused to heed the righteousness revealed by God.
Point of Illustration: Here Peter broadens the first point by adding that God delivers the righteous from temptation through faith in His word, note:
Hebrews 11:7 “By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith .”
Illustration #3:
2 Peter 2:6-8 “and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; 7 and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked 8 (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)”
An Example: Here in the third illustration, Peter refers to an addition to the first two illustrations. Not only does God know how to reserve the wicked for sure judgment and deliver the righteous from temptation; He additionally has provided an example, that stands as sure testimony to all who practice ungodliness, of His sure and terrible judgment (read: Genesis 19 ).
Oppression and Torment of the Righteous: In verse 7 and the parenthetical statement of verse 8 , Peter gives a true and accurate description of the true suffering of all righteous servants of the Lord.
We often think of suffering as physical abuse alone, aimed at us by those set to torment God's people (persecutions of early Christians as a standard). Here Peter denotes that true suffering (that to which all the righteous are called – I Peter 2:21 ), consists of dwelling among the wicked and being tormented by their unlawful deeds (to include physical persecutions)! In this the righteous children of God universally suffer in this life, being delivered from it in the end by our faithful obedience to the will of God, in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Point of All the Illustrations:
2 Peter 2:9 “then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,”
Remembering that all false doctrines have an origin (false teachers), and that they have a following (the weak and un-learned); how important is it that we trust and obey the pure prophetic word, given to us that we might each know all things that pertain to life and godliness (which produces faith – Romans 10:17 ), and delivers us from temptation?
At this point, I believe that this is a rhetorical question, don't you?
Next: “ Their Hearts are Trained in Covetousness ”