“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 5- Judgment of False Teachers:
Peter promised these brethren that he would leave them a reminder (of all the things that they had been given that pertains to life and godliness) and that they would always have it after his decease. This promise came to them and to us in the form of the prophetic word. It was made surer by eye witness testimony of the glory of the Lord. That glory is translated to all whom have like precious faith, having escaped the corruption that is in the world, having become partakers of the divine nature, through the knowledge of Him !
That prophetic word was delivered by holy men (separated to this work), who spoke as the Spirit moved them. It was not given so that each person could interpret it as they will!
It was given to each in order that they may do well to heed it !
However, along side this pure prophetic word that would remind them of all things pertaining to life and godliness, were false prophets and destructive doctrines that would blaspheme this holy word. As we study this next chapter, remember that Peter tells us that there are three specific things we need to recognize:
I. Every destructive doctrine has a source (false teachers).
II. Every destructive doctrine has a following (the unlearned).
III. Both the source and those who allow themselves to be deceived face a sure and righteous judgment of destruction.
Text #1:
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.”
False Prophets: All good things can and will be abused. Along with that which is true and stands on its own merits ( 1:16 ), will also bring about pretenders and imitators.
For these Christians who knew the Old Law, they were aware that the Lord had and used faithful prophets. Many people learned to love them for their works sake. They prophesied and attained a measure of earned respect by speaking the will of the Lord, but also by living that which they instructed. However, there were always false prophets who attempted to put something over on the people. These false schemes, hatched in unrighteousness, were offered in an attempt to receive gain (covetousness – riches, power, influence, etc…).
Here, Peter says that likewise, they will exist among us! For the same reasons ( Vs. 3 ), they will introduce damnable heresies (false doctrines), which will condemn all who accept them. These doctrines would include a denial of the divinity of the Lord (Peter gives a specific doctrine, which they were obviously familiar with at that time. This was a favorite of the Judaizers, who denied that Jesus was the Messiah).
Peter would also denote that false teachers would also introduce these doctrines secretly. That is that they are not usually open with their wicked works or tactics for fear of being exposed by someone who knows the truth (Jesus Himself explained this behavior in all who would either choose the world or Him – see: John 3:19-21 ).
Swift Destruction: This does not denote that God would strike them down in the middle of their heresies, as He did some under the Old Law. It refers to the fact that God will not hesitate to pronounce their fate, when the time comes for them to answer for their deeds (more on this in, “Their Destruction does not Slumber”).
Many Will Follow: This is the verse in this chapter that draws the greatest sadness in the hearts of the faithful. Just as Peter promised that we would always have the prophetic word to guide us and protect us from the unrighteous acts of those who would deceive (Paul would teach concerning the whole armor of God – see: Ephesians 6:10-20 ), he also denotes that there would be many who would not learn enough from it to protect themselves (Paul also describes them as those who do not develop a love for the truth – see: II Thessalonians 2:10 ).
Covetousness: This is given, as to express the motives of these false teachers. Their success in deceit can be seen in the fact that they were able to exploit the weak.
There are so many things that fall under this practice to this very day, that it would be useless to even begin to name them all. However, there are many who are conscientious regarding their support of religious principles. If anyone can be made to believe that people are working in the interest of truth, they will be willing to give liberal support to a man engaged in it.
This is a commentary on the fact that conscience alone is never enough! We must educate our conscience with the righteous instruction of the prophetic word; so that when something is introduced, no matter how good it sounds, we must follow the righteousness of God as truth (Paul would use himself as an example of this very thing. He persecuted Christians as an agent of the chief priests, in good conscience, thinking that he was doing the will of God. It wasn't until he was educated by the Lord Himself that he knew that his conscience lacked the proper education – see: Acts 23:1 ; 26:1-19 ).
Their Destruction Does Not Slumber: This is given to the brethren that Peter is writing to, who at this point are saying, “why does God allow this?” Peter is encouraging them by saying that just because we can't see their judgment, they have assured God's wrath in their actions for the Day of Judgment.
Under the Christian dispensation, we are each a royal priesthood ( I Peter 2:9 ). That is, that God expects each of us to know His will and to develop our faith through that word ( Romans 10:17 ). It is then the responsibility of each to transform ourselves by the renewing of our minds, proving that good and acceptable will of God ( Romans 12:1-2 ). God does not act directly, apart from the word, to affect this conflict of good and evil (his righteous vs. the false teachers). He expects us to fight the war ourselves! See: I Timothy 1:18-19 .
James 1:22-25 “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.”
In this passage of scripture by James, we have confirmation of all that Peter has said concerning the prophetic word as our guide. However, it also stands as commentary of God's expectation for each of His children in Christ. You cannot be blessed in what you do unless you look into the perfect law of liberty. In addition, you cannot just look into it and stand by idle; you must be a doer of the word. This is what Christians were given to stand in; in order to avoid falling victim to false teachers. He expects us to defend ourselves, until we stand before Him in judgment (He has given us all the tools to accomplish this).
So, just as the false teachers have laid up for themselves, the righteous condemnation of God (the source); just as many will blindly follow them, being uneducated in the word, and find the same judgment (a following); we can escape, if we do well to heed the prophetic word (avoid the sure judgment of destruction).
Bible study is not for sissies; but for the strong in Christ !
In our next lesson, we will look at three illustrations that Peter will give concerning the surety of the destruction of false teachers. These illustrations will also serve as testimony that God is well equipped in delivering the righteous out of temptation and punishing the unjust in judgment ( 2:9 ). Their fate, according to their actions, is sealed!
Next: “ The Sure Doom of False Teachers ”