2 Peter 2:1-6 But there were false prophets also among the
people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall
bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring
upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways;
by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through
covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose
judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and
delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; And
spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of
righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; And turning
the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow,
making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
Before we began an indepth multipart study of Peter's message, I
shall attempt to set the stage for a modern day comparison of an ancient
message. We intend to study with great diligence the
message presented by Peter and also compare it the message that Jesus sent
to the church in the book of Revelation 1st thru 3rd chapter. Jesus said
to Peter in Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art
Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall
not prevail against it." This does not mean the Devil will not come against the church, nor does it mean the Devil will not create counterfeit churches. There is the true church that exists in the heart of man and there is the apostate church. Jesus said to the apostate church
in Revelation 3:15-16 I know thy works, that thou art neither
cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So because thou art
lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spew thee out of my mouth.
As a final act of repudiation God divorced his chosen people, as a final act of disdain or repudiation Jesus offered these words, "I will spew thee out of my mouth."
As a final act of repudiation God divorced his chosen people, as a final act of disdain or repudiation Jesus offered these words, "I will spew thee out of my mouth."
No lets read and study the last words of Jesus to the church here on earth. Revelation 3:20-22 Behold, I stand at the door and knock,: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. He that overcometh, I will give to him to sit down with me in my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. This is a message to the individual, he used words like, "if any man", or "He that overcometh."
Let us explore the possibility that Jesus and Peter were concerned
about those who had come into the church and with great words they began
merchandising the people of God. 2 Peter 2:3 And in covetousness shall
they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose sentence now from of old
lingereth not, and their destruction slumbereth not. Now let us explore
the act of merchandising.
Feigned words, words that are insecure, artificial, man made words
that are designed to suit a particular purpose., words that are able to cause
the unstable soul to falter and follow after the teaching of men. False teachers often follow the pattern of their master, they come with great promises.
There exists the possibility that through the use of feigned words, anything, irregardless of how worthy,
vain, even unpretentious acts can be sold to the public. All that is
required is a marketing plan, a marketing team with an appealing marking
concepts. Consider this, tennis shoes and blue jeans once the
garment of the poor and working class, used a marketing concept to become the
preferred dress of the rich and famous. What was it that caused the
market value of a pair of cheaply produced tennis shoes to dramatically
increase in value? Better yet, consider the enterprising man who sold
rocks (pet rocks) to an adoring public.
The primary objectives of life have been reset, feeling good about
what we are, what we have or what we do, has become our primary objective and the value of life
is diminished. In essence, if we pay two hundred dollars for a four
dollar pair of tennis shoes the value of the shoes did not increase, we are
paying for the right to feel good about yourself or your accomplishments.
The desire of feeling good is one of the most powerful and sellable
aphrodisiacs known to mankind. It is sellable in and out of the church.
'Feel good' can be defined as that which is intended to make one
happy or satisfied, causing or characterized by a feeling of self-satisfaction:
feel-good factor, achieving a high state of euphoria, often defined as the Spirit of God. The operative
words, here is the, “feel good factor.” The feel good factor is present in
every aspect of human endeavors. Why do we go to work? Because
going to work allows us to accomplish things that make us feel good. Why
do we go to concerts and football games, because somewhere within our line of
reasoning, it is something that makes us feel good. Now apply that to church worship services and Gospel music.
The evolution of gospel music sat the stage for the evolution of
worship service. Gospel or sacred music once existed within the shadows
of the sanctuary and enjoyed a special place that was considered to be
Holy next to the Word of God. The singers of spiritual songs was not
something that was done for worldly acclimation or money, it was something that
was done in the service of God. Therefore, those who sung in church as a part
of their church worship services did not do it to become rich and
famous. Sacred music as the name implies was not intended to be entertaining,
it was intended to reverence God and give him proper praise. When we
injected the entertainment 'feel good' factor into worship, are we guilty of denying God
his proper reverence?
In todays contemporary society gospel music has crossed over or
morphed into the entertainment venue. The sacred solitude that
gospel music once provided has been replaced by a hand clapping, foot stomping
feel good sellable type of music that rewards the performer and entertain the
listener. Worship services that once was designed to serve God is now
designed to make you feel good. Feeling good is an emotional attribute
that can be manipulated, it can be merchandised, it can be marketed in the same
fashion as a pair of tennis shoes made out of cheap plastic. Somewhere
between the opening song and the closing chords of contemporary worship services you
will also be asked to pay for feeling good.
2 Peter 2:1-6, The general subject of this chapter is
clearly stated in the first verse, and it embraces these points:
(1.) That there would be many false teachers among Christians in
modern times, as there were false teachers in ancient times;
False teachers have risen up and many are trying to strike fear in
the Children of God thru threats of annihilation by God if they open their mouth against them. 1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit,
but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are
gone out into the world. When the Devil approached Eve in the garden
professing to know the word of God, he made promises by twisting the scripture.
When that old Satan, the Devil approached Jesus on the mountain quoting
the scripture, twisting it and professing to understand the Word of God,
offering him all of the richness of the world, Jesus condemns him as
nothing but the devil. Yet, when they come to us in the name of God
promising prosperity in a sin cursed and dying world, we are quick to follow. A world that Jesus said for you not to lay up your treasures upon earth.
Are we to believe that the numerous doctrines and split
denominations are all apart of God's plan? What about the changing values of
Christianity that are designed to make Christianity more relevant in a modern
society? Why are Christians eager to embrace every new wind and
doctrine? These are questions that should be seriously considered when
engaging in un-indoctrinated Bible.study.
(2.) That they would introduce destructive errors in the
scripture, leading many astray through peculiar doctrines;
These peculiar doctrines are numerous in today's society and they
are all built upon a twisted interpretation of the scripture. These destructive
errors many times are nothing more than making numerous false promises in the
name of God. To do so is a direct violation of God's laws and is a form
of denying the true power of God. Many are led astray by promises that
God is moving in a particular way that embrace the 'feel good' aspect of human
nature. It is easy to be blinded by the twisted promised and fail to see
the direction that we are being led in.
Ages and dispensations are no longer a factor in Bible study. We
take the Old and New Testament, and figurative speaking, we dump both into the
pot, then we add The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit and mix it all
together. To congeal the mix we add a bit of paganism with a touch of Voodooism.
According to the teaching of Peter, what emergences is a polluted mess
that is neither sustainable thru the Word of God or common sense. On one extreme we have people dancing with
snakes and on the other extreme we have the magical sideshow. Somewhere in between we have those who are
clamoring for and claiming the blessing of Abraham, while the healing power of
God is defined as going into the hospital and surviving a surgical procedure. We have trivialized the God of our salvation and he is seen as an ineffective landlord.
(3.) That the wrath of God would certainly be poured out upon
them. The design of this study is to illustrate and defend these points.
The wrath of God presently is being stored up and reserved as
depicted in Revelation 15:7 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven
angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and
ever. The watered down messages of modern Christianity does not reflect the
wrath of God. Seven Golden vials full of the wrath of God are indicative of stored up wrath that is being withheld by the Blood of Jesus. Fire and brimstone message does not project the 'feel good'
atmosphere that is prevalent in many churches, therefore It is more appropriate to
speak of what God is doing for you or what he is going to do for you. These are sellable points.
If we were to rightly divide the polluted mess that we have created as Paul said in 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. The works of God the Father was manifested in the Old Testiment and when he divorced his people as portrayed in Jeremiah 3:8 And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce;... Afterward, God was silent. When God spoke in the New Testament, he said in Luke 9:35... This is my beloved Son: hear him. Jesus prepared his disciples for his death and departure. One of the things he stressed was in John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. This dispensation is under the authority of the Holy Spirit and when it has run its course the wrath of God that is presently being withheld, will be poured out on a sin cursed world.
To Be Continued
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