Monday, May 13, 2013

2 Peter 2:18–22

 18 For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. 20 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. 21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”

Commentary
Vs. 18 The Apostle Peter here sees right through the false teachers pretentious words and alluring ways. And so here Peter exposes their tactics, while warning us all not to fall into their hands. He begins by saying that when they speak great swelling words of emptiness... Not insightfulness, not usefulness, but emptiness. The word used here in this context means to be devoid of substance, to be vain, futile, empty. Because what the false teachers speak and teach is ineffectual for Christian life and living. For they are not taught, nor guided by the Holy Spirit through the Scriptures. They are only taught and guided by their own fleshly wisdom and human resources. And so for all of their verbal pomp and fanfare, their words in effect convey nothing that is of the Spirit of God, and often less of what is Biblically sound and truthful. And so when they do use the Scriptures they only manipulate them, and or taking Biblical promises out of context, they use them to allure and captivate people. Not to serve Jesus Christ's plans and purposes, rather just their own. For that is what false teachers do, they only arouse, then exploit peoples own sinful lusts and selfish desires, for their own gain. And so Peter goes on to say "...they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error."

Now the phrase "lusts of the flesh" encompasses all of ones sinful, sensual, sexual desires that are hostile to Word of God. And so in the New Testament the "lusts of the flesh" are always held as juxtaposed to fruits of the Spirit (see Gal. 5:16-21). For to live according to the lusts of the flesh is to be in love with this world, and thus at war with God (consider 1 John 2:15-17; 1 Peter 2:11). Yet that is just what the false teachers do. They live according to the lusts of their flesh, and thus they always show themselves to love this world, love money, love sexual pleasure (consider Phil 3:17-19; 2 Peter 2:10, 14-16; Jude 4). Now in contrast to them every true child of God is commanded to put away the worldly and ungodly lusts of the flesh (consider Rom 6:12; 13:14; Gal 5:24; Eph 4:22; Col 3:5; 1 Thess 4:4-8; Titus 2:11-12; 1 Peter 1:14; 2:11; 4:2; 2 Peter 2:10; 1 John 2:16). Instead we are to live richly and fully and enjoy all that has given us in the natural and Spiritual spheres by exercising all things in moderation and self control (1 Cor 6:12; 1 Tim :17-19). Rather then living by unbridled lusts and unrestrained desires. For those who submit themselves to their sinful natures truly become slaves of sin, as Jesus said (John 8:24-26). And that is why Jesus was crucified, and rose again from the dead. Not only to atone for all our sins, but also to libertate us from them (see Rom 6). Yet it is through appealing to the "lusts' of the flesh", through lewdness (asélgeia, i.e. sexual "license", the unrestrained and immoral indulgence of ones sexual passions) that the false teachers find themselves such willing and broad audiences. Because they appeal to, and seek to legitimize the sinful nature and godless desires of mankind. Undermining God's everlasting decrees about human morality, sexuality, and thus our responsibility to God and each other, that commands expressions of human sexuality be exercised by mutual consent in a monogamous heterosexual marriage (Heb 13:4). Instead they preach a "grace" that says men and women are at liberty to indulge in these, as they please, in whatever contexts they please. Even when the Scriptures clearly warn otherwise (consider Mark 9:43-50; 1 Cor 6:9-11; James 4:4). And so they only lie to their hearers when they tell them that they can live by, and for their godless lusts and passions, and still be at peace with God. For as the Apostle Paul also warns us all, to be fleshly minded is death (Rom 8:6). Both a state of ones being (Eph 2:3), as well as ones end, if one continues on in it (Rev. 22:14-15). And so their is no inner peace for the one who lives carnally. For to do so is only to be in a constant state of war with God, oneself, and others. For truly the Scriptures throughout warn us all that no one shall prevail who lives according to their own ungodly lusts and sinful desires (consider Isaiah 57:19-21). Therefore in contrast to being carnally minded which is death. Every believer is commanded to put off their old nature with it's sinful desires, and instead put on the new nature which is in accord with true righteousness and holiness, and thus live by the Spirit of God, and not by the deceitful lusts of the flesh (Eph 4:22-24).

For again the false teachers "allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error." And so though those who leave the world and come into the church community have escaped (in one sense) from those still in the world living by it's erroneous ways and sin laden ideals; and thus still living in error; they are not immune to being pulled back into the world. For Satan's ministers are not just found in the world, sadly they are in the church as well (consider 2 Cor 11:13-15). And so not until one comes into that absolutely critical, soul saving, life changing relationship with God by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ does He change them and set them free. Transferring us from the powers of darkness and into the Kingdom of the Son of his love (Col 1:13). Giving us a new mind, a new heart, and by default new desires, because we are now indwelt by Him through the Holy Spirit who makes us new creations In Christ (2 Cor 5:17). Therefore not until one is transformed by Holy Spirit new-birth by faith in Jesus do they have any Spirit resources to resist the sinful desires of their flesh, or overcome the schemes of the devil. For though one is in the church community, (which is a great place to be), they maybe still outside of House of faith, that is the Body of Christ, where every believer truly belongs and forever resides. And so they are very vulnerable to Satan's schemes and attacks through his ministers. Because they do not have Holy Spirit union with God, and thus they do not have the mind of Christ, nor the Spiritual discernment to know what is of God, and what is not (1 Cor 2:13-16).
Their old nature is still as active as it ever was, and thus they can be lured away from the truth of Gospel by false teachers, who always appeal to carnal nature of mankind. Whether through covetousness and greed, as is often the case nowadays, or through the lusts of the flesh and lewdness. The effect is the same, they inevitably lead people away from the truth of the Gospel, and back into their old sins or lifestyles (consider 2 Cor 11:19-21).

Vs. 19 "While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage."

Here the Apostle Peter is warning that though the false teachers promise their hearers liberty; yet they themselves are only slaves of corruption (i.e. depravity). Now not only are they slaves to their sins, it might also be said they are slaves of all that is perishing. And so everything that is worldly and sensual and temporary these they find themselves coveting and in bondage too, while everything immortal and everlasting they miss and miss-represent. And so the Apostle Peter goes onto warn "for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage." Most translations render this as the false teachers enslavement to their own corruption. While the NKJ here seems to be warning that those who heed the false teachers doctrine and lifestyles, rather than finding liberty, are only going to be brought back into bondage by them. As the greater context is indicating.

Vs. 20-22 20 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. 21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”

The Apostle Peters warning in verse twenty rings throughout the ages of the Gospel's preaching. For the knowledge of God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ does indeed free one from the pollutions of this world, if they believe Him and obey Him. Now the phrase "pollutions of the world" is referencing all that is morally and Spiritually corrupt in the eyes of God. In Revelations 18:1-6 the pollutions of the world are represented as originating in spiritual Babylon. Therefore we as believers are commanded to come out and be separate from it, lest we share in her sins and receive of her plagues. Similarly in 2 Cor 6:14-7:1 we are commanded not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers lest we be pulled into their sins and lifestyles. And so we are commanded not to touch what is unclean, but rather we are to come out and be separate from all the moral and spiritual pollutions of this world, that God might receive us as His sons and daughters. Again in Ephesians 5:11 we are commanded to have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. Therefore for every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ there must be a strong renunciation in ones life of all that is morally and Spiritually corrupt (2 Cor 4:2). For there are no spectators in the Lord Jesus Christ's church. Your either all in, or all out (consider Matt 12:30). Now if your not all in, then you truly are susceptible to what the Apostle Peter is warning about here. For in escaping the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, does not guarantee anything until you come into that personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and are committed to Him in discipleship. For to fail to make the foundational step of faith by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ crucified and risen from the dead is to fail in discipleship. And so to have true knowledge of God, and yet become entangled in the pollutions of the world again, and be overcome by them, is the worse fate of all. For the latter end is worse than the beginning, Because God has so richly provided for us all the way of escape from sin, death, and judgment by faith in His Son Jesus Christ (John 3:16). Therefore the Apostle Peter does not mince words here. If someone loves their sins more than the Lord Jesus and returns to them, "...it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.” vs. 21-22

Scripture Citations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982

Note: this is a draft version



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