2 Peter 2

Greetings...finally,

After a long absence, we are back on track with the Chapter Memory Study in 2 Peter.

The memory passage is;
2 Peter 2:1 (ESV)
¹ But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.
²⁰ For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. ²¹ For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.

The outline theme (we are on the 'e' of pEt) is Exposing false teachers, Entangled in false teaching.

In keeping with the 'goal' of the CMS, I kept this memory passage short. I'm finding myself drifting back toward the shorter passages (3-4 verses) as I go through more chapters. The original goal was to memorize key passages that reminded me of the location and some content of the chapter. There were several verses in this chapter that I considered memorizing, but I boiled it down to 3 main verses that summarize the chapter. Really, this continues to be an experiment....even after a year and a half.

Also, several sources split 2 Peter into three main sections. I wrestled with that for a while, but found that two main ideas covered the content adequately.

The first section (1-16) deals with the details of who false teachers are and what they teach. Just as there were false prophets in Israel, Peter assures the believers that there will be false teachers among them. Their tools are destructive heresies but their punishment is secure. They blaspheme and exploit people; preying on their sensuality. But God will not spare them the judgment they are due. Peter gives some examples.

1. Angels: God did not lift judgment from the angels who followed Satan in rebellion.
2. Pre-flood world: God saved Noah, a righteous man, but destroyed the rest of the wicked world.
3. Sodom and Gomorrah: He made an example of Sodom and Gomorrah for the rest of the world to see what happens to the ungodly.
4: Lot: God rescued Lot from the wicked (like He rescued Noah) to show mercy in the face of judgment.

Here we see both God's judgment and mercy weaved throughout these stories. Peter's point is clear; following Christ and trusting God leads us to walk in righteousness and receive grace and mercy. Following false teachers and living in the flesh leads us to walk in unrighteousness and destruction.

Verses 10-16 might be considered section 2a. It deals with more details concerning the content and character of the false teachers. Look at the strong words used in this section; lust of defiling passion, despise authority, blaspheme, irrational, ignorant, blots and blemishes, deceptions, adultery, insatiable for sin, greed, accursed children. Peter spares no description for the defilement of the false teachers and their practices. He even goes on to compare them to Balaam, whose false prophecies were corrected by a donkey! But Peter also uses the word 'destroy' 3 times in this section; the fate of the false teachers will surely be condemnation and destruction.

The final section I have called 'Entangled in false teaching' and it deals with the status of the false teachers and the effect the false teaching has on individuals. First, Peter uses two metaphors to illustrate the deceptive status of the false teachers; a waterless spring and a mist in a storm. One seeking a spring for a drink would be disappointed if there was no water; just as the lack of true substance fails to truly quench one seeking spiritual fulfillment. A mist driven by a storm only lasts a moment and is at the whim of the wind; so a deceptive teaching is subject to the winds of change. But false teachers use loud boasts to entice the passions of those who might be new or young in the faith. While freedom is promised, slavery is all they can deliver.

Verses 20-21 offer an interesting debate; who are the 'they'? Are 'they' the false teachers or the ones deceived by the false teaching? Arguments have been made for both. Either way, 'they' had full access to and knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (I noticed right away that Peter included both Lord and Savior this time). In fact, Peter says that they 'escaped the defilements of the world', but somehow let themselves get entangled and overcome in the world again. Peter says that it would have been better for them if they never knew Jesus rather than knowing Him and then turning away from Him. This is consistent in Scripture; with knowledge comes responsibility (Luke 12:48). Peter then says that the proverbs about the dog returning to its vomit and the pig returning to the mud are true: if you are free, why subject yourself to slavery again? (Gal 4:9, 5:1)

How does this affect my worship?
Verse 9 is a wonderful thought; 'the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials'. While trials and testing are fully expected by the believer, we also can fully expect that God will rescue us from them. He may not always keep them away or take them away, but He will always walk with us through them with the goal of growing us into the character of Christ. Thank You, God of my refuge, for your merciful rescuing hand.

How does this affect my discipleship?
This is a great reminder to keep the focus of discipleship in the Bible. Sometimes I will use these words to describe discipleship: Biblical, Relational, Intentional, Sustainable, and Reproducible. I'm not totally against using 'other books' in discipleship, but the main foundation must be the Bible. And when tackling difficult passages, both the discipler and the disciple must fully submit to Holy Spirit and His wisdom in order not to stray from the truth.

May you walk in freedom from sin and as slaves of God alone,

Ethan

2 Peter 1

Greetings once again!

I have decided to continue the Chapter Memory Study into the book of 2 Peter. Again, the purpose of this study is to read and study the Bible, one chapter at a time, pulling out key verses for memorizing while creating an outline that helps me remember 'where stuff is'.

Let me pause and say that I did take a 'week off' to review many of the verses and outlines that I have already completed. I find that if I don't review, I lose much of what I have worked hard to hide in my heart. So, if you feel some of those early verses slipping, take this week to review. I was blessed by it, and I'm sure you will be,too.

The memory passage for 2 Pet 1 is;
2 Peter 1:5-8, 20-21 (ESV)
⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, ⁶ and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, ⁷ and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. ⁸ For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
²⁰ knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. ²¹ For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

The thematic outline is going to be based on the first three letters of Peter (P.E.T). For the first chapter it is Practice Your Faith and Prophecy from God.

After a short introduction, including the very poetic and gracious 'may grace and peace be multiplied to you', Peter moves into the first main section of chapter one; Practice your faith. He sets the stage by introducing the importance things pertaining to life and godliness (3). As in verse 2, verse 3 is centered around the critical component of knowing God; the God of grace, peace, divine power, glory and excellence. He has granted us precious and great promises through the salvation that comes from Christ. But, we must put to practice the objective truth of our salvation.

Verse 5 begins a series of instructions that build on each other and are interrelated. We are to make 'every effort' to supplement our faith with these qualities. Supplement is a Greek word that was used for the supply and training of the Greek chorus. To stretch the metaphor a bit, we are to feed and discipline the complex harmony of virtue that should accompany our faith in Christ.

We are to add virtue to our faith (I like the image in Col 3:12 of 'putting on' virtue) so that our lives reveal the fruit of a changed heart. We are to add knowledge to virtue so that life is not just jumping from emotion to emotion. We are to add self-control to knowledge so that the knowledge does not 'puff up' and become an end in itself. Adding steadfastness to self-control prevents us from retreating in to self-absorption in time of battle. Godliness must accompany steadfastness so we do not become self-sufficient in our dealings; forgetting who we are and who God is. Brotherly affection should be the natural fruit of godliness; care and unity in the body of Christ. And, as in Col 3:14, love should accompany our relationships and cover all these virtues in 'perfect harmony'.

Look at the beauty of verse 8; if these things are evident in you, and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful for the Lord. There is an element of discipline and the expectation of 'working out our salvation' (Phil 2:12). And that it should continue and increase. We must not just accept Christ for our salvation and then ignore Him until heaven. In fact, if we lack these qualities, our vision becomes clouded and we can forget much of our foundational faith (9). So we are to be diligent (same as v5, 'make every effort') to walk out our salvation and standing with God; living subjectively in the objective truth by practicing these qualities so that we will not fall. Then our reward in heaven will be 'richly provided'. I was challenged by Dallas Willard with this thought; how do we feel about spending eternity with Someone we didn't care to spend any time with on earth? (The Great Omission).

Something struck me about verses 12-15. Peter uses words like 'remind you', 'stir you up', and 'recall' these qualities and this truth. But look how he commends them in v12, 'though you know them and are established in the truth'. They not only know the importance of having and increasing in these qualities, they are already doing it! But he still reminds them, and says that he will continue reminding them until he dies. How quickly we turn to wanting to hear 'something new', or a 'fresh look' at a passage or concept. What we really need is to be reminded of the basics; even if, especially if, we are already attempting to obey those things. It is not boring or mundane to be reminded of, encouraged in, or exhorted to something we have heard before. And it is not boring or mundane to proclaim those things either.

Verse 16 begins the second main section of this chapter; Prophecy from God. Peter makes it clear that they are not deceived or swayed by myths and false teaching; He and the apostles are eye-witnesses to the coming, majesty, honor, and glory of Christ. While we make fun of Peter for his reaction at the Transfiguration, it obviously did not escape him as to what was happening then. And in addition, the writings of Scripture, the prophecy of God which lights our path as a lamp, does not come from human interpretation or origination. God spoke through men and Holy Spirit carried them along as they proclaimed His word. This is an important passage concerning the Authorship and inerrancy of Scripture; the whole Bible is inspired by God and inerrant in doctrine, history, science, chronology and all other areas.


How does this affect my worship?
I was thinking again this week about our posture toward God. Worship and prayer are, I think, directly effected by our posture to God. Increasing in the qualities discussed in this chapter, essentially becoming a better human being, could lead us to elevate ourselves unduly. Let me not forget the theme of 1 Pet 5; humility toward God and others. If pride and self-sufficiency take over, my posture toward God is damaged. While we are to add these qualities to our faith, we must never forget what our faith is; full trust and submission to God, acceptance of the free gift of grace through Christ, and denying ourselves daily by taking up our cross and following Him. Pride is opposed to this. Humility draws us closer.

How does this affect my discipleship?
It reminds me, not too subtly, of how much I have to do and how far I have to go. I can rest in the grace and peace of Christ for my eternity, but I must never rest as I live for Him and discipline myself for His glory on this earth. Again from Willard; grace is opposed to earning, but not opposed to effort (The Great Omission, and others).

May grace and peace be multiplied to you in Christ today,

Ethan