Rev. Steve Andrews, pastor at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Lee’s Summit, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 2 Peter 2:10b-22.
St. Peter continues to expose the utter sinfulness of the false teachers. In contrast to the angels who do not step outside of their God-given office, the false teachers are bold and willful in their blasphemy against God’s glory. They show themselves to be no different than animals acting on instinct. Their evil sensuality and greed knows no shame or limit as they prey particularly on weak Christians. They follow in the way of Balaam, the false prophet who attempted to curse Israel and lead God’s people astray. St. Peter is clear that judgment is coming for such false teachers. They were once Christians, and now they have abandoned the truth, leaving them in the worst possible state. Such harsh words against false teachers ought to warn Christians against following after them and encourage us to cling all the more tightly to the truth that is ours in Christ.
“The Imperishable Inheritance” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the epistles of 1 and 2 Peter and Jude. The life of the Christian Church right now is life in exile. We endure attacks from various trials and from false teachers. Such suffering makes us long for the eternal home that will be ours at the resurrection of the dead. In Jesus, we have this promise of eternal life that can never be snatched away. These three epistles strengthen us to hold fast to Christ in the midst of suffering and to give witness to the hope that is ours in Him.
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