Standing on the Promises - A Study of 2 Peter Lesson 5 - Standing Firm in the Midst of Human Depravity Recap: There are false teachers, their judgment is not idle; and God is able to rescue those who stand on the truth amid false living and false teaching. 2 Peter 2:10-13 This is especially true of those who follow the defiling lust of the flesh and who despise authority. Daring and arrogant, they do not tremble when they blaspheme glorious beings, 11 whereas angels, even though they are greater in strength and power, do not bring a slanderous judgment against them before the Lord. 12 But these people blaspheme in matters about which they are ignorant, just like unreasoning creatures that live by instinct and are born to be captured and destroyed. So they too will be destroyed as a consequence of their destructive activity. 13 They will be paid back for the harm they cause. 1. All sin is dangerous. But what is especially dangerous about (a) “following the defiling lust of the flesh”, and (b) “despising authority”? 2. What’s the difference between being “self assertive and confident” on the one hand; and “daring and arrogant” on the other? 3. How much “blaspheming of glorious beings” have you observed lately? 4. If a false teacher is wrong, why wouldn’t an angel bring an accusation against them to the Lord? 5. Some creatures live by instinct and are born to be captured and destroyed. Can you name any examples from the animal world? 6. If a person is “born to be captured and destroyed” does that mean God wants them to be that way? 7. So based on verse 13, is God into paying people back for what they did? I thought he was all about undeserved grace?
2 Peter 2:13-14 They consider it a pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, who take delight in their deceitful pleasures while they feast with you. 14 They have eyes full of longing for adulterous women and sins that never stop. They seduce unstable souls. They have trained their hearts for greed. They are children who are cursed. 8. Carousing is most usually heavy alcohol drinking; but can mean other excessive behaviors. What difference does it make if a person “carrouses” in the daytime or nighttime? 9. Along with alcohol abuse; sexual desire gone overboard seems to be a problem Peter addressed. So what if a young person countered, “Why should I deny my sexual desires? If it feels good, why shouldn’t I do it?” How might you respond? 10. Seducing unstable souls. Trained hearts for greed. Children who are cursed. What should you do if you, or someone you love, is at that point? 2 Peter 2:15-19 They left the right way and went astray, following the path of Balaam, son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness. 16 (He was rebuked for his disobedience. A donkey, which does not talk, spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.) 17 These men are wells without water, clouds driven away by a windstorm, for whom the gloom of darkness has been reserved. 18 For by uttering arrogant, empty words, they use the depraved lusts of the flesh to seduce those who are barely escaping from those who live in error. 19 While they promise these people freedom, they themselves are slaves to corruption, for a person is a slave to what has control of him. 11. Peter brings up Balaam as an example of this kind of behavior. Here’s a quick summary of that story. Balaam was asked by the king of Moab to curse the Israelites under Moses before they went into the promised land. On his way, a donkey warned him to speak only what God told him. So he spoke words of blessing on Israel; but then advised the Moabites to seduce the Israelites with sexually promiscuous women, who would lead them into idol worship. The plan did some damage to Israel, and Balaam received payment for his advice. He later was killed by the Israelites. 12. Some people are into sin for the “pleasure” of the sin. Some are into it for the power it gives them. Which is more dangerous?
13. So when people are about to commit gross sins; why doesn’t God have more donkeys or other animals speaking words of warning? 14. Wells without water. Clouds driven by a windstorm. The gloom of darkness has been reserved. How do any of us keep from getting to a place like this? 15. “They promise freedom, but are themselves slaves to corruption, for a person is slave to what has control of him.” So someone is making a habit of sin; lets say alcohol and sexual sin. You talk to them about it. And they say, “I’m not hurting anyone. I’m just having a little fun. I can stop when I want to. If it ever hurts anyone, I’ll stop.” What might you say in response?