The Longsuffering of the Lord

Today seems like a great day to update everyone concerning Barb's health. After all, today is our 35th anniversary! Amen! Less than two years ago, I couldn't see this day coming. Barb was extremely sick with liver disease and bile duct cancer.

On November 4, 2016, the surgeon at Mayo Clinic called at 3:00 am with great news. They had a liver available for Barb! Later that day she received the transplant that saved her life. Her old liver had shut down completely and she was just weeks, if not days, from certain death.

Since then, as she continued to get stronger, she was diagnosed with lung cancer,  her third different cancer since 2014 when she beat breast cancer. A small cancerous tumor was removed. Now she continues to be cancer free! Amen! She is a three-time cancer survivor.

Then, last fall she had a ten-day bout with double pnemonia, which landed her back in Mayo Clinic's hospital, on the tranplant floor where they always care for her. Again, she came through another tough time with flying colors. Amen!

Today she continues getting stronger every day. So much so, that Mayo Clinic doctors have cleared her to be able to travel. So, next Monday we are headed for California to visit her Mother and family. Mostly due to her illnesses, she hasn't been home for six years, since her dad's funeral. Now that will change. Pray the fires won't be a problem and that the extreme heat in California will lessen. Thanks, and God bless you all. Now let's turn to todays Bible Insight.

In Second Peter 3:5-7, Peter turns to Old Testament history to make a point: "For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men."

The false teachers with their uniformitarian view of history, ignore historical facts. "They willfully forget" (v. 5a) the biblical truth of history. They know the truth, but they shut their eyes to it. They ignore the historical evidence on purpose. They choose to disregard the biblical truth of divine retribution, because they love their sinful lifestyle. They want to do as they please.

They deliberately ignore two crucial events in history. The first is creation, where "by the word of God the heavens were of old" (v. 5a), or they were created out of nothing as God spoke. God merely said the word and everything instantly came into being. The story of creation in Genesis 1-2, when taken at face value without man reading his own doubts into the text, indicates that the creation was relatively recent, completed in six twenty-four-hour days, and the earth is young. The phrase "were of old" (v. 5a), does not imply that the earth is billions of years old, but easily fits with the truth of a young earth.

God created the earth "out of water and in the water" (v. 5b). Note Genesis 1:6-10, the second and third days of creation: "Then God said, 'Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.' Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven. So the evening and the morning were the second day. Then God said, 'Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear'; and it was so. And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called Seas. And God saw that it was good."

On the second day, God gathered the upper waters into a vapor-like canopy surrounding the entire earth, and He gathered the lower waters into underground reservoirs, rivers, lakes, and seas. On the third day, He separated the land from the water, so dry earth appeared.

The second crucial event in history that they ignore is the world-wide flood of Noah. The perfect world didn't remain perfect. Man fell from grace, and sin became rampant on the earth. Genesis 6:5-8, 11-13 tells the story: "Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the LORD said, 'I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.' But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD… The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. And God said to Noah, 'The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth.'"

The result was judgment by Flood. Peter said simply, "the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water" (2 Peter 3:6). The false teachers refused to view world history through proper eyes. They were ignorant of the truth by choice. Today revisionist historians make the same mistake and do the same thing. They deliberately deny both the creation story and the Flood—the two catastrophic events that easily disprove their uniformitarian views.

God promised that the earth will never again be destroyed by a universal flood (Gen. 9:11, 15). But that does not mean there will never again be judgment. As Peter said, "But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men" (2 Peter 3:7). The sin of ungodly men will not be overlooked. Judgment will come, and it will come by fire!

Now, Peter turns to eternity to make his point: "But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day" (v. 8). Peter's argument, pushing back against false teachers who scoff at the delay of the Lord's return, involves a quote from Psalm 90. In Psalm 90:4, Moses said, "For a thousand years in Your sight are like yesterday when it is past, and like a watch in the night." Our perspective on the passing of time is quite different from God's. We are finite and exist in time; time that God created. For us, it seems like time moves slowly. When waiting for something special, a few days seem like an eternity.

Not so for God. He is eternal. He always has been, is, and always will be. In fact, God created time when He created heaven and earth, the stars and the planets, man and animals; He put time in motion. Having always been, to Him a few days is nothing. As Peter said, "with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day" (2 Peter 3:8b).

From where we stand, we view history as past, present, and future—what was, what is, and what is to come. From where God stands, being eternal, everything is ever before Him, everything is present—what is, what is, and what is. We can remember the past and see the present, but we have no clue what the future holds. God sees and knows it all, including the future, as one big event. It is all ever before Him. That is why for God, time is just a drop in the bucket. His perspective is timeless.

What may seem like a long time to us, is nothing to God. It may seem to us that the return of Christ is a long way off, but from God's perspective it is quite imminent. We must not try to limit God and hold Him to our time schedule. The Lord Jesus will return at the exact moment God decided in eternity past. "Do not forget this one thing" (v. 8a), said Peter. The Lord Jesus will return in God's time, not ours. To demand otherwise, or to think He is not coming at all because He has not come in all these years, is foolish. Remember, God inhabits eternity, and His timing is perfect. So, keep an eye on the sky!

Finally, Peter appeals to the character of God to complete his point: "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" (v. 9). Peter is saying that the reason Christ does not return immediately is to allow sinners ample time to repent. God is patient with sinners. Any waiting is because of God's gracious longsuffering. It is not that He is not coming; He is! It is not that He is indifferent, or powerless, or distracted. It is just the opposite. God is merciful and forbearing. He delays His return, so that as many sinners as possible might come to repentance.

Scoffers argue that the Lord is slow at keeping His promise, so they question whether He will return at all. Peter counters by appealing to God's character: "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness" (v. 9a, NASB). "Slow" in Greek, means "delayed," or "late," or "loitering" (MacArthur New Testament Commentary: 2 Peter & Jude, [Moody Publishers: Chicago, 2005], 121). Not so for God.

His apparent "slowness" (v. 9a), is directly related to His "promise" (v. 9a). In fulfilling "His promise" (v. 9a), God is working out His perfect plan. He will return when the time is right; when as many sinners as possible have been saved. It is the same principle as at Christ's first coming: "But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law" (Gal. 4:4).

"Longsuffering" (2 Peter 3:9b), or "patient" (NASB), translates a compound word in the Greek, that combines the words "large" with "great anger" (Ibid). It shows God's ability to store up His anger and wrath for a long time, before it gives way to judgment. Judgment is inevitable, but God's longsuffering or patience beforehand gives the sinner ample opportunity for repentance and salvation. Not all will be saved, but all will certainly have plenty of opportunity.

Time is wasting. Delay no longer. Don't let another minute go by without acknowledging the truth. Repent and trust Christ alone for your salvation. "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Cor. 6:2b). Amen.

Exposing the Doubters

False teachers begin by denying the Word of God. By discounting the Scriptures as simply false, they go on to flatly deny the reality of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. In that regard, in keeping with their own selfish, sinful desires, they can discount any thought of future retribution, leaving them with no accountability. In their minds, they are free to live as they wish and sin to their heart's delight. As a result, they ridiculed those who were righteous, which led Peter to give this warning: "knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days" (2 Peter 3:3a).

The doubters deny biblical truths, scoffing at the truth of Scripture and ridiculing believers. It was happening in Peter's day and it is happening across our land today as well. Perhaps you have recently heard someone mocking Scripture. Perhaps you have even been ridiculed for your faith. Stand strong! Peter warned us that these things would take place. He warned us, to encourage us to hold fast our faith and to maintain our walk with Christ.

Doubters try to intimidate us through a constant barrage of mocking and sarcastic ridicule. So many years had gone by without seeing Jesus return that some believers began to wander about it, perhaps even to the point of doubt. The false teachers were taking advantage of the delay of Christ's return to add fuel to the fire and draw as many as they could away from the faith. "Knowing this first" (v. 3a), does not refer to chronological order, but to level of priority. Peter's top priority was to warn us about the tactics of the scoffers, the false teachers, so that we would not fall prey to their lies.

"In the last days" (v. 3a), refers to the entire time between the first and second coming of Jesus. It refers to today. "Scoffers will come" (v. 3a), warns us to fully expect ridicule and harassment. It is a way of life in the church for the believer. Don't let it bother you and don't let it deter you from walking faithfully with Jesus, fully expecting and anticipating His return. Keep an eye on the sky!

Peter continues by stating plainly that the false teachers are "walking according to their own lusts" (v. 3b). They embrace a doctrine of self-determination. This is the real reason they deny the reality of Christ's return. Belief in the return of Christ makes them accountable for their actions, their lifestyle. They don't want any accountability. They want to be free to indulge in a life of sin as much as they please. To believe in the Second Coming only puts a damper on everything.

"Walking according to" (v. 3b), in the Greek, literally means to "travel" or "go" (MacArthur New Testament Commentary: 2 Peter & Jude, [Moody Publishers: Chicago, 2005], 112). It refers to long-term behavior. A lifestyle of sin, patterned after "their own lusts" (v. 3b), is a long-term way of life that they don't want to end. Any thought of the return of Christ bringing judgment, would put a kink in the schedule and force them to consider repenting and changing, leading to a whole new way of life. It would lead to living a life of righteousness, instead of a life of sin. So, they deny Christ's return, hoping they can escape the judgment through denial. But what they don't realize, much to their own detriment, is that it doesn't work that way. That is why we need to hold fast our belief in the return of Christ, keeping an eye on the sky in full anticipation!

They embrace a doctrine of uniformitarianism. That is a false doctrine claiming that nothing ever changes—everything is as it was from the beginning. The scoffers, the doubters, are "saying, 'Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation'" (v. 4). The doubters, the scoffers, the false teachers, base their denial of Scripture and their denial of the truth of Christ's return, on His delay. A doctrine of uniformitarianism. They say, "all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation" (v. 4c). They question why Jesus has not yet returned and they assume the delay means He is not coming!

"Where is the promise of His coming?" (v. 4a), they ask. "For since the fathers fell asleep" (v. 4b), or literally, "since the fathers died," referring most likely to the Old Testament patriarchs, nothing has changed! So, why should anything change now? Or so the thinking goes.

John MacArthur explains: "The heretics' argument was simple. If everything continues just as it was from the beginning of creation (meaning that the universe is a divinely created but closed, naturalistic system of cause and effect), then divine intervention—including the return of Christ—must be ruled out a priori. In modern times, that view is known as uniformitarianism. Contending that the present is the key to the past, uniformitarianism asserts that the only natural processes that have ever operated in the past are the same processes at work today. It categorically denies divine intervention throughout world history, most notably opposing both six-day creation and the global Flood" (Ibid, 113).

John MacArthur went on to explain: "To be sure, there is an element of general uniformity in the universe; it is a manifestation of God's providential care for His creation. After all, if the natural laws and universal processes did not normally function in a consistent manner, chaos would ensue. A biblical view of the universe, then, sees creation as an open system—in which God has ordained a uniform operation of natural causes, but also a universe in which He has intervened and still does intervene. Those who go beyond this, advocating a uniformitarianism so rigid as to preclude God's involvement in history, have foolishly deceived themselves. Like the false teachers of Peter's day, they deny the promises of Scripture (including Christ's return) on the basis of their conveniently devised worldview" (Ibid, 114).

We see this kind of doctrine being repeated constantly by people around us and even in the secular news. People prefer to deny the truth of God's Word so that they can continue to sin all they want and to live free from godly morals and righteousness. They don't want to repent, they don't want to change, they don't want to accept the truth that there is a God of the universe who is ultimately in control. Don't let these scoffers fool you. Don't fall prey to their lies. They talk loudly, but carry no power, because they do not teach truth. Reject the false babblings of the scoffers and embrace Jesus Christ, the Lord of the universe, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

The Truth of the Scriptures

Peter said, "Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle" (2 Peter 3:1a). "Beloved" (v. 1a) shows Peter's pastoral heart, along with his genuine concern for his fellow believers. He wrote other letters, at least the two, to the same believers. Taken at face value, this likely refers to First Peter. It is possible that Peter wrote more than two letters, so this could refer to one we don't have, rather than to First Peter, but most commentators believe that the two letters mentioned are First and Second Peter. And that is where I stand.

In parenthetical form, Peter reviews the purpose of His two letters: "(in both… I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder)" (v. 1b). In both letters, Peter reminds us of certain basic doctrinal or spiritual truths. To "stir up" (v. 1b), indicates his intention to wake us up—to move us out of any complacency we may have and make us aware of the spiritual urgency of these truths. "Pure minds" (v. 1b), refers to the purified minds the Holy Spirit gave us at salvation; a mind uncontaminated by the sinful influences of the world. We have been cleansed by the blood of Christ. These reminders are meant "to stimulate you to wholesome thinking" (v. 1b, NIV).

Peter first speaks of the Old Testament prophets: "that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets" (v. 2a). This is clearly a reference to the prophets of the Old Testament speaking the Word of God. Peter tells us to "be mindful of the words which were spoken" (v. 2a) in the Old Testament. It too is God's Word, just as the New Testament is God's Word. Read the whole Bible and live by the whole counsel of God!

Throughout the Old Testament, the prophets speak often of the Day of the Lord and the final judgment of God. Isaiah said, "For behold, the LORD will come with fire and with His chariots, like a whirlwind, to render His anger with fury, and His rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by His sword the LORD will judge all flesh; and the slain of the LORD shall be many" (Isa. 66:15-16).

And again, Malachi said, "'For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, and all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up,' says the LORD of hosts, 'that will leave them neither root nor branch. But to you who fear My name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings; and you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves. You shall trample the wicked, for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day that I do this,' says the LORD of hosts" (Malachi 4:1-3).

From Isaiah to Malachi—the first of the books of prophecy to the last—the Day of God's wrath, the Day of God's judgment, a day often referred to as "the Day of the LORD," is prophesied often and with great detail. The phrase, "the words which were spoken before" (2 Peter 3:2a), refer not only to Old Testament prophecy, but they refer especially to the prophecies of "the Day of the Lord," in this context.

Peter then speaks of the New Testament apostles, saying, "and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior" (v. 2b). This is better rendered, "and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles" (NASB). They refer to the Second Coming of Christ some three hundred times in the New Testament. It is a doctrine, a truth, that cannot be ignored. It is one of the core doctrines of the faith.

John described Christ's return like this: "Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Rev. 19:11-16).

Throughout the New Testament, as with the Old Testament prophets, the Return of Christ is spoken of repeatedly. The writers of Scripture make it abundantly clear that Jesus is coming again! You can take it to the bank and count on it. Peter encourages us in our walk with Christ by affirming the truth of the Scriptures. Trust the Word. Live for Christ with one eye on the sky, eagerly watching and waiting for the return of Jesus! Amen.

Maranatha! Lord, Come Quickly!

Nathan Busenitz, in his book Living a Life of Hope, said, "The hope of Christ's coming was of paramount importance for the early church. In fact, its certainty was so real that first-century believers would greet one another with the term "Maranatha," meaning "Lord, come quickly." Instead of being frightened by the possibility, they clung to it as the culmination of everything they believed. Not surprisingly, the New Testament reflects this intense anticipation by referencing Jesus' return, whether directly or indirectly, in every New Testament book except Philemon and 3 John. (Nathan Busenitz, Living a Life of Hope [Barbour Books: Ulrichsville, Ohio, 2003], 122)

Is it any wonder that the early church found great comfort in the Second Coming of Christ? The recipients of Peter's second letter had been run out of Rome under severe persecution from outside the church. Now they were facing problems with false teachers inside the church. Oh, how they longed for the return of the Savior! He would make everything right!

The truth is, Jesus is coming again! He has promised! "For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works" (Matt. 16:27). "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels" (Luke 9:26).

No one knows the day or hour, but Jesus will return! He has promised! "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming" (Matt. 26:36-42).

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus promises to return and gather His people to Himself to spend eternity with Him, but does not give a specific day or time. He intends this promise to give us hope, but makes it clear that it should also cause us to live our lives in such a way that shows we are ready to meet the Lord.

Watch therefore, and be alert! Keep one eye looking straight ahead, making sure you stay on the straight and narrow path, but keep the other eye toward the sky, watching and waiting with great expectation for the Lord's return in glory.

Jesus said, "It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning—lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping" (Mark 13:34-36).

He also said, "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man" (Luke 21:34-36).

"For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord" (1 Thess. 4:15-17).

We do not know when He is coming: "For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, 'Peace and safety!' then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape" (1 Thess. 5:2-3).

But we do know that He is coming! "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work" (Rev. 22:12). "He who testifies to these things says, 'Surely I am coming quickly'" (Rev. 22:20a). To which John adds his exclamation point: "Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" (Rev. 22:20b).

Billy Graham summarized it well: "The end will come with the return of Jesus Christ... That is why a Christian can be an optimist. That is why a Christian can smile in the midst of all that is happening... We know what the end will be: the triumph of the Lord Jesus Christ!" (Franklin Graham, Billy Graham in Quotes, [Thomas Nelson: Nashville, 2011], 119)

The truth of this promise that Jesus is coming again, is the centerpiece of the Christian's blessed hope and great expectation. When we live with one eye on the sky, in anticipation of the promised return of Christ, we live with a certain spiritual zeal and enthusiasm for Christ. John calls it a purifying hope: "And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure" (1 John 3:3).

But, when believers forget about this promise, or no longer believe in the Second Coming at all, and instead, begin focusing on the things of this world, rather than the things of Christ, they soon grow apathetic toward Christ and lose interest in the things of God. Satan knows this quite well. That is why the false teachers work so hard at getting the church to downplay the importance of the return of Christ, or even to deny its truth altogether. When that happens, Christians lose a significant source of hope and motivation in living for Christ.

The return of Christ is yet another core doctrine of the church that is under attack. The Book of Second Peter fights back by encouraging us in our walk with Jesus Christ. Keep one eye on that straight and narrow path. Keep the other eye on the sky, in great anticipation of that glorious day when Jesus comes back again. Amen.

Spiritually Barren

Can a true believer lose his salvation? Or, once you truly believe in Jesus are you secure for all eternity? Second Peter 2:20-22 engages us in a conversation that lends itself to look at the various critical Scriptures concerning this great question. This passage lends itself to the following argument for the doctrine of eternal security or perseverence of the saints.

"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" (v. 20). False teachers are likely to go back to their old sinful and worldly ways, despite having "escaped the pollutions of the world" (v. 20a) through "knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (v. 20a). So, can Christians lose their salvation? Is that what this means? Some seem to think so, based on this and similar passages (e.g. Heb. 6:4-6; 10:26).

But the only thing this verse says is that false teachers, who escaped from worldliness and sin through knowing Christ and then turned away from the Christian faith, are worse off than they were before knowing Christ. There is no biblical terminology that affirms that they were Christians. The text does not call them "sons of God" or "children of God." It does not say they were "born again" or that they were "redeemed." The New Testament clearly distinguishes between those who are "in the church" and those who are "born again." First John 2:19 says, "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us." These false teachers were "in the church," but not "of the church." They were "not of us" (1 John 2:19), because they did not know Christ as Savior. They were not born again!

They were outwardly religious and professed faith in Christ, even convincing many people that they knew far more about Christ than they did. That is how they infiltrate the church. But as the text says, they only have "the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 2:20a). In the Greek, "knowledge" refers to an accurate awareness about Christ, but not to a saving knowledge of Christ. Their escaping the ways of the world (v. 20a) is nothing more than temporary and superficial moral reform through religion. It is only nominal Christianity, without genuine faith and repentance.

Peter says, being "again entangled in…and overcome" by their former paganism and sin (v. 20b), "they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning" (v. 20b, NIV). Why? Because they are lost, despite an accurate awareness of Christ! To understand fully the truth of Christ and still reject Him is like saying, "final answer!" They are forever lost and their judgment will be severe.

"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" (v. 21). This verse speaks of the seriousness of apostasy, or falling away from the truth of Christ. The "holy commandment delivered to them" (v. 21b) refers to the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ, or to the Christian faith in its entirety, passed on to the saints. “The way of righteousness” (v. 21a) also refers to the whole of Christianity. They reject the entire faith of Christianity. Their professions of faith are spiritually barren!

Ultimately, they reject Christ and the truth of salvation. Their rejection of the only true way of salvation leaves them without any hope of eternal life. The writer of Hebrews gives a similar warning against apostasy: "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame" (Heb. 6:4-6).

In Hebrews 10:26-31, the writer expounds further on that same truth: "For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord. And again, 'The LORD will judge His people.' It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

Both passages in Hebrews speak of being fully informed of the gospel of Christ and having a full and complete understanding of the truth, yet rejecting Christ. Neither passage uses biblical terms of salvation. Both use terminology indicating head knowledge alone, without heart knowledge. These apostate teachers hear the gospel and fully understand the gospel, but ultimately, their final answer is: "No!" They reject Christ. Their professions are spiritually barren. As it says in Hebrews 10:31, "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

Peter concludes in 2 Peter 2:22: "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.'" A right pretty picture! I jest, of course. Two proverbs: The first is biblical; "As a dog returns to his own vomit, so a fool repeats his folly" (Proverbs 26:11); the second is not, but probably borrowed from an ancient secular saying. Both dogs and pigs were vile animals, according to the Jews. The thought here is that false teachers are unclean and their professions of faith are spiritually barren, so ultimately, they return to the sinful and worldly ways from which they came.

Jesus used the words "dogs" and "pigs" when speaking of those who opposed God and his Word. One such occasion was in Matthew 7:6—"Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces." It has been observed that the nature of the "unclean" animals does not change. So, the "dog" that "returns to his own vomit" or the sow "having washed" (or literally, "washed itself") refers to the person who has a religious profession of faith of some sort, an outward change, yet without regeneration that brings an inner change affecting his entire nature—in other words, professions of faith that are barren! Such people soon revert to their true nature—their old sinful self.

John MacArthur gave us a pointed description of these false teachers: "Apostate teachers, as Peter describes them, actually develop from within the church where, partially exhumed from the muck of society's wickedness, they hear the truth but ultimately reject it. Like Judas Iscariot, they breed in close proximity to Jesus Christ and His Word—cloaking themselves in the feigned righteousness of hypocrisy. Ultimately, they use the church solely for their own selfish purposes, like spiritual parasites, seductively seeking to drag as many as possible down with them, to the fiendish satisfaction of the hosts of Satan." (MacArthur New Testament Commentary: 2 Peter & Jude, [Moody Publishers: Chicago, 2005], 107)

Sadly, many churches today contain people like the ones described by Peter in this passage. They have sought personal improvement or moral reform in their search for spiritual or religious experience, yet without saving faith in Jesus Christ. Some have even become leaders in the church. However, their prophecies are spiritually bankrupt; what they teach is spiritually bankrupt, because they do not know Jesus as Lord and Savior. Ultimately, they will reject Christ and return to their old life of sin.

But it doesn't have to be that way for you. Remember, it is a slow fade. You begin to miss your daily Bible reading and you begin to miss church. You wander into a "spiritual desert," so to speak. It seems like Jesus is far away. I understand. Backsliding is a subtle process, a gradual one that can happen without notice. If this is you and you are struggling right now, take your que from Peter.

Peter had first-hand knowledge of the process of backsliding which can lead to denial; he experienced it the night Christ was betrayed. Three times Peter denied he knew Jesus (Luke 22:54-61). In the end his heart was sorrowful, however, and he "wept bitterly" (v. 62). Later, after the resurrection, Peter met Jesus on the seashore and three times Jesus asked Peter, "Do you love Me?" Three times Peter responded, "Yes." And three times Jesus said to Peter, "Feed My sheep," or something similar (John 21:15-17).

Did you follow the progression? Peter was sorrowful; he had a contrite heart. He sought out Jesus, or Jesus found him, and he confessed all to Jesus; confessing again his love for Jesus. Then he was both forgiven and restored to fellowship with Jesus. He was even given a commission to serve Jesus in ministry.

Follow Peter's lead. Repent and turn to Jesus. Walk out of that spiritual desert and come to Jesus today. Confess everything to Him and confess anew your love for Jesus. Let him forgive you and restore your fellowship with Him. The altar is open. Come; come to Jesus and renew your walk with Him. Amen.

Spiritually Bankrupt

Second Peter chapter 2, is a powerful piece of writing that gains momentum as it builds toward the end. Peter here describes the false teachers as "wells without water" (v. 17a). Christ provides "a spring of water welling up to eternal life" (John 4:13-14), and out of all who believe in Him flow "streams of living water" (John 7:37-38). But the false teachers give nothing, because they have nothing to give. They preach their own visions of what they think people want to hear and believe. They tickle ears, but ignore the truth of God's holiness, man's sinfulness, the lost condition that results, and the salvation message of Jesus Christ.

They are "clouds carried by a tempest" (2 Peter 2:17b), or "mists driven by a storm" (NIV), a metaphor indicating their instability. In both examples Peter refers to water, the most essential commodity in the arid Middle East. Like a mirage in the desert sand, the false teachers make promises but don't deliver. Mediterranean breezes bring mist and fog that seem to indicate rain. But the moisture often stays only briefly and produces no rainfall. The land is left dry and parched, and the people disappointed. Like the mist from those sea breezes, the false teachers have no substance and provide no life-changing truth. Their prophecies are spiritually bankrupt!

The false teachers are empty vessels. They have no understanding of the truths of Scripture because they do not know Christ. The Spirit is not inside them to teach them the Scriptures. Because they are empty, they have nothing to give. They and their prophecies are spiritually bankrupt. That's why they make up their own doctrines hoping to lure new believers into their web. Their false doctrine sounds good and tickles the ears with what they think people want to hear, but it is false.

Only judgment awaits the false teachers. Peter says, "for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever" (v. 17c), an obvious reference to hell. In secular Greek, the word translated, "blackest darkness," is used especially of "the darkness of the nether regions" (The Expositor's Bible Commentary: Volume 12, Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1981, 281).

"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" (v. 18). To "speak great swelling words of emptiness" (v. 18a), or "speaking out arrogant words of vanity" (NASB), or to "mouth empty, boastful words" (NIV), literally refers to words that are "swollen" or "of excessive size" (Ibid). The false teachers embellish their teachings to make them sound good. They make sure their false teachings sound biblical, though they are not. That is how they accomplish their great deception.

They entice new converts through words that sound good to someone new to the faith and not yet grounded in the Word. They also "allure" them "through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness" (v. 18b). They "entice" those who will listen "by fleshly desires, by sensuality" (NASB). They draw people in "by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature" (NIV). They try to give you the best of both worlds—to be in the church, while still being of the world.

Their main targets are "the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error" (v. 18c), or more accurately, "those who barely escape from the ones who live in error" (NASB), or "people who are just escaping from those who live in error" (NIV). They are people seeking to escape their former pagan ways and trying to better themselves. They are coming to church, seeking the truth, but are not yet saved. These are the top targets of the false teachers. Being not yet saved makes them a good target for false teaching that sounds good, but is not.

Their teaching or doctrine, these words that sound good, that sound biblical but are not, are nothing more than empty and meaningless babbling. Their words are "arrogant words of vanity" (v. 18a, NASB). In Greek, "vanity" literally means "nothing" or "nothingness," "useless" or "without purpose." It is also the idea of being completely godless. So, to be enticed to follow false teaching is to end up completely godless, spiritually bankrupt!

"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" (v. 19). To lure these people into their web, false teachers "promise them liberty" (v. 19a). They make promises of freedom, perhaps from any law or restraint of the flesh. They promise spiritual victory, while "they themselves are slaves of corruption" (v. 19a). They make empty guarantees of peace, liberty, purpose, and prosperity. Yet, the false teachers themselves do not possess those blessings. Their prophecies are spiritually bankrupt!

The very ones who speak of freedom, purpose, and victory, are themselves "slaves of depravity—for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him" (v. 19b, NIV). They speak of freedom, yet they remain in bondage to sin, "for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage" (v. 19b, NKJV). The false teachers speak of victory, yet they remain enslaved to their former worldliness, "for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved" (v. 19b, NASB). They are spiritually bankrupt!

Jesus said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin" (John 8:34). And Paul said, "Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?" (Rom. 6:16). False teachers are so thoroughly dominated and controlled by their sin, that their teaching is void of any divine power. When you try to live in both worlds—in the church, while still of the world—your life will be void of any divine power—spiritually bankrupt!

Although the false teachers offer freedom, they are slaves to sin and unable to give true spiritual freedom to anyone, because they reject Jesus Christ—the only One who can truly liberate the soul. So, though the false teachers talk of religion and freedom, they do not know the Son, they do not know Jesus; for as Jesus said, "If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed" (John 8:36). Amen.

It's a Slow Fade

In 2007, contemporary Christian recording Artist Casting Crowns released their album, The Altar and the Door. On that album was their hit single, Slow Fade. Pay close attention to the lyrics:

                Be careful little eyes what you see

It's the second glance that ties your hands

                As darkness pulls the strings

Be careful little feet where you go

                For it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away

It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray

Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid

When you give yourself away

People never crumble in a day

                        It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade

                Be careful little ears what you hear
When flattery leads to compromise, the end is always near
Be careful little lips what you say
For empty words and promises leave broken hearts astray

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
                        It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade

The journey from your mind to your hands
Is shorter than you're thinking
Be careful if you think you stand
You just might be sinking

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away

  People never crumble in a day
Daddies never crumble in a day
Families never crumble in a day

Oh, be careful little eyes what you see
Oh, be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above is looking down in love
Oh, be careful little eyes what you see
                (Songwriter: John Mark Hall, Slow Fade lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC)

Second Peter 2:17-22, while still dealing with false teachers and their false teaching, zeroes in on an issue we see so often in churches everywhere—backsliding, and even going so far as to turn away from the Faith completely.

Remember the lyrics of the song I read a moment ago by the contemporary Christian recording artist Casting Crowns? That first verse:

Be careful little eyes what you see

It's the second glance that ties your hands

                 As darkness pulls the strings

Be careful little feet where you go

For it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow

It's that second glance that does us in. It's forgetting that others look to us as examples, so if we stray, if we backslide and fall away, who might follow? We need to really seek after God's face. We need to really seek the Lord daily to avoid that slow fade.

Remember the second verse?

Be careful little ears what you hear

When flattery leads to compromise, the end is always near

Be careful little lips what you say

For empty words and promises leave broken hearts astray

When you listen to false teachers, you listen to their flattery and lies that sound good, you begin to compromise with the world and turn away from the absolute truths of God's Word to the deceptions and outright lies of those who are politically correct. Remember, false teachers are "springs without water" (v. 17). They are dried up! And their "empty words and promises leave broken hearts astray."

And don't forget the chorus:

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away

It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray

Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid

When you give yourself away

People never crumble in a day

It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade

Falling away isn't quick. It doesn't happen in a day. It is gradual. It takes place over time; sometimes over a long period of time. The process is slow. At first you skip your daily Bible reading or your devotional and prayer time. Just once. Then again. Then more often. Then altogether!

You miss church. Just once. Was too busy that day, but just that one time. Then again. Then more often. Two weeks in a row. Then three. Then four. Eventually, you miss all the time; rarely attending church anymore. It seems there is always something better to do.

And the warning of that third and final verse:

The journey from your mind to your hands

Is shorter than you're thinking

Be careful if you think you stand

You just might be sinking

The journey from your mind to your hands, the journey from regular church attendance to little or none, the journey from spending time in the Word daily and walking close with Jesus to spending little or no time in the Word and being out of fellowship with Jesus, is much shorter than you think. Be careful if you think, "I'm alright." You just might be sinking. You just might be on that slippery slope. You just might be starting that slow fade.

It's a slow fade. A slow slippery slope we slide down. Gradual at first. But then we gain speed, and soon we find ourselves in a place where we don't want to be—in a situation where we are compromising with the worldly standards around us and no longer walking with the Lord Jesus. And we have all sorts of problems that weren't there when we were more faithful to God.

What happened? How do I get back on track with the Lord? In 2 Peter 2:17-22, Peter deals with these questions and more! So stay tuned! Over the next couple of weeks, we will consider how Peter warns us about the dangers of false doctrine and how he encourages us to be in the Word daily and remain true to Jesus. Amen.