This teaching on 2 Peter 2:1-9 was given by pastor Barry Forder on the 25th October 2020 – as part of Calvary Chapel Portsmouth’s online family service.
In these verses Peter expands on two critical things that he had alluded to in his first letter. Firstly, we are heading into a time of deception greater than at any other time in history – and much of this deception will come from within the church. The second warning concerns a flagrant disregard for authority, whether that be in the home, in the nation or toward God. The example Peter gives to underline the second point is one that, probably, less than one church in one hundred will acknowledge, and even less will be willing to teach. The example is of the angels that, in Genesis 6 we are told, left their proper abode and indulged in physical relationships with the women on the Earth in the time before the flood. Their act was ‘self willed’, presumptuous, and demonstrated a complete disregard for authority. In this study we explore this bizarre event in more detail, but the important point Peter is making is that the world is becoming more and more unrighteous, and one of the key markers is people’s attitude to authority and their care-free ‘well if I want to I’ll do it’ attitude. Today, much of this is fueled by the media which presumes it has to answer to no one and shows complete distain toward government and authority.
Returning to Peter’s first point, Jesus, Paul, John and Peter all clearly warn that there will be many ‘false prophets’ as we get nearer to Jesus’ return. They will deny the basis of the atonement and bring in countless false teachings that will deceive many. So powerful and persuasive will be their messages that those who hold to ‘the faith once delivered to the saints’ (i.e. true Biblical Christianity) will be not just frowned upon, they will be accused of ‘hate crimes’.
A gloomy message? Not really. Peter says all of this to remind us that God is just and judgment is coming! “The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of trials, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished”.
May you be challenged, encouraged and blessed by this teaching.
