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FINAL ADMONITIONS
AGAINST FALSE TEACHING (2Pe 3:17-18)
05-31-17 Grace Bible Church,
Gillette, Wyoming Pastor Daryl Hilbert I. KEEP YOURSELF FORTIFIED
(2Pe 3:17) A. Believers must be on guard
against false teaching at all times and in all ages. The believer’s very
steadfastness depends on how well he can discern truth from error. The
believer’s growth will be impeded by error, but flourish by truth. This is
not truth about anything, but particularly about the knowledge of the person
and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Such admonitions have been Peter’s theme
in his letter and is now in his final admonition against false teaching. B. Peter’s final admonition is as strong as
his entire letter. He begins with an emphatic “You therefore.” C. He had edified and equipped his beloved
readers with knowledge beforehand in regard to false teachers.
“Knowing before” is the Greek word proginōskō and means to
know something in advance. We get our English word prognosis (medicine
- a forecast of the probable course and termination of a case or disease.)
from it. In Scripture, it normally refers to the “foreknowledge” of man (Act
26:5) or of God (Rom 8:29; 1Pe 1:20). D. These believers have been given the
foreknowledge (at least in this letter) to combat false teachers; they have
been given the prognosis against false teachers. E. This admonition was a call to action and
they were to “be on [their] guard.” “To guard” is the Greek word phulassō
which comes from the noun phulax and is translated one who guards
or watches, i.e. watchman (Eze 33:6-7; Act 12:19). The readers were to remain
fortified and be on the watch for false teaching so they could warn others. II. KEEP YOURSELF FROM FALSE
TEACHING A. If they are not on guard
or warn others about false teaching, then there is the possibility that they
may be carried away by error. “Carried away” (sunapagō -
carried off along with, led astray) is the idea of leading a person away
from correct conduct or belief (Gal 2:13). B. “Error” (planê) is not a
mere misdemeanor, but a strong word meaning deception or delusion. C. The false teaches are called “unprincipled
men” who follow no good or biblical laws, instead they are lawless (athesmos
- a = negative & thesomos = law or custom, literally translated as “the
lawless ones” cf. 2Pe 2:7). D. Keeping the church from false teaching was
a major theme in the New Testament. 1. The
verdict from both Old and New Testaments is unmistakable: God does not
tolerate false prophets (cf. Isa. 9:15; Mic. 3:5-7; Matt. 7:15-20; 1 Tim.
6:3-5; 2 Tim. 3:1-9; 1 John 4:13; 2 John 7-11). Ironically, many in today’s
church do exactly the opposite tolerating any teacher who claims to be
Christian, regardless of the content of his teaching. Such mindless
acceptance, in the name of love and unity, has tragically produced a careless
indifference to the truth. As a result, some Christians view biblical
absolutes as an embarrassment, preferring to embrace false teachers despite
the Bibles clear protest (Jer. 28:15-17; 29:21, 32; Acts 13:6-12; 1 Tim.
1:18-20; 3 John 9-11). MacArthur in loc. III. KEEP YOURSELF FROM FALLING A. If they were led astray
into false doctrine, it would cause them to fall form their steadfastness. “Fall”
(ekpiptō - drop away) is sometimes used of petals that fall from
the flower (Jam 1:11; 1Pe 1:24). But Paul also used it to fall from grace
(Gal 5:4). B. MacArthur suggests that falling from their
“steadfastness” (stêrigmos - established or grounded) did not
necessarily mean that his readers would fall from salvation, but that they
might slip from doctrinal stability and lose their confidence in the truth (cf.
1Co 16:13; Eph 4:14; 1Th 5:21). C. This was the same Greek word (verb) that
Jesus used to instruct Peter after his denials. When Peter turned back to the
Lord, he was to “strengthen” his brothers (Luk 22:32). In writing this
letter, Peter was following Jesus’ instruction. D. They were not to become unstable like the
unstable false teachers who distorted the Scriptures (2Pe 3:16), rather they
were to be established in their faith by the truth of the Scriptures. IV. GROW IN CHRIST’S GRACE (2Pe
3:18) A. Instead of falling into
false teaching, the believer is to grow in grace. “Grow” is the
Greek word auxanō and means to cause to grow or bring forth
fruit and increase. It is used in the literal sense with plants and crops
(Mat 6:28), children (Luk 1:80), or numbers (Act 7:17). B. But it is also used figuratively with the
Word of God (Act 12:24), the gospel (1Co 3:6) and spiritual growth (Eph 4:16;
1Pe 2:2). C. Grace is that in which the believer is to
grow. “Grace” (charis) is God’s unmerited favor toward sinners.
Grace is the sole basis for salvation and forgiveness of sins in the
believer’s life (Rom 3:24; Eph 1:7; Tit 3:7; 1Pe 1:10). D. But grace continues in the believer’s life
in the process of sanctification. Unlike salvation, sanctification includes
God’s part (2Co 12:9; Php 2:12-13) and man’s part (1Co 15:10). E. In vs. 18, the believer is commanded to
participate and grow, auxanō being a present imperative literally
translated, “You must keep on growing in grace.” F. Peter ended on the note of grace even as
he began it (2Pe 1:2). V. GROW IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF
CHRIST A. The believer grows in the
Christian life by growing in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. “Knowledge”
(gnosis - comprehension or intellectual grasp, content of that which is
known, false esoteric knowledge) is certainly that which the mind grasps
intellectually and spiritually while effecting the whole person, including
his actions. B. It is directed specifically toward the
knowledge our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This is the knowledge of the
person and work of Jesus Christ. 1. Knowledge
of His Person as deity and therefore “Lord” (kurios, cf. Isa
45:21-23; Php 2:11; Joh 20:28). 2. Knowledge of His Work in atonement for
sin and therefore “Savior” (Act 5:31; 2Co 5:21; 1Pe 1:1). 3. Knowledge of “Jesus Christ,” which
is only gained intellectually and spiritually from the Scriptures causes the
believer to grow (Joh 17:17; Eph 4:13; Col 1:9-10; Col 3:10; 1Th 2:13; 1Pe
2:2). 4. This is opposed to esoteric and mystical
knowledge which is a false knowledge (1Ti 6:20). VI. BENEDICTION OF
GLORY TO CHRIST A. Peter ascribed To Him,
that is Jesus Christ, glory, which is only ascribed to Yahweh of the
OT (Isa 42:8; Isa 48:11). Not only that, but this was the glory which the Son
had with the Father before the world began (Joh 17:5). Once again Peter gave
evidence that Jesus Christ was the second member of the Trinity (2Pe 1:1; Tit
2:13; Jud 1:25). B. This ascription of glory is both now and
the day of eternity. The fact that the Lord Jesus Christ is God
assures the believer of His perfect salvation in spite of what false teachers
say. The fact that the Lord Jesus Christ is coming back encourages the
believer to persevere in this life waiting for the next in spite of what
false teachers say. These false teachers are not able to take away the
established faith of the believer who feeds on the Word of God in the
knowledge of the person and work of Jesus Christ. Therefore the believer will
be able to grow in grace rather than groan in disgrace. VII. OBSERVATIONS AND
APPLICATIONS A. What have we learned from
2 Peter? GOD’S TRUTH IS EMMINENT
OVER FALSE TEACHING I. GOD’S
TRUTH ESTABLISHES THE BELIEVER (1:1-21) II. GOD’S
TRUTH EXPOSES FALSE TEACHERS (2:1-22) III. GOD’S TRUTH ENSURES AGAINST FALSE TEACHING
(3:1-18) B. Believers must be on guard
against false teaching in an age that is only judges those who discern
between truth and error. We must persevere in this pursuit even though our
culture has declared that dogmatism is dead and all things are equal,
including religion, spirituality, and atheism. The danger of false teachers
is not only that they themselves will receive judgment, but they also
craftily deceive others to lead them to same destruction. But the God who
judges the wicked and false teachers is the same God who delivers the
believer from judgment, persecution, trials, false teachers and into the new
heavens and earth. C. The inspired and infallible Scriptures are
the sole basis for truth in any and every generation. Remove the exaltation
of Scripture as God’s Word (2Pe 1:20-21) and all ethical bulwarks crumble.
Remove the exaltation of Scripture as God’s Word and you no longer have
divine promises that are sufficient for everything that pertains to life and
godliness (2Pe 1:3-4). Remove the exaltation of Scripture as God’s Word and
you have no absolute truth with which to combat the onslaught of false
teachers (2Pe 1:19). D. Knowledge in and of itself is not an
end-all unless it is the knowledge of the person and work of the Lord Jesus
Christ. In Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. In Him
are all revealed the truth of deity, the incarnation, atonement for sin,
forgiveness, eternal life, and Christian virtues that will keep the believer
from becoming unfruitful and from falling. In Him we will grow in grace and
not groan in disgrace in His presence at His promised and glorious coming. |
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Grace Bible Church · 4000 E. Collins Rd · PO Box #3762 · Gillette, WY · (307) 686-1516 |
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