2 Peter 2

COMMENTS

I was talking with someone recently, and she was “expounding” against a subject that she felt strongly about.  When she paused, I teasingly said, “Why don’t you tell me how you REALLY feel about it.”  We had a good laugh over that.  We could ask Peter that same question; but somehow, I doubt there would be any laughter. 

NOTES

The entire second chapter of 2 Peter deals with false teachers, and he doesn’t mince words!  As I was reading it, I decided to jot down some of the terms he uses in describing them:  (V. 1) false, (V. 2) shameful, (V. 3) greed, exploit, (V. 10) corrupt, despise authority, bold and arrogant, (V. 12) brute beasts, (V. 13) blots and blemishes, (V. 14) an accursed brood, (V. 17) springs without water, mists driven by a storm, and (V. 19) slaves of depravity. 

In addition to those descriptive terms of the men themselves, Peter also describes their reprehensible actions:  (V. 1) secretly introduce destructive heresies; denying the sovereign Lord who bought them; bring the way of truth into disrepute, (V. 3) exploit you with stories they have made up, (V. 10) not afraid to slander celestial beings (which even angels will not do!), (V. 12) blaspheme in matters they do not understand, (V. 13) carouse in broad daylight; reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you, (V. 14) never stop sinning; seduce the unstable, (V.15) have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam, (V. 18) mouth empty, boastful words; appeal to the lustful desires of sinful human nature; entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error, (V. 19) promise freedom while they themselves are slaves of depravity.

Look at the words Peter uses.  He is describing terrible people who are doing terrible things!  Please forgive me for giving you such long lists to read, but no “summary” would have the impact this does.  Did Peter feel strongly about the false teachers?  That would be an emphatic “YES”!!! 

Why did he despise them so much?  It was because they were distorting the Truth and making a mockery of Jesus’ love and sacrifice—and all for personal gain.  If they could succeed, they would be powerful and able to do anything they wanted.  Those early disciples were commissioned by Jesus Christ Himself to spread His Truth and His church to “all nations” (Matthew 28:19).  None of them, including Peter, were going to stand by and allow anything to prevent or distort that!

Early in the chapter, Peter noted that there had been false prophets in the days of old, and that false teachers would be among them in that day.  I hate to tell you this, but false teachers still invade our churches today and “appeal to the lustful desires of sinful human nature” and “entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error” (2:18).  If you will review those two lists, you will see that nothing has changed!

So, that brings about an important question:  How do I know whether what I’m being taught is Truth or falsehood?  Just as Peter taught us in Chapter 1, he reminds us of the answer in 2 Peter 2:20, which says, “If [we] have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…”.

I was a business major in college; and as I was reading and thinking about this passage, I remembered something one of my professors told us.  He said that bank tellers are taught how to recognize counterfeit bills by handling real bills over and over and over.  If you’re familiar enough with the real thing, you instinctively recognize a fake, even if you can’t explain exactly what’s wrong.  I believe our Christian faith is just like that.  If we “handle” our Bibles, our prayer time, and our relationship with our Lord “over and over and over”, we’re going to recognize the “fake” Christianity.  “Fake” comes in many forms, but there is only one Truth!

Repeatedly throughout this chapter, Peter reminds us that the unrighteous will be punished and the godly will be rescued (V. 1, 3, 9, 12, 13, 17, 20, 21).

Obviously, this is a serious subject; and we have received a severe warning.  We MUST remember such an admonition, but there is also hope and encouragement here.  Let’s end by looking at 2:9a:

“if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials…”

Rescue us, O Lord!  Grant us wisdom to know the Truth, discernment to recognize and escape evil, and courage to boldly proclaim Jesus Christ!

James 1:9-12

COMMENTS

The Bible is full of passages that, on the surface, seem to have nothing to do with the passages around them.  They seem to be just thrown in randomly.  Yet, my God is a God of order, not chaos; so, I’ve come to believe that those passages require extra thought, extra prayer, and extra contemplation because He put them there for a reason.  One such passage is in today’s reading.

 

NOTES

At first glance, James 1:9-11 seems to have nothing to do with what James has been talking about.  Earlier in verses 2-8, he discussed perseverance under trial, its goal of maturity, and how God will meet my need for wisdom if I ask without doubting.  In verse 12 he goes back to the subject of perseverance.  However, seemingly unrelated thoughts are thrown in between the two discussions.  I had to read and re-read this a number of times and cover those readings with prayers and petitions for Him to show me how the verses fit.  Even now, my thoughts are “wispy”, not completely formed.  But here’s a stab at explaining what I believe the Lord is saying.

In verses 9-11, James addresses the “brother in humble circumstances” and the “one who is rich”.  His descriptions, though, are upside down from how the world thinks of people in these two classes:  the humble man has a high position and the rich man has a low position.  Doesn’t it take Godly wisdom to view earthy things from a heavenly standpoint?  And when this is me we’re talking about, all my history and insecurities get involved!  It’s easy for me to look at someone else in humble circumstances and tell them they have just as much value as the rich guy sitting a few seats over.  But when we’re talking about me, all my old insecurities start screaming at me and reminding me how unworthy I am.  The only way I overcome that is by receiving the wisdom God offers and not doubting His word.

Often, the poor man is dealing with issues of self-worth.  Often, the rich man is dealing with pride.  (Notice that I said “often”!  Not everyone in these categories fit those descriptions.)  Did you notice that extra words are given to the rich man?  He is reminded that he’s going to die and that all his riches will be destroyed.  Both men need wisdom to recognize who they really are in Christ.  They are both loved, and they are equal.

The other thought I had is that going through the process of recognizing, accepting, and living as who I really am in Christ is one of the trials I face.  It’s not an easy thing for a poor person to learn to value herself.  It’s, also, not an easy thing for a rich person whose value and self-esteem are based on those riches to think less of herself.  The lowly is raised up; the high is brought low.  They are on level ground when they stand before their Maker.  And He rewards them with the “crown of life” that he “promised to those who love him” (verse 12).

So, I ask God for wisdom as I persevere through my trials (including the one of recognizing who I am in Christ); and when I have passed the test, He gives me the crown of life because He promised to give it to me if I love Him.

Hallelujah!

James 1:4-8

COMMENTS

In the last discussion, I realized that I didn’t get to the last phrase in verse 4; but I left it because it fit well with the next few verses.

 

NOTES

In James 1:4, James told me that I should persevere so that I can be “mature and complete”.  The next phrase seems to expand on that:  “not lacking anything”.  Doesn’t it seem obvious that if I’m “complete”, I’m “not lacking anything”?  I mean, if I lack something, I’m not complete.  Right?  But “perseverance must finish it work”, so I’m not there yet.  I’m not yet “complete”.

What’s interesting is how that thought is continued in the following verse.  Of all the things I lack that he could choose to specify, James chooses wisdom.  He says that if I ask God for wisdom, He’ll give it to me.

My thoughts immediately flew to Solomon.  You can find this story in 1 Kings 3:5-14.  God told Solomon to ask for anything.  He asked for “a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong”—wisdom.  God was so pleased with Solomon’s request that He also gave him riches and honor.

This passage tells me that God wants to give me wisdom, too.  It says all I have to do is ask!  But then James attaches a warning:

“But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord…”

I’ll be honest, that qualifier seems to put this out of my reach.  I want to be full of faith and never doubt, but doubt creeps in.  Why?  Maybe it’s because I feel so unworthy, so undeserving of His favor.  But the statement was NOT that He’ll give it if I deserve it; it was that He’ll give it if I ask for it and trust that He keeps His word. 

1 Samuel 16:7b tells us that “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”  So, what does my heart look like?  My heart, even when it doubts, longs NOT to doubt!  My heart longs to be like Jesus and to please Him.  Maybe the doubter James is talking about here is someone who wavers back and forth in his/her commitment to Him—today, she longs to please Jesus; tomorrow, she could care less about Him and longs only to please herself.  I’m just thinking here—maybe I’ve oversimplified it or missed the mark completely because sometimes I can be pretty self-centered.  But I sincerely believe that the “not doubting” has something to do with my heart condition.

Perhaps, before I pray for wisdom I should be like the father in Mark 9:24 who brought his son to Jesus to be healed.  This was his prayer:

“I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”