2 Peter Chapter 2 “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. ~ There were, even in the early church, false teachers, which denied the completed work of Jesus, making null and void his work on the cross. Saying you must keep the law to be saved (eternally); likewise there were some, even until the time of destruction (70 AD), who were promoting these heresies, but God is not slack concerning his promises.
We see in 2 Thess 1:4 where Paul is encouraging the saints, and commending them for their patience and faith in all their persecutions and tribulations that they were enduring. He tells them it is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that they be counted worthy of the kingdom (church) of God, for which they also suffer. Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; and to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels (Matt 16:28 ~ 70 AD). In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not (refused to acknowledge Jesus as the incarnation of) God and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus. Even though these selfrighteous Jew knew the son (Mt 21:32. Mk 12:7): having seen it rejected the council against themselves.
“And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not and their damnation slumbereth not.” ~ Just as that timely judgment of the wicked generation of Noah, so shall this pending judgment not linger, but will be executed speedily upon this generation. (Matt 16:28; Matt 11:24) They are told, “it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the Day of Judgment than for thee.” Why? Because these people had the two witnesses of the truth; that is, the words and works of Jesus through his ministry and the written word, which Sodom did not have.
"And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly. And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly. And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds). The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished. But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise (church) government. Presumptuous are they, self willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of (godly ministers) dignities? ~ Here we have a timely judgment upon the presumptuous. Those that know better yet through pride turn from these glorious truths, which they know to be true, and in promoting themselves fall from grace. (Gal 5:4) When one denies what they know to be the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for their presumptuous, willful sin (Heb 6:4; Num 15:30; Heb 10:29). Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. Jude 9 “durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.”
"But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; (having their eyes blinded) and shall utterly perish in their own corruption. They shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet." We have herein the description of the perseveres who have made havoc of the true church of Jesus Christ, having feasted with us as did the birds of the air in the parable of the mustard tree; having now forsaken the right way because of covetous practices, desiring full support from the sheep of his pasture to promote their heresies. What a sad commentary for those who had once enjoyed the wonderful truths of grace and through pride has made shipwreck their faith.
"These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved forever. For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness; those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning." How fitting a description of those who have gone after the teachers of the heretical doctrine of perseverance, for they too have preached so ably, but now by their cunning devices have lead many of God’s humble poor into the bondage of the law. Luke 11:26 “the last state of that man is worse than the first.”
"For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire." Heb 6:4, 10:29 This old nature of ours continues to rise up the pride in us, just as the nature of the dog and sow. If we fail in keeping this body under subjection to the spirit we will follow after the flesh and end up in a worse shape than had we never known the truth. Allen Cook Rev 9/1/09
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