2 Peter 2:1–3, 12–14; Jude 16–25

Explore the Bible 
Assistant Professor of Christian Ministries, University of Mobile

LIVING WITH TROUBLEMAKERS

2 Peter 2:1–3, 12–14; Jude 16–25

Beware of Deception

(2 Pet. 2:1–3, 12–13a)
It now becomes evident why the readers needed to be reminded about the importance of a godly life and why they needed to maintain the truth of Jesus’ future coming. False teachers had arisen within the church who denied the former and questioned the latter. Peter writes to warn the church. The church has a Chief Shepherd (Jesus), shepherds, sheep and, unfortunately, wolves. Martin Luther said, “With the wolves you cannot be too severe, and with the weak sheep you cannot be too gentle.”  

The false teachers will secretly introduce destructive heresies into the church. A heresy occurs when someone claiming to be a Christian denies a first-order truth taught in the Bible. Heretics secretly introduce false teachings into the church to lead people astray. Many in the church will be seduced by the false teaching and will follow their sensual, loose living. False teachers tend to have low standards on sin and actually encourage unholy living. This lifestyle leads to blasphemy. When unbelievers see the moral effect produced by the false teachers in the lives of their followers they will conclude that the way of truth is in error. They are motivated by greed, a lust for money. They like to spell prophet “p-r-o-f-i-t.” Beware of deception that is motivated by greed and other selfish motives and hidden agendas. 

Beware of Sinful Lifestyles (2 Pet. 2:13b–14; Jude 16–19)
The false teachers are boldly arrogant and shameless. They do not blush. They teach others to sin while saying they are teaching for God. They encourage people to do wrong things. The false teachers like to be in community with God’s people. They tend to be nice, friendly people, but their goal is to lead people away from true doctrine.  

Since Peter directs our attention in verse 14 to sexual sin and greed, perhaps the false teachers enticed people to sin by promising them that they could live for sexual pleasure and the material comforts of this life without any thought of judgment. Such a theology seemed too good for the unstable to pass up, and they swallowed the bait quite eagerly.

Jude describes the false teachers as disgruntled, loud-mouthed boasters. They mock the sacred truths of Scripture, love to create divisions within the church and are driven by their own sinful passions. They are self-made men in love with their own creator. Jude declares that they are “devoid of the Spirit.” Although they claim to be Christian teachers they are not even Christians.

The Bible never separates the head from the heart. Theology determines biography. What you believe about God affects how you live. Bad teaching leads to sinful living. Are you wholeheartedly living for the glory of God? Is the Holy Spirit convicting you of a sinful lifestyle? If He is, repent of that sin.           

Be Positive in Response (Jude 20–23)
Jude offers the antidote to the false teachers. The way to minimize the influence of the scoffers is to live proactively as a follower of Christ. Jude encouraged true believers to strengthen their faith. As Christians read and study the Bible their faith will grow stronger. Christians are to pray in the Holy Spirit — that is, in the sense of praying in harmony with the leading of the Holy Spirit rather than according to one’s own agenda. Believers keep themselves in God’s love by growing strong doctrinally, persevering in prayer and waiting for the Lord’s coming. True believers are kept by God (Jude 1–2, 24–25) and demonstrate their salvation by practicing the spiritual disciplines. We are also to show mercy to everyone, even our opponents.  

Be Dependent on God (Jude 24–25)
As Jude ascribes all glory, majesty, dominion and authority to God, he reminds Christians of what God is doing for them as they await Christ’s return. What an encouraging word. God Himself will keep the believer from stumbling and will present the Christian blameless before the presence of His glory.