2 Peter 2:4-8 Podcast
4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment; 5 if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; 6 if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; 7 and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless 8 (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard) (2 Peter 2:4-8)
Yesterday, we considered 2 Peter 2:1-3 which describes the methods of false teachers. In 2 Peter 2:4-8, Peter describes their destiny.
In our text for today, Peter presents three examples of God's judgement: the fallen angels who were cast out of God's presence with Satan, those God swept away who ignored God's warnings through Noah, and, the people of Sodom and Gomorrah who were burned to ashes because they embraced ungodliness.
I have often wondered: "Is it that God punishes that which is contrary to His definition of things? Or, is it, if we do not live according to God's definition of things, we suffer the consequences of the wrong definitions?"
Peter uses these three illustrations as a
warning to those who were falsely teaching. He also gives the second and third illustrations to instill hope in his hearers who were living amid those who were trying to derail them.
The idea that Peter is communicating here is this: everything will look bleak and you will be tempted to go the way of the world, but do not forget how in the past God has always preserved His children out of it all.
In the context of this teaching, the believer is responsible to live in the truth, being defined by it, and, by example, help others recognize the dangers of the false. Just remember ... "God uses those who are weak and feeble enough to depend upon Him." Hudson Taylor
Years ago, Winkie Pratney wrote an excellent article. In that article, he wrote, “The Bible is full of mistakes…The first mistake was when Eve doubted the Word of God. The second happened when her husband did, too. And mistake after mistake is still being made because people insist on doubting God’s Word. The Bible is full of contradictions…It contradicts pride and prejudice. It contradicts lust and lawlessness. It contradicts sin, yours and mine." A lot to think about.
To read the Winkie Pratney article in its entirety, go to
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a63ca49a803bbb2281732b1/t/5a98f3adf9619ad906d6492d/1519973293982/%E2%80%9CThe+Bible+is+Full+of+Mistakes%E2%80%9D+by+Winkie+Pratney.pdf
