Intro To 2 Peter Series

Lesson II

Introduction to 2 Peter

IV. I want to mention Five things that Peter deals with in this second letter.

A. The First thing is “The standard for Christian living is the witness of the Prophets

and Apostles.”

Note: The standard for Christian living is God’s standard, not the standard of the Apostles and

Prophets. They were only witnesses of what God said.

1. The message and witness of the Prophets and Apostles was not theirs, but God’s

through them.

a. 2 Peter 1:19-21

19) We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20) Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21) For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

1. “Take Heed”....to the prophecy of the (apostles)

2. Because they were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

b. 2 Peter 3:2

That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:

“Be mindful of”..........words of Holy Prophets

words of the Apostles

“Take heed” and “Be mindful of”...Because...v21

‘the prophecy came...by the will...of God”

Holy men spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”

Note: Therefore our standard of Christian living comes from the Scriptures. We can never

measure ourselves by the world and feel okay. We feel that we are doing better than they

are so we must be okay, but we must measure ourselves by God’s Word as the Spirit

applies it to our lives, and this will cause us to repent.

2. We need today to pay heed to the Apostles and the Prophets. We cannot add to nor

take away from Scriptures just to satisfy our own desires.

B. The second thing is “False teachers will arise even within the fellowship.”

2 Peter 2:1

1) 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.

1. This should not be taken casually.

2. This threatens to destroy the very foundation of Christianity because

a. They bring damnable heresies.

b. They deny the Lord.

c. They bring upon themselves swift destruction.

3. There were false teachers (prophets) in the Old Testament.

a. Name a few: Balaam; Ahab’s prophets; Prophets that opposed Jeremiah;

1. Balaam was brought in to curse Israel, and when he could not curse Israel, he

told the King of Moab how to get Israel to fall.

2. In 1 Kings chapter 22, Jehoshaphat and Ahab were going to war. There were

400 men who prophesized that they would have victory, but one man declared

that Ahab was die in battle.

3. The prophets opposed Jeremiah as he tried to prepare Judah for their fall.

b. Note the results of the false prophets upon Israel.

1. The result of Balaam’s doctrine was the death of 25000 Israelites in Numbers

25.

2. The result was a false hope in victory which led to the death of Ahab, and the

defeat of Israel.

3. The result was a false hope of victory, but Nebuchednezzar completely

destroyed Jerusalem.

4. There will be false teachers among you.

a. Note the results of the past, and rest assured that the same results will occur in the

present.

b. Note Revelations 2:4, 5, 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, 22, 23; 3:1, 2, 15, 16, 17;

1. The church at Ephesus

4) Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5) Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent....

2. The church at Pergamos

14) But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. 15) So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate. 16) Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

3. The church at Thyatira

20) Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. 21) And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. 22) Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. 23) And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.