The PROMISE Of LIBERTY-VI—2Peter 2:17-22
Attention:
Forklift Economy
After being laid off from three jobs in the past year, Dewey was hired to work in a warehouse.
Unfortunately, one day he lost control of the forklift & drove it off the loading dock. Surveying the damage, the owner shook his head & said, "I'm sorry, Dewey, but I'm going to have to withhold 10 percent of each of your paychecks until we back the damage."
"How much do you think it will cost?" Dewey asked.
“Looks to be in the neighborhood of about $5-10,000,” the owner replied.
Dewey gets a big smile on his face, & his eyes light up. He gives the boss a big bear hug & exclaims, ”Finally!” "Job security!”
With the promise of his newfound job security, Dewey was free to make some plans!
There are many purveyors of false ‘truth’ who are infecting & effecting our great country’s government. In fact, because we are not a ‘Christian nation’ per se, but are rather a ‘Christian influenced’ nation,
Politicos promise happiness, prosperity, peace, freedom, wellness, care, etc. within a background of the church...BUT is their’s True(real/actual) Liberty/Freedom?
We must ask ourselves a question in all seriousness...
Is Liberty/Freedom a reality for you?
Peter revealed that a false liberty had been presented to the Church.
The true Church yields to true liberty.
But panderers of false Liberty/Freedom can mislead the Church.
Why must the Church yield to God’s liberty?
9 distinctions/functions/invitations/stipulations of true Liberty...God’s liberty.
We have found previously that...
True Liberty...God’s Liberty stipulates/assumes...
1. A QUENCHED THIRST(:17a)“wells without water”
2. ETERNAL LIGHT(:17b)“blackness of darkness forever”
3. HUMILITY(:18a)“great swelling words”
4. FULLNESS(:18b)“emptiness”
5. OTHER-WORLDLY ENTICEMENT(:18c) “allure”
6. A RESTRICTED SATISFACTION(:18d) “thru lusts of the flesh” “lewdness”
7. A RELIABLE PROMISE/Promise’s Liability(:19a)
8. A TELLING ENSLAVEMENT(:19b)“slaves of corruption,” “overcome” & “brought into bondage”
9—True liberty stipulates...
A MAINTAINED ESCAPE(:20-22)
Explanation:(:20-22)“escaped the pollutions”
:20—“For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord & Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them & overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.”
These false prophets & teachers(:1) had at one point in time, “escaped” the contaminants which color & actually define “the world” wholly given to sin. They had done this through “the knowledge of the Lord & Savior Jesus Christ.” Their’s is a ‘head’ knowledge of/about rather than a ‘heart’ knowledge in. They “know” very well “of” “Jesus’” lordship & salvation & Messianic promise.
However, though they have such understanding, they become “again “entangled” in a web of lies & truth from which they will not allow themselves to be extricated. They have been “entangled” previously, before their association with Christ. Thru this second entanglement with pollution, they are “overcome.” As a result, their “latter end” is much more disturbing than the origin of their slide into spiritual imaginations.
Verses 21 & 22 answer the reason for the concern over the aggravated & “worsened” state of their “latter end.”
The false prophets & teachers had no doubt become part of the church thru open profession of faith. Thus they were able to convince the church that their precise “knowledge” was genuine & superceded that of others, even the apostles.
Mat. 12:43-45(Lk. 11:24-26) describes how a person’s “latter end” can be “worse” than his “beginning.” Such involves the action of unclean spirits in seeking rest for themselves. Once an unclean spirit leaves a man, it may(?) return to the same person yet with an entourage of other unclean spirits. They find rest & reclamation in the unregenerate religious person.
Mat. 12:43-45—“When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, & finds none. Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, & put in order. Then he goes & takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, & they enter & dwell there; & the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.”
“Escaped”(See :18)—apofeugw—2Aorist Active Participle Nominative Plural Masc.—1) To flee from, escape. Strong—figuratively--To escape. Used 3X.
From—apo—Preposition—1) Of separation. Strong—a primary particle; “Off,” i.e. Away(from something near), in various senses(of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative).—&—feugw—a primary verb; To run away(literally or figuratively); by implication--To shun; by analogy--To vanish.
“Pollutions/Defilements”—miasma—Noun Neuter—1) That which defiles, defilement; 2) metaph.--Vices the foulness of which contaminates one in his intercourse with the ungodly mass of mankind. Strong—morally--Foulness(properly, the effect). Used 1X.
“World”—kosmov—Noun Masc.—1) An apt & harmonious arrangement or constitution, order, government; 2) Ornament, decoration, adornment, i.e. the arrangement of the stars, 'the heavenly hosts', as the ornament of the heavens. 1Pe 3:3; 3) The world, the universe; 4) The circle of the earth, the earth; 5) The inhabitants of the earth, men, the human family; 6) The ungodly multitude; the whole mass of men alienated from God, & therefore hostile to the cause of Christ; 7) World affairs, the aggregate of things earthly; 8) Any aggregate or general collection of particulars of any sort. Kosmov has very frequently an unfavorable meaning, denoting the inhabitants of the world, mankind in general, as opposed to God. Strong—Orderly arrangement, i.e. Decoration; by implication--The world(in a wide or narrow sense, including its inhabitants, literally or figuratively [morally]). RWP—“The whole cosmos of men, including Gentiles, the whole human race.”
“Through”(See :18)—en—
“Knowledge”(See :21—Verb)—epignwsiv—Noun Fem.—1) Precise & correct knowledge—1a) used in the NT Of the knowledge of things ethical & divine. Epignwsiv has an intensive meaning as compared with gnwsiv, it is a fuller, clearer, more thorough knowledge. Strong—Recognition, i.e. by implication--Full discernment, acknowledgement. Used 20X.
“Again”—palin—
“Entangled”—emplekw—Verb—1) To inweave; 1) of a thing--To entangle, involve in. Strong—To entwine, i.e. figuratively--Involve with. Used 2X.
From—en—1) In, by, with etc.—&—plekw—a primary word; To twine or braid.
“Overcome”(See :19)—httaw—Perfect Middle/Passive Deponent Indicative 3rd Sing.—1) To make less, inferior, to overcome—1a) To be made inferior, 1b) To overcome, worsted, to be conquered by one, forced to yield to one, 1c) To hold a thing inferior, set below. Strong—To make worse, i.e. Vanquish(literally or figuratively); by implication--To rate lower. Used 3X.
“Latter end”—escatov—Adj.—1) Extreme—1a) Last in time or in place, 1b) Last in a series of places, 1c) Last in a temporal succession; 2) The last—2a) Last, referring to time, 2b) of space--The uttermost part, the end, of the earth, 2c) of rank, grade of worth--Last i.e. Lowest. Strong—a superlative probably from ecw(in the sense of contiguity); farthest, final(of place or time).
“Worse/Worse off”—ceirwn—Adj.—1) Worse. Strong—irregular comparative of kakov; from an obsolete equivalent cerhv(of uncertain derivation); More evil or aggravated(physically, mentally or morally). Used 11X.
“Beginning”—prwtov—Adj.—1) First in time or place—1a) in any succession of things or persons; 2) First in rank—2a) Influence, honor, 2b) Chief, 2c) Principal; 3) First, at the first. Strong—contracted superlative of pro["fore", i.e. in front of, prior or superior to]; Foremost(in time, place, order or importance).
:21—“For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.”
The false prophets & teachers would have been at a much greater personal advantage, had they not precisely “known” God’s “way of righteousness” in the first place...but Why?...
Such a disadvantageous ‘advantage’ would have remained theirs if only they had not “turned from” God’s “holy” truth. Willingly choosing to “turn from” God’s “holy commandment” places one at a demonstrably greater risk & disadvantage, seeing as the more strictly judged ‘teacher’s’ hell will surely be worse—hotter, more helpless, more lonely, more dark, more grueling, etc. given what the Church is cautioned in Js. 3:1(cf.—Mat. 11:20-24; Mat. 12:41-42; Lk. 12:42-48; Heb. 10:28-29, etc.). The greater one’s knowledge & privilege, the greater is one’s responsibility.
“The way of righteousness” is couched in Jesus alone!
A person’s true consideration of the Good News includes/involves a person’s access to God’s commandments along with its intention for mankind. Thus to reject it & teach something aberrant in reference to it, amounts to belligerent apostasy.
There is a recurring principle throughout the Bible that the degree(harshness) of one’s judgment is based upon the amount of knowledge that the person has. “Since God is fair, He will take into account the amount of light a person has received. Those with more advantages will be given stricter judgment. Jesus prayed for God to forgive those who crucified Him in ignorance.”.....“Consequently the suffering in hell will be proportionate to the light people have received. As the Scripture says, “To whom much is given, much is required.”—Don Stewart
“...every faithful follower of God eventually will receive an eternal reward”.....&.....“every saint will be rewarded “according to his deeds.”.....“On several occasions, when speaking of eternal torment, the Bible mentions those who will suffer to a lesser or greater degree. And each time such a reference occurs, the punishment is proportionate to the opportunities missed. Those who are blessed with numerous opportunities to obey the gospel & still reject it will receive greater condemnation than those who have little or no occasion to accept Christ. Jesus echoed this sentiment in His rebuke to the inhabitants of the cities of Bethsaida & Chorazin.”—@ apolgeticspress.org, ‘Are There Degrees of Punishment & Reward?’ by:Kyle Butt, M.Div., Alden Bass, & Bert Thompson, Ph.D. Lk. 10:10-16—“But whatever city you[70 disciples] enter, & they do not receive you, go out into its streets & say, ‘The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.’ “But I say to you that it will be more tolerable in that Day for Sodom than for that city. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre & Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth & ashes. But it will be more tolerable for Tyre & Sidon at the judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades. He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, & he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.”
“Would have been Better”—kreittwn—Adj.—1) More useful, more serviceable, more advantageous; 2) More excellent. Strong—comparative of a derivative of kratov[vigor["great"] (literally or figuratively)]; Stronger, i.e. figuratively--Better, i.e. Nobler. Used 18X.
“Known”2X(See :20—Noun)—epiginwskw—Perfect Active Infinitive--&--2Aorist Active Participle Dative Plural Masc.—1) To become thoroughly acquainted with, to know thoroughly—1a) To know accurately, know well; 2) To know—2a) To recognize—2a1) By sight, hearing, of certain signs, to perceive who a person is, 2b) To know i.e. To perceive, 2c) To know i.e. To find out, ascertain, 2d) To know i.e. to understand. Strong—To know upon some mark, i.e. Recognize; by implication--To become fully acquainted with, to acknowledge.
From—epi—Over, upon, etc.; of rest--At, on, etc.; of direction--Towards, upon, etc.—&—ginwskw—1) To learn to know, come to know, get a knowledge of perceive, feel—1a) To become known; 2) To know, understand, perceive, have knowledge of—2a) To understand, 2b) To know; 3) Jewish idiom for sexual intercourse between a man & a woman; 4) To become acquainted with, to know. Ginwskw denotes a knowledge grounded on personal experience. Strong—a prolonged form of a primary verb; To "know"(absolutely) in a great variety of applications & with many implications.
“Way”—odov—Noun Fem.—1) properly—1a) A way—1a1) A traveled way, road, 1b) A travelers way, journey, traveling; 2) metaph.—2a) A course of conduct, 2b) A way(i.e. manner) of thinking, feeling, deciding. Strong—apparently a primary word; A road; by implication--A progress(the route, act or distance); figuratively--A mode or means.
“Righteousness”—dikaiosunh—Noun Fem.—1) in a broad sense:--State of him who is as he ought to be, righteousness, the condition acceptable to God—1a) The doctrine concerning the way in which man may attain a state approved of God, 1b) Integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking feeling, & acting; 2) in a narrower sense--Justice or the virtue which gives each his due. Strong—Equity(of character or act); specially(Christian)--Justification.
“Turn”(See :22—“Returns”)—epistrefw—Aorist Active Infinitive—1) transitively—1a) To turn to—1a1) To the worship of the true God, 1b) To cause to return, to bring back—1b1) To the love & obedience of God, 1b2) To the love for the children, 1b3) To love wisdom & righteousness; 2) intransitively—2a) To turn to one's self, 2b) To turn one's self about, turn back, 2c) To return, turn back, come back. Strong—To revert(literally, figuratively or morally). RWP—common in the Acts for Gentiles turning to God...from idols.
“From”—ek/ex—
“Holy”—agiov—Adj.—1) Most holy thing, a saint. Agiov has probably as its fundamental meaning separation, i.e., from the world to God's service. If not the original meaning, this at any rate is a meaning early in use. This separation, however, is not chiefly external, it is rather a separation from evil & defilement. The moral signification of the word is therefore the prominent one. This word, rare & of neutral meaning in classical Greek, has been developed in meaning, so that it expresses the full N.T. conception of holiness as no other does. Strong—Sacred(physically, pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially, consecrated).
“Commandment”—entolh—Noun Fem.—1) An order, command, charge, precept, injunction—1a) That which is prescribed to one by reason of his office; 2) A commandment—2a) A prescribed rule in accordance with which a thing is done—2a1) A precept relating to lineage, of the Mosaic precept concerning the priesthood, 2a2) ethically used--Of the commandments in the Mosaic law or Jewish tradition. Entolh is more specific[than nomov], being used of a particular command. Strong—injunction, i.e. An authoritative prescription.
“Delivered”—paradidwmi—Aorist Passive Participle Genitive Sing. Fem.—1) To give into the hands (of another); 2) To give over into (one's) power or use—2a) To deliver to one something to keep, use, take care of, manage, 2b) To deliver up one to custody, to be judged, condemned, punished, scourged, tormented, put to death, 2c) To deliver up treacherously—2c1) by betrayal--To cause one to be taken, 2c2) To deliver one to be taught, moulded; 3) To commit, to commend; 4) To deliver verbally—4a) Commands, rites, 4b) To deliver by narrating, to report; 5) To permit allow—5a) When the fruit will allow that is when its ripeness permits, 5b) Gives itself up, presents itself. Strong—To surrender, i.e. Yield up, intrust, transmit.
From—para—Preposition—1) From, of at, by, besides, near. Strong—a primary preposition; properly--Near; i.e. (with genitive case)--From beside(literally or figuratively), (with dative case)--At(or in) the vicinity of (objectively or subjectively), (with accusative case)--To the proximity with(local especially)--Beyond or opposed to, or causal--On account of.—&—didwmi—a prolonged form of a primary verb(which is used as an alternative in most of the tenses); To give(used in a very wide application, properly, or by implication, literally or figuratively; greatly modified by the connection).
:22—“But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” &, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.””
Morality is not relative to one’s culture or geography. It is singularly objective as it comes to us revelationally & instructively from God! Thereby Christians do not return to relative morality!
Such Christian era false ‘prophets’/teachers, are in answer to two commonly accepted “proverbs.” The one concerning the “dog’s return” is decidedly biblical & quoted from Prov. 26:11-12.
Prov. 26:11, 12—“As a dog returns to his own vomit, So a fool repeats his folly. Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.”
The other concerning the swine’s “wallowing” is not known biblically but is an obvious truism.
Both of these “proverbs” declare the true nature of the false ‘prophets’/teachers. They are unregenerate, & their actions betray their true nature as having turned from Christ!
A dog will by nature lap up what it has just spewed from its stomach. It is not equipped nor has ability to do otherwise. It is what a dog does ‘naturally,’ not supernaturally!
Likewise, a perfectly washed & groomed hog if left to itself, will destroy every bit of vegetation in its muddy environs & take to “wallowing,” being perfectly unconcerned as to its cleanliness. It is what a hog does ‘naturally,’ not supernaturally!
*False teachers seek personal improvement & moral reformation in themselves & in those they teach to their detriment. They seek it thru spirituality & religious means without establishing a saving relationship with Jesus thru submission to Him. Thus they will ‘eventually’ openly return completely to their ‘old man’ & true nature, having not been regenerated.
“In the final analysis,” the ‘nature’ of these false prophets & teachers was unchanged. “They remained dogs & pigs inside.”—NAC
*“Perseverance is the mark of genuineness”...& thus the mark of A Maintained Escape.—NAC
“Happened”—sumbainw—Perfect Active Indicative 3rd Sing.—1) To walk with the feet near together; 2) To come together, meet with one; 3) Of things which fall out at the same time, to happen, turn out, come to pass. Strong—To walk(figuratively--Transpire) together, i.e. Concur(take place). Used 8X.
From—sun—Preposition—1) With. Strong—a primary preposition denoting union; With or together(but much closer than meta or para), i.e. By association, companionship, process, resemblance, possession, instrumentality, addition, etc.—& the base of—basiv—from bainw(to walk); A pace("base"), i.e. by implication--The foot.
“According to”—thv—(o, h, to)—Article—1) This, that, these, etc. Strong—The definite article; The(sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom).
“True”—alhyhv—Adj.—1) True; 2) Loving the truth, speaking the truth, truthful. Strong—True(as not concealing).
From—A(as a negative particle)—&—lanyanw—1) To be hidden, to be hidden from one, secretly, unawares, without knowing. Strong—a prolonged form of a primary verb, which is used only as an alternate in certain tenses; to lie hid (literally or figuratively); often used adverbially--Unwittingly.
“Proverb”—paroimia—Noun Fem.—1) A saying out of the usual course or deviating from the usual manner of speaking—1a) A current or trite saying, a proverb; 2) Any dark saying which shadows forth some didactic truth—2a) especially a symbolic or figurative saying, 2b) Speech or discourse in which a thing is illustrated by the use of similes & comparisons, 2c) An allegory—2c1) Extended & elaborate metaphor. Strong—apparently a state alongside of supposition, i.e. concretely--An adage; specifically--An enigmatical or fictitious illustration. Used 5X.
From—para—Preposition—1) From, of at, by, besides, near. Strong—a primary preposition; properly--Near; i.e. (with genitive case)--From beside(literally or figuratively), (with dative case)--At(or in) the vicinity of (objectively or subjectively), (with accusative case)--To the proximity with(local especially)--Beyond or opposed to, or causal--On account of.—& perhaps a derivative of—oiomai—To make like(oneself), i.e. Imagine(be of the opinion).
“Dog”—kuwn—Noun Masc.—1) A dog; 2) metaph.--A man of impure mind, an impudent man. Strong—a primary word; A dog[“hound”](literally or figuratively). Used 5X.
“Returns”(See :21—“Turn”)—epistrefw—Aorist Active Participle Nominative Sing. Masc.—1) transitively—1a) To turn to— 1b) To cause to return, to bring back—1b1) To the love & obedience of God, 1b2) To the love for the children, 1b3) To love wisdom & righteousness; 2) intransitively—2a) To turn to one's self, 2b) To turn one's self about, turn back, 2c) To return, turn back, come back. Strong—To revert(literally, figuratively or morally). RWP—common in the Acts for Gentiles turning to God...from idols.
“His own”—idiov—Adj.—1) Pertaining to one's self, one's own, belonging to one's self. Strong—Pertaining to self, i.e. One's own; by implication--Private or separate.
“Vomit”—exerama—Noun Neuter—1) Vomit; 2) What is cast out by vomiting. Strong—from a comparative of ek/ex & a presumed eraw(to spue); vomit, i.e. Food disgorged. Used 1X.
“Sow”—uv—Noun Fem.—1) Swine. Strong—apparently a primary word; A hog(“swine”). Used 1X.
“Washed”—louw—Aorist Middle Participle Nominative Sing. Fem.—1) To bathe, wash—1a) f a dead person, 1b) Washing to cleanse blood out of wounds. Strong—a primary verb; To bathe(the whole person; whereas niptw--means to wet a part only, & plunw--to wash, cleanse garments exclusively). Used 6X.
*See John 13:10—“Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed[louw] needs only to wash[niptw] his feet, but is completely clean; & you are clean, but not all of you.”
“Wallowing/Rolling place”—kulisma—Noun Neuter—1) Thing rolled, rolled(wallowed) mud or mire. Strong—A wallow(the effect of rolling), i.e. Filth. Used 1X.
“Mire”—borborov—Noun Masc.—1) Dung, mire. Strong—of uncertain derivation; Mud. Used 1X.
Argumentation:
**Mk. 7:2-9—“Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault. For the Pharisees & all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders. When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received & hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, & couches. Then the Pharisees & scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?” He answered & said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ “For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men--the washing of pitchers & cups, & many other such things you do.” He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.”
Mat. 12:38-45—“Then some of the scribes & Pharisees answered, saying, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.” But He answered & said to them, “An evil & adulterous generation seeks after a sign, & no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days & three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days & three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation & condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; & indeed a greater than Jonah is here. The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation & condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; & indeed a greater than Solomon is here. When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, & finds none. “Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, & put in order. Then he goes & takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, & they enter & dwell there; & the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.”
**Heb. 6:4-9—“For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, & have tasted the heavenly gift, & have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, & have tasted the good word of God & the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, & put Him to an open shame. For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, & bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; but if it bears thorns & briars, it is rejected & near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned. But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner.”
**Mat. 10:21-22—“Now brother will deliver up brother to death, & a father his child; & children will rise up against parents & cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.”
**Mat. 24:7-14—“For nation will rise against nation, & kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, & earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation & kill you, & you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, & will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up & deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, & then the end will come.”
**Mat. 28:18-20—“And Jesus came & spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven & on earth. Go therefore & make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father & of the Son & of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; & lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.”
**1Cor. 1:4-9—“I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance & all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
God is faithful, but are you?
**Heb. 3:12-15—“Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, while it is said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”
You can know & have such future confidence now!!...Thru establishing relationship with God thru Christ!
Illustration:
Incarcerated(jailed/imprisoned) criminals of the state/Some get what is referred to as ‘jailhouse religion’/Once they are released they quickly forget their religion—never having a relationship with Jesus in the ifrst place—& return to their former way of life/Never having been regenerated & thereby not truly reformed!/NO MAINTAINED ESCAPE
Christianity limited to ‘taste’ only, breeds many religionists!
However there are also many incarcerated, have more than mere ‘jailhouse religion,’ & prove a saving relationship with Jesus, when they enter into fruitful living directed by the Holy Spirit/A MAINTAINED ESCAPE
Muslim doctrine is fundamentally tied to Nestorious(386–450), the bishop of Constantinople/“emphasized(s) a distinction between the human & divine natures of Jesus” “Nestorianism & Monophysitism were condemned at the Ecumenical Council of Ephesus in 431[AD] & the Council of Chalcedon in 451[AD].
Christian theology recognizes the incarnate Christ as one person, the eternal Son, with two true & complete natures— fully human & fully divine.
Council of Chalcedon statement about the nature of Christ—“We, then, following the holy Fathers, all with one consent, teach people to confess one & the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, the same perfect in Godhead & also perfect in manhood; truly God & truly man, of a reasonable[rational] soul & body; consubstantial[co-essential] with the Father according to the Godhead, & consubstantial with us according to the Manhood; in all things like unto us, without sin; begotten before all ages of the Father according to the Godhead, & in these latter days, for us & for our salvation, born of the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, according to the Manhood; one & the same Christ, Son, Lord, only begotten, to be acknowledged in two natures, inconfusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, inseparably; The distinction of natures being by no means taken away by the union, but rather the property of each nature being preserved, & concurring in one Person & one Subsistence, not parted or divided into two persons, but one & the same Son, & only begotten God, the Word, the Lord Jesus Christ; as the prophets from the beginning [have declared] concerning Him, & the Lord Jesus Christ Himself has taught us, & the Creed of the holy Fathers has handed down to us.”
*Nestorianism compromises the singular personhood by failing to recognize the one-person (“hypostatic”)union of the divine & human in Christ, thus observing, whether explicitly or what amounts to, not just two natures, but two persons in Christ.
*Nestorianism was the “heretical form of Christianity that Islam’s founding prophet, Muhammad(570–632), encountered through interactions with multiple Nestorians in his upbringing.”—D.A. Carson/
NO MAINTAINED ESCAPE
Application:
?Does Your version of Liberty assume A MAINTAINED ESCAPE?
?Your Liberty True—God’s Liberty?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
Dewey’s promised job security!
Action:
True Liberty...God’s Liberty stipulates...
9. A MAINTAINED ESCAPE(:20-22)“escaped the pollutions”
1. A QUENCHED THIRST(:17a)“wells without water”
2. ETERNAL LIGHT(:17b)“blackness of darkness forever”
3. HUMILITY(:18a)“great swelling words”
4. FULLNESS(:18b)“emptiness”
5. OTHER-WORLDLY ENTICEMENT(:18c)“allure”
6. A RESTRICTED SATISFACTION(:18d)“lusts of the flesh” “lewdness”
7. A RELIABLE PROMISE/PROMISE LIABILITY(:19a)“promise them liberty”
8. A TELLING ENSLAVEMENT/SLAVERY(:19b)“slaves of corruption,” “overcome” & “brought into bondage”
Pt. 9 only! presented 08/21/2016am to:
FBC Cbelle
206 Storrs Ave. SW(‘A’ Ave. SE)
Carrabelle, FL 32322
