Illus: This passage reminds me of the story of the fellow that went to the doctor. The doctor examined him closely, and told the patient, "I have some bad news and also some real bad news to tell you. But before I can tell you the bad news and the very bad news, you will first have to pay me.”
He said, “All right, I will write out a check right now.” And he did.
The patient said, "Doctor, tell me the bad news first."
The doctor said, "The bad news is that you are going to die.
The patient said, "Good grief, what could be worse news than that?"
The doctor said, "The very bad news is, you probably will not live to get home!”
In our text, as Peter continues to warn God's people, he tells the bad news, and then some very bad news.
But before he shares the bad news, he shares some very good news with them.
WHAT IS THE GOOD NEWS?
I. THE LORD KNOWS HOW TO DELIVER THE GODLY OUT OF TEMPTATIONS
In the last message (verses 3b-8), Peter gave examples of how God delivered the godly out of temptation.
A. HE GAVE THE EXAMPLE OF NOAH
Look at verse 5. We read, “And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness…”
The people of Noah’s generation were exceedingly wicked.
Look at Genesis 6:5. We read, “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”
This verse plainly tells us how terrible the sin of Noah’s day was - “…every imagination…was only evil continually.”
Yet, in the midst of all of this, God saw one righteous man whose name was Noah.
Look at Genesis 6:8. It says, "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord."
When God sent judgment in the form of that terrible flood, killing every evil person alive in that day, He DELIVERED THIS righteous man, Noah, and his family.
He KNEW exactly how to do it, and He did it! He gave us the example of Noah, but also-
B. HE GAVE THE EXAMPLE OF LOT
Look at verse 7, we read, "And delivered just Lot..." The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were cesspools of sin. Lot had chosen to live in the fertile valley where these cities were.
The Bible says in Genesis 13:12, "Lot…pitched his tent toward Sodom.”
He not only pitched his tent in their direction, but Peter lets us know that he lived very close to these sodomites!
Look at 2 Peter 2:8. “For that righteous man DWELLING AMONG THEM, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds.”
Notice the Bible says his living among these sodomites “…Vexed his righteous soul…”
The word "vexed" is translated from the word that means: "To torture."
A righteous man does not enjoy being around sin. It is pure TORTURE for him.
Lot chose to live in Sodom because he thought it might be more profitable for his herds, but he was very unhappy there.
God was so displeased with the sin of the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, that He chose to turn them to ashes.
But before judgment fell, God made sure that Lot had a chance to escape.
The Bible is right; GOD KNOWS HOW TO DELIVER THE GODLY FROM THE TEMPTATIONS THEY FACE EACH DAY!
The Bible is full of accounts of God delivering His people from all kinds of temptation, when they would let Him.
The Lord not only knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations, but-
II. THE LORD KNOWS HOW TO RESERVE THE UNJUST UNTO THE DAY OF JUDGMENT TO BE PUNISHED
Look at verse 9. We read, “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished.”
This wicked society is living in sin in such a way, that we are bewildered as to why the Holy God of heaven does not send down fire and brimstone and destroy this society.
But God’s day of vengeance is coming. The Bible tells us in Romans 12:19, "…Vengeance is mine: I will repay, saith the Lord."
The Bible gives us a little insight as to how God intends to take care of the wicked.
Look at Isaiah 47:3. We read, "Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and I will not meet thee as a man.”
Notice, two things in this verse:
• No matter what sin you try to hide, God says He is going to uncover all THY NAKEDNESS one day, and all will be ashamed of their unrighteousness. We will see ourselves as God sees us.
• But also notice, He said, “…and I will not meet thee as a man.”
God will not deal with mankind as man to man. He will deal with mankind as a holy, righteous God.
IT IS INDEED A FEARFUL THING TO BE IN THE HANDS OF ANGRY GOD! When that times comes He will judge mankind harshly.
WHY WILL GOD JUDGE MANKIND HARSHLY? Because the things that mankind has done are harsh!
* PETER TELLS US OF SOME OF THE HARSH THINGS THEY HAVE DONE
A. THEY SPEAK EVIL OF HIS SERVANTS
Look at verse 10, we read, "But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust o uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are afraid to speak evil of dignities.”
Illus: Every Bible preacher will tell you that his biggest problem comes not from outside of the church, but from within. People who call themselves Christians, do all they can to undermine pastors in every way they can. These are the ones who “... are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.”
In verse 10, Peter lets us know why they do this. They are "presumptuous" and "self-willed." They do what even angels, "...which are greater in power and might..." do not dare to do.
Notice now what else Peter says about these people that God will judge harshly:
B. THEY BEHAVE LIKE WILD ANIMALS THAT DO NOT EVEN HAVE SOULS
Look at verse 12, "But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption.”
To the animals nothing is sacred. The "natural brute beasts," are "made to be taken and destroyed... "
C. THEY ARE LIKE A STAIN IN A BEAUTIFUL GARMENT
Look at verse 13, we read, “And 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.”
Illus: We have all seen a stain in a nice garment. Nothing can make the garment look good again.
Most churches have these big “splotches” in their churches. One pastor said, “With just one funeral, I could have the best church in town.” In some churches it would take more than that!
What are these stains? “… sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you.”
Peter is saying that they think they are smart, they think they are having their own way, but God is using their stupidity as a lesson to teach godly people not to be like those who are ungodly.
The "tares" will grow with the "wheat" until God feels the time is right to pluck the tares out.
D. THEY ARE DECEIVERS
Look at verse 14. We read, “Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children.”
Peter describes them as people, "...that cannot cease from sin: beguiling unstable souls... "
The adulterer goes from day to day looking for an opportunity to sin. They have chosen to live in sin because that is what they want to do.
The Lord knows all of the ungodly. And Peter assures us that the same way “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations”, also "THE LORD KNOWETH HOW TO RESERVE THE UNJUST UNTO THE JUDGMENT TO BE PUNISHED.”
* WHO ARE THE UNJUST?
A. THEY HAVE FORSAKEN THE WAYS OF THE LORD
Look at verses 15-16, we read, “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.”
Balaam is a real mystery. You can read about him in Numbers chapter 22.
This chapter reveals how Israel was traveling through Moab, and Balak became frightened because of their reputation and their large numbers. He knew that the prophet Balaam was able to bless or curse people. Balak sent for Balaam to come to him, but God told Balaam not to curse Israel because He had blessed them. Balak sent some other dignitaries and offered Balaam more. Balaam told them that he would not go against God even if Balak offered him a palace full of treasures, but instead of sending the men away, he told them, in verse 19, “Now therefore, I pray you. tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the Lord will say unto me more.”
He already had God's instructions, but now he makes room for Satan by putting them off a while to see if God would change His mind or alter His plans. This made God angry! God knew Balaam was motivated by the prospect of receiving money. God then allowed him to go. Balaam has gone down in history as "the best prophet that money could buy.” He forsook the ways of God.
B. THEY HAVE NO EVIDENCE OF SALVATION
Look at verse 17, we read, “These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.”
Peter was referring to the false teachers as being like wells without water, and clouds that float with the breeze. Whichever way the wind of popularity blows, they go in that direction.
Many who sit in church pews are that way - like wells without water! Year after year they come and sit for preaching, but never win anyone to Christ because they are empty spiritually. They appear to have something, but nothing is there. They are words without meaning.
Look at verse 18, we read, “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.”
Illus: Have you ever heard someone use big words, but he was not using them properly? It makes one seem to be unlearned. Peter is saying the false prophets use the “church words” such as, redemption, justification, edification, etc., but they are empty, without meaning.
People who do this are like parakeets. They repeat what they have heard, but they do not have the slightest idea of what they are talking about!
C. THEY MAKE MEANINGLESS PROMISES
Look at verses 19-20. We read, “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.”
Illus: They are like a man who is starving to death, who comes across another man who is also starving to death, and he promises to give him food. How can he help another starving man if he has nothing himself? Eventually the man who has put his faith in him will be in worse condition than the first man, because of the false hope he had.
D. THEY ARE DOOMED FOR ETERNITY
Look at verses 21-22, we read, “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.”
Church is a wonderful place, but it can also be a dangerous place. God will hold us accountable for the truth because we know the truth. Peter said it had been better for the one who had known the way of righteousness, not to have ever known it, than to have known it and turn from it.
That man who knows the truth in his head, but does not have it in his heart, will always reveal his true colors.
The Bible says he is like a dog that turns back and eats his own vomit. He is like a sow that has been washed, but returns to roll in the mire.
Illus: Pastors all across this nation will tell you that preaching to some folks is like preaching to a brick wall. Year after year they hear the glorious promises of God's Word, yet they leave God's house and return to their sin, just as the dog returns to his vomit, or the washed pig returns to his mud hole.
God knows those who are like this. God has reserved a special time and place when He is going to deal with those who have never been saved.
Illus: One pastor shared with me about a group of people who were trying to destroy his church. They would do everything they could do to disrupt or destroy God’s church, and afterward would gather at a restaurant and laugh about what they had done.
Those people have no idea of what they are going to face when they stand before the Lord. He is reserving a special time to take care of them!
Conclusion:
How about you? Have you accepted Christ? Is He delivering you out of the temptation of sin, or is He reserving a time and place to deal with you.
I. THE LORD KNOWS HOW TO DELIVER THE GODLY OUT OF TEMPTATIONS
II. THE LORD KNOWS HOW TO RESERVE THE UNJUST UNTO THE DAY OF JUDGMENT TO BE PUNISHED
