Lesson 29
Second Peter
Warning against dangers
facing the Church
- Need to identify who is in view here; them
= the new believers spoken of in vs:18 whom the F/T’s are seeking to dominate
with their false teaching.
- While they refers to the
false teachers
All their promises are in direct contrast to God’s valuable and exceedingly
great promises made to the believer 2 Pet 1:4.
while
they themselves are slaves of corruption; refers to the F/T’s
- corruption (fqora,) depravity,
corruption that results from the
continuous rulership of the sin nature
promising
them freedom while they themselves continually exist as slaves of corruption
(from sin nature rulership)
for
by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved.
- Now we must ask
and answer the question, what is the mechanic in view that set all this in
motion? Through the many volitional
choices made to ensure the ongoing sin nature’s rulership and pursuing its
various lusts and cravings.
by
this he is enslaved. Perfect passive
indicative (doulo,w) has been enslaved
- this speaks of the total mastery of the volition and
therefore the person by the sin nature’s rulership.
Same basic principle
found in Rom 6:16
The
Options for Life -
states a basic principle; one we all know
Believer has two
options here; the choice one makes points out who is the master!
#1 to present himself
as slave to sin - the old nature!
#2 to present himself
as slave, obedient to God.
-
Read 6:16a Who
is the someone? The
who is not the issue here at all!
Reason is
that Paul is dealing with a general
principle that applies to all; he isn't trying to point to anyone in
particular.
-
Do you see anything here that would indicate compulsion to serve? No!
"You present yourselves,
pari,sthmi you put yourselves at the disposal of
someone, your choice! [Active voice]
-
In the last part of the verse Paul shifts from principle to practice;
"Someone" & "one" are replaced with sin or obedience;
Read v.16b
-
So the issue is quite simple; its either
operating in sin or obedience; sharp, crisp distinction;
no gray area here!
-
When you get it right down to where the rubber meets the road; at any point you have 2 options; to choose
to sin or be obedient; either obey the word or not! Obey God or Go your own way!
- This
last part of the verse points out the seriousness of the case; either
of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?
The question is, Who is your master; sin or obedience?
#1 sin results in death
#2 obedience results in righteousness
Summary
1. The freedom
that is promised is not the freedom we enjoy from relationship with Christ and
truth but from license to pursue our own individual bent of our sin nature
unrestrained. John 8:32-36; Gal 5:1, 13
2. They advise the
individual to abandon their inhibitions, which leads to moral license.
3. Having
abandoned the establishment, they despise authority (
4. They teach that sin is only defined by the culture one
lives in.
5. By pursuing the
lusts of sin nature the believer is brought into an inferior position in CWOL
in that they are defeated and enslaved.
6. Only the
advancing believer with BD, DVPT, has the provision so that we can be free from
the slavery to lust pattern of the sin nature.
7. The reality of
this freedom is only realized when that BD, the identification truths are
believed and applied. Rom
8. The advancing
believer has no allusions about themselves and recognizes their weaknesses,
their areas of vulnerability and through their consistent pursuit of BD they
seek to build up defense to combat these areas.
9. So freedom and
liberty is the result of the positive advancing believer converting truth, BD,
into reality through its application in their life.
Principles of
Freedom related to the believer in Phase 2
[Drawn from a study of elutheria (n) eluqeroj (adj) and eluqerow (vb)]
1. The unbeliever
is totally subject to the slavery of their sin nature, but Christ has set us
free breaking the power of the sin nature.
Gal 5:1
2. As a result we
are not to be enslaved, under the yoke of the sin nature. Gal 5:13
- it is not the will of God for us to be dominated
by the sin nature
3. The indwelling
Holy Spirit that we received at salvation by every believer, it is His ministry
in our life that is the potential for this liberty and freedom. 2 Cor
- its potential, He
indwells all but does He empower the
life making the freedom real
4. The Word of God
is the perfect, complete (teleioj) law of liberty
freedom. Jas 1:25
- looks
intently Spiritually would indicate
the believer in Bible class intent on gaining every principle, every point of
BD in the passage being taught.
- abides by it not
becoming a forgetful hearer, no application
5. The freedom the believer gains through Christ
and a BD’l frame of reference si
not to be distorted into giving the sin nature opportunity to function or use
that freedom as a pretext for evil. 1 Pet 2:16
6. As believers we will be judged, evaluated as
per the perfect law of liberty. Jas 2:12
- that will be the standard of
evaluation not only in time but at the JSC
2Cor
7. Legalism always
enslaves but BD applied under the empowering ministry of the H/S provides
freedom. Gal 2:4
- external standards established
by man to empress God and to empress or control others
8. False teachers
preach freedom from any restrictions which only produces
slavery to the sin nature. 2 Pet
9. Instead of
being slaves to the sin nature we are to be slaves to God which produces
benefit in life, experiential righteousness, DGP. Rom
- this slavery to God brings
into view the integrity and honor of the believer in f2 that is DGP which will be rewarded at the JSC.
10. Freedom for the believer often involves restraint of
legitimate activity in order to not become a stumbling block to a new or
immature believer.
Prin stated in 1 Cor 8:9; 1 Cor
11. The equality
of freemen and slaves is only found in our being in Christ, our union with
Christ. 1 Cor