Get Me Outta’ This

Dec. 29

Read: 2 Peter 2:4-10

Get Me Outta’ This

“…the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment…” (v.9)

The only fit consequence for unrighteousness is punishment and judgement. This is why it is so crucial for us as adopted sons and daughters of God to receive the truth that JESUS has taken our sin (our un-right-eousness) from us and given us HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS as our own. We are clothed in the righteousness of Christ. This is the prophetic promise of God given in Isaiah and fulfilled in Christ: “…for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness…” (Is. 61:10) Christ is GOD’S promised rescuing of his people from trials. “The Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials.”

Peter gives us three examples of how false teaching leads to destruction here: the angels who rebelled, the flood, and Sodom and Gomorrah. All of these represent a situation where MANY were led astray by false teaching and into rebellion against the Lord. Take for instance the angels that caved under the persuasion of Lucifer and rebelled against the Lord. What was God’s response? “(God) cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment…” Those angels who remained loyal to the Lord continue on to this day serving him! The next 2 examples are human ones. During the “ancient days” of Noah, God sent a flood that destroyed ALMOST every living thing on earth, but the Lord brought Noah and his family safely through. The Lord made a way for them. He warned them. Why Noah? The scriptures say he was a “herald of righteousness”. (v.5) The last example is the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and God’s sparing Lot. Once again God warned his people of what was coming and then called them into action. For both Noah and Lot rescue also required obedience… if you don’t believe me just ask Lot’s wife! Or imagine if Noah had NOT built an ark. In the face of ridicule and disbelief, both Noah and Lot had to persevere and obey while clinging to what was true and right.

The end result of false teaching is always discipline, judgement, and destruction. Sometimes it takes time to unfold, but remember, “Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.” (v. 2:3) These examples from long ago represent the same condemnation from the Lord today, that is precisely what Peter is saying here. The “destruction” that is coming for those not clothed with Christ’s righteousness is not “asleep” but very much awake and making its way towards the world even as we speak. As children of God we need NOT FEAR because the “the Lord knows how to rescue the godly”. What does this “rescue” look like? Trusting God and taking him at his word. Being obedient in the face of mounting pressure and ridicule. Holding high the righteousness of God even when it may not be popular. Avoiding false teaching by listening to the Spirit, studying the scriptures, and being meaningfully a part of Christian community. Lot’s rescue meant he had to pack up and run without looking back. Noah’s rescue looked like building an ark and getting on it. Both required obedience and action.

There is a “prevailing wind” within the people of God these days that seems to stoke the idea that sin is not that big of a deal and that “false theology”… or theology in general… doesn’t really matter. Remember the examples given by Peter? Lucifer is the prototype of the false teacher. Lucifer and the rebellious angels (aka demons) are the prototypical example of ones led astray. Lucifer has been in the business of trying to trick whomever he can into thinking the darkness is light and that the true light is darkness. Lucifer has been trying to make what is EVIL look virtuous from the dawn of time. He did this to Adam and Eve and he does it to us. Society runs the risk of championing as virtuous what is actually evil and destructive. The church / the people of God run the same risk. We must not be duped into labeling something “good” that is actually evil. Make no mistake, God WILL destroy those who are corrupted by false teaching. Denying the teachings of the Lord IS denying the Lord himself. There is no being clothed with the righteousness of Christ while at the sometime denying him! In some ways, these are the “unpopular” ideas of our day the same way that Noah and Lot had their own opposition.

“Thanks be to God” for his unspeakable gift in Christ! (cf. Rom. 7:25) The unrighteous will “remain under punishment until the day of judgement”, but God’s children - made new in Jesus - will be “rescued from trials”. We are clothed in Christ’s righteousness, and that means obeying his commands and enduring the pressure that comes when trusting his word is not “popular” or “politically correct”. These are opportunities to watch God work powerfully, and to share the hope we have that is rooted in Christ… not in the aimless pursuit of our fleshly desires. I believe that God is calling a people to himself and that many are eager to hear of the hope, freedom, and rescue that comes in Jesus. When those around us begin to wake up to the emptiness of the worlds ways… the ways of Lucifer… may we be ready with the message of new life in the Kingdom of God through Christ and not a bunch of “I told you so’s”. Love you guys. - JDP