February 24, 2008
Sun Oak Baptist Church

Introduction

        Please see previous weeks’ sermon notes for Roman numerals’ I and II.

        Peter’s description of false teachers was written almost 2,000 years ago, but it is as relevant to us today as if Peter had written it just yesterday. He makes 3 strategically aimed points about false teachers here at the end of chapter 2:

I. The empty doctrine of false teachers. 2:17-18

II. The empty promises of false teachers. 2:19

III. The inevitable end of false teachers. See 2:20-22.

        Problems here: some people consider the reference to dogs and pigs too graphic an illustration. Where’s the love? Some pastors, theologians, and lay people use verses 20-21 to teach that a Christian can lose their salvation – but as we will see, losing one’s salvation is not what Peter is talking about here. In fact it’s just the opposite: this is a warning about false conversion – it’s yet another warning against going through life thinking we are a Christian when in fact we’re not.

        Now how can we know what Peter is talking about here?

        A. First: because the context of these verses is Peter’s discussion of         false teachers.

                1. Explanation of sound hermeneutics – how we interpret the                 Bible. Context; grammar; historical context; and Scripture must                 interpret Scripture.

                2. The preposition “they” can refer to false believers (2:18) or                 false teachers (context).

        B. Second – because of the under-lying Biblical principle: it is         possible for people to gain knowledge of Jesus Christ, to have some         level of understanding about the Gospel, and not be saved. This is a         warning against false conversion. Let’s look at 2 reasons why.

                1. Reason #1: all the way through Scripture we find examples of                 God’s word addressing the condition of people that think they                 are a child of God, and they are not.

                Examples: Pharisee’s; people born Israelites; King Saul; the                 prophet Balaam; Matt. 12:43-45; Matt. 13:3-9 & 18-23; Acts                 8:4-25.

                2. Reason #2: the grammar – Peter’s use of the word “know.”

        C. Third: because of Peter’s comparison of false teachers to pigs and         dogs. This illustration vividly describes why the false teachers make         the choice to reject God’s truth. Read 2:22.

                1. The Jewish people of Peter’s day detested both dogs and                 pigs. A dog was a scavenger (1st Kings 21:19) and pigs were                 ritually unclean under the OT law (Lev. 11:7).

                2. A dog will always be a dog; a pig always be a pig – and it’s                 exactly the same thing for false teachers – and false teachers.

                3. Peter explained the dynamics of the new nature earlier in this                 letter (1:3-4). The new nature produces a godly life that brings                 glory to God and prevents believers from returning to the                 immoral pigpen of paganism.

                4. A person’s character and conduct have their source in what                 that person is by nature. He or she may be able to put on an                 outward demeanor that deceives, but not for long. Conduct                 must eventually revert to type. As the proverb says: “For as he                 thinks in his heart, so is he” (Prov. 23:7).

Conclusion