2 Peter 2:10-22

“--especially those who indulge their flesh in depraved lust, and who despise authority. Bold and willful, they are not afraid to slander the glorious ones, whereas angels, though greater in might and power, do not bring against them a slanderous judgment from the Lord. These people, however, are like irrational animals, mere creatures of instinct, born to be caught and killed. They slander what they do not understand, and when those creatures are destroyed, they also will be destroyed, suffering the penalty for doing wrong. They count it a pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their dissipation while they feast with you. They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children! They have left the straight road and have gone astray, following the road of Balaam son of Bosor, who loved the wages of doing wrong, but was rebuked for his own transgression; a speechless donkey spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet's madness.
These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm; for them the deepest darkness has been reserved. For they speak bombastic nonsense, and with licentious desires of the flesh they entice people who have just escaped from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption; for people are slaves to whatever masters them. For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overpowered, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment that was passed on to them. It has happened to them according to the true proverb, "The dog turns back to its own vomit," and, “The sow is washed only to wallow in the mud." (NRSV)

There are several times in the New Testament where the Spirit writes a rather lengthy description about those who refuse to put their sin aside and instead embrace their sin as a lifestyle. Here Peter is obviously talking about those who once committed their lives and cause to that of Christ: “They have left the straight road and have gone astray” (v. 15). This means that this choice to turn my back on the Lord could be my choice! This is a warning for every believer. And it is not a warning of “but for the grace of God go I.” It is a warning about indulging one’s flesh.

Here are their characteristics:

• They indulge the flesh
• They despise authority
• They slander what they do not understand
• They count it a pleasure to revel in the daytime. (This word “revel” means also to enfeeble the mind and body with indulgence.)
• They overindulge with pleasure (reveling in their dissipation)
• They train their hearts for greed.
• They speak bombastic nonsense
• They indulge their licentious desires of the flesh (adultery, fornication, and the like, focusing on the indulgences of sexual desire)
• They have known the commandments of God, but have ignored them

What is antithetical to these characteristics?

• To be disciplined in body and mind: 1 Cor. 9:27: “I punish my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others I myself should not be disqualified.” 2 Cor. 10:5: “we take every thought captive to obey Christ.”
• To be submissive to every authority: Romans 13:1-2: “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities; for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists authority resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.” 1 Peter 2:13-14: “For the Lord's sake accept the authority of every human institution, whether of the emperor as supreme, or of governors, as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right.” 1 Peter 2:18: “Slaves, accept the authority of your masters with all deference, not only those who are kind and gentle but also those who are harsh.”
• To control one’s tongue: James 1:19-20, 26: “You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God's righteousness. . . . If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless.”
• To discipline oneself with training: 1 Tim. 4:7b-8: “Train yourself in godliness, for, while physical training is of some value, godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”
• To not only know the commands of God, but to implement them in one’s life: James 1:22: “But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.”

Many churches teach that once we are saved, we are secure and need not worry about anything. Those churches teach that if someone “strays” from the path, that person was actually never really saved. Other churches teach that it is possible for a believer to backslide to such extent as to place salvation at great risk, even to lose it. Either way, there is risk for us who have chosen to put our fleshly desires ahead of our spiritual state! The choice of doctrine isn’t nearly as important as the fruit in our lives. Unfortunately, we live in a society that believes indulgence is normal, expected, even that we are entitled to it, that it is our right! As believers we must deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow the Lord Who denied even His rights at every turn. Rather than assert ourselves, we need to dig deeper everyday into God’s Word, submitting to Him in prayer every concern, and then learning where we can again deny ourselves in order to bring Him glory.

© 2009 Robin L. O’Hare. All rights reserved. Permission granted for nonprofit and church groups to use this article in its entirety (including this notice). For other uses, please contact servinggodalone@yahoo.com.