Some of Scripture’s strongest encouragements come in the middle of some of its darkest passages. 2 Peter 2:1-11 is one such passage. It contains one of the darkest and most foreboding condemnations of false teachers, but Peter wrote it to encourage us. We see this when we get to verse nine, but to truly appreciate the bright letters, we must understand the dark canvas upon which they are written.
Peter is writing to believers under fierce persecution. Up to this point in his letter, he has told them that God has provided everything they need pertaining to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). Peter has encouraged them to grow in faith and holiness (2 Peter 1:5-8). He then told them the rock upon which all this stands is the Word of God. Delivered by the prophets and apostles, no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man. Instead, men spoke as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:19-21). But there have always been false prophets, and they still exist in our day.
False teachers are deceptive. They secretly bring in destructive heresies (2 Peter 2:1). And “secretly” is the key word. They slowly introduce either their false teaching or their approval of licentious living. They do it patiently and methodically not to attract notice, but it will ultimately lead to destruction. Not only their own destruction, but many will follow their sensuality and be destroyed (2 Peter 2:2).
These false teachers may claim to be blood-bought children of God, but they deny the Master who bought them (2 Peter 2:1). They may say they have been ransomed from futile ways (1 Peter 1:18-19), but they are living in futility. And that is Peter writing that sentence. He knows all about denying his master, and it caused him to weep bitterly, but not these teachers. Bold and willful, they do not tremble (2 Peter 2:10). Their condemnation is from long ago. It is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep (2 Peter 2:3).
God has shown from ancient days that the wicked will be judged. Even though the angels are much more glorious than us, they were not spared when they sinned. Peter uses poetic language when he says they were “committed to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment” (2 Peter 2:4). They may still operate in their pride, but like prisoners on death row, they are waiting for the execution of the final judgment.
It was not only with the angels that God showed he would judge the wicked. He did not spare the ancient world when he destroyed it with a flood, saving only eight souls on the ark. He also turned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes and condemned them to extinction (2 Peter 2:6) because they indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire (Jude 7). In light of these three examples, no one who denies Christ or lives in sin should expect to escape. This teaching is the dark canvas on which the bright words are written.
As believers, we know it is hard to stand in such a world, especially when we are so prone to fall ourselves. Although imperfect, Lot is considered a righteous man in Scripture (2 Peter 2:8). He saw and heard the lawless deeds in Sodom and Gomorrah and even made some questionable decisions himself. Still, he tormented his righteous soul over the sin he saw and heard (2 Peter 2:8).
Then shines this glorious truth. The Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials (2 Peter 2:9). He can even rescue us from our own sinfulness. In fact, he often uses the trials to rescue us. They test and purify our faith, which is worth more than gold (1 Peter 1:6-7). He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (1 Peter 1:3). There is an inheritance kept for us, and, even more importantly, we are being kept by God for the inheritance (1 Peter 1:4-5). He knows how to rescue the godly. He has borne our sin, and his righteousness is counted as ours. He has begun the work of sanctification in us, and he will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6). He will bring us safely home through all the false teachers and sinful behavior surrounding us.
The contrast here is striking. In the same way the judgment of the wicked is sure, the salvation of those who trust Christ is also sure. The condemnation of the sinner has been attested to from long ago. The destruction does not sleep for those who will not repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ—the Lord holds them under punishment until the day of judgment (2 Peter 2:9). Especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passions and despise authority (2 Peter 2:10).
Though most of the verses in this passage highlight the punishment of the wicked, with the same certainty that the sinner will be punished, there is the same certainty that those who turn to Christ will be saved. He knows how to rescue the godly from this fallen world. He brought Noah and seven others safely through the waters of judgment, spared righteous Lot from the punishment of eternal fire, and will save us as well.
Look to Christ to be your everything, and let no false teacher secretly lure you with false words and sensuality. Sometimes, the godly must live in a difficult situation, and sometimes, the wicked prosper, but God knows how to rescue the godly, and he will punish the wicked. Come to him today if you do not know him, and continue looking to your Savior if you do.
-D. Eaton
The Fight of Faith 
AMEN!
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