2 Peter 2:2

2 Peter 2:2 ‘And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be maligned;'

‘And many will follow' -(Matthew 7:13).

Points to Note:

False doctrine spreads! Not only do they bring destruction upon themselves, but they also bring it upon others. 2. ‘Follow'-‘Following close at their heels, imitating and copying their ways..'(Oberst p. 296) 3. We should put little confidence in numbers, the majority opinion, the ‘mainstream', or the ‘great middle section of the Church.' 4. In addition, we cannot accept the naïve belief that there are only. few false teachers in the world today and that they have. very limited influence.

‘sensuality' -‘denotes excess, absence of restraint, indecency, wantonness, the prominent idea is shameless conduct.' (Vine p. 310).

Points to Note:

It doesn't necessarily mean that these men are living in the gutter, but their teachings encourage the casting off of restraint and rules. 2. The ethics and morality of such men have become. matter of private choice or personal opinion. The key words they use are ‘self-expression', ‘fulfillment', rather than purity and obedience. ‘If there is no longer. master to please, then there will only be ourselves to please; and if someone starts speaking. message that flatters people rather than calling them to repentance and faith, and that encourages them to enjoy their darkest and most secret wishes rather than hard discipleship and learning, it will not be surprising that many will follow. Such. message makes no demands other than the ones we want to make on ourselves..' (Lucas/Green p. 90) 3. Such individuals have the habit of claiming that their opponents don't understand ‘grace'. That ‘grace' will cover the person in error, sin or we don't have to worry about doctrinal deviations, for grace will take care of that (Judges 1:4). 4. As. modern example, note what is happening in the denominations, where people presently involved in homosexual practices are being accepted and even appointed to positions of leadership.

‘the way of truth will be maligned' -‘reviled at, railed at' (Thayer p. 102). ‘and thereby bring discredit on the way of truth' (Phi).

Points to Note:

Non-Christians are very perspective, they can tell when religion has become nothing more than. blanket, behind which habitual sinners are hiding. They aren't fooled by new definitions of grace or love. Neither are they impressed by high-sounding arguments. If professed ‘Christians' are as immoral as people in the world, then what they profess is. sham. 2. ‘The theme of God's name being blasphemed by the heathen because of the unsatisfactory life of His people is. commonplace in the Bible (Romans 2:24; Isaiah 2:5).' (Green p. 95) (See also 1 Timothy 6:1 and Titus 2:4) 3. Christianity is ‘the way of truth', not, ‘one of the ways of truth' (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). 4. Christianity contains ‘objective truth'.

In contrast to what Peter says, notice what some are saying today: ‘faith is more. matter of intuition and feeling than of logic and reason…we will not win this fight for faith if we wage it on the basis of reason'. [Note: William S. Banowsky, former president of Pepperdine University. 1996 Abilene Lectures.]