The Essential Elements of Foundational Truth By Pastor Dan Kennedy © December 3, 2017 www.pastorkennedy.com Recently we visited a delightful relative who is a kidney specialist, a Nephrologist. In discussing the amazing attributes of our kidneys (which we seldom consider – but simply take for granted), she drew a diagram and explained how our kidneys function. God blessed us with two kidneys because of their extreme importance for life. We also have two eyes, and vision is extremely important, but not as important as our kidneys. With only one eye, we may lose depth perception, but the loss of both eyes does not mean we will also lose our life. Surviving with one kidney can be somewhat normal; but, we cannot continue to live if we lose the function of both kidneys and have no dialysis. Every day, all of the blood in our body circulates many times into our kidneys through our arteries (normally some 150 liters of fluid a day), and, into and out of a million tiny filters neatly tucked into each kidney, called nephrons. (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kidney) Through an intricate, profoundly delicate filtration process, our blood circulating through the kidney is analyzed, filtered, cleansed and sent on its way. Healthy vitamins, fluids and nourishment are identified, secreted back and reabsorbed into our bloodstream to be transported out through our veins and capillaries, as continued nourishment and waste cleanup for every cell in our body. Toxins, excess water and metabolic wastes are identified and excreted during this process, to be flushed out of our body through the ureter, a tube that carries excreted urine to the bladder. Only God could create such a marvelous, intricate and vital organ! We seldom know our kidneys are there unless they are disturbed in some way and cause discomfort! What do kidneys have to do with this message? Peter’s Justifiable “Rant” Peter is known to have spoken rashly at times, as Jesus’ disciple (Matt. 16:21-23; Luke 22:24-34) and Jesus openly corrected him. Today we will be visiting a chapter in the Bible that Peter wrote, which I will crudely, but honestly label as, “Peter’s Justifiable and Legitimate Rant against those who teach False Doctrine.” Bad Spiritual Toxins are filtered out by Sound Biblical Doctrine Why did the Apostle Peter speak so strongly against those who taught false doctrine? Sound Doctrine for the Biblical Christian is comparable to the filtration units of the kidneys, found in the body. Sound doctrine separates and sorts out the good that God wants us to know from the toxins that will most surely cause spiritual illness or death to those who embrace deceptive and destructive spiritual teachings. Belief and Behavior One of the books, highlighted this year, for many in our Tuesday morning Women’s Bible Study group, written by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, gives insight regarding a healthy understanding of the concept of “doctrine.” So, what’s your first reaction to the word doctrine? Sound dull? Dry? Divisive or disagreeable? Maybe you share the sentiment of a man who once told a friend of mine, “At our church we don’t preach doctrine. We just love Jesus.” But the fact is, every one of us and every situation we encounter in life is fueled by some kind of doctrine. It is the ground we stand on and we build our lives. Your kids may go to public schools – supposedly religion-free zones. But don’t think for a minute that doctrine is not being taught in secular grade schools, high schools, and colleges. Every course taught in every school is informed by some sort of doctrinal framework. The afternoon talk shows have a doctrine. The evening dramas and sitcoms have a doctrine. Books on the New York Times bestsellers list, just like the ones on the feature display at your local Christian bookstore, all contain doctrine. Even atheists have a doctrine. Not a good doctrine, but a doctrine that leads them to certain conclusions and values and that determines the way they think and live. Doctrine, you see, simply means teaching. It’s the content of what we believe, the understanding of reality that shapes our faith. Like soil in a garden, doctrine provides the context for growing character. …Bad doctrine, bad fruit. Good doctrine, good fruit. Sound Doctrine, or Spiritual Teaching tells us: Who we are Who God is What it means to be a Christian What the Gospel Is Who Jesus Is Why He Came Why He Died Why He Lives Again (Adorned, Living Out the Beauty of the Gospel Together, by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, Moody Publishers, Chicago, pgs. 32-33; pgs. 37-38) Let’s Look at “Peter’s Justifiable and Legitimate Rant against those to teach False Doctrine” in 2 Peter 2 False Teachers are Unavoidable – they will be everywhere (v. 1a) 2 Peter 2: 1 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. False Teachers like to Cloak their Heresies to Look Good and Acceptable (v. 1b) They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. False Teachers will be Popular with Many, and bring Disrepute to the Truth (v. 2-3a) 2 Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. God will bring Just Condemnation on False Teachers, in His Time (v. 3b) Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. Peter gives Biblical Examples of God’s Timely Judgment against False Deceivers and the Ungodly A. Judgment of the Fallen Angels (v. 4) Genesis 6:1–4 6 When men began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose. 3 Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal; his days will be a hundred and twenty years.” 4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of men and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown. (see “The Book of Enoch”: a pseudepigraphal, noncanonical, apocryphal, apocalyptic writing) Jude 6 (ESV) 6 And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day— 2 Peter 2:4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment; B. Universal Judgment of the Global Flood (v. 5) Genesis 6:5–8 5 The Lord saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. 6 The Lord was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. 7 So the Lord said, “I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth—men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air—for I am grieved that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. 2 Peter 2:5 if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; C. Local Judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah (vs. 6-8) 6 if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; 7 and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men 8 (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— The Godly Will Be Rescued; The Unrighteous Will Be Held for The Day of Judgment (v. 9) 9 if this is so (Godly Judgment), then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment. Characteristics of False Teachers Observed by Peter They are Corrupt and Despise Authority (v. 10a) 10 This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority. They are Bold, Arrogant, Celestial Slanderers, and Blasphemers of what they cannot comprehend (vs. 10b-12a) Bold and arrogant, these men are not afraid to slander celestial beings; 11 yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not bring slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord. 12 But these men blaspheme in matters they do not understand. Judgment Is Awaiting Them They will Perish (v. 12b) They are like brute beasts, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts they too will perish. They will be paid back (v. 13a) 13 They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. The Godless Person’s Idea of Pleasure They have no shame when they Carouse openly (v. 13b) Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They Revel in their sensual pleasures (vs. 13c-14a) They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you. 14 With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; They Seduce the weak (v. 14b) they seduce the unstable; They are Experts in Greed (v. 14c) they are experts in greed—an accursed brood! They Wander off the Godly way for money – Example: Balaam (vs. 15-16) 15 They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness. 16 But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—a beast without speech—who spoke with a man’s voice and restrained the prophet’s madness. Peter Reveals what False Teachers and the Godless Really Are Springs without water (v. 17a) 17 These men are springs without water Mists driven by a storm (v. 17b) and mists driven by a storm. Reserved for the Blackest Darkness (v. 17c) Blackest darkness is reserved for them. Boastful and Appeal to the Sensual Carnal Flesh (v. 18a) 18 For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, Entice the Weak and Promise Freedom – while living in their own bondage (vs. 18b-19) they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. 19 They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. They say they Profess Faith – but instead, are Warped, Entangled and Overcome by Sin (vs. 20-22) 20 If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. 21 It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. 22 Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.” Peter wants all of us to know the terrible outcomes for those who teach false doctrine, and to those who fall prey to the deception of false doctrine. How terrible it would be for someone to believe something with all their heart…to only find out – too late, it was made up by a carnal charlatan, and that deceptive belief was eternally damning for their own soul. Peter had a right to become upset! The best way to avoid false doctrine and to understand how God wants us to live and perceive what He wants us to know about Himself is by understanding and knowing God’s Word for ourselves! Read God’s Word for Yourself – every day, and ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten you to its meaning! Be Careful Who You Listen To Don’t attend just any church or home Bible Study. Attend a congregation or Bible Study that teaches Sound Doctrine from God’s Word, the Bible. Palimpsesting Sound Doctrine More than two hundred years before Christ, the renowned Greek mathematician, Archimedes, wrote down some of his theories, which, 10 Centuries later were copied again by an unknown scribe on a goatskin parchment. Three hundred years following that, a monk by the name of Johannes Myronas needed something on which to write his own book of prayers. He found this parchment and other discarded old skins (most likely in a storage room), and promptly went about to recycle the manuscript, carefully cutting the skins in half and turning the pieces sideways to form his own book. He then scraped off the older manuscript to have a clear space to copy his own prayers. This technique to reuse old parchment is known as “palimpsesting”. Hundreds of years later, in the Twentieth Century, some enterprising forgers again found the forgotten goatskin parchment, now a book of prayers, while savaging through a variety of artifacts, and since folks tend to pay a higher price for ancient religious pictures, rather than a book of prayer from a lowly monk, they painted gold iconic pictures right on top of the writing in his prayer book. It was obvious to those who deal with antiquities, that the parchment had been “palimpsest” where older texts has been scraped off to make room for “newer” words, so researchers have scanned the privately owned documents under X-ray fluorescence, a million times more powerful than traditional medical X-rays, to reveal the pattern of the atomic iron residue used in the ink of the scribe used to transcribe Archimedes’ document and so illumine the original work. “When the X-rays hit an iron atom it emits a characteristic radiation, it glows,” says Dr. Bergmann. “when you record the glow, you can reconstruct an image of all of the iron in the book.” The glowing words are displayed on a computer screen, giving the researchers the first glimpse of the text in nearly 800 years. “It’s like receiving a fax from the 3rd Century BC,” said Mr. Noel. “It’s the most sensational feeling.” This overwritten book contains at least seven treatises by Archimedes. The erased texts also include two treatises that can be found nowhere else, The Method and Stomachion. (see http://www.archimedespalimpsest.org/about/) Sound Doctrine has also been “palimpsest” at various times in human history. Some have scraped off Truth and added layers of tradition, commercialism, and yes, even one’s own religious rituals and fallacious doctrines, right over the top of the original meaning! The forgers of the world have thought that this would make Christianity more materialistically valuable. In doing so false religions and philosophies have systematically scraped away the original intent and most precious elements of the Gospel of Christ, His death for our sins and victorious resurrection! May the Holy Spirit apply the intense light of His revelation – a million times brighter than our own understanding, on the reality of Christ, and the foundational stability of Sound Biblical Doctrine! Guard the Good Deposit of Sound Teaching, Faith and Love in Christ Jesus 2 Timothy 1:13–14 13 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. Entrust Sound Doctrine to Other Reliable Teachers 2 Timothy 2:1–2 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. Be Approved, Unashamed, and One Who Correctly Handles God’s Word – not a quarreler or one who indulges in godless chatter and wanders away from the Truth! 2 Timothy 2:14–19 14 Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 17 Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.” Paul’s Final Charge to Timothy 2 Timothy 4:2–5 2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. Paul’s Charge to Titus Titus 2:1 2 1 You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. Titus 1:9 Paul’s Instruction to Titus regarding New Elders in Crete 9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. Remember How We Should Develop True Spiritual Maturity? We began reviewing 2 Peter a few weeks ago, with the Apostle giving us the challenge of building into our faith seven spiritual qualities which will keep us from being ineffective and unproductive in our knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, will keep us from stumbling, and will give us a rich welcome into the Eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:5-7 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. Add to your Faith Goodness (Virtue) Knowledge Self-control Perseverance Godliness Brotherly Kindness Love  Know, Study and Meditate on God’s Word. Understand Sound Doctrine. Bad Spiritual Toxins are filtered out by Sound Biblical Doctrine All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16

The Essential Elements of Foundational Truth

By Pastor Dan Kennedy

www.pastorkennedy.com

Recently we visited a delightful relative who is a kidney specialist, a Nephrologist. In discussing the amazing attributes of our kidneys (which we seldom consider – but simply take for granted), she drew a diagram and explained how our kidneys function.

God blessed us with two kidneys because of their extreme importance for life. We also have two eyes, and vision is extremely important, but not as important as our kidneys. With only one eye, we may lose depth perception, but the loss of both eyes does not mean we will also lose our life. Surviving with one kidney can be somewhat normal; but, we cannot continue to live if we lose the function of both kidneys and have no dialysis.

Every day, all of the blood in our body circulates many times into our kidneys through our arteries (normally some 150 liters of fluid a day), and, into and out of a million tiny filters neatly tucked into each kidney, called nephrons. (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kidney)

Through an intricate, profoundly delicate filtration process, our blood circulating through the kidney is analyzed, filtered, cleansed and sent on its way. Healthy vitamins, fluids and nourishment are identified, secreted back and reabsorbed into our bloodstream to be transported out through our veins and capillaries, as continued nourishment and waste cleanup for every cell in our body.

Toxins, excess water and metabolic wastes are identified and excreted during this process, to be flushed out of our body through the ureter, a tube that carries excreted urine to the bladder.

Only God could create such a marvelous, intricate and vital organ! We seldom know our kidneys are there unless they are disturbed in some way and cause discomfort!

What do kidneys have to do with this message?

Peter’s Justifiable “Rant”

Peter is known to have spoken rashly at times, as Jesus’ disciple (Matt. 16:21-23; Luke 22:24-34) and Jesus openly corrected him.

Today we will be visiting a chapter in the Bible that Peter wrote, which I will crudely, but honestly label as, “Peter’s Justifiable and Legitimate Rant against those who teach False Doctrine.”

Bad Spiritual Toxins are filtered out by Sound Biblical Doctrine

Why did the Apostle Peter speak so strongly against those who taught false doctrine? Sound Doctrine for the Biblical Christian is comparable to the filtration units of the kidneys, found in the body. Sound doctrine separates and sorts out the good that God wants us to know from the toxins that will most surely cause spiritual illness or death to those who embrace deceptive and destructive spiritual teachings.

Belief and Behavior

One of the books, highlighted this year, for many in our Tuesday morning Women’s Bible Study group, written by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, gives insight regarding a healthy understanding of the concept of “doctrine.”

So, what’s your first reaction to the word doctrine? Sound dull? Dry? Divisive or disagreeable? Maybe you share the sentiment of a man who once told a friend of mine, “At our church we don’t preach doctrine. We just love Jesus.”

But the fact is, every one of us and every situation we encounter in life is fueled by some kind of doctrine. It is the ground we stand on and we build our lives.

Your kids may go to public schools – supposedly religion-free zones. But don’t think for a minute that doctrine is not being taught in secular grade schools, high schools, and colleges. Every course taught in every school is informed by some sort of doctrinal framework.

The afternoon talk shows have a doctrine. The evening dramas and sitcoms have a doctrine. Books on the New York Times bestsellers list, just like the ones on the feature display at your local Christian bookstore, all contain doctrine. Even atheists have a doctrine. Not a good doctrine, but a doctrine that leads them to certain conclusions and values and that determines the way they think and live.

Doctrine, you see, simply means teaching. It’s the content of what we believe, the understanding of reality that shapes our faith. Like soil in a garden, doctrine provides the context for growing character.

…Bad doctrine, bad fruit. Good doctrine, good fruit.

Sound Doctrine, or Spiritual Teaching tells us:

•Who we are
•Who God is
•What it means to be a Christian
•What the Gospel Is
•Who Jesus Is
•Why He Came
•Why He Died
•Why He Lives Again

(Adorned, Living Out the Beauty of the Gospel Together, by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, Moody Publishers, Chicago, pgs. 32-33; pgs. 37-38)

Let’s Look at “Peter’s Justifiable and Legitimate Rant against those to teach False Doctrine” in 2 Peter 2

False Teachers are Unavoidable – they will be everywhere (v. 1a)

2 Peter 2: 1 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you.

False Teachers like to Cloak their Heresies to Look Good and Acceptable (v. 1b)

They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.

False Teachers will be Popular with Many, and bring Disrepute to the Truth (v. 2-3a)

2 Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up.

God will bring Just Condemnation on False Teachers, in His Time (v. 3b)

Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

Peter gives Biblical Examples of God’s Timely Judgment against False Deceivers and the Ungodly

A. Judgment of the Fallen Angels (v. 4)

Genesis 6:1–4

6 When men began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose. 3 Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal; his days will be a hundred and twenty years.”

4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of men and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown.

(see “The Book of Enoch”: a pseudepigraphal, noncanonical, apocryphal, apocalyptic writing)

Jude 6 (ESV)

6 And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day—

2 Peter 2:4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment;

B. Universal Judgment of the Global Flood (v. 5)

Genesis 6:5–8

5 The Lord saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. 6 The Lord was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. 7 So the Lord said, “I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth—men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air—for I am grieved that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.

2 Peter 2:5 if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others;

C. Local Judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah (vs. 6-8)

6 if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; 7 and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men 8 (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)—

The Godly Will Be Rescued; The Unrighteous Will Be Held for The Day of Judgment (v. 9)

9 if this is so (Godly Judgment), then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment.

Characteristics of False Teachers Observed by Peter

They are Corrupt and Despise Authority (v. 10a)

10 This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority.

They are Bold, Arrogant, Celestial Slanderers, and Blasphemers of what they cannot comprehend (vs. 10b-12a)

Bold and arrogant, these men are not afraid to slander celestial beings; 11 yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not bring slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord. 12 But these men blaspheme in matters they do not understand.

Judgment Is Awaiting Them

They will Perish (v. 12b)

They are like brute beasts, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts they too will perish.

They will be paid back (v. 13a)

13 They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done.

The Godless Person’s Idea of Pleasure

They have no shame when they Carouse openly (v. 13b)

Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight.

They Revel in their sensual pleasures (vs. 13c-14a)

They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you. 14 With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning;

They Seduce the weak (v. 14b)

they seduce the unstable;

They are Experts in Greed (v. 14c)

they are experts in greed—an accursed brood!

They Wander off the Godly way for money – Example: Balaam (vs. 15-16)

15 They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness. 16 But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—a beast without speech—who spoke with a man’s voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.

Peter Reveals what False Teachers and the Godless Really Are

Springs without water (v. 17a)

17 These men are springs without water

Mists driven by a storm (v. 17b)

and mists driven by a storm.

Reserved for the Blackest Darkness (v. 17c)

Blackest darkness is reserved for them.

Boastful and Appeal to the Sensual Carnal Flesh (v. 18a)

18 For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature,

Entice the Weak and Promise Freedom – while living in their own bondage (vs. 18b-19)

they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error.

19 They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.

They say they Profess Faith – but instead, are Warped, Entangled and Overcome by Sin (vs. 20-22)

20 If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. 21 It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. 22 Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.”

Peter wants all of us to know the terrible outcomes for those who teach false doctrine, and to those who fall prey to the deception of false doctrine.

How terrible it would be for someone to believe something with all their heart…to only find out – too late, it was made up by a carnal charlatan, and that deceptive belief was eternally damning for their own soul.

Peter had a right to become upset!

The best way to avoid false doctrine and to understand how God wants us to live and perceive what He wants us to know about Himself is by understanding and knowing God’s Word for ourselves!

Read God’s Word for Yourself – every day, and ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten you to its meaning!

Be Careful Who You Listen To

Don’t attend just any church or home Bible Study.

Attend a congregation or Bible Study that teaches Sound Doctrine from God’s Word, the Bible.

Palimpsesting Sound Doctrine

More than two hundred years before Christ, the renowned Greek mathematician, Archimedes, wrote down some of his theories, which, 10 Centuries later were copied again by an unknown scribe on a goatskin parchment. Three hundred years following that, a monk by the name of Johannes Myronas needed something on which to write his own book of prayers. He found this parchment and other discarded old skins (most likely in a storage room), and promptly went about to recycle the manuscript, carefully cutting the skins in half and turning the pieces sideways to form his own book. He then scraped off the older manuscript to have a clear space to copy his own prayers. This technique to reuse old parchment is known as “palimpsesting”.

Hundreds of years later, in the Twentieth Century, some enterprising forgers again found the forgotten goatskin parchment, now a book of prayers, while savaging through a variety of artifacts, and since folks tend to pay a higher price for ancient religious pictures, rather than a book of prayer from a lowly monk, they painted gold iconic pictures right on top of the writing in his prayer book.

It was obvious to those who deal with antiquities, that the parchment had been “palimpsest” where older texts has been scraped off to make room for “newer” words, so researchers have scanned the privately owned documents under X-ray fluorescence, a million times more powerful than traditional medical X-rays, to reveal the pattern of the atomic iron residue used in the ink of the scribe used to transcribe Archimedes’ document and so illumine the original work.

“When the X-rays hit an iron atom it emits a characteristic radiation, it glows,” says Dr. Bergmann. “when you record the glow, you can reconstruct an image of all of the iron in the book.”

The glowing words are displayed on a computer screen, giving the researchers the first glimpse of the text in nearly 800 years.

“It’s like receiving a fax from the 3rd Century BC,” said Mr. Noel.

“It’s the most sensational feeling.”

This overwritten book contains at least seven treatises by Archimedes. The erased texts also include two treatises that can be found nowhere else, The Method and Stomachion. (see http://www.archimedespalimpsest.org/about/)

Sound Doctrine has also been “palimpsest” at various times in human history. Some have scraped off Truth and added layers of tradition, commercialism, and yes, even one’s own religious rituals and fallacious doctrines, right over the top of the original meaning! The forgers of the world have thought that this would make Christianity more materialistically valuable. In doing so false religions and philosophies have systematically scraped away the original intent and most precious elements of the Gospel of Christ, His death for our sins and victorious resurrection!

May the Holy Spirit apply the intense light of His revelation – a million times brighter than our own understanding, on the reality of Christ, and the foundational stability of Sound Biblical Doctrine!

Guard the Good Deposit of Sound Teaching, Faith and Love in Christ Jesus

2 Timothy 1:13–14

13 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

Entrust Sound Doctrine to Other Reliable Teachers

2 Timothy 2:1–2

You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.

Be Approved, Unashamed, and One Who Correctly Handles God’s Word – not a quarreler or one who indulges in godless chatter and wanders away from the Truth!

2 Timothy 2:14–19

14 Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 17 Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”

Paul’s Final Charge to Timothy

2 Timothy 4:2–5

2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

Paul’s Charge to Titus

Titus 2:1

2 1 You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.

Titus 1:9 Paul’s Instruction to Titus regarding New Elders in Crete

9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

Remember How We Should Develop True Spiritual Maturity?

We began reviewing 2 Peter a few weeks ago, with the Apostle giving us the challenge of building into our faith seven spiritual qualities which will keep us from being ineffective and unproductive in our knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, will keep us from stumbling, and will give us a rich welcome into the Eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:5-7

5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

Add to your Faith

•Goodness (Virtue)
•Knowledge
•Self-control
•Perseverance
•Godliness
•Brotherly Kindness
•Love

Know, Study and Meditate on God’s Word. Understand Sound Doctrine.

Bad Spiritual Toxins are filtered out by Sound Biblical Doctrine

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16–17