Gospel Life: 2 Peter 2:1-9 The Light In A Dark Place

6/25/2017

False teaching was threatening the early church as Peter wrote his letters. The church was under deep attack from outside and within. There was a fear that started to grip the hearts of the early followers of Jesus and they were wondering if they would be able to maintain their strength and gospel purity through these dark times.

The light of Scripture was held up so bight in chapter 1 of 2 Peter. In chapter 2, it appears that many of those outside of the church and even from within didn’t see it that brightness. Peter reminds us that this was nothing new. This kind of false teaching and the rampant immorality that went along with it has been going on since the beginning. Peter reminds us that those who hold to a different gospel, a false gospel will be judged. The angels who fell were judged, the ancient world of Noah’s day was judged and the immoral cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were judged. The early church was finding themselves in a similar situation and we do today as well. Peter says that their destruction has not gone to sleep so we shouldn’t be surprised or fearful.

So what hope do we have when we experience oppression, persecution and darkness? The hope we have is the promise that God rescues the godly from trials. Well then, how do we become “godly”? The answer to this is seen in the antithesis of the passages warnings. We are to; humble ourselves before God, walk in obedience and strive for a healthy morality.