The freedom of perverted preaching is only as free as Hell
2 Peter 2:17-22
“Whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.”
Audio from the author
#freedom
#slavery
#falseTeachers
Published April 28th, 2016
Sexual Freedom is Not Free
Main point summary
Arc
Sexual Freedom is Not Free
“Whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.” Tonight I will celebrate the Passover with my family and friends. Praise God for freedom from slavery! This is who God is—the One “who brought [his people] out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” (Exodus 20:2, Deuteronomy 5:6) And so too is he the God who has delivered all people who would receive his freedom from slavery to fear and to the law. (Romans 8:15, Hebrews 2:14-15, Galatians 2:3-4, 4:1-5:2) But not only this. Most of all, he has freed us from slavery to sin. (John 8:34, Romans 6:6-23, Titus 3:3) That is, if we have come to the true gospel and not the gospel of false teachers. On this point we must be shrewd. For false teachers to not preach slavery; they preach freedom. At least that is the word they use. 2 Peter 2:17-22 helps us make the distinction. True gospel freedom produces what it promises. Fake freedom leaves a person more enslaved than he began. Thus, if I choose a preacher because he tells me I can keep doing what I cannot stop doing (though I know it is wrong), then he has only validated my slavery. He has not set me free. True gospel freedom is “righteous” and “holy” (vs 21). Just as the people of Israel were freed from slavery to Pharaoh in order to serve God (Exodus 7:16), so too the gospel frees us from slavery to our lusts in order to live as holy, happy, thirst-quenched subjects (i.e. slaves) of our creator and savior. Indeed, may we be overcome by the love of God and serve him with joy.
notes
Main point summary
False teachers are empty in their promises of sexual freedom. This is no small thing—Hell has a spot prepared for them.
Arc
editing
NT
2 Peter 2:17-22
esv
na28
u These are waterless springs
οὗτοί εἰσιν πηγαὶ ἄνυδροι
and mists driven by a storm.
καὶ ὁμίχλαι ὑπὸ λαίλαπος ἐλαυνόμεναι,
series
v For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved.
οἷς ὁ ζόφος τοῦ σκότους τετήρηται.
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For, w speaking loud boasts of folly,
ὑπέρογκα γὰρ ματαιότητος φθεγγόμενοι
they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely x escaping from those who live in error.
δελεάζουσιν ἐν ἐπιθυμίαις σαρκὸς ἀσελγείαις τοὺς ὄντως ἀποφεύγοντας τοὺς ἐν πλάνῃ ἀναστρεφομένους,
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They promise them y freedom,
ἐλευθερίαν αὐτοῖς ἐπαγγελλόμενοι,
z but they themselves are slaves 1 of corruption.
αὐτοὶ δοῦλοι ὑπάρχοντες τῆς φθορᾶς•
For whatever overcomes a person,
ᾧ γάρ τις ἥττηται,
to that he is enslaved.
τούτῳ δεδούλωται.
conditional
ground
concessive
ideaexplanation
For if, a after they have escaped the defilements of the world b through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
εἰ γὰρ ἀποφυγόντες τὰ μιάσματα τοῦ κόσμου ἐν ἐπιγνώσει τοῦ κυρίου καὶ σωτῆρος Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ,
they are again entangled in them and overcome,
τούτοις δὲ πάλιν ἐμπλακέντες ἡττῶνται,
temporal
c the last state has become worse for them than the first.
γέγονεν αὐτοῖς τὰ ἔσχατα χείρονα τῶν πρώτων.
For d it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness
κρεῖττον γὰρ ἦν αὐτοῖς μὴ ἐπεγνωκέναι τὴν ὁδὸν τῆς δικαιοσύνης
than after knowing it to turn back from e the holy commandment delivered to them.
ἢ ἐπιγνοῦσιν ὑποστρέψαι ἐκ τῆς παραδοθείσης αὐτοῖς ἁγίας ἐντολῆς.
comparison
What the true proverb says has happened to them:
συμβέβηκεν αὐτοῖς τὸ τῆς ἀληθοῦς παροιμίας•
“The f dog returns to its own vomit,
κύων ἐπιστρέψας ἐπὶ τὸ ἴδιον ἐξέραμα,
and the sow, after washing herself,
καί• ὗς λουσαμένη
returns to wallow in the mire.”
εἰς κυλισμὸν βορβόρου.
What are these metaphors getting at? Prov 25:14 seems key.
na28
discourse
Comments
Jeannie Koh
Disclaimer: The opinions and conclusions expressed on this page are those of the author and may or may not accord with the positions of Biblearc or Bethlehem College & Seminary.