RPG Adults
SPOTS AND BLEMISHES
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17
2 Peter 2:13-14
Psalm 36
“Thy hands have made me
and fashioned me…”
SPOTS AND BLEMISHES
The Lord Jesus was a sacrifice without spot or blemish. That is to say, He was sinless and had no shortcomings. He was the perfect sacrifice made to save His people from sin to enable them to live a life of purity. Such a life testifies of God’s righteousness to the world (Eph 5:27).
However, within the church are false teachers whose character is just the opposite of the Lord’s. Scripture pictures them as being spots and blemishes among God’s people (2 Pet 2:13; Jude 12). These wicked men are without shame and perform their godless works where all can see. They remain within the church, while they brazenly teach false doctrines and encourage gross sinfulness (2 Pet 2:13).
Having rejected God’s truth, these false teachers become such slaves to sin that they cannot even rest from their immoralities (2 Pet 2:14). As we look around us today, we are amazed at churchmen who advocate “freelove,” “homosexuality,” and other unthinkable sins which are strongly condemned in the Scripture. Yet Peter warned us that such men would be found within the church organisations.
They will see it as a part of their work to beguile “unstable souls” (2 Pet 2:14). Those who are not well grounded in the Scripture, those who have just recently heard the truth, or those believers entangled in the world, become their prey. They are greedy men, coveting positions of leadership, fame, and money. They use their church positions to find entrance to the ruling circles of this sinful world.
Scripture gives strong instructions to God’s people as to how we must deal with men such as those described here. They are to be marked and no one is to fellowship with them. Despite their worldly prestige and talents, they serve only themselves and not the Lord (Rom 16:17-18). In these final days, let us be careful of those who despoil God’s flock and lead them away from the truth.
THOUGHT: What eventually enslaves false teachers?
PRAYER: Father, help me to be alert and to mark those who would lead believers astray.