False Freedom (2 Peter 2:17–22)
Lesson 3
False Freedom
(2 PETER 2:17–22)
Before you begin …
• Pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal truth and wisdom as you go through this lesson.
• Read 2 Peter 2:17–22. This lesson references chapter 5 in Be Alert. It will be helpful for you to have your Bible and a copy of the commentary available as you work through this lesson.
Getting Started
From the Commentary
It is a frightening fact that many people who are now zealous members of cults were at one time attending churches that at least professed to believe the Christian gospel. They participated in the Communion service and saw the death of the Lord Jesus portrayed in the loaf and the cup. They even recited the Apostles’ Creed and the Lord’s Prayer. Yet today, these people will tell you that they feel free now that they have been “liberated” from the Christian faith.
At the same time, you will meet people who have rejected all religious faith and now profess to enjoy a new freedom. “I used to believe that stuff,” they will boldly confess, “but I don’t believe it anymore. I’ve got something better, and I feel free for the first time in my life.”
—Be Alert, page 79
1. According to Peter, what is “false freedom”? Where do we see that in our world today? Why are people drawn to this appearance of freedom? In what ways is “doing whatever you want” bondage rather than freedom?
2. Choose one verse or phrase from 2 Peter 2:17–22 that stands out to you. This could be something you’re intrigued by, something that makes you uncomfortable, something that puzzles you, something that resonates with you, or just something you want to examine further. Write that here.
Going Deeper
From the Commentary
Faith is only as good as the object. A pagan may have great faith in his idol, but the idol can do nothing for him. I have a friend who put his faith in a certain investment scheme and lost almost everything. His faith was strong but the company was weak. When you put your faith in Jesus Christ, that faith will accomplish something, because God always keeps His promises. “There hath not failed one word of all his good promise” (1 Kings 8:56).
Peter used three vivid illustrations to emphasize the emptiness of the apostates’ promises.
The Greek word in 2 Peter 2:17 actually means “a flowing spring” rather than a tranquil well. It is the word our Lord used when He ministered to the Samaritan woman (John 4:14) and that John used in describing the satisfaction the saints will experience for all eternity (Rev. 7:17; 21:6). A spring without water is not a spring at all! A well is still called a well even if the water is gone, but a spring ceases to exist if the water is not flowing.
There is in mankind an inborn thirst for reality, for God. “Thou hast made us for thyself,” said Augustine, “and our hearts are restless until they rest in thee.” People attempt to satisfy this thirst in many ways, and they end up living on substitutes. Only Jesus Christ can give inner peace and satisfaction.
—Be Alert, page 80
3. Respond to the statement “Faith is only as good as its object.” How was that true in Peter’s day? How is it true today? What are some of the objects we put our faith in that are unworthy of that faith?
More to Consider: Read John 4:13–14. How might Jesus’ words have been the foundation for Peter’s message about the objects of faith?
From the Commentary
The picture in verses 17–18 is that of clouds of fog or mist being driven by a squall over a lake or sea. Clouds ought to announce the possibility of rain, but these clouds only announce that a windstorm is coming. Jude’s description is “Clouds they are without water, carried about of winds” (Jude 12). Again, there is noise, motion, and something to watch, but nothing profitable happens. The farmer sees the clouds and prays they will empty rain on his parched fields. The false teachers have nothing to give; they are empty.
The word translated “mist” means “blackness, gloom,” so “the blackness of the darkness” would be an accurate translation (see 2 Peter 2:4). These apostates promise to lead people into the light, but they themselves end up in the darkest part of the darkness! The atmosphere of hell is not uniform: Some places will be darker than others. How tragic that innocent people will be led astray by these apostates and possibly end up in hell with them.
—Be Alert, page 81
4. Read verses 6 and 13 of Jude. How do these verses support the message of 2 Peter 2:17–18? What does 2 Peter 2:18 reveal about how false teachers are able to attract followers even though they really have nothing to give? How is this still true today?
From Today’s World
It might seem like a broken record to talk about the lure of false religions, but they continue to be prevalent in today’s world, despite the easy access to resources that could disprove their doctrines. Perhaps that’s because there’s just as much deception on the Internet as there is reliable truth. In our world today, pretty much anyone can put up a sign that says “get your religion here,” then pick and choose truths from a variety of sources to support their message. There’s nothing more alluring than a religion that promises something “different” from and “better than” what the general public believes as orthodoxy, while pretending to be that very thing.
5. What kinds of people fall for the false religions of today? Why are people who have been “burned” by church susceptible to cults and false religions? What can today’s church do to attract followers who otherwise might be tempted to pursue a false religion?
From the Commentary
False teachers are eloquent promoters of their doctrines. They know how to impress people with their vocabulary, “inflated words that say nothing” (literal translation). The average person does not know how to listen to and analyze the kind of propaganda that pours out of the mouths and printing presses of the apostates. Many people cannot tell the difference between a religious huckster and a sincere servant of Jesus Christ.
The second reason the apostates are so successful is that they appeal to the base appetites of the old nature. This is part of their bait (2 Peter 2:14)! We must not think of “the lusts of the flesh” only in terms of sexual sins, for the flesh has other appetites. Read the list given in Galatians 5:19–21, and you will see the many different kinds of bait the apostates have available for baiting their traps.
—Be Alert, pages 81–82
6. Read Acts 18:24–28. How was Apollos like and unlike the apostates Peter was describing? Compare his teaching to Paul’s (see 1 Cor. 2:1–5). Why do people sometimes equate eloquence or fervency with good teaching? What are the dangers of doing this?
From the Commentary
A pastor friend of mine was assisting some missionaries in the Philippines by conducting open-air meetings near the university. Students who wanted to decide for Christ were asked to step into a building near the square, and there they were counseled and also given follow-up material to help them get started in their Christian life.
No sooner did a new convert walk out the door and past the crowd than a cultist would join him and start to introduce his own religion! All the apostates had to do was look for the people carrying follow-up material! This same procedure is often used at large evangelistic crusades: The false teachers are ready to pounce on new believers carrying decision packets.
This is why it is important that soul-winners, pastors, and other Christian workers ground new converts in the faith. Like newborn babies, new Christians need to be protected, fed, and established before they can be turned loose in this dangerous world. One reason Peter wrote this letter was to warn the church to care for the new Christians, because the false teachers were out to get them! We cannot blame new believers for being “unstable” (2 Peter 2:14) if we have not taught them how to stand.
—Be Alert, pages 82–83
7. Why is the freedom offered by the apostates so appealing? What makes it a false freedom? What unique responsibilities do seasoned believers have in helping new believers stay strong?
From the Commentary
You cannot set someone free if you are in bondage yourself, and these false teachers were in bondage. Peter made it clear that these men had temporarily disentangled themselves from the pollutions of the world, but then they went right back into bondage again! They professed to be saved but had never really been redeemed (set free) at all!
The tenses of the verbs in 2 Peter 2:19 are present: “While they promise them [the new believers] liberty, they themselves [the apostates] are the servants of corruption” (italics mine). They claim to be the servants of God, but they are only the servants of sin. It is bad enough to be a slave, but when sin is your master, you are in the worst possible condition a person can experience.
—Be Alert, page 83
8. What is a “false Christian”? What kinds of sin enslave false believers? (See 2 Peter 2:3, 10, 14.) What are Christhke ways to confront those who follow false teachings?
More to Consider: Compare the three men named in this chapter of 2 Peter: Noah, Lot, and Balaam. What set each of them apart? What kind of a person today is most like Noah? Lot? Balaam? How do we assure our lives are Noah-like?
From the Commentary
Jesus Christ came to bring freedom. In His first sermon in the synagogue at Nazareth, our Lord sounded forth the trumpet call of freedom and the advent of the “Year of Jubilee” (Luke 4:16ff.). But Christ’s meaning of freedom is different from the apostates’, as is His method for accomplishing it.
In the Bible, freedom does not mean “doing your own thing” or “having it your way.” That attitude is the very essence of sin. The freedom that Jesus Christ offers means enjoying fulfillment in the will of God. It means achieving your greatest potential to the glory of God. The Quaker leader Rufus Jones, paraphrasing Aristotle, said, “The true nature of a thing is the highest that it can become.” Jesus Christ frees us to become our very best in this life, and then to be like Him in the next.
The apostates brought their followers into bondage by means of lies, but our Lord brings us into freedom by means of truth. “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). He was speaking, of course, about the truth of the Word of God. “Sanctify them through thy truth,” He prayed; “thy word is truth” (John 17:17).
—Be Alert, pages 84–85
9. Where do we go to discover the truth about ourselves, our world, and our God? What happens to us when we face this truth honestly? How does this truth direct us in everyday living?
From the Commentary
Peter called these apostates “natural brute beasts” (2 Peter 2:12) and then ended the warning by describing them as pigs and dogs! But he was not simply showing his personal disdain for them; rather, he was teaching a basic spiritual lesson.
It is very important that we understand that the pronoun “they” in this entire paragraph (2 Peter 2:17–22) refers to the false teachers and not to their converts. It is also important that we remember that these teachers are not truly born-again people. Jude described these same people in his letter and stated clearly that they were “sensual, having not the Spirit” (Jude 19). It is not profession of spirituality that marks a true believer but possession of the Spirit of God within (Rom. 8:9).
But these apostates did have a “religious experience”! And they would boldly claim that their experience brought them into fellowship with the Lord. They would be able to explain “the way of righteousness” and would use the Word of God to support their teachings. If they had not experienced some kind of “religious conversion,” they would never have been able to get into the fellowship of the local assemblies.
—Be Alert, page 86
10. In what ways was the apostates’ experience false? What kind of religious experience did they have? Why is it sometimes difficult for Christians to accept people into their community if those people have previously taught falsely? How can the Holy Spirit help us discern a proper response to those who claim a conversion experience?
Looking Inward
Take a moment to reflect on all that you’ve explored thus far in this study of 2 Peter 2:17–22. Review your notes and answers and think about how each of these things matters in your life today.
Tips for Small Groups: To get the most out of this section, form pairs or trios and have group members take turns answering these questions. Be honest and as open as you can in this discussion, but most of all, be encouraging and supportive of others. Be sensitive to those who are going through particularly difficult times and don’t press for people to speak if they’re uncomfortable doing so.
11. Faith is only as good as its object. What are some objects you’ve put your faith in that weren’t so reliable? What are some things you do to focus your faith on Jesus?
12. Have you ever fallen for a false religion or followed a teacher you later learned was teaching false truth? What appealed to you about that teaching? How did you discover the truth and turn away from the false teaching? What are some ways to safeguard your faith?
13. Do you ever have trouble trusting others’ conversions to faith? If so, what makes you cautious about people who once believed things you know to be false? What does it cost to give them the benefit of the doubt? How can God’s Word direct you when you’re unsure how to respond?
Going Forward
14. Think of one or two things that you have learned that you’d like to work on in the coming week. Remember that this is all about quality, not quantity. It’s better to work on one specific area of life and do it well than to work on many and do poorly (or to be so overwhelmed that you simply don’t try).
Do you want to learn more about why freedom in Christ is better than any other kind of freedom? Be specific. Go back through 2 Peter 2:17–22 and put a star next to the phrase or verse that is most encouraging to you. Consider memorizing this verse.
Real-Life Application Idea: The best defense against false teaching and the influence of false teachers is knowing what you believe. Spend some time with a close friend or mentor going over the basics of faith—the nonnegotiable, foundational truths. If you discover areas of uncertainty, work together to shore up your understanding of faith so you can stand strong when confronted with anyone who might preach a false gospel. Also, pray for wisdom in reaching out to those who are captured by false teaching.
Seeking Help
15. Write a prayer below (or simply pray one in silence) inviting God to work on your mind and heart in those areas you’ve noted in the Going Forward section. Be honest about your desires and fears.
Notes for Small Groups:
• Look for ways to put into practice the things you wrote in the Going Forward section. Talk with other group members about your ideas and commit to being accountable to one another.
• During the coming week, ask the Holy Spirit to continue to reveal truth to you from what you’ve read and studied.
• Before you start the next lesson, read 2 Peter 3. For more in-depth lesson preparation, read chapters 6, “Scoffing at the Scoffers,” and 7, “Be Diligent!,” in Be Alert.