Dr. Lawrence Butler

The Bridge Church, Pembroke

Lesson 7: Chap. 2:10-14

Being born in the middle of the previous century provides a different perspective on life than most people seem to have today. I was born and reared in Savannah, played in the streets, both paved and unpaved, attended public school and learned how to read and write. Amazing skills based on what I see and hear today.

But I also have memories of a bygone era because my grandparents lived just outside Pembroke. It was at their home that I learned about having a hand pump in the house to provide water. The little building out from the back of the house was very important as well. My Dad really loved the sugar cane patch across the road, and it was there he showed me how to eat sugar cane. (Better have some good teeth.) Life in the country was different.

Going back further we find that in 1864 General Sherman’s army on their March to the Sea during the Civil War passed near Pembroke, burned a home inhabited by a family named Love, with only a small table and set of chairs being saved (still in use today.) The daughter of this family later married a gentleman named Butler who turned out to be my great-grandfather. A new house was built in 1873, becoming the home of this young couple. In 1892 my grandfather was born in this home, and in 1918 my father was born there also. I remember leaving my Dad’s car to ride in a wagon being pulled by a mule guided by my granddad on his way home. The road was dirt, the ride was slow, but I’m so glad I took that ride.

I’m reminiscing about those days because times are changing again around Pembroke. New jobs are being created, our property is worth more than we ever imagined, and yet we still love those earlier days of peace and quiet. We chose to live in this area because we liked the environment, but how swiftly things have changed. No one knows where to go to avoid the crowds and congestion without leaving our homes. Very few things remain constant, but I remember words from the Bible. “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8). There are some things that have not changed. You still have a soul, and there remains an eternity before us. Please make the proper and needed preparation before you arrive there. Find a good church and faithfully attend.

If you have been following the studies presented previously, you are aware that Peter is warning future generations of Christians, such as us, that there have always been false teachers.

He informs us that this unfortunate trend will continue, and provides a deeply revealing examination of the character of these teachers and ministers.

False teaching results from ignoring the true God and accepting the works of the flesh in the heart. Such actions take one further from God than we can imagine. Look closely with me at the character revelations provided by Peter.

Sin is deeply grounded in their hearts and character. They “walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government” (v.10). They reject the power of any to hinder the satisfaction of their evil desires, thus answering the question of why they “despise government.”

The failure to restrict sin leads to deeper and more vile sin. They dishonor human nature by their grossness and become little more than “natural brute beasts” (v.12) while demanding the release of any bond that prevents them from fulfilling their evil desires. We often wonder how such tragic sins could occur in our civilized society, but this is clearly the answer.

Peter also informs us that these false prophets have “eyes full of adultery” (v.14). The application of this expression seems to be that their eyes see only the adulteress. In other words, every woman is seen as a target, someone who will potentially satisfy their wicked desires. As William Barclay states, they have a constant desire to have more of something to which they had no right to desire, let alone have. They fought with their conscience until it was destroyed.

These wicked leaders, for so they are, whether political, social or religious, are described as being “presumptuous” (v.10).

This means these people are bold, daring and audacious. They are not afraid nor ashamed of their actions. When their wickedness comes to light, they either lie about it or pass it off as unimportant.

Leaders such as these must never fill our pulpits, must never be respected or followed whatever position they hold!

Let us pray that God will reveal the hearts of potential leaders before we allow them to fill such a role in our lives or our society. (For a deeper look at these sins, read Romans 1.)