"Simon Says" Part 13
ZADOK PUBLICATIONS - Dr. C. R. OLIVER
February, 2024



C. R. Oliver




ZADOK PUBLICATIONS MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
February, 2024

"Simon Says" Part 13


You may watch this Newsletter in a video HERE.


"Simon Says" Part 13


Introduction:

Simon tackles the enemies within the church in this chapter. He joins Jude and his expose` of the same. Isn't it amazing to see these elements present in the earliest body of believers? Tares among the wheat must be considered! Their kin are with us today in pulpit and pew.

2 Peter 2:1:
But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. NLT

Peter takes a historical view of the situation by citing Angels, Noah, Lot and Ballam as examples of God's ability to punish ungodliness while preserving the righteous. Furthermore, he characterizes these false teachers in tandem-revealing more and more of their attributes.

1. They teach heresy. 2 Peter 2:1:
     They will cleverly teach destructive heresies
      and even deny the Master who bought them,….
2. 2 Peter 2:10: These people are proud and arrogant.
3. 2 Peter 2:12: These false teachers are like unthinking animals.
4. 2 Peter 2:13: They delight in deception.
5. 2 Peter 2:14: They are well trained in greed.
6. 2 Peter 2:14-15: They live under God's curse.
7. 2 Peter 2:17-18: These people are as useless as dried-up
     springs or as mist blown away by the wind.
     They are doomed to blackest darkness.
8. 2 Peter 2:18: They brag about themselves with
     empty, foolish boasting.

Hopefully, you don't recognize anyone in your congregation that matches these eight descriptions.

Fortunately, the tiny book of Jude also witnesses to these attributes. Now, let us walk through the second chapter and view the embellished tags that Simon hangs around their necks.

2 Peter 2:1-3:

They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered. 3 In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed. NLT

Peter hurries to attest these are sometimes "brethren," who have been bought by the blood.

The terrible result of their deception is that "many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality." An addendum to such heresy is "truth will be slandered." Today, through media and organized agencies as well as collegiate endeavors, TRUTH is difficult to find. Along with these apostate deceptions are clever lies. These lies feed their greed as they make inroads to one's money. The tenor of this passage is not just a onetime offering, but a steady stream of one's resources.

Repeatedly in this chapter Simon declares that the Lord has judgement waiting in the wings for them, "their destruction will not be delayed."

2 Peter 2:4-10:

For God did not spare even the angels who sinned. He threw them into hell, in gloomy pits of darkness, where they are being held until the day of judgment. 5 And God did not spare the ancient world—except for Noah and the seven others in his family. Noah warned the world of God's righteous judgment. So God protected Noah when he destroyed the world of ungodly people with a vast flood. 6 Later, God condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and turned them into heaps of ashes. He made them an example of what will happen to ungodly people. 7 But God also rescued Lot out of Sodom because he was a righteous man who was sick of the shameful immorality of the wicked people around him. 8 Yes, Lot was a righteous man who was tormented in his soul by the wickedness he saw and heard day after day. 9 So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment. 10 He is especially hard on those who follow their own twisted sexual desire, and who despise authority.

Let us go to verse 9 before going farther. The theme for chapter two is summed up in verse 9. In bold print is this central truth.

Peter uses this theme beginning with angels.

For God did not spare even the angels who sinned. He threw them into hell, in gloomy pits of darkness, where they are being held until the day of judgment. 2 Peter 2:4: NLT

Then, he uses three other historical characters to illustrate his theme. After angels, he focuses on Noah and the ancient world.

2 Peter2:5: So, God protected Noah when he destroyed the world of ungodly people with a vast flood.

Next, the Apostle turns to Sodom and Gomora and the rescue of Lot and seven others from destruction.

2 Peter 2:7-8:

But God also rescued Lot out of Sodom because he was a righteous man who was sick of the shameful immorality of the wicked people around him. 8 Yes, Lot was a righteous man who was tormented in his soul by the wickedness he saw and heard day after day.

The immorality Lot was exposed to almost sounds like that of modern society. It seems our souls are like Lot—tormented by the shameless immorality of wicked people. Our society constantly bombards us with Transgenderism, LGBTQ and woke proliferations. Their spokespersons are indeed proud and arrogant.

2 Peter 2:10-11:

These people are proud and arrogant, daring even to scoff at supernatural beings without so much as trembling. 11 But the angels, who are far greater in power and strength, do not dare to bring from the Lord a charge of blasphemy against those supernatural beings.

God says they are like animals, not like humans. We have seen this assessment born out in the actions of barbaric misanthropes recently.

2 Peter 2:12-16:

12 These false teachers are like unthinking animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed. They scoff at things they do not understand, and like animals, they will be destroyed. 13 Their destruction is their reward for the harm they have done. They love to indulge in evil pleasures in broad daylight. They are a disgrace and a stain among you. They delight in deception even as they eat with you in your fellowship meals. 14 They commit adultery with their eyes, and their desire for sin is never satisfied. They lure unstable people into sin, and they are well trained in greed. They live under God's curse. 15 They have wandered off the right road and followed the footsteps of Balaam son of Beor, who loved to earn money by doing wrong. 16 But Balaam was stopped from his mad course when his donkey rebuked him with a human voice. NLT

They follow the footsteps of Balaam who was paid to curse Israel. At first when he opened his mouth, there came blessings for Israel. A talking donkey got his attention and altered his path. (He seduced Israel using sex as his vehicle.)

Wrapping up chapter 2, Peter unleashes his disdain for these "body wreckers." Realizing that these tares assemble with the saints is almost disconcerting to him.

2 Peter 2:17-3:1:

These people are as useless as dried-up springs or as mist blown away by the wind. They are doomed to blackest darkness. 18 They brag about themselves with empty, foolish boasting. With an appeal to twisted sexual desires, they lure back into sin those who have barely escaped from a lifestyle of deception. 19 They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you. 20 And when people escape from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up and enslaved by sin again, they are worse off than before. 21 It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life. 22 They prove the truth of this proverb: "A dog returns to its vomit." And another says, "A washed pig returns to the mud."

This last section carries with it a primary truth:

"You are a slave to whatever controls you."

Simon hurries to illustrate the dangers associated with deceptive creatures.

20 And when people escape from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up and enslaved by sin again, they are worse off than before. 21 It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life.

Verse 20 leaves us with a question, "Is it possible for a saved person to become tangled and enslaved by sin?"

(Say What Simon Says)

Until Next Month,

Dr. Cosby R. Oliver, PhD.


MISSION UPDATE

Frank and Hily Carrel
From The Philippines:

This is the church Oliver Evangelistic Association (OEA) funded in 2023 with a sign on the building signaling completion.




Rapidly, the congregation has grown as they have a place to meet. Frank and Hily are celebrating Thanksgiving in this picture.



This third picture shows the chairs for the expected crowd for service.


Frank and Hily Carrel reported the events and we celebrate with them this joyous occasion.


Larry and Marla Johnston
From Guatemala:

Larry and Marla Johnson returned early in January with funds from OEA to build a pastorium aside the church facility OEA built a few years back. We were able to advance $3,000 for materials. Thanks to all who donate. Your gifts add up.





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