Worse

Text: 2 Peter 2:20-22

Theme: God’s judgment on false teachers far outweighs any relief and knowledge from the Truth they may have gained at first.

Key verses: “For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment…” (v. 20-21a ESV).

What God said to me: Knowledge can help you escape. Knowledge of my Son can set you free. However, knowledge as a one-time event isn’t enough. You must keep growing in your knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. That is what Peter is trying to communicate over and over in his epistles. True knowledge isn’t static. You should never stop gaining knowledge of the Holy. However, knowledge alone isn’t enough. As Peter said, you must add to your knowledge self-control. That will lead to patience and godliness and brotherly affection and love. Knowledge of my Son is a wonderful door to so much more. But knowledge, if left to itself and not added to often, can puff up and stagnate. And pride can lead to falling into sin and being overcome by things that knowledge alone can’t prevent. It also takes humility and dependence on my grace. When one thinks they know so much that they begin to resist challenges to that knowledge, he or she will cease striving to accurately understand the Bible and search my Scripture for truth. That is how false teaching and teachers arise. Some may have had good intentions to start; yet, because of their arrogance they fall into the trap of assuming what they interpret is the final word on the matter. Don’t miss this: My Word was never meant to be studied alone. You need a community of believers around you–you need my Church–to help you “rightly divide” my Word and walk in it. Else, things could grow worse for you not better…

What I said to God: Father, good morning! It’s a nice, crisp morning outside, but I’m warm and snuggly inside the home You blessed me with. May I never take for granted Your provisions for my needs and those of my family. As I read Your Word this morning I am reminded of how easily I could fall into the trap of arrogance and presumption that what I believe is the final authority on the subject. I know that is not the case. As much as I have studied and tried to correctly interpret Your holy Scriptures, I acknowledge I am limited in my understanding of it. I need godly men and women to help guide me and advise me. I need to read good commentaries and books and ask questions of people around me who are also striving to please You in all their ways. That is my responsibility, to keep myself in check. It is also my responsibility to help guard the Body of Christ from wolves who would seek to deceive and destroy them, from false prophets who teach lies shrouded in half-truths and vainly attractive promises. I pray that over my own sons and family members. Help us not be deceived and led astray by false doctrines and popular ideologies of this world. I submit my life and love to You today alone. You are my all in all. You are my Lord.