LOVING THE WAGES OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS-2 PETER 2:15

LOVING THE WAGES OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS

2 PETER 2:15

2 PETER 2:15, “Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;”

Introduction:

Jude tells us, "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” (Jude 3).

This is the subject that Peter is dealing with here in our text. It is something that every true church of Jesus Christ has to deal with every day.

It is something that is all around us today. Professed Christians are continually leaving the truth for whatever the Devil offers under the guise of the truth. These are hurting God’s work.

I. THOSE WHO ARE CONTINUALLY LEAVING THE STRAIGHT WAY

A. Forsaking = Continually leaving the straight way, 1 Samuel 12:23, “Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:”

B. These went astray NOT knowing the Scriptures, Mark 12:24, “And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know NOT the scriptures, neither the power of God?”

C. These are following the ERROR of Balaam, Jude 1:11, “Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the ERROR of Balaam for REWARD, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.”

1. These RAN greedily or RIOTOUSLY [Gr.= "they were poured out," vigorous metaphor for EXCESSIVE INDULGENCE] after the REWARD of  INIQUITY, Acts 1:18, “Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.”

2. But it is the Reward of UNRIGHTEOUSNESS, 2 Peter 2:13, “And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;”

3. The error in the GAINSAYING [to speak against, to contradict] of Korah, Romans 10:21, “But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and GAINSAYING people.”

4. These went the WAY OF CAIN contrary to the Lord, Hebrews 11:4, “By faith Abel offered unto God a MORE EXCELLENT sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.”

II. THOSE WITH THEIR CONTINUAL LEAVING THROW A STUMBLINGBLOCK IN THE WAY OF OTHERS

D. These false teachers cast a STUMBLINGBLOCK before God’s people, Revelation 2:14, “But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.”

E. Peter defends the truth saying, “we have not used fables, but the truth,” 2 Peter 1:16, “For we have not followed cunningly devised FABLES, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were EYEWITNESSES of his majesty.

1. Paul warned Timothy about these things, 1 Timothy 1:4, “Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.”

2. Paul tells Timothy that knowledge of the Scripture give spiritual wisdom regarding salvation, 2 Timothy 3:15, “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

F. The REALITY is that many follow their DESTRUCTIVE ways, 2 Peter 2:2, “And many shall follow their PERNICIOUS ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.”

1. Their PERNICIOUS ways, 1 Peter 4:3, “For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in LASCIVIOUSNESS, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:”

2. Because of these FALSE TEACHERS the truth shall be EVIL SPOKEN OF, Acts 24:14, “But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:”

III. THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM

A. The KNOWLEDGE of Jesus Christ, Isaiah 33:6, “And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure.”

1. The security of our time is the strength of salvation, Psalms 27:1, “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

2. The Knowledge of God is more than religion, Philippians 3:8, “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,”

B. The Fear of the Lord is our TREASURE, Isaiah 25:1, “O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.”

CONCLUSION

The Devil tries every trick to destroy the Lord’s work, but it is to no avail. The Born-Again believer will stand the test by the Grace of God. The Fear of the Lord is his treasure and occupies his heart.