Bible Study - Freedom - Personal Freedom - 2 Peter 2 and Philippians 3 - July 3, 2011

Bible Study – Freedom – Personal Rights – July 3, 2011
This is lesson one (1) in our new series entitled “Freedom: Making It Personal.”
Our scripture is 2 Peter 2:10b-19; Philippians 3:17-21.

This will be a five (5) week study.

With freedom comes responsibility. Most young people are eager to get their drivers license. That day comes. They have the freedom to drive a vehicle. Now it is up to them to obey the laws in order to be able to keep them. If they do not, they risk having them taken away or if they are involved in a bad situation such as driving under the influence and someone is killed, they can end up serving time and losing their freedom.

Young people long to be free from the control of their parent or parents. Many experience their first freedom when they go off to college or military. When they turn 21 years old, they have the freedom to drink alcohol, if they choose. Again, with freedom comes responsibility.

As we gain freedom, we also are accountable to those who enforce the law or rules – parents, teachers, law enforcement, etc. but we are also accountable to GOD. GOD did not make us robots but gave us the right to choose. HE made us free to choose. HE placed HIS handiwork all around us to entice us to seek HIM. The very body in which we live was crafted by HIM and is a marvelous work of art and engineering.

Often, we take our existence for granted. But what was our origin? We came from our mother, who came from her mother, who came from her mother. Keep going back to an origin. Life began for our ancestral line. Where did we come from? The answer is GOD.

GOD, through the sinless life, death and resurrection of HIS ONLY SON JESUS, provides the greatest freedom for all who will accept HIM as their SAVIOR. John 8:36 - 36 Therefore if the Son sets you free, you really will be free.

What does CHRIST set those who accept HIM as their SAVIOR free from? They are set free from sin and its consequences, which is death. But even with the freedom CHRIST gives comes responsibility and accountability to live obediently.

Our lesson today is about personal freedom. The personal freedom we have today did not come easy. The personal freedom we have in America has cost many lives and continues to cost lives – military, police, border control, undercover personnel and the list goes on. The freedom from sin and death a Christian has cost CHRIST HIS life.

We will celebrate our personal freedom on the 4th of July – speech, to
worship, to bear arms, etc. But our freedom is being compromised. Unless a change is made, America is heading toward a socialist style of government which does not work. Look at Greece and other countries. We must be vigilant and active to preserve the founding principles of our constitution. Just as government can be compromised, so can our Spiritual foundation.
The Apostle Peter was writing to the Christians of his day to warn them about false teachers who distort the true gospel. Even today Christians must beware of false teachers, preachers, evangelists and Bible teachers.

Let’s read 2 Peter 2:10b-14:

Bold, arrogant people! They do not tremble when they blaspheme the glorious ones; 11 however, angels, who are greater in might and power, do not bring a slanderous charge against them before the Lord.[6] 12 But these people, like irrational animals—creatures of instinct born to be caught and destroyed—speak blasphemies about things they don’t understand, and in their destruction they too will be destroyed, 13 suffering harm as the payment for unrighteousness. They consider it a pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, delighting in their deceptions[7] as they feast with you, 14 having eyes full of adultery and always looking for sin, seducing unstable people, and with hearts trained in greed. Accursed children!

The Apostle Peter paints a word picture of these false teachers who pride themselves on having a following of people. They were likely very good speakers and those we call “charismatic.” They have a lot of energy and weave enough truth into their message that it seems like truth. Their motives are deceptive and usually for personal gain. They market the gospel because it provides them a good source of income and when they have followers it appeals to their egos. So they present a hyped up message.
Peter said it best when he wrote that they were “bold, arrogant people.” These false teachers attacked those who represented truth – true believers, angels or anything or anyone Holy to show their power over real truth. It was a form of defiance in the face of GOD to validate their authority. They taught a feel-good religious lifestyle to those coming out of a pagan background which promoted self-gratification. The intent was to lure these new converts into their evil web to deceive and enslave.

Even though these false teachers spoke against angels, the angels did not speak against them. GOD gives Christians a measuring stick to use to discern false teachers. JESUS tells us to look at their fruit. Do they produce good and lasting fruit?

Peter told his readers to look how these false teachers acted. They acted like a bunch of animals. They have a basic instinct such that they devour everyone they encounter. They destroy truth but they in turn will be destroyed and will be held accountable by GOD. They will leave a path of devastation like the path of a tornado or hurricane. Many of their followers who are in their path and sit under their teachings will be misled and potentially devastated. Can GOD intervene? Yes and HE can salvage those deceived if they will allow HIM to set their feet upon the solid rock of CHRIST. But usually those deceived turn against CHRIST never to continue their Spiritual growth in HIM. But CHRIST did not deceive them, it was a devious, self-centered, egotistical, self-serving, misguided and many more words person who was not led by the HOLY SPIRIT. It happens today and is so wrong.

These false teachers were so bold that they practiced their deception in daytime, out in the open and without restraint. Most people try to hide their deception but these people were blatant. They preyed upon the weak and those vulnerable to their feel-good message such as GOD wants me to have gold, diamond rings, multiple sex partners, drugs, alcohol and all the things that bring pleasure here and now.

These false teacher’s hearts were full of greed and lust for power, control and all that gave them satisfaction without regard for those they hurt in their quest to satisfy themselves. They taught others to do the same thing without conscience.

Those who take advantage of others have the mindset such that if they are so naïve, stupid or ignorant that they cannot discern what is happening to them, they deserve to be a victim. Folks, this is the world we live in today. Beware of false teachers both in the Spiritual world as well as the social and business worlds. They have the freedom to do their deeds of deception but we also have the freedom to reject them by knowing the truth as we study GOD’S Word and pray for discernment.

Let’s read 2 Peter 2:15-19:

15 By abandoning the straight path, they have gone astray and have followed the path of Balaam, the son of Bosor,[8] who loved the wages of unrighteousness, 16 but received a rebuke for his transgression: a speechless donkey spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness. 17 These people are springs without water, mists driven by a whirlwind. The gloom of darkness has been reserved for them. 18 For uttering bombastic, empty words, they seduce, by fleshly desires and debauchery, people who have barely escaped[9] from those who live in error. 19 They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption, since people are enslaved to whatever defeats them.

Peter was saying these false teachers knew the truth but their lust for popularity, power, greed and self-gratification caused them to abandon the truth for error. Peter used the Old Testament account of Balaam to make his point. This is an interesting but puzzling story. You can find the account in
Numbers chapters 22-24.

Balaam was a non-Hebrew prophet/magician/soothsayer who would put a curse on people for a fee. He was a prophet for hire, “He loved the wages of unrighteousness.” His relationship with GOD, to me, was strange. He spoke to GOD and GOD spoke to him. The Israelites were on their journey to the Promised Land and they came into the land of Moab. The king of Moab was Balak. He was concerned that this large number of Israelites could defeat his army so he sent a delegation to get Balaam to put a curse on these incoming people.

Balaam said he would talk to GOD. He did and GOD said “NO” because these people were blessed. So Balaam declined their offer. King Balak sent another delegation with the message that the king would pay him well for his services. Balaam said he would not do it even if the king filled his palace with silver and gold. Oddly, GOD came to Balaam that night and told him that he could go but he had to do only what GOD told him to do.

The trip for Balaam was about 400 miles. Balaam saddled his donkey and off he goes. But GOD was very angry with him for going. So what is going on? GOD first said no, and then HE said yes? Was Balaam really listening to GOD or to the greed and lust for money that was in his heart? He was listening to the greed in his heart which blinded him from being fully obedient to the true GOD and rendered him useless for the purposes of GOD. You would think that Balaam would have a change in heart toward GOD after his encounter with HIM on the road but greed was his god.

We have to keep in mind that GOD knows our hearts and the intents hidden in our hearts. Did Balaam fool himself into thinking that GOD was giving him permission to go or was it his own self-serving permission? I do not know but one thing is for sure, GOD is not fickle.

When Balaam first asked GOD about the first delegation’s request, GOD said no. Often, we keep asking GOD for HIS approval after HE has said no. GOD used the donkey to stop Balaam. The donkey balked because the angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam beat the donkey. Balaam beat the donkey three (3) times. The donkey lay down and the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey and who spoke to Balaam. The LORD opened Balaam’s eyes and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with drawn sword. The angel of the LORD told him that HE came to oppose him because what he was doing was wrong. GOD told him that the donkey saved his life because if the donkey had not stopped HE would have killed him. Balaam still went to King Balak and spoke to GOD three (3) times. Each time Balaam sought permission to curse the Israelites, GOD blessed the Israelites.

How often has GOD protected us from those who want to see harm come to us or our family? Only GOD knows but HE has cast a canopy of love and protection over HIS children. Be obedient and remain under that canopy.
How often do we decide that GOD has given us permission to do what HE had previously told us not to do? I know, I have and it has gotten me into trouble. Often, GOD uses circumstances to keep us out of trouble like the donkey kept Balaam from getting killed. The bottom line, Balaam was greedy and his eyes were blinded by his desire for money. Balaam’s heart was corrupt. Balaam was eventually killed in a battle.

Peter’s readers knew the story of Balaam and he related the heart of Balaam to the hearts of the false teachers, their hearts were full of greed. These false teachers appear to be springs but they had no water.

JESUS told the woman at the well in John 4:13-14 - 13 Jesus said, “Everyone who drinks from this water will get thirsty again. 14 But whoever drinks from the water that I will give him will never get thirsty again—ever! In fact, the water I will give him will become a well[7]of water springing up within him for eternal life.” In John 7:37-38 again JESUS was speaking - 37 On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, he should come to Me[6]and drink! 38 The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said,[7] will have streams of living water flow from deep within him.”

The false teachers were dry because the real truth was not in them. They were like mist that appeared like something of value but what they touted evaporated by the winds of reality. This mist was a deceptive fog to prevent those who sought truth to not be able to see that they did not represent the truth. There was no Spiritual substance to what these false teachers had to say. It was all smoke and mirrors. They were in Spiritual darkness, yet, they were trying to appear to teach light. Their destiny was darkness and hell.
These false teachers could speak many words but they were all empty. So they supplemented their empty words by appealing to the fleshly desires of those to whom they were trying to influence. Their audience was those poor souls who had escaped paganism and its slavery only to be enslaved by the corruption these false teachers were presenting. They promised them freedom but it was just another form of enslavement.

All Christians must beware of false teachers. Pray and know the scriptures. When you know the truth your Spiritual ears will stand on end when deviations from the truth are presented. When that happens, pay attention and do not sit under anyone who does not present the truth. Partial truths are lies. Pray for discernment.

Now we switch to the Apostle Paul.

Let’s read Philippians 3:17-21:
17 Join in imitating me, brothers, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. 18 For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their glory is in their shame. They are focused on earthly things, 20 but our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of His glorious body, by the power that enables Him to subject everything to Himself.

The Apostle Paul told his readers if they wanted to know a true Christian, then watch how he lived and those who call themselves Christians live. Paul was a role model. Are you a role model? Yes. We all are role models whether we like it or not. We influence others – spouse, children, grandchildren, relatives, friends and people we do not know – places we shop, worship, work, go to school and the list goes on. Would you be willing to tell people to follow you and pattern their Christian life after you? Whoa, that is a challenge but that is exactly how we should live our lives. As Christians we are to be examples for others to pattern their lives after. That is why Christians must have and be in the right relationship with CHRIST.

Paul said there are enemies of the cross living among you and they desire to destroy you by urging you to do what pleases your physical and fleshly desires. Their focus is on the physical and sensual nature which is Satan’s playground. Christians must keep in their minds that this life is temporary and keep a heavenly focus.

Does that mean Christians are to go around looking and acting like gloom and doom? NO!!! JESUS came that all who believe in HIM will have life more abundantly. When we are free from the consequences of sin and death, we can be free indeed but with responsibility. It was easy for these false teachers to take the statement “JESUS came that we might have life more abundantly” and turn it into live it up because you have your fire insurance. Keep in mind that obedience to GOD and HIS commands result in heavenly rewards. Heavenly rewards last for eternity.

Philippi was a Roman colony and its citizens were proud of their Roman citizenship. Paul reminded them that through CHRIST they had a far better and more secure citizenship than any temporary earthly citizenship. A Christian’s citizenship is in heaven. Christians were waiting for the return of CHRIST and when that happened, they would be transformed by the power of GOD. They would receive their new eternal glorified bodies like CHRIST’S body.

When CHRIST returns the second time, those who have departed earth in death will come back with HIM. HE will transform the earthly bodies of those still alive on earth, as well as those who have died, into glorified bodies like HIS. Paul explains this in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18:

The Comfort of Christ’s Coming

13 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, concerning those who are • asleep,[8] so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. 14 Since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep (died) through[9] Jesus.[10] 15 For we say this to you by a revelation from the Lord:[11] We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming will certainly have no advantage over[12] those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout,[13] with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage[14] one another with these words.

Paul anticipated that some might question how will CHRIST do this? HE would do it using the same power that GOD gave HIM to have all things subject to HIM. Paul captured this thought in Ephesians 1:18-23:

18 [I pray]* that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the glorious riches of His inheritance among the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power to us who believe, according to the working of His vast strength.
God’s Power in Christ
20 He (GOD) demonstrated [this power]* in the Messiah by raising Him from the dead and seating Him at His right hand in the heavens[15]— 21 far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given,[16] not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And He put everything under His feet[17] and appointed Him as head over everything for the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of the One who fills all things in every way.

Another scripture you may care to read is 1 Corinthians 15:1-58.

The message of CHRIST is hope and assurance of eternal life. The world still lures people to live for the moment. Satan loves that message because it drowns out the true message of eternal salvation and security through CHRIST.

Freedom is a gift and eternal life is a gift. When you live in a country that offers physical freedom and you are a Christian, you are free indeed. Christians in America are free but that freedom can be lost if they yield to the pleasures and compromises the world offers. Compromise is easy and leads to destruction. My prayer is that all Christians will not be blinded by compromise and have the courage to take a united stand before it is too late. Christians must be an example to others. We are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.

Today is the day of salvation. Accept CHRIST as your SAVIOR and make HIM the LORD of your life. You will experience true freedom. Blessings!!!