2 Peter 2
“1But there were false prophets also among the people, even
as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable
heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves
swift destruction.
2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by
reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned
words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not,
and their damnation slumbereth not.
4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but
cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be
reserved unto judgment;
5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the
eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the
world of the ungodly;
6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into
ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that
after should live ungodly;
7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy
conversation of the wicked:
8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in
seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their
unlawful deeds;)
9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of
temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the
lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled,
they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and
might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.
12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken
and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall
utterly perish in their own corruption;
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;
14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease
from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous
practices; cursed children:
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;
16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass
speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.
17 These are wells without water, clouds that are
carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.
18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity,
they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that
were clean escaped from them who live in error.
19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are
the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he
brought in bondage.
20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the
world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are
again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than
the beginning.
21 For it had been better for them not to have known
the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy
commandment delivered unto them.
22 But it is happened unto them according to the true
proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed
to her wallowing in the mire.”
Where do you go to seek corporate worship? Is the
congregation you are a member of a Bible believing New Testament Church? If
not, then why are you there? Many will say: “there is not a true church close
by so I go where I can.” But why do God’s people sit through false doctrine and
listen to false prophets every time they desire to go worship with others?
One Biblical model for starting a New Testament Church is
for people to contact a true church and ask for a missionary to be sent and
start a mission work. Look at the folks in Antioch in the Book of Acts. They
sent a request to the Church at Jerusalem for someone to be sent to teach them
and to eventually help them organize into a church. This model still works
today but often people are afraid to step out of their little bubble and try to
follow the Lord’s way.
This method is used all over the world by Churches and
Missionaries. But for some odd reason we in the USA do not think it will work
here or that it is not needed here. The problem is we are used to seeing
multitudes of “churches” in almost every city and town and community in our
land and we have concluded another church is not needed. But remember we are
commanded to preach the truth. If we go into an area where there is no true
church of Jesus Christ and start a work, there according to His plan this is not
proselytizing but is simply following the Lord’s command of the Great
Commission. It is no different than going into foreign country and starting a
work amid false religions.
We must be about the Lord’s work of spreading the Gospel and
teaching the truth. The Lord’s Churches need to get over the fear of offending
others and take a stand for the truth everywhere there is a desire by God’s
people to hear the truth. If there are people in need, we are commanded by our
Lord to help.
We should all have a desire 1. To see the Gospel of Jesus
Christ spread and 2. Churches started. Only the Lord’s true Churches have the
authority to start mission works and organize churches. And that authority can
only be given by the Lord Himself. The Bridegroom of the Church. Anything else
started any other way is a false church started by false a false prophet.
Beware!!!
Praise ye the Lord!!!
