On Sunday (2/14/16), our series in 2 Peter at the Red Brick Church will continue in 2 Peter 2. This is a rich chapter with a dizzying number of references to Old Testament examples. A great way to prepare for the sermon would be to read through 2 Peter 2 as well as some of the collateral references. See if you can pick up themes that run throughout these examples.
|
Biblical Illustration |
2 Peter Reference |
Other Bible Texts / Explanation |
| Rebellious Angels | 4] For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; | 1 Peter 3:18-22; Jude 6 – This account also references the Apocryphal book of Enoch. Genesis 6:1-4 – The warning reminds us that we are in a great cosmic battle and that God will certainly judge fallen angels. See also Ephesians 6:10-20; 1 Peter 5:8; Colossians 1:15-20 which describes the cosmic dimensions of Christ’s victory. God’s judgment awaits those who rebel. |
| The Days of Noah / Flood | [5] if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; | Genesis 6-8 – The world was so corrupt that God destroyed everyone except one family who had faith (Noah’s family). God judges in his own time. |
| Decadent Sodom and Gomorrah | [6] if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; [7] and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked | Jude 7; Genesis 18:16-19:29 – Sodom and Gomorrah were judged with burning sulfur from heaven and they were totally destroyed. Sexual sin (and Sodom’s other sins) are an abomination to God. God will judge this sin. |
| Fallen angels | [11] whereas angels, though greater in might and power, do not pronounce a blasphemous judgment against them before the Lord. | But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.” Jude 9 – People who presume to speak authoritatively in spiritual context should tremble at the thought of judgment. |
| Greedy Balaam | [15] Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing, [16] but was rebuked for his own transgression; a speechless donkey spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness. | Jude 11; Numbers 22, 31 – Balaam was an evil and greedy character willing to go up against anyone including God’s chosen people for a price. Ultimately, Balaam was killed because of his greediness (Numbers 31). God takes care of greedy leaders in his own time. |
| Proverbs Quotation | [22] What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.” | Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly. Proverbs 26:11 – Those who have known the Truth and return to sin are especially culpable. See also Hebrews 6:1-8. |
