Corona Devo 2061

Sometimes we need to dissect God's Word to better comprehend its meaning, and so we study the Bible to learn more.  

Sometimes we need historical data or resources to shed light and to gain context so that we can comprehend the meaning of Scripture.  

Sometimes we need a pastor, Bible teacher or a more-learned Believer to unpack the truth of a verse if we just can't "get it".

But sometimes, like today, everything that we need to know about what God is saying in the verses is crystal clear in the verses.  God gets black and white about sin and righteousness and the Lord is literal and direct about what He accepts and rejects from us.

No interpretation needed.  

No history lesson necessary and no theologian required.  

God is blatant in His delivery of His Truth and standards sometimes, and today (in 2 Peter 2) is one of those times.  

For instance...what are we being taught in church?

If the answer is not "the Bible", then we must be on our guard for false prophets.  

What teachings and quotations are mentioned from the pulpit or posted on the screens?  If the answer is not "the Bible", then we must be on our guard for false teachers.    

But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves. (2) Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered. (3) In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed.  ~2 Peter 2:1-3

We do not have to guess or wonder about how God feels and deals with those who cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them.

Pause and really think about the last sermon or teaching that we heard...was God at the core of it?  

And if our answer is not, "Yes", then run, don't walk...to a new church, because there will be judgement  for those propagating sin, and also for those sitting in sin.  

For God did not spare even the angels who sinned. He threw them into hell, in gloomy pits of darkness, where they are being held until the day of judgment. (5) And God did not spare the ancient world—except for Noah and the seven others in his family. Noah warned the world of God’s righteous judgment. So God protected Noah when he destroyed the world of ungodly people with a vast flood.

(6) Later, God condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and turned them into heaps of ashes. He made them an example of what will happen to ungodly people.  ~2 Peter 2:4-6

God's Word is pretty clear here: stop sinning, because there will be consequences for ungodly people.  

And God gives blatant hope to those of us who are sick of the wicked people around us...He will rescue us.

But God also rescued Lot out of Sodom because he was a righteous man who was sick of the shameful immorality of the wicked people around him. (8) Yes, Lot was a righteous man who was tormented in his soul by the wickedness he saw and heard day after day. 

(9) So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment. (10) He is especially hard on those who follow their own twisted sexual desire, and who despise authority.   ~2 Peter 2:7-10

No translater needed, and (although written 2,000 yeras ago), we do not have to wonder what the author meant by "He is especially hard on those who follow their own twisted sexual desire, and who despise authority" (2 Peter 2:10).

Whatever comes to our mind in association with twisted sexual desire...we are right, and God says, that this is wrong.

And God camps out here on this topic and about these people, which must mean that He is serious about His judgement upon them.  

Let's read God's Word to understand His heart and His hope for us, which sometimes includes Him blatantly telling us what not to do (no interpretation necessary).

These people are proud and arrogant, daring even to scoff at supernatural beings without so much as trembling. (11) But the angels, who are far greater in power and strength, do not dare to bring from the Lord a charge of blasphemy against those supernatural beings.  

(12) These false teachers are like unthinking animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed. They scoff at things they do not understand, and like animals, they will be destroyed. (13) Their destruction is their reward for the harm they have done. They love to indulge in evil pleasures in broad daylight. They are a disgrace and a stain among you. They delight in deception even as they eat with you in your fellowship meals.

(14) They commit adultery with their eyes, and their desire for sin is never satisfied. They lure unstable people into sin, and they are well trained in greed. They live under God’s curse. (15) They have wandered off the right road and followed the footsteps of Balaam son of Beor, who loved to earn money by doing wrong...  

(17) These people are as useless as dried-up springs or as mist blown away by the wind. They are doomed to blackest darkness.

(18) They brag about themselves with empty, foolish boasting. With an appeal to twisted sexual desires, they lure back into sin those who have barely escaped from a lifestyle of deception. 

(19) They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you.   ~2 Peter 2:10-15, 17-19

And there we have it, folks: straight from our Lord's mouth and Word, and He doesn't mince words.   God tells us what not to do, and also what not to follow if a false teacher has risen into leadership among us or our church. 

The Lord does not hide His intent (in informing us), or His warning in educating us: stay away from false teachers.

No interpretation needed.  

No history lesson necessary and no theologian required.  

God is blatant in His delivery of His Truth and standards to us today.  Are we receiving His warning?

Blessings,  

sarah  

Https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com