The God Who Judges Justly – 2 Peter 2
In Part 1, we saw that Peter opens up this chapter with a fairly harsh warning. But he didn't pull his concern out of thin air. He had a ton of history stretching from Genesis to his present moment on which to ground his concern.
Peter gives us three instances for examples where God shows His willingness and authority to judge evil in both this and the spiritual realms. In fact, Peter understood the two are inexplicably related.
Peter says:
Why this rapid-fire list of supernatural rebellion and human corruption? Because Peter is reminding us that the sort of false teaching he's talking about isn't just an intellectual error. It is a cosmic rebellion.
Peter’s reference to angels “cast into Tartarus [hell]” isn’t random. He’s taking us back to the story in Genesis 6:1–4 — one of the great rebellions where part of God’s heavenly host rebelled and crossed boundaries they were never meant to cross.
Jewish tradition, as well as scripture, saw these rebellious “sons of God” corrupting humanity. Peter assumes his readers are already quite familiar with this story.
The allusions to this event show us human rebellion, like we saw in the Garden and Babel, are intertwined with spiritual rebellion like the one in Genesis 6. As a result of this rebellion, God disinherits the nations at Babel (Deut. 32:8-9 and Psalm 82), allotting them to the dominion of lesser spiritual beings, who subsequently become corrupt, mislead and deceive humans, who willingly follow their lead.
In Peter's view, the false teachers of the church he is addressing here are simply misguided, they have actually joined in participation with the same ancient pattern of rebellion stretching from Genesis 3 to Babel to the Prophets and right into the early church.
Peter gives us three instances for examples where God shows His willingness and authority to judge evil in both this and the spiritual realms. In fact, Peter understood the two are inexplicably related.
Peter says:
- God judged the rebellious angels (2:4)
- God judged the ancient world in Noah’s day (2:5)
- God judged Sodom and Gomorrah (2:6)
Why this rapid-fire list of supernatural rebellion and human corruption? Because Peter is reminding us that the sort of false teaching he's talking about isn't just an intellectual error. It is a cosmic rebellion.
Peter’s reference to angels “cast into Tartarus [hell]” isn’t random. He’s taking us back to the story in Genesis 6:1–4 — one of the great rebellions where part of God’s heavenly host rebelled and crossed boundaries they were never meant to cross.
Jewish tradition, as well as scripture, saw these rebellious “sons of God” corrupting humanity. Peter assumes his readers are already quite familiar with this story.
The allusions to this event show us human rebellion, like we saw in the Garden and Babel, are intertwined with spiritual rebellion like the one in Genesis 6. As a result of this rebellion, God disinherits the nations at Babel (Deut. 32:8-9 and Psalm 82), allotting them to the dominion of lesser spiritual beings, who subsequently become corrupt, mislead and deceive humans, who willingly follow their lead.
In Peter's view, the false teachers of the church he is addressing here are simply misguided, they have actually joined in participation with the same ancient pattern of rebellion stretching from Genesis 3 to Babel to the Prophets and right into the early church.
When we embrace deception, we, too, join in on an old rebellion. When we cling to truth, we join an even more ancient faithfulness.
Thankfully, Peter doesn't only call out the rebellions and false teaching, he also highlights the ways God has rescued us throughout time in these instances.
He reminds us of three redemptions, or rescues, to go alongside the judgements:
Judgment is real, but so is deliverance.
Corruption is ancient, but so is God’s faithfulness.
False teachers arise, but God preserves His people.
Today we find ourselves smack in the middle of an ancient story of cosmic rebellion, human participation, and Divine rescue, awaiting the return of our faithful King. During this time, God still guards His flock, still rescues His people, and continues to call us into Truth.
Peter reminds us our faith is part of a much larger story, it isn't only about our own salvation. Likewise, true, selfishly motivated false teaching isn't only about bad ideas, it's rebellion against the King!
Sometimes it feels like "sticking with the Truth" will cost too much, but we can remember the rescue of Noah and his family. When you feel alone standing on truth, remember Lot who was ultimately rescued from utter destruction from the land which vexed his heart.
But above all, cling to the Truth of the Word, which anchors our soul in this greater story.
How can you guard your heart today against the creep of falseness?
He reminds us of three redemptions, or rescues, to go alongside the judgements:
- God rescued Noah.
- God rescued Lot.
- God still rescues the godly from trials today (v.9).
Judgment is real, but so is deliverance.
Corruption is ancient, but so is God’s faithfulness.
False teachers arise, but God preserves His people.
Today we find ourselves smack in the middle of an ancient story of cosmic rebellion, human participation, and Divine rescue, awaiting the return of our faithful King. During this time, God still guards His flock, still rescues His people, and continues to call us into Truth.
Peter reminds us our faith is part of a much larger story, it isn't only about our own salvation. Likewise, true, selfishly motivated false teaching isn't only about bad ideas, it's rebellion against the King!
Sometimes it feels like "sticking with the Truth" will cost too much, but we can remember the rescue of Noah and his family. When you feel alone standing on truth, remember Lot who was ultimately rescued from utter destruction from the land which vexed his heart.
But above all, cling to the Truth of the Word, which anchors our soul in this greater story.
How can you guard your heart today against the creep of falseness?
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