II PETER: Don't Fall for the Deception of or Become Depraved like the False Teachers; "They have forsaken the right way and gone astray. The latter end is worse for them than the beginning!"

...and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord. (II Peter 2:10-11)

In the previous lesson, we concluded by bringing up the topic of false teachers and false prophets. ...there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words;... (II Peter 2:1-3)

But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption, and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children. They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet. [Numbers 22-24] (II Peter 2:12-16)

It doesn't take much imagination to understand what Peter is about writing here.  We can turn on the news, read the paper, and look on the internet and see stories too frequently of pastors resigning for committing adultery, pastors resigning for embezzling church funds, pastors involving their members in cult and occult practices. etc. etc. etc. They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, and will utterly perish in their own corruption, and will receive the wages of unrighteousness.

Most start out with good intentions, a thirst for the Truth and a desire to teach it to others.  But the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (I Timothy 6:10) As their churches grow and their popularity grows, it becomes difficult for many of them to overcome the temptations that we all deal with every day.  Even  though they are held at a higher standard, they just like the rest of us have to ...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12-13)

The story of Balaam  is very interesting.  Many of these false teachers ...have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit,... (Jude 1:11)  ...Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time, Then he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor, which is near the River in the land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying: “Look, a people [children of Israel] has come from Egypt. See, they cover the face of the earth, and are settling next to me! Therefore please come at once, curse this people for me, for they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.” (Numbers 22:4-6)

The king of the Moabites knew that Death and life are in the power of the tongue,... (Proverbs 18:21) Balaam started out good, refusing to go to Balak, saying, “Go back to your land, for the Lord has refused to give me permission to go with you.” (Numbers 22:13) But eventually he did go, Then God’s anger was aroused because he went, and the Angel of the Lord took His stand in the way as an adversary against him. (Numbers 22:22)

These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. (II Peter 2:17-19)

God will deal with false teachers.  They will either repent and turn from their deceptive ways, if indeed they are one of the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error.  But if they have never accepted salvation through faith in Christ Jesus and have only used the Word of God for selfish gain, then for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.

For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.” [Proverbs 26:11] (II Peter 2:20-22)

Back to the example of Balaam , fortunately for him, he repented before he went and did what Balak wanted, saying to the Angel of the Lord, “I have sinned, for I did not know You stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displeases You, I will turn back.” (Numbers 22:34) Not only did he repent, but God still used him; Then the Angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but only the word that I speak to you, that you shall speak.” So Balaam went with the princes of Balak. (Numbers 22:35) Then Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, and look, you have blessed them bountifully!” So he answered and said, “Must I not take heed to speak what the Lord has put in my mouth?” (Numbers 23:11-12)

No matter what Balak wanted him to say, Balaam could only speak what God put in his mouth to say, not once but four separate prophecies of blessings on the children of Israel.  We all make mistakes and don't always behave like the Christians that we are.  But let's not be like “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.” There is nothing in this temporary world, eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, a heart trained in covetous practices, the lusts of the flesh, none of these things are worth forsaking the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and again entangled in them and being overcome.