Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2022
This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened." Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles. The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but I have divided it so that we will spend half the year in the OT, and half the year in the NT.
Bible Readings: 2 Peter 2-3
Background:
In these two chapters, Peter confronts, in vivid, colorful language, the false teachers who were destined to arise in the church to lead the followers of Christ astray. Similarities to Jude abound in Peter's metaphors.
Daily Devotional: Eyes Open
It is assumed in many theological debates that the writings of the early church fathers must be reliable and true because they were so close to the Apostles in time. But in reality, the church strayed quickly from the truth after the apostles were gone. The warnings of Jesus, Paul, and Peter here in 2 Peter 2-3 proved all too true. Gnostics. Mystics. Those who denied the dual nature of Christ (first denying his humanity, then soon his full deity). Salvation by baptism. The church strayed into doctrinal error quickly.
That is why there are so many warnings in the New Testament about the increase of false teachers. In this passage, Peter reminds us that these spiritual charlatans will arise in the church. Friends - THEY ARE EVERYWHERE! Jesus promised us they would be. So did Peter. So did Paul. Just because someone says, "I'm a Christian and I preach the Bible does NOT mean they are." We have been promised wolves among the sheep - spiritual predators who would come among us not to feed the sheep but to devour them. We must stop being gullible, believing every person who claims Christ is a Christian.
But Peter also promised us that God could handle these false teachers. Yes, we need to be wary and careful, but 2:4-9 tells us that God will not only punish those who lead others astray but will also protect us from them. God is powerful - more powerful than those who twist the truth!
Those are the two errors we must avoid and the pendulum swings wildly between them. On the one hand, we sometimes fail to realize that the wolves are among us. We are gullible. But on the other hand, some despair and become so focused on the false teachers that they forget that God's truth is stronger than the error.
Stay in the word. Know the truth and it will set you free. Keep your eyes open for the lying liars who are everywhere, but remember that God's truth reigns supreme!
That is why there are so many warnings in the New Testament about the increase of false teachers. In this passage, Peter reminds us that these spiritual charlatans will arise in the church. Friends - THEY ARE EVERYWHERE! Jesus promised us they would be. So did Peter. So did Paul. Just because someone says, "I'm a Christian and I preach the Bible does NOT mean they are." We have been promised wolves among the sheep - spiritual predators who would come among us not to feed the sheep but to devour them. We must stop being gullible, believing every person who claims Christ is a Christian.
But Peter also promised us that God could handle these false teachers. Yes, we need to be wary and careful, but 2:4-9 tells us that God will not only punish those who lead others astray but will also protect us from them. God is powerful - more powerful than those who twist the truth!
Those are the two errors we must avoid and the pendulum swings wildly between them. On the one hand, we sometimes fail to realize that the wolves are among us. We are gullible. But on the other hand, some despair and become so focused on the false teachers that they forget that God's truth is stronger than the error.
Stay in the word. Know the truth and it will set you free. Keep your eyes open for the lying liars who are everywhere, but remember that God's truth reigns supreme!
Father, I thank you that your truth is powerful and real. May I know it and live it.
Consider God's Word:
Do you walk in a place of balance - avoiding both gullibility and cynicism?
No comments:
Post a Comment