历史不断重演
彼得后书二章1至11节
1从前在百姓中有假先知起来,将来在你们中间也必有假师傅,私自引进陷害人的异端,连买他们的主他们也不承认,自取速速的灭亡。
2将有许多人随从他们邪淫的行为,便叫真道因他们的缘故被毁谤。
3他们因有贪心,要用捏造的言语在你们身上取利。他们的刑罚,自古以来并不迟延;他们的灭亡,也必速速来到(注:原文作“也不打盹”)。
4就是天使犯了罪,神也没有宽容,曾把他们丢在地狱,交在黑暗坑中,等候审判;
5神也没有宽容上古的世代,曾叫洪水临到那不敬虔的世代,却保护了传义道的挪亚一家八口;
6又判定所多玛、蛾摩拉,将二城倾覆,焚烧成灰,作为后世不敬虔人的鉴戒;
7只搭救了那常为恶人淫行忧伤的义人罗得。
8因为那义人住在他们中间,看见听见他们不法的事,他的义心就天天伤痛。
9主知道搭救敬虔的人脱离试探,把不义的人留在刑罚之下,等候审判的日子。
10那些随肉身纵污秽的情欲、轻慢主治之人的,更是如此。他们胆大任性,毁谤在尊位的也不知惧怕。
11就是天使,虽然力量权能更大,还不用毁谤的话在主面前告他们。
信息分享
我们如何识别假教师呢?彼得给了我们几个重要的提示。他在第1节指出,这些假教师会沿用撒但在伊甸园使用的伎俩。他们未必会公然否定神的话,却让人怀疑神的话;或是说:「你理解错了,它的意思其实不是这样的。」然后,用他们的解释来说服人。
其次,他们通常会鼓吹道德开放,正如我们在现代社会所见的一样。基督的名因此不断被人贬低,不再获得应有的尊重。
第三,他们很重视金钱。彼得说他们的目的是「取利」(3节)。他们会从追随者身上谋利,以致他们的生活水平远高于大多数信徒。今天有不少假教师拥有丰厚的财富,却从不交待自己如何处理钱财。
彼得还列出他们的其他表现,但最终明言:「神必刑罚他们。正如祂在旧约时代所做的一样,祂今天也必向他们施报。」
彼得也提醒信徒,当审判临到的时候,神也必能够拯救祂的儿女。彼得提到挪亚和罗得,他们都是神大能拯救的经典例子。
第9节下半句虽然提及审判,但上半句却清楚指出:「主知道搭救敬虔的人脱离试探。」这不是很令人鼓舞吗?审判虽必临到,但神也必顾念属祂的人。信徒必须时刻紧记这一真理。
HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF
2 Peter 2:1-11
1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as 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.
2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.
3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.
4 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment;
5 and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly;
6 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly;
7 and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked
8 (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)—
9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,
10 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,
11 whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord.
Message
How can we detect false teachers? Peter gives us several important clues. In verse 1 he says that they will follow the same method Satan used in the Garden of Eden. They may not openly deny the Word of God but will they cast doubts on it. Or they will say, “It doesn't really mean what you think it means.” They will then suggest other interpretations - theirs.
They will usually advocate open immorality. As we have seen it in recent years, the name of Christ is dragged consequently down and loses its rightful respect.
Thirdly they will emphasize money. Peter calls this “greed” (v.3). They exploit their followers. They have a life-style far above most of their disciples. Some today are fabulously rich but never account for the money they handle.
There are other indications, but Peter says, “God will deal with them. He did in Old Testament times. He will do it again now.”
Peter also reminds us how God can deliver His children even when judgment is falling. Peter mentions Noah and Lot, two remarkable examples of God's power to save.
Note the second part of verse 9. It speaks of certain judgment but the first part is so clear: “The Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials.” Isn't that encouraging? As certain as judgment may be, God's care for His own is just as certain. Hold on to that truth, now and always.

