divisions within the Body of Christ<\/a>.<\/p>\nAnd what is it they teach which brings these divisions? According to Peter, their primary error is that they \u201cdeny the Lord who bought them.\u201d Most translations render it in such a fashion, but I must say that such a translation is hopelessly weak.<\/p>\n
Denying the Master who Redeemed Them<\/h2>\n A better translation might be, \u201cdenying the Master who redeemed them.\u201d<\/p>\n
The word Peter uses for \u201cLord\u201d or \u201cMaster\u201d is not the typical\u00a0kurios,\u00a0<\/em>but is rather\u00a0despot\u0113s.\u00a0<\/em>It is where we get our word \u201cdespot,\u201d which has more negative connotations today than it did in Peter\u2019s day. Back then, it referred to a Master who owned slaves.<\/p>\nThe word \u201cbought\u201d is the Greek word\u00a0agaraz\u014d<\/em>, which in a Master-slave relationship refers to being redeemed (cf. Rev 5:9, 14:3-4). So what is Peter saying? He writes that these false prophets, these false teachers, these bringers of divisions, have been redeemed by Jesus their Master, and yet, as shocking as it sounds, they have the gall to deny Him!<\/p>\nDenying Christ<\/h2>\n And what is the significance of their denial? Here is where the text gets even more interesting. The word that Peter uses for \u201cdeny\u201d is\u00a0arneomai<\/em>, which is exactly the word used in the gospels when Peter denied Jesus (cf. John 13:38; 18:25, 27). Certainly when Peter wrote this sentence, he was thinking of his own earlier actions and behavior in denying his Master who redeemed him.<\/p>\nAnd if the words of Jesus in John 13:10-11 where He says that Peter is already \u201cclean\u201d means that Peter was justified and had eternal life, then what all of this means is that Peter recognizes that it is very possible for a redeemed and justified follower of Jesus Christ to be a false teacher and deny their Master, just as Peter himself had done. \n \n Though Peter seems to\u00a0indicate his belief that the false teachers he has in mind are unregenerate (2 Pet 2:17), the denial of Jesus by Peter himself reveals that it is possible to be regenerate and still deny Jesus.<\/p>\n
This is actually quite a relief, because when we sit back and honestly consider what false teaching is, we realize that every single person is a false teacher to some degree or another. How thankful we can be that God does not require 100% doctrinal accuracy from us in order to be given eternal life and live as citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven.<\/p>\n
False Teaching<\/h2>\n So what then is the message of 2 Peter 2:1? This verse reveals that there is such a thing as false teaching, and we do have a responsibility to warn them and others about their teachings.<\/p>\n
However, we must remember that in some way, all of us are false teachers. The real tragedy of false teaching, wherever it is found, is that it divides the Body of Christ, and causes those who believe it to deny the Master who redeemed us.<\/p>\n
But in regard to participation within the church and the centered set approach to ministry, these false teachers are still allowed to eat meals with the other believers (2 Peter 2:13), and possibly even teach when the believers gather (2:18-19).<\/p>\n
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Denying the Lord who Bought Them<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n