2 Peter 3:1 KJV [1] “This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:”      It is possible to have a pure mind and a bad memory. A believer can have a genuine faith, but over time, their memory can fade, and convictions can weaken under pressure. Human nature tends toward forgetfulness, so we need to be reminded of the Word of God. That is why daily Bible reading is so important in our lives. It is also why we need to faithfully attend Sunday School and …

2 Peter 2:22 KJV [22] “But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.”      When we consider these two animals, we must first note that neither one is behaving abnormally. A dog returning to vomit and a pig returning to mud are acting in accordance with their nature. Peter is describing people who have experienced some level of cleansing or escape from corruption, yet went back to it. Salvation is not about self-improvement, but a transformation …

2 Peter 2:21KJV [21] “For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.”      Let me begin by saying that there is a difference between struggling and turning. The crowd in this verse was ignorant of the right way. They had been taught correctly, given the truth, and knew the way of righteousness. The Lord was gracious to give them the light that many long to hear.      However, they rejected the light and went their own way. These …

2 Peter 2:20 KJV [20] “For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.”      Escaping the world’s corruption is not the finish line but the beginning of a new life in Christ. It is possible for an individual to experience conviction without true conversion. A person is not saved because they have been exposed to spiritual things, heard preaching, read scriptures, or even made changes in their lives. They need …

2 Peter 2:19 KJV [19] “While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.”      Sin rarely begins as bondage, but rather presents itself as freedom. It offers pleasure without consequences, control without cost, and satisfaction without accountability. Most cults make these kinds of empty promises. This is a sad hoax for those who fall for it. The tragedy is that not only are these followers brought into bondage, but they are also blind to it. They never even saw it coming. …

2 Peter 2:18 KJV [18] “For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.”      Apostates are good at declaring lofty-sounding nonsense. They fill their sermons with worthless, meaningless words that are devoid of truth. While their words may tickle the ears of the congregation, they are leading them down a path of deception. These false teachers have learned to speak skillfully without ever saying anything. They preach empty sermons that stir emotions and receive great applause. They …

2 Peter 2:17 KJV [17] “These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.”      In Bible times, a well was a source of life, refreshment, and survival. Travelers depended on wells in dry lands to quench their thirst. To come upon a well that promised water, but was empty, would bring frustration and potential danger. Peter reminds us that false teachers and ungodly influences promise spiritual refreshment, but they have nothing to give. They are full of empty promises that leave people deceived and damned for …

2 Peter 2:16 KJV [16] “but was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.”      It is clear to see that Balaam was motivated by money and materialism. However, what Balaam called opportunity, God called madness. Sin often looks reasonable, profitable, or harmless to the human mind, but in reality, it is reckless and destructive. The word “madness” means “to be out of one’s mind.” Whenever someone goes down the pathway of sin, they lose their common sense because their lustful desires get the best of them.      Balaam was …

2 Peter 2:16 KJV [16] “but was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.”      It is clear to see that Balaam was motivated by money and materialism. However, what Balaam called opportunity, God called madness. Sin often looks reasonable, profitable, or harmless to the human mind, but in reality, it is reckless and destructive. The word “madness” means “to be out of one’s mind.” Whenever someone goes down the pathway of sin, they lose their common sense because their lustful desires get the best of them.      Balaam was …

2 Peter 2:15 KJV [15] “which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;”      Balaam was a man who knew the voice of God and spoke the words of God, yet allowed his heart to be captured by the wages of unrighteousness. His tragedy was not ignorance, but abandonment. He forsook the right way and went astray. He knew what was right, but he deliberately turned aside. He once had direction and understanding, but he chose another path. His downfall was that he …