2 Peter, Jude – December 24

2 Peter 2:9 says the LORD knows how to “reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment.” Verse 10 continues the thought and tells us about who these people are; it says, “…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.” Let’s look at each of these aspects of those who will be punished. First, it says they “walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness.” We can’t continue to live a life of appeasing our self and fulfilling the desires of the flesh and think we’ll be alright; we would only be deceiving ourselves. Second, it says they “despise authority. “ We all have authority over us in our life; it is up to us to cultivate a humble attitude of serving and love. Next it says they are “presumptuous;” this Greek word can also mean “daring.” We night tend to think of being daring as a good thing, but when we are daring to do and speak our own desires instead of dying to these things, it is foolishness. It says they are “self willed.” When our will comes from our own self we are in trouble. Jesus prayed, “not My will, but Yours be done.” Last it says “they are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries.” This culture can be so quick to judge the character of those who over us; whether it be in the civil, family or spiritual arena.

Jude writes about many of the same ideas Peter did. In verse 4 (Amplified version) he writes about the “ungodly (impious, profane) persons who pervert the grace (the spiritual blessing and favor) of our God into lawlessness and wantonness and immorality.” God’s grace never gives us an excuse or escape to live in lawlessness and appease our flesh. If we give ourselves over to the will and desires of the flesh after receiving the grace of God, we can expect the same outcome of those who never received God’s grace. He’s will for us is to “repent and believe.”