Topic: "THE
ANOTOMY OF SPIRITUAL REGRESSION"
Text: 2 Peter
2:20-22
INTRODUCTION
In
2Pe 2:20-22, we read of the real possibility and serious consequences
of backsliding. It is interesting that we find this passage coming from the
inspired pen of Peter.
a. For if anyone knew
"firsthand" the reality and dangers of backsliding, it was Peter!
b. As he discovered the night he
denied Jesus!
The process of backsliding is a
gradual one, often overtaking a person by surprise; and lest we fall from our
own steadfastness...
a. We shall carefully examine the
process that led to Peter's denial of Christ
b. Followed by noticing how
Peter's own words in his epistles are designed to prevent the same from happening
to us!
I. THE ANATOMY OF A BACKSLIDER
1. In a boastful manner, Peter
claims he will not fall away or deny Christ!
2. In doing so, Peter takes the first
step in backsliding: "pride"! - cf.
Pr 16:18
3. Why is this the
"first" step?
a. Because the first step in entering
the kingdom is humility
b. So if we lose "humility",
we take that first step backward
4. Paul's advice to the
Corinthians is very apropos in this
1. Told to keep watch, Peter kept
falling asleep
2. It was therefore lack of diligent preparation which caused him to be
caught off guard for what was to follow
3. The same thing can happen to us!
a. Without diligence, we too can be
found unprepared - cf.
Lk. 21:34-36
b. More often than not, it is a
"gradual drifting" that catches us off guard - cf.
He 2:1-3
c.
But when we are proud of ourselves, we become lazy, and that easily leads to
the next step...
1. Note that it says
"...Peter followed Him at a distance"
2. Now that Jesus had become
unpopular...
a. Peter stays far enough away so as not
to be identified with Him
b. Peter was unprepared for the
challenge of facing ridicule and persecution
3. Without diligent preparation, we too can
become guilty of cowardice!
a. Ashamed to be seen carrying a Bible
b. Ashamed to be seen giving thanks
c. Ashamed to be seen with other
Christians
d. Perhaps even ashamed to let others
know that we are Christians
4. And yet, Jesus has made it
clear what He thinks of "cowardice"- cf.
Mk 8:38;
Re 21:8
5. When we are ashamed of Christ,
it is natural for to fall into the next step of backsliding...
We now find Peter sitting with
the servants of the High Priest and warming himself by the fire, he was ashamed to be seen with Christ, it becomes easy to mingle with those
of the world and enjoy their comforts. But one cannot be
"comforted by the fire" of the world, and not be "burned"!
a. Close contact with that which can harm
has its effects! - cf.
Pr 6:27-29
b.
So it is we cannot "flirt with the world" and walk away untouched! -
1Co 15:33
By the time we become "friends with the world", it is only
a short time before we take the next and final step of backsliding.
Away from Christ, at comfort
with those in the world, Peter finds himself denying His Lord and Savior!. In so doing, he has put
himself in grave danger - Mt 10:32-33.Though we may never actually deny Jesus in "words", we can
easily backslide to the point of denying Him in "action"...
a. We are called to worship Him...but make
excuses why we cannot
b. We are called to serve Him...but render
little or no service
c. We are called to stand by
His side and suffer for His name ...but stand afar off in the safety of the
world's comfort
When we deny the Lord, our
backsliding is complete; unless we repent, the only thing left is to one day
face the Lord, where we will fully realize the error of our ways! For Peter, he
fully realized his sin when the Lord turned and looked at him there in the
courtyard (
Lk 22:60-62).
Imagine the feeling in Peter's heart as those
eyes of His Savior pierced his soul!
Like Judas, Peter wept bitterly over his sin. Unlike Judas, Peter had
"godly sorrow" that results in true repentance (
2Co 7:10-11).
And
years later, we find Peter writing the sort of things that would prevent us
from making the same mistake he did...
II. ADVICE FROM ONE WHO
LEARNED THE HARD WAY
A. TO GUARD AGAINST
"PRIDE"...
2. Indeed, "God resists the proud,
but gives grace to the humble"
B. TO WARD AGAINST
"LAZINESS"...
2. Note especially his words in his second
epistle -
2Pe 1:5,
10;
3:14
C. INSTEAD OF
"COWARDICE"...
1. Peter charges us to "glorify
God" -
1Pe 4:16
2. Think not of what it means to you, but
what it means to God!
D. INSTEAD OF
"WORLDLINESS"...
2. Remember that we are
"sojourners and pilgrims", destined for a better place than the
things of this world have to offer!
E. INSTEAD OF
"DENIAL"...
1. Peter exhorts us to ever be ready to
"give a defense" -
1 Pet. 3:15
2. By careful preparation, we will
"defend" Christ, and not "deny" Christ!
CONCLUSION
From one who learned by the hard
road of experience, let's heed his advice lest we one day backslide ourselves,
and in so doing deny the Lord! - cf.
2Pe 3:17-18. Remember too that when Peter saw the eyes of
his Lord, he realized the error of his way...
a. Fortunately for him, there was still time to repent
b. But for us, when we see Jesus "face to face", the time to
repent
will be gone...it will be the time for
judgment!
If we realize that we are guilty
of backsliding...
a. Repent now, do not wait until you stand before Jesus
b. Do it now, so that your "face to face" encounter with Jesus
will be terrific, not terrifying!