2 Peter 2:18-19
In 2 Peter 2:18, Peter speaks of the false teachers speaking, “great swelling words of emptiness,” (NKJV) and he is referring to the lies and deception that they live in (2 Peter 2:13b). Through these empty words, the false teachers lure innocent souls into a spiritual prison by using the lusts of the flesh and the lewdness of man to trap them. These empty words (lies) of the promise of freedom are the empty traps of which Peter states in verse 19, “for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.” In this is the father of lies himself – the devil. Jesus tells the Pharisees in John 8:44, “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” Falling into this temptation will only lead to destruction for eternity (2 Peter 2:12-17).
This is a warning of the deceptive promises from the false teachers which are of the devil and only lead to destruction and the blackness of darkness forever (2 Peter 2:17).
This world is full of the lies and deception of the devil, whose only purpose is to pull and keep you away from Jesus. But these lies and empty promises only lead to eternity in the blackness of darkness (2 Peter 2:17). It is important for our salvation that we are aware of these things so that we can prepare to fight against them by putting our faith in the One who has already defeated the wiles of the devil. The Apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:11-12, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Jesus is our salvation. Jesus is the only one who has defeated the devil, and He defeated him for you and for me.
Dear LORD,
Please help us to stand in Christ Jesus against the false teachers of this world. Please help us to not fall victim to the false promises of this world that only lead to the blackness of darkness for eternity, but that You would work through us to lead all lost souls to salvation in Christ Jesus. In Jesus name I pray, amen.