2 Peter 2:9,10 - The Lord knows how to rescue

2:9

Notice how the two aspects of God’s actions go together here. He knows how to rescue the godly, and He knows how to judge the unrighteous. All too often we will focus on just one of these aspects, usually the rescuing of the godly. The Bible does not do that. As I have said before, the Bible is the most balanced book in the world, and if you want a balanced view on a matter read the Bible, all of it, not just the bits which back up your view! 

Now when Peter speaks of God rescuing the godly it might seem as if he is implying that we somehow add to our salvation, ie we get saved if we are godly, if we are good enough. However, I think Peter is talking not about eternal salvation and damnation here, but about how we cope in the midst of difficult circumstances. Remember that the Christians then, as at times and places throughout history and still very much today, were liable to face real persecution. They needed to know that God is quite capable of operating in such circumstances. And in such circumstances it is important that we act in a godly manner. If we do so God will either rescue us, or we will suffer for Christ’s sake, and in either case He will bring glory to His name. Today in the West it is increasingly becoming almost a crime, and often a sackable offence, to hold to basic Christian teaching on morality. Too many are reacting by giving in to the world’s dogma. We need to know that it is vital to hold to God’s truth, and that that is by far the best thing to do, and if we do we will find that we are walking in step with the Spirit, and there is nothing more wonderful than that.

2:10

Peter seems to be going back to the false teachers, who were following the corrupt desires of the flesh. We need to recognise that the desires of the flesh, our human nature, are inherently corrupt. Instead, as Paul says in Romans 8, we must live by the Spirit. We let the Spirit guide our thoughts and actions, and then our flesh starts to get transformed. “Despise authority” could refer to despising church authority, human authority, or angels. Where NIV has “celestial beings”, ESV has “glorious ones”, and KJV has “dignities”. So it is difficult to decide exactly what Peter was on about. What is clear is that the people he is speaking about have a “bold and arrogant” attitude and that they live by the flesh. The same applies today to false teachers. They show contempt for the word of God and for God Himself. This will also show itself in having contempt for all authority.