Bill Fitzhenry's Thoughts For Today…

Understanding important truths from the Bible….

Let me take this opportunity to thank you for your prayers in my behalf during my shoulder replacement surgery and recovery. I praise God for the quick healing and absence of pain he has given me, plus the relief in my hands. As you might think, I’m looking forward to being back in the routine of my life. I’m happy to be supplying the pulpit once again this coming Sunday. If you’re in this area and do not have a place to worship, I invite you to this service at Mesquite Hill Baptist Church, Madisonville.

Proverbs 20:19 NKJV

He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets;
Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips.

The Scriptures without fail point out the importance of the words one speaks. It is an overwhelming thought to a sensible person that they are responsible before God for every word they speak. Added to this is the good or ill done to your fiends and associates by your words. The question arises, is there such a thing as an idle word.

The wise man in this proverb teaches three important truths:

1. The talebearer (NKJV) or slanderer (ESV) is not trustworthy. As he brings his knowledge of others that should remain private so he will take away from the one to whom he speaks the private correspondence they may have. Do not mistake this. This is a certainty. Anyone who reveals secrets will not discriminate.

How this should search the hearts of each of us. Well does James say “If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man”. James 3:2. How few there are who are so faithful that they have not, if not often at least occasionally, been talebearers.

2. Every believer is responsible to police their correspondence. “How can two walk together except they be agreed?” Amos 3:3 You are known by your friends. The words “do not” in this admonition bear emphasis. If you fail to heed and do associate with the disallowed person, expect to experience the results of talebearing and evil from this fellowship. It is not easy to refuse to listen to the slanderer or tale-bearer. The means of success is given in this statement. “Do not associate with one” is the provision for success. Just as you cannot accompany a murderer in his evil deed without being guilty so you cannot “associate with” a gossipy slanderer without guilt.

3. The “simple babbler” (ESV 20:19B) is the same one as the slanderer in 20:19A. This additional description informs of the emptiness or worthlessness of the information the “babbler” brings. He does not build up his hearer but he does tear down the subject of his correspondence. Babbling throughout the Scripture indicates an emptiness of content and uselessness of conversation. It falls under the structure of I Corinthians 13:1. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. It is only capable of disturbing, never of encouraging because there is no love in talebearing.

God help us all.

Bill Fitzhenry's Thoughts For Today…

Understanding important truths from the Bible….

II Peter 2:20-22 NKJV

20 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.

21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.

22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”

It seems strange that the evangelical church pays so little attention to false teachers and fails any longer to warn its members against prevalent heresies when the New Testament is so replete with the teaching of this responsibility. This failure is not without present ill consequences which promise to be even more destructive to the church’s true interest.

As the southern border of the US is flooded with illegals so the boundaries of Christianity have been overwhelmed with weak, erroneous and deliberately heretical teaching.

Peter in the final verses of this 2^nd chapter describes the nature of the case with false teachers.

2:20 – There is always a good effect to Bible truth. In this verse, Peter states that it furnishes an avenue of escape from worldly conduct. One of the great ends of the law and the gospel is to restrain lawlessness. These false teachers have experienced this benefit. Lawlessness is never without its destructive consequences. But for these men the escape is temporary. They return to corruptive practices and are completely given over to them. They are “entangled” in them or hung upon them.

2:21 – The result of the return is that they are worse off than if they had never known

better. The simple meaning here is though ignorance of the law is no excuse, willful

disobedience is far more provocative and will meet a sterner response.

2:22 – The adversative “but” in vs 22 introduces a cardinal principle of Biblical theology.

Man is a subject of his nature and will always act according to his nature.

The dog in the illustration acts exactly according to his nature. He does what he does

because that is what the nature of a dog is and that is what a dog does. The sow does

what she does because she is a sow and loves to wallow in the mire. It matters not that

she may be washed and have a bow placed on her, give her freedom where there is a

mud puddle and she being a sow and not being at all affected by the bath will return to

the mire.

The certain intent of Peter is that the false teachers, no matter what at any time their appearance may be, when they are discovered to be false teachers they are acting according to their nature.

The Scriptures are concerned with this matter of man’s nature. Peter’s quote is from Proverbs. It is not something new interjected in the argument. The Lord teaches this in His illustrations of the bitter fountain and the briar. Neither of these can give out other than what they are. So do not expect a refreshing drink from a bitter fountain or pleasant fruit from a briar bush.

What is the conclusion? You may change someone’s personality and adjust their emotions while never involving their nature. But two things must be said. The change of personality and emotions have a temporary nature to them. And this will never satisfy God’s demand. He demands a new birth, a new creation, and nothing short of a completely new life. This is God’s changing of the fallen depraved nature to one of life and goodness.

Do not accept anything short of this change for yourself.

Bill Fitzhenry's Thoughts For Today…

Understanding important truths from the Bible….

II Peter 2:4-19 NKJV

4 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment;

5 and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly;

6 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly;

7 and delivered righteous Lot,who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked

8 (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)—

9then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,

10 and 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,

11 whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord.
12 But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption,

13 and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you,

14 having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children.

15 They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

16 but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet.
17 These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.
18 For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error.

19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.

Yesterday, 9/15/11, was marked for me by two things. It was my wife’s birthday and the vain babbler from Houston appeared for a short interview on a national TV show. He is in New York City to promote his latest book.

After repeatedly watching the interview it is evident to me that he is intellectually bankrupt. He represents something, Positive Thinking, New Age, or something I do not know. This I do know – he does not in any way represent Christianity. I must say I wonder who ghost writes his books and prepares his sermons for him.

Peter in verse 4 begins illustrating and describing the judgment of God on false teachers and certain characteristics of their activity. The two great judgments of the Old Testament guarantee absolutely the inescapable judgment determined for false teachers.

There are certain characteristics that have been, and always will be, associated with false teachers. They are:

1. Lust and uncleanness – vs 10 A. This is primarily sexual uncleanness.

2. They recognize no authority higher than themselves. Vs 10-11. The fool Benny Hinn is bold and presumptuous in commanding Satan and his followers to act as he commands.

3. They are ignorant and bring about their own destruction by their ignorance. Vs 12

4. They are made bold by their ability to deceive to the extent that practice their deception and impurity openly in the Church. Vs 13

5. They are ruled by covetousness. Vs 14-16 Please read these verses. Some familiarity with what is written here will give you insight into the practices that are prevalent with these evil men.

6. Intellectually they are empty, unstable, lustful, and slaves of depravity. Vs 17-19.

Some men described here will show all of the traits mentioned. Some will show some of the character with its activity. Some will be able to mask and hide most if not all for a great period of time. But by and by the truth will out. Lurking in the Scriptures is I John 2:19. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.

This fearful passage guarantees disclosure of the heretic to the church.

Beginning with his denial of Christ’s sovereign blood-bought ownership to a wasted life the false teacher is present with us to deceive and destroy. He has no redeeming virtue. His end is destruction. And your responsibility is to know him and avoid him.

Bill Fitzhenry's Thoughts For Today…

Understanding important truths from the Bible….

II Peter 2:2-3 NKJV

² And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.

³ By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.

James 3:1

¹ My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.

The church has failed to demand a knowledgeable and Spiritually gifted ministry. Anything in the ministry less than this will fail to meet the requirements of the Scripture. James 3:1 puts an insurmountable burden on the Christian ministry and those to whom it is directed separate from it being Spiritually equipped.

A benevolent, gracious, kind, and hardworking Christian minister can be without Spiritual gifts and ignorant of the gospel. His failure is destructive to the church and has brought on him “the greater condemnation.” Ignorance is no excuse. When a man professing a call to the ministry does not understand radical depravity, the content of the Gospel, and does not even know how to teach the basic truths of the Trinity he is not just ignorant he is dangerous and has brought judgment upon himself.

Peter has something different in mind than an ignorant incompetent minister. The one he describes is criminal. In verses 2 and 3, he describes three characteristics of the false teacher.

Vs 2 – First he is characterized by destructive ways. The desire of the false teacher is to destroy. This can be illustrated two ways. First, by the swine in the melon patch who eats his fill and continues to root up and destroy. Secondly, this is illustrated by God’s destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah which was willful and complete in its extent. So are the ways of the false teacher. He is willfully destructive.

Vs 3- Secondly, he is covetous. He is greedy materially and sexually. With false teachers it is often if not always true that the proverb “follow the money trail” can be applied. They may, and many do, exercise great discipline and energy to further their lust. This not withstanding, the lust is not a result of temptation or labor fatigue, but as we shall soon see in II Peter 2, is an outworking of their nature.

The illustrations of this in the last 100 years only are too replete to name. But beginning with the high priestess of the Pentecostalism Aimee Semple McPherson to the present day fool Bennie Hinn, the road of Christianity is littered with false teachers and they are easy enough for any Christian to find for himself.

Vs 3- Third they are deceivers. How plain and positive Peter is. The word used for deceivers here is very unusual. It is the Greek word from which our word plastic comes. The idea here seems to be they mold words to fit the need of the moment with those words never being truth. This gives the picture of one who fits his words to the need of the moment, with the single intent of gaining his desire. But he has no desire or concern for the truth. I think Peter has watched a Benny Hinn broadcast.

Peter’s announcement of judgment on these men is terrifying. His blistering statement has a double intent. First they will be revealed. Their judgment begins here in the revelation of their evil and unclean lives. Again, go back and search out the revelation of false teachers just in the modern history of the church. Secondly, theirs is not victory but destruction and that utter final destruction.

Paul also has these men in mind. Look at II Timothy 2:19-21. The 20^th verse states the same separation. But our responsibility is to see them, mark them, and avoid their destructive deceptive message. “Cleanse” yourself from them and note the result.

Bill Fitzhenry's Thoughts For Today…

Understanding important truths from the Bible….

II Peter 2:1 NKJV

But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.

John 17:2

as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him.

Hebrews 11:6

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

The exposure of God’s church to the Christian media has brought the necessity of careful attention to II Peter 2:1. The church is bombarded by the idle babbler from Houston, TX, by the foolish rogue Benny Hinn, and by the outright heretic Bishop Jakes.

There are all descriptions of deceivers in the mix, but these three popular examples give enough cause for concern to send us to diligent study of the passages before us.

Two interesting notes about the church’s failure and danger are:

1. The Old Testament church’s failure before God was that of idolatry. This was by and large an intellectual sin. That all manner of social, civil, and personal wickedness followed is but proof that none are any better than their god.

2. The destruction of the church has always come internally. The persecutions of Rome civil spread the church. The heresies and errors of Rome ecclesia brought it near to its destruction.

Paul’s warning to the Ephesian elders is of internal dangers, Acts 20:29 I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock

In the present day evangelical church, there is little or no outcry against the bold errorists who march boldly through the church selling their heretical literature and stealing without challenge. It has come to the time where churches wearing the evangelical label fail to identify Mormonism and United Pentacostalism for the heresies they are. Thus Bishop Jakes escapes being identified as anti-trinitarian, and Mormons now sell themselves as Christians.

Looking at II Peter 2:1, there are three critical words which must be understood. Following is a look at these three words.

A. Deny – 1. To contradict constituting a failure to accept and believe 2. To deny by the way of disowning. This can be by word or practice.

B. Lord – despotes - The classical usage is important in understanding this term. 1. Ownership 2. Rule or authority 3. The right to unlimited exercise of power. This by definition is not a particularly favorable term.

The Old Testament usage in the Septuagint gives a clear understanding of the Biblical writers’ intent. 1. Emphasizes the power of God 2. A clear statement of omnipotence

Jeremiah 1:6; 4:10; 14:13

The New Testament in no way contradicts the classical or the Septuagint usage.

1. Ownership as the slave owner is the master in contrast with the slave

2. When used of God particularly emphasize His will as supreme

C. Bought – to do business in the market place; to buy or to sell and per W.E. Vine does not mean redeem.

Having this information, these two passages are helpful to understand Peter. Hebrews 11:6 is a contrast in attitude toward God to the denier in II Peter 2:1. The true believer whether teacher or otherwise believes God is exactly who He says He is, and He will do for the believer exactly according to His Word. The false teacher denies God’s being and trustworthiness.

John 17:2 informs the Bible student of the divine prerogative given God’s Son, the Christ. This is a bow with two infallible arrows, authority or the right to rule over all flesh and the eternal life He shall give to His elect. John has set the double purchase before us. Christ has received these as a result of the purchase price paid for all humanity. He is their despotes. He owns all humanity. They are bought and paid for. He has paid the debt of the elect and bought them off the slave block, cleared their name at the bar of justice, and received the authority to pour out upon them the Spirit of grace and holiness.

Christian, your responsibility is clear. You must reject an experience and works oriented salvation announcing your firm intent to continue serving God the same way you came to Him, simply as a believer in His Word.

Please accept my thanks for your comments and concerns about my shoulder replacement surgery. Also, I'm very thankful to say I have gotten much relief in my hands. Bill

Bill Fitzhenry's Thoughts For Today…

Understanding important truths from the Bible….

II Peter 2:1

¹ But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.

After a seasonal layoff, here I come at you again. For all of you who read and tolerate my considerations, please understand I take full responsibility for them. I have two controlling concerns. First is to stay within the bounds of the Scriptures as they have been and are presently understood by orthodox teachers of the historic church. Secondly, it is to be in submission to my church and confession of faith. If you want to know what these are please contact me personally.

II Peter 2:1 is a continuation of what Peter is writing in chapter 1. Just as Scripture is inspired, it is not the opinion of an individual. This is a fact of our faith. With equal certainty, the church will experience false teachers. Like the false prophets of old they are certain to be present and equally certain to have no part in the true Word. Cf Isaiah 8:20. To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

These false teachers have a common feature of departure, “They deny the despotes who bought them.” What Peter is plainly saying is that they commonly - whatever else may be special about them – deny the atonement.

They deny the character, the nature, and the efficacy of the death of the God man.

Let’s look at this denial. First, they deny the character of the atonement. They will neither accept nor allow the justice of God to be the grounds of the atonement. They do not see their god as either caring about justice or able to do anything about it. If he ever had any concern about justice or his personal holiness, he has now left this to man to figure out and balance out in his own way.

Secondly, they both deny, and are completely ignorant of, the nature of the atonement. They do not know or accept it as covenantal because they are unwilling to admit God is organized and determined enough to have a covenant. The false teacher passes over the fact that the death of the Savior is a divine transaction. It is done by God for His own purposes and its application to man is a result. Cf Acts 2:23; Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; Eccles. 3:14 I know that whatever God does,
It shall be forever.
Nothing can be added to it,
And nothing taken from it.
God does it, that men should fear before Him.

Thirdly and more broadly applicable, false teachers deny the efficacy of the atonement. The atonement is approached by these teachers three ways:

A. The death of Christ is not better at the best than the death of a great martyr who is to be an example or chosen as some model for a self-sacrificing life.

B. The death of Christ is a real possibility for pardon of sin, nothing more, if one will let him be or accept him as such.

C. The most evangelical of this false theology allows that the death of Christ purchased for man the ability to choose. Gospel salvation is if he wills, his will being free and able to choose. And it has reconciled God to the whole sinful race leaving it to the sinner to give up his enmity to God. Always the crux of the issue lies in the will of man.

To be forewarned is to be to forearmed. We have no excuse for falling under the spell of these false teachers. And it follows that it is a terrible sin on the part of any believer to believe wrongly about God. The first commandments warn against idolatry. There is an absolute certainty in application of these two commands, it is as disobediently sinful to think wrongly about the true God as it is to have a false God.

More to follow…

Bill Fitzhenry's Thoughts For Today…

Understanding important truths from the Bible….

Dear Friends,

The good days have returned. I slept all night. I have no pain in a very sore shoulder – have not had since the first day. A truly gracious God has heard our prayers and their return is richly beyond what was asked for or expected. This is what we should expect. Our God is the God of bounty.

The soreness and paralysis in my hands has eased some. But, I don’t know when I will be able to do a blog again. I should have learned to type with my toes when I was younger and more agile. I was just lazy and stubborn and didn’t do it.

There is great drought here. Our nation is on the edge of depression. Economic turmoil faces many if not most of us. Let us say with one voice, “our reins have fallen in pleasant places.” We are God’s elect given this day to serve Him. None other have been given this day.

As Ezra said when he was returning with the great temple wealth, because he had told the king what a great God he served, he was too ashamed to ask for an escort.

I leave you with this, “I know not what God has willed, what God has planned. I only know at His right hand stands One who is my Savior!”

My love in Christ to all of you.