Characteristics of Rebellion
In 2 Peter 2, the apostle exposes the dangerous traits of those who rebel against God. Dr. Rocky Ramsey walks through Peter’s list, revealing how rebellion begins with the heart and shows itself through behavior.
Rebellious people indulge the flesh, reject authority, and are self-willed, refusing to submit to God’s truth. They live with no fear of the Lord, becoming illogical, impulsive, and ignorant of spiritual realities. Yet, Peter warns, they can also be influential, leading others into the same deception.
True followers of Christ are called to the opposite—to humility, self-control, wisdom, and reverence. This message challenges believers to recognize rebellion not only in the world but in themselves—and to surrender completely to God’s authority.
“...and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority. Daring, self-willed, they do not tremble when they revile angelic majesties, whereas angels who are greater in might and power do not bring a reviling judgment against them before the Lord.
But these, like unreasoning animals, born as creatures of instinct to be captured and killed, reviling where they have no knowledge, will in the destruction of those creatures also be destroyed, suffering wrong as the wages of doing wrong. They count it a pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are stains and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, as they carouse with you, having eyes full of adultery that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having a heart trained in greed, accursed children; forsaking the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; but he received a rebuke for his own transgression, for a mute donkey, speaking with a voice of a man, restrained the madness of the prophet.”