2 Peter 2:10 This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings;
Peter points out two problems of those who follow the way of unrighteousness. One is they follow the corrupt desires of the flesh. We cannot trust the flesh because it is selfish and deceitful. The old self was corrupted by the deceit of the flesh (Ephesians 4:22). The things of this world make promises that are not kept. If you do this, go there, think this way, then you will be happy. But happiness is not found in pleasing the flesh. The flesh is the seedbed of sin. The self controlled by the power of sin will seek to please the flesh. The self controlled by Christ will seek to please God.
A second problem of the unrighteous is that they do not listen to authority. They are bent on pleasing themselves and doing their own thing. They are the master of their own destiny. Independence is not a bad thing, but being independent of God will bring destruction, heartache, and eventual judgment. This despising of authority is seen in how these people treat spiritual matters. Peter calls them “bold and arrogant,” two words that describe the deeper problem of self. They even curse “celestial beings,” probably a reference to angelic type beings. Basically, these people reject and ridicule spiritual matters and anything related to God.
We must take Peter’s warning to heart. We must be engaged with the world which is full of people like this, but we must not let this ungodly way of thinking to influence us. We must have our defenses up and be careful that our own thinking is not influenced. There is false teaching all around us, even in the church. We will be wise to become students of God’s Word and saturate ourselves with godly thinking and living.
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