Slaves of Corruption
by Edwin Crozier
Jesus told a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher” (Luke 6:39-40 ESV). Peter’s warnings about false teachers in II Peter 2 build on this principle. Peter said these false teachers promise freedom, but are themselves slaves of corruption. If we follow them, we cannot possibly find freedom. They don’t have it. They don’t know it. They cannot lead to it.
Everyone wants freedom. Sadly, not everyone understands freedom. That is, not everyone understands what kind of freedom is actually beneficial. Most people want the freedom to pursue sensuality and fleshly passion. They want the freedom to pursue whatever feels good at the moment. That, however, is not freedom. Not true freedom. That path leads to corruption. It leads to slavery.
Granted, not everyone who follows this path goes as far down it as they possibly can. But we need to know that folks who follow that path become so enslaved to fleshly passions that they destroy relationships. They end marriages. They lose jobs. They become so enslaved that they cannot say, “No,” to their own desires and end up losing so many things they claim to value more than their fleshly desires. These are the stories of men who abuse their children after they’ve apologized a hundred times and promised never to do it again. These are the stories of women who cheat on their husbands but don’t want their husbands to know because they supposedly love their husbands more than anything. These are the stories of people who gamble away their paychecks, drink their marriages into ruin, and doomscroll their lives away on social media. They claim and promise freedom, but they are slaves to corruption.
True freedom, the freedom we all need, is the freedom to be what God has designed us to be. It is the freedom to do what God has called us to do. Since the fall, the passions of our flesh wage war against us. When we cave to sin, our passions become a terrible taskmaster. Jesus, however, demonstrated what it means to be truly what God has designed. He demonstrated what it means to be truly human and to glorify God.
Of course, His own life sets the stage for why many abandon the freedom He demonstrated. Because He lived in a world surrounded by people unconcerned about God’s call and design, they maligned Him, persecuted Him, and ultimately executed Him. Admittedly, that doesn’t seem, on the surface, to be freedom. But that is one of the points Peter addressed in his first letter. Yes, Jesus died in the flesh, but He was made alive in the Spirit (see I Peter 3:18). Jesus entrusted Himself to the God who brings true justice (I Peter 2:23). He knew there was more to life than what can be seen, heard, tasted, touched, and smelled in this life. True freedom is about life in the Spirit, not a life of fleshly passions. True freedom is about the life that will go on when this life is over.
In this discussion of freedom and corruption, we see the connection between Peter’s two letters. In the first letter, we read about the persecutions from those outside the visible church. In this letter, we’ve read about the attack by false teachers who appear to be part of the church. But what gives these false teachers their success? Their talk of freedom promises escape from suffering. Their talk of freedom promises freedom from sacrifice. The external attacks and the internal attacks interlock and draw Christians away.
True freedom is not letting our senses lead us around by the nose. True freedom is being able to say, “No,” to the flesh just like Jesus did in the wilderness temptations. It is the ability to say “No” to the flesh, just as Jesus did on the cross. It is the ability to say, “Yes,” to resurrection and to life eternal. This realization provides guidance on false teachers. Sensuality is not God’s way. Teachers who encourage us to look within ourselves to figure out who we are and follow those who are leading us astray. Teachers who teach us to follow our own hearts and our own consciences are leading us astray. Teachers who tell us to do what feels right are leading us astray. Teachers who tell us to dismiss all authority and be a law unto ourselves are leading us astray.
We shouldn’t be surprised that they lead us to corruption. They are themselves slaves of corruption. They are blind leaders. They will fall into the pit. And if we follow them, we will too.
Remember, partaking of the divine nature doesn’t come from getting to know ourselves; it comes from knowing Jesus. Following Him is what will make us most truly ourselves. Following Him is what will make us what God has designed us to be. In that, we will become truly free.
Praise the Lord!
