Let me explain how this happens. You will notice that in verse 18, Peter talks about "those who live in error." I would submit to you that a person who is taught that which is fundamentally wrong, and builds his life upon that which is fundamentally in error is in bondage to a terrible mistake. For that person is in the sea of bondage, and living a life based on false premises. It's wrong right from the very start.

Now, one of the things about the false teachers, that Peter is concerned about, is that they have an intense distaste for authority, verse 10, he says, "they despise authority." They despise the Ultimate Authority, the idea that there is a God who is in charge. They hate the idea that there is an Ultimate Authority; they hate the idea that there is a Final Judgment; they absolutely resist the idea that there is an Eternal Accounting for the way you live your life. The false teaching that they will give, and it's propagated all the time in our culture, is this: There is no final judgment; there is no Ultimate Authority; you are not eternally accountable. And people build their lives on that. They assume, therefore, that it really doesn't matter what they do; they are free!

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There is nothing like the freedom that says, "I'm not accountable!" "It doesn't matter what I do!" "It doesn't matter what I say!" "It doesn't matter how I treat people!" The person who lives on the basis of this is living a life in error. Peter gives some transient responses. He says, "Listen, those of you who say there's no Final Judgment, those of you who say there's no Ultimate Authority, those of you who say there's no Eternal Accounting.

"Just remember this: God did not let the angels who rebelled get away with it. Just remember this: God did not turn a blind eye to the rebellious people in the days of Noah. Just remember this: God did not let Sodom and Gomorrah get away with it. Why in the world do you think that there is no God, who is the Ultimate Authority, when history is replete with examples of God showing that He's a holy, righteous, Judge who will not tolerate sin?"

But you see, there are people who have been trapped into this "error teaching." They have believed a lie, and they have assumed that they are now totally free to do whatever they wish without any ultimate consequences and are living in the bondage of error.

Here's the second way it can happen. You'll notice that Peter also says in the reading that I gave to you in verse 18, "that these teachers, mouth empty, boastful words." The way that people can be led into bondage is not only that the false teachers can teach them that which is fundamentally in error, but secondly, people can be brought into bondage when they are taught things that promise much, but which in actuality are utterly empty. The teachers are promising, "Hey, if you go this way, and you do this, you will find meaning. If you do this, you will find fulfillment. If you engage in all these kind of things, this is where life is to be found."