May 26, 2014 O’Neal church of Christ, Athens, Al.

And the truth shall make youAnd the truth shall make you

F R E E !F R E E !

John 8:32John 8:32

Studying the Bible together at O’Neal

2 Peter 1:10-152 Peter 1:10-15

2 Peter was written 2 Peter was written to warn believers of to warn believers of the danger of false the danger of false teachers and teachers and harmful influencesharmful influences

Peter writes:Peter writes:

To those who have obtained like To those who have obtained like precious faithprecious faith::

“ “like precious faith”like precious faith” Peter wrote to those who had the Peter wrote to those who had the

same salvation he had experienced, same salvation he had experienced,

Faith is ‘precious’Faith is ‘precious’

1.with precious things, 1.with precious things, 2.with precious promises,2.with precious promises, 3. with precious blood, 3. with precious blood, 4.with a precious redemption, 4.with a precious redemption, 5. with all the preciousness of the 5. with all the preciousness of the

person of our Lord and Savior Jesus person of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."Christ."

Precious Trials of Our Faith (1 Precious Trials of Our Faith (1 Peter 1:5-7)Peter 1:5-7)

There are several Facts we should know There are several Facts we should know about Trials: (vs. 6) about Trials: (vs. 6)

Trials Meet Our Needs – Notice Peter’s Trials Meet Our Needs – Notice Peter’s phrase, “if need be”;phrase, “if need be”;

1. There are special times in which God 1. There are special times in which God knows we need to go through trials;knows we need to go through trials;

.. Sometimes because we have .. Sometimes because we have disobeyed God’s Word disobeyed God’s Word

… … Sometimes to prepare us for growth Sometimes to prepare us for growth … … Sometimes to prevent us from sinning Sometimes to prevent us from sinning

We do not always We do not always know the reason, know the reason, but we can be sure but we can be sure that God does what that God does what is best.is best.

Precious Blood of Christ (1 Peter Precious Blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18-22) 1:18-22)

Precious Faith (2 Peter 1:1) Precious Faith (2 Peter 1:1)

Precious Promises (2 Peter Precious Promises (2 Peter 1:4) 1:4)

2 Pet. 1:32 Pet. 1:3

. . His divine power has given to His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life us all things that pertain to life and godlinessand godliness: However, not only : However, not only grace and peace - but also grace and peace - but also all all things that pertain to life and things that pertain to life and godlinessgodliness are ours are ours through the through the knowledgeknowledge of Him of Him. Knowing God is . Knowing God is the key to the key to all things that pertain all things that pertain to life and godlinessto life and godliness. .

Adam Clark says:Adam Clark says: . "God having given to . "God having given to youyou - -

believing believing GentilesGentiles, the same faith , the same faith and salvation which he had given to and salvation which he had given to usus - believing - believing JewsJews." (Clarke) ." (Clarke)

Add: Add:

Add to your faith virtueAdd to your faith virtue: We begin : We begin our life with God with our life with God with faithfaith, but faith , but faith progresses into progresses into virtuevirtue, , knowledgeknowledge,temperance, , ,temperance, , patience,patience,, , godlinessgodliness, , brotherly brotherly kindnesskindness, and , and charity charity ––

love being the capstone of all love being the capstone of all God's work in us. God's work in us.

He who lacks these things is He who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindnessshortsighted, even to blindness: :

If we lack these things, it shows If we lack these things, it shows we have we have "eye trouble”"eye trouble”

He has forgotten that he was He has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sinscleansed from his old sins. .

I John 2:1-2I John 2:1-2 I John 1:7I John 1:7

Lest We forget..Lest We forget..

Perhaps this one Perhaps this one has forgottenhas forgotten how how bad he was, and bad he was, and how much he neededhow much he needed this this cleansing.cleansing.

Perhaps this one Perhaps this one has forgottenhas forgotten the the great costgreat cost of this purging of sin's dirty of this purging of sin's dirty stain.stain.

Perhaps this one Perhaps this one has forgottenhas forgotten how how great and completegreat and complete the cleansing is, the cleansing is, making a once guilty sinner now as pure making a once guilty sinner now as pure and as white as snow (Isaiah 1:18) and as white as snow (Isaiah 1:18)

#1 Making Our Calling and#1 Making Our Calling andElection Sure..Election Sure..

2 Pet. 1:102 Pet. 1:10

Wherefore the rather, brethren , give Wherefore the rather, brethren , give diligence to make your calling and diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.things, ye shall never fall.

Making our Calling and ElectionMaking our Calling and ElectionS U R E ! S U R E !

Don’t forget that….Don’t forget that….

1. It may take us through some difficult1. It may take us through some difficultTimes in our lives. Times in our lives. Will your anchor hold in the storm ofWill your anchor hold in the storm ofLife?Life? Make sure you are sure! Make sure you are sure! Daniel Daniel

TaylorTaylor

Be even more diligent to Be even more diligent to make your call and election make your call and election

suresure::

We can be sure that God called us, We can be sure that God called us, and that we are His elect:and that we are His elect:

It is by It is by doing doing these thingsthese things spoken spoken of in 2 Peter 1:5-7 (of in 2 Peter 1:5-7 (faithfaith, , virtuevirtue, , knowledgeknowledge, temperance, , temperance, patiencepatience, , godlinessgodliness, , brotherly kindnessbrotherly kindness, and , and lovelove).).

If YOU do these things…If YOU do these things…

For if you do these things you For if you do these things you will never stumblewill never stumble::

In pursuing these things we keep In pursuing these things we keep from stumbling. Continual growth from stumbling. Continual growth and progress in the Christian life is and progress in the Christian life is the sure way to keep from stumbling. the sure way to keep from stumbling.

2 Pet. 3:182 Pet. 3:18 Acts 20:32Acts 20:32

#2 Must be Reminded#2 Must be Reminded

For this reason I will not be negligent For this reason I will not be negligent

to to remindremind you always of these you always of these things, though you know and are things, though you know and are established in the present truth. 2 Pet. established in the present truth. 2 Pet. 1:12 1:12

Why do we preach many of the same Why do we preach many of the same things over and over?things over and over?

Why must we be reminded of these Why must we be reminded of these things? things? “Lest we forget”..“Lest we forget”..

Keep repeating! Over and OverKeep repeating! Over and Over Matt Taylor with the small childrenMatt Taylor with the small childrenOn Sunday night…On Sunday night… We adults need a constant We adults need a constant

REMINDERREMINDER

‘‘lest we forget”lest we forget” If it is the truth, it can be repeated If it is the truth, it can be repeated

over and over!. Always the same!.over and over!. Always the same!.

Peter said: Peter said: “I will not be negligence ““I will not be negligence “

to remind you alwaysto remind you always of the basics of of the basics of the Christian life the Christian life

1. Preach the Word. 2 Tim. 4:2-41. Preach the Word. 2 Tim. 4:2-4 2. Tell the glad story, over and over.2. Tell the glad story, over and over. Matt. 28:18-20;Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15,16Mark 16:15,16

So Easy to StumbleSo Easy to Stumble

1. Peter knows about this firsthand.1. Peter knows about this firsthand. ““he denied the Lord 3 times”.he denied the Lord 3 times”. John 13:38John 13:38

Then Jesus answered, "Will you really lay Then Jesus answered, "Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will (deny) before the rooster crows, you will (deny) disown me three times! disown me three times!

Matt. 26:74,75 And he did!Matt. 26:74,75 And he did! . .

Keep going over and over..Keep going over and over..

A sports team going for the A sports team going for the championship will practice the same championship will practice the same fundamentals over and over again. fundamentals over and over again. They do this, even though they know They do this, even though they know the techniques, because they want the techniques, because they want the victory. the victory.

Lest we forgetLest we forget

Christians should never get tired Christians should never get tired hearing the basics of the Christian hearing the basics of the Christian life. life.

We should rejoice every time Jesus We should rejoice every time Jesus Christ and His gospel and plan for Christ and His gospel and plan for our lives is preached our lives is preached

Luke 22:32Luke 22:32

Luke 22:32, when Jesus told Peter Luke 22:32, when Jesus told Peter ""when you have returned to Me, when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethrenstrengthen your brethren." ."

#3 As long as I am in this#3 As long as I am in thistabernacle.. this tent..tabernacle.. this tent..

2 Pet. 1:13 Yes, I think it is right, as 2 Pet. 1:13 Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tabernacle, (tent,) to long as I am in this tabernacle, (tent,) to stir you up by reminding stir you up by reminding youyou, knowing , knowing that shortly I that shortly I must must put off my tent, just put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me.

Peter, like all of us, knew he only hadPeter, like all of us, knew he only hadA limited amount of time to do this A limited amount of time to do this

reminding!.reminding!. 2 Cor. 6:2 “now”2 Cor. 6:2 “now”

James 4:13-14James 4:13-14

We are going down the valley, one by one.We are going down the valley, one by one.

But Peter knew this one thing:But Peter knew this one thing: ““I will continue to remind you of I will continue to remind you of

these things as long as I am in this these things as long as I am in this body, andbody, and

With you”With you”

It was right for Peter to do It was right for Peter to do this..this..

Yes, Yes, I think it is right,I think it is right, as long as I am as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by in this tent, to stir you up by reminding reminding youyou, knowing that shortly I , knowing that shortly I must must put off my tent, just as our Lord put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. Jesus Christ showed me.

I think it is rightI think it is right::

Because of what is at stake, Peter Because of what is at stake, Peter knew it was knew it was rightright to remind people to remind people constantly, especially because he constantly, especially because he knew that the days of his earthly life knew that the days of his earthly life were soon coming to an end. were soon coming to an end.

Shortly I must put off my tentShortly I must put off my tent:: Peter considered his body no more than a Peter considered his body no more than a

tenttent. . A A tenttent is a temporary place to live. is a temporary place to live. Tents should be taken care of, but you Tents should be taken care of, but you

wouldn't invest large resources into fixing wouldn't invest large resources into fixing up a tent.up a tent.

You save your real resources for a more You save your real resources for a more permanent place to live. Our more permanent place to live. Our more permanent place to live is heaven, and we permanent place to live is heaven, and we should invest more in heaven than in our should invest more in heaven than in our tenttent - our physical body. (Matt. 6:19-21) - our physical body. (Matt. 6:19-21)

Paul says:Paul says:

2 Cor.5:1  For we know that if our 2 Cor.5:1  For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. eternal in the heavens.

We’ll have a new place to live We’ll have a new place to live forever!forever!

Lest we forget…Lest we forget… How did Peter know that How did Peter know that shortlyshortly I must I must

put off my tentput off my tent? ? Perhaps it was because Peter was Perhaps it was because Peter was

simply getting old. simply getting old. Perhaps it was because the flames of Perhaps it was because the flames of

persecution were getting hotter around persecution were getting hotter around him.him.

Church history tells us that Peter Church history tells us that Peter diddid die die a martyr, a martyr, just as our Lord Jesus Christ just as our Lord Jesus Christ showedshowed him (John 21:18-19). him (John 21:18-19).

#4 Peter prepares for the #4 Peter prepares for the futurefuture

Moreover I will be careful to ensure that Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these you always have a reminder of these things after my decease.things after my decease.

I will be careful to ensure that you I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminderalways have a reminder: :

Peter put this reminder in a letter, so the Peter put this reminder in a letter, so the people of God would have a constant people of God would have a constant reminder even after his departure.reminder even after his departure.

Our problem: we just don’t read the Our problem: we just don’t read the letters sent from God ! letters sent from God !

After my deceaseAfter my decease::

1. Peter seemed aware of the significance 1. Peter seemed aware of the significance of the passing of the apostles and the need of the passing of the apostles and the need to preserve the authoritative teaching of the to preserve the authoritative teaching of the apostles and prophets. apostles and prophets.

2. This, the written teaching of the 2. This, the written teaching of the apostles and those who wrote letters for apostles and those who wrote letters for God. , Is the foundation of the church God. , Is the foundation of the church preserved by God for all generations preserved by God for all generations

Eph. 2:20”  and are built upon the Eph. 2:20”  and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;stone; “ “

God does not forget us.God does not forget us.

Our family will remember us.Our family will remember us.

Our brothers and sisters in Christ Our brothers and sisters in Christ whereever we have labored whereever we have labored remember.remember.

(Ill. Friday at H.H.)(Ill. Friday at H.H.)

We all need to be reminded:We all need to be reminded:

Amos 4:12 “Prepare to meet thy God”Amos 4:12 “Prepare to meet thy God”

1. Reminded about the awesome God we serve.1. Reminded about the awesome God we serve. Heb. 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the Heb. 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the

hands of the ‘living God’: hands of the ‘living God’: 2. Reminded about the precious Saviour that 2. Reminded about the precious Saviour that

we have. Heb. 2:9we have. Heb. 2:9 3. Reminded of “the faith”…of which we are a 3. Reminded of “the faith”…of which we are a

part. Eph. 4:1-6.part. Eph. 4:1-6. 4. Reminded of how wonderful it is to serve4. Reminded of how wonderful it is to serve God all the days of our lives. I Cor. 15:58God all the days of our lives. I Cor. 15:58

Lest we forgetLest we forget

Men build statues - to remind us.Men build statues - to remind us.

Men carve their names in stone at theMen carve their names in stone at the Place where our bodies are put.Place where our bodies are put.

Good to remember all the men and women Good to remember all the men and women who have died for us…who have died for us…

But let us never forgetBut let us never forget: What JESUS : What JESUS has done for us!.has done for us!.