Things We Must Never Forget
2Pet 1:12-15
Assurance of your salvation (2Pet 1:10)
The believer who pursues these spiritual qualities (spiritual fruit) guarantees to himself that he was called & saved. (2Pet 1:10)
We are not justified by works (Eph 2:8-9)… Christ is our only hope. But having seen that… as we increasingly manifest Christ’s life… we’re more certain we possess it.
A professing Christian who is missing these qualities (2Pet 1:5-7) is not only unable to discern his true spiritual condition, but He has lost sight of his true goal & purpose in life… to know & worship God, & enjoy His fellowship forever.
Pursue holiness… it’s the only reasonable thing. (2Pet 1: 8-11)
For a Christian to not pursue holiness is utterly unreasonable & self-contradictory.
There is no better test of whether we are truly Christian, than our reaction to 2Pet 1:5-7.
Essential elements of faith… things we must never forget. (2Pet 1:12-15)
In the first eleven verses, Peter has stated his main case… the essential elements.
His whole purpose is writing was to admonish them to keep these things in remembrance.
These things are so important & so easily forgotten that we must be continually reminded.
Peter emphasizes difference between being aware of a thing & really living by it. (v.12)
Great difference between knowing what is good & doing it. (Ja 1:22; Jn 13:17)
Many professing Christians don’t seem to know the essential elements of faith… they have only a vague idea of Christian doctrine.
Early church’s believers were founded on bedrock of faith & truth, & they were sure & secure in the hope of Heaven & eternal life with the Lord.
God expects same confidence & trust from the modern church.
We must forcibly remind ourselves daily of certain principles otherwise they will not be operating in our lives.
Purpose of preaching & teaching is not to present new & interesting ideas, it is to go on reminding us of certain fundamental & eternal truths. (things we tend to forget)
These things must be right in center of your mind if they are to be of any value to you.
Peter writes to stir us up by putting us in remembrance of these things… that you may live by them (v.12-13)
Study to present yourself to God as one who correctly handles Word. (2Tim 2:15)
Because of false teachers, you must know & hold firmly to the truth.
Growth in understanding is your only safeguard from false teachers.
We need to remind ourselves of certain things daily… that is the value of daily Bible reading, prayer, & meditation.
No believer will grow to experience fullness of peace, joy, & victory unless his knowledge of the Bible increases steadily.
We are all acquainted with Scripture, but we need continual reminders of key truths.
We tend to forget the very things we want most to remember.
Study Scripture, otherwise we will drift from the truth. (Heb 2:1; 2Pet 2:15; Deut 4:9)
Drift of the world is always away from God… we’re naturally pulled to world, self & sin.
If we don’t study Scripture regularly, we’ll soon become carnal, worldly, & self-centered.
Every believer needs to hear truths of Christian faith over & over again. (e.g. He has given all you need for life & holiness; now add to your faith, goodness, etc… be holy)
Be holy (sanctified) because God is holy. (1Pet 1:16)
Sanctify them by the truth… your Word is truth. (Jn 17:17)
God’s Word is the tool He uses to sanctify… to make you increasingly like Christ.
As you are being molded into Christ’s image by the Word, circumstances, prayer, etc. you become increasingly sure of your calling & salvation.
The joy, peace, intimacy, & love of that growing assurance are used by God to reach the lost, build His kingdom, & bring glory to His name.
Don’t rob yourself of joy, peace, assurance, & increasing conformity to Christ that can only be yours thru daily Bible reading/study.
Ultimate test of professed Christian faith is the way we face death. (v.13-15)
Every Christian can be calm about the future… even his death.
When we come to the end, & if we have added these graces to our faith (2Pet 1:5-7), death will be but an entrance into a glorious eternal life.
Peter was aware he would soon die a violent death… as Jesus predicted. (Jn 21:18)
He was calm, confident, & selflessly concerned with needs of others. (v.13-15)
We will all soon set aside the tent of this body (v.14)… this body is not our permanent residence. We are told to differentiate between self (personality/soul) & our body.
God has put us here, & we are going on to God, & life we live here is only in a tent.
We are only sojourners, pilgrims who are traveling toward our eternal home.
What we do in this world & life is of great importance… we will all give an account to God for every word spoken. (Mt 12:36; Rm 14:12)
The ultimate truth that we are always urged to keep in remembrance is that the most important thing is to know the Lord Jesus Christ. We must never forget His sacrifice & His rising again. In Him alone we triumph over death & the grave & have eternal life. Let every thought be sanctified by memory of Him who gave himself for us & rose again.
05-24-09