A Reliable Promise

**Turn to 2 Peter 1:12

Recap:

New Series: 2 Peter

Addressing false teachers

Jesus isn’t coming back/no final judgment.

(Implication) Live however you want.

Peter writes: Jesus is coming back,..although we’re saved by grace, we should be DILIGENT in PURSUIT of GODLINESS.

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Last week: WHEN we’re SAVED, God gives us a NEW CAPACITY for GODLINESS…we have the power to live for him…as such we should BE DILIGENT. —Pursuit of 8 things (V5-7)…(after salvation)

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Read text & pray (2 PT. 1:12-21)

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Intro:

(Q) How often do you think about or pray for Christ’s 2nd coming?

“COME LORD JESUS” is often a RESPONSE to something BAD or DUMB on news...

Babylon Bee —sadly prophetic

“Church of Satan DISTANCES self from GRAMMY’S”

Why is it a HALF-JOKING THING that RARELY SHOWS UP in our words or prayers?

Should cause us to be INTENTIONAL in GODLINESS & HOPEFUL in Christ.

Need:

This is why we need this text today: it reminds us that we should anticipate Christ’s coming because it is in fact a reliable promise that will be happening, and it should effect the lives we live!

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Text:

2 Peter 1:12–21 (ESV)

Thought 1: A Final Push for Godliness

12 Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have.

13 I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder,

14 since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me.

15 And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.

Tying back to last week, QUALITIES from V5-7

LAST WK…be DILIGENT to CONFIRM calling & election…

PASTORAL WORK = MINISTRY of REMINDER…EVEN WHEN DOING GOOD!

Preaching/teaching as MEANS of GRACE…preserving faith.

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I’M biblically AUTHORIZED to ISSUE REMINDERS, and to remind you about things even if you’re doing a good job!

(V13-14) AS LONG as HE’S in the BODY, he’ll continue to remind.

BODY = GK. “TENT/tabernacle” dwelling place. NIV… “tent of this body”

This TIME in THIS BODY is only TEMPORARY…later we experience RESURRECTION BODY & new life!

Peter decided to ISSUE REMINDERS as long as he was around, because HE KNEW his DEATH was COMING…

JOHN 21— PETER’S MARTYRDOM… (NERO, 60’S A.D.)

**Consider how PETER went from a DENIER TO a DIE-ER

He went from denying Christ before servants to dying for Christ, even though he knew the time was coming!

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(V15) PETER TAKES END of life SERIOUSLY, COMMUNICATING TRUTH to next generation of Christians!

Last week: Christians “MAKE EVERY EFFORT” for GODLINESS.

This week: PETER “MAKES EVERY EFFORT” so that we would RECALL the things he taught.

2,000 YEARS LATER, we’re still recalling truth!!

EVERY GENERATION NEEDS TRUTH PASSED ON!

Transition: After a series of commands and admonishments, Peter is going to explain how his information is credible. Look at verse 16.

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Thought 2: The Glory of Jesus Christ

16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,”

18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.

NOT FROM GRAPEVINE or TELEPHONE GAME…FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE!

(Q) How many of you have heard stories from someone & don’t believe because you didn’t see it & there were no witnesses?

Big fish, no pictures

Bigfoot?

Nick & gallon of milk

NOT MYTHS or LEGENDS when he proclaimed the “power” and “coming” of Christ...

**He was an EYEWITNESS to his MAJESTY!

Eyewitness to MAJESTY, “quality or state of being foremost in esteem, grandeur, sublimity, majesty” (BDAG).

**Word ALWAYS ASCRIBED to DEITIES in NT

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Referring to TRANSFIGURATION…Jesus’ INNER CIRCLE were the WITNESSES.

Jesus CHRIST was TRANSFORMED,,

his FACE SHONE like the SUN

and his CLOTHES became WHITE as LIGHT!

TRANSFIGURATION was a FORETASTE of the GLORY to COME…the INITIAL FULFILLMENT of the KINGDOM of GOD coming in power.

CAME as a HUMBLE, good TEACHER & CARPENTER…coming AGAIN as a CONQUERING KING!

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THINKING about the IMAGE we have of JESUS CHRIST …how often do we think of him in his glory/majesty?

How many saw the “HE GETS US” COMMERCIAL at the Super Bowl?

Not sure what their purpose was or how Christian the organization really is...

I’m GLAD that JESUS GETS US, and HE DOES...

He knows what it is like to be rejected

slandered

beat down in life

betrayed

He was tempted in every way we are, yet without sin…

for those “in Christ” this is a great source of comfort.

Bigger issue, while JESUS “GETS US”…WE OFTEN DON’T GET HIM.

NO LONGER the MAN on the CROSS, the suffering servant, the man of sorrows.

He was humble, but he’s also God…

B4 Abraham, I AM!

Forgiving sins

Claimed to be Son of God

Predicted death & resurrection

John in Revelation 1:

hair white as wool or snow

eyes like a flame of fire

feet like burnished bronze

voice like the roar of many waters

held seven stars in his hand

sharp two edged sword comes from his mouth

and his face was shining like the sun in its full strength!

Then, John fell down as dead!!

......We don’t “get him”

THIS is the GLORY PETER EXPERIENCED.

(V17) The Voice of the Father

Heavenly voice from the cloud, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Gospels add “Listen to him!”)

(V18) Peter says WE HEARD THIS VOICE!

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Imagine the scenario:

Jesus confesses Peter as the Christ (Matt. 16)

Disciples are told JESUS is GOING to DIE (FOILED PLANS, conquering Messiah) but be raised again.

Then they’re to deny themselves take up their cross, etc…and that Christ was going to come again in glory to judge mankind...

Then Jesus says to his closest friends, LET’S GO UP on this MOUNTAIN… “Sure Jesus”

***NOT the FIRST TIME they’ve been on a MOUNTAIN together.

Transfiguration:

Jesus transformed into glory/majesty

Moses & Elijah show up

Bright cloud with audible voice of Almighty God endorsing His Son!

Their response:

Matthew says, “When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified” (Matt. 17:6).

WE GET so COMFORTABLE, we forget who we’re dealing with.

**Thought on “revival”?? —what an encounter w/ God looks like biblically??

CHRIST in his GLORY was a FORETASTE of WHEN he COMES to JUDGE the WORLD…not a cute or merely exciting thing, it’s terrifying.

Our only HOPE is the RIGHTEOUSNESS of CHRIST ALONE!! On that day EVERYONE ELSE will be JUDGED…terrifying.

So Peter shows us WE CAN TRUST in the PROMISE of HIS COMING because HE SAW CHRIST’S GLORY & Christ was VERBALLY ENDORSED by the FATHER with the message “Listen to him”… + he predicted his coming.

2ND COMING = RELIABLE PROMISE

Transition: After outlining his own credibility, Peter is going to explain the credibility of the prophetic word they operated from. Look at verse 19.

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Thought 3: The Word’s Confirmation

19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,

20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation.

21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

ANOTHER WITNESS to CHRIST’S COMING = PROPHETIC WORD

OT - “DAY of the LORD”…PROMISED JUDGMENT.

Prophetic word MORE FULLY CONFIRMED- experience on Mt. TRANSFIGURATION.

PROPHETS FORETOLD JUDGMENT & tribulation…future Messianic King.

Transfiguration = INITIAL FULFILLMENT, taste of glory to come.

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(V19b) we’re to PAY ATTENTION to these WORDS as to a LAMP SHINING in the DARK.

Prophetic writings & God’s Word in total = A LIGHT for our PATH.

GUIDE in LIFE…GIVE us HOPE

We should not lose heart that our Lord as delayed his coming.

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PETER’S laying out EVIDENCE:

We have PROPHETIC WORDS…

OT “Day of the Lord”

& WORDS of CHRIST himself

& PAUL & others!

CHRIST’S GLORY = VALIDATED by TRANSFIGURATION & VOICE from HEAVEN.

These things point toward future day of Christ’s coming & judgment....Peter’s saying, “What else do you need in order to believe??”

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(V19c) PAY ATTENTION UNTIL the DAY DAWNS & MORNING STAR RISES in our hearts.

DAY of 2ND COMING...

On that day we WON’T NEED PROPHECIES anymore, he’s here!

PROPHECY is almost LIKE an ENGAGEMENT RING, a PROMISE to marry that LOOKS FORWARD

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(V20-21) PROPHECY WASN’T someone’s INTERPRETATION, came from SPIRIT of GOD.

Prophets didn’t declare their own ideas!

OT PROPHETS = HARD MISSION!! CALLING God’s people to REPENTANCE...Not “You’re blessed & highly favored”

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PROPHECY & ALL of GOD’S WORD = UNDER INSPIRATION from God.

NOT DICTATION, but inspiration

Personalities & writing styles impact word choice, etc.

Fully Word of God - God carried them in Spirit.

The DOCTRINE of INSPIRATION requires BOTH HUMAN & DIVINE AUTHORS!

**PENNED by MAN, but the very WORD OF GOD....FULL of TRUTH & RELIABLE PROMISES.... Esp- 2nd coming!

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Big Idea:

So we can take away from this text this morning the idea that Christ’s coming is a reliable promise because of both the prophetic word and the eyewitness account of Peter, and because of this we should live with Christ’s coming in mind!

Intention:

And so our response to God based on this text should be continuing to live with Christ’s coming in mind.

We LIVE GODLY LIVES in ANTICIPATION of Christ’s coming…growing in godliness!

Gospel:

PROMISE of COMING should EXCITE US if we are BORN-AGAIN saved, Christ-followers!

For those OUTSIDE of CHRIST, it should CAUSE you to TREMBLE...

Disciples falling down, terrified.

John falling down as if he was dead

Peter shows us WE can be abundantly CONFIDENT CHRIST is COMING EVEN IF he DELAYS...

We LIVE with THIS in MIND…for believers we CONFIRM our CALLING & ELECTION by EVIDENCES of salvation.

I’ll agree with the commercial this morning, that he gets us, but I want to ask you, “How much do you get him?”

Have you seen him your whole life as the GOOD MORAL TEACHER?

The HUMBLE, suffering SERVANT? The man who washed his disciples’ feet?

Have you seen him as the SINLESS SON of GOD, who died for our sins at Calvary?

the RESURRECTED MESSIAH?

the CONQUERING KING who will come again to establish his Kingdom and destroy his enemies?

(Q) What do you say of him?

Have you rejected him your whole life no matter who tells you about Christ and what he did for you?

Don’t wait until the trumpet sounds, for it will be too late.

***YOU can BE SAVED by GRACE through FAITH today. Do you believe?

FAITH = START/BEGINNING…NEW LIFE

For THOSE in CHRIST...

Do you often consider truly who Christ is?

Do you reverence him?

Do you anticipate eagerly his coming in glory?

We DON’T HAVE to FEAR that DAY. We can PRAY w/ APOSTLES,“Our Lord, come!”

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Takeaways:

Again, PETER’S GOAL in writing about Christ’s coming is to STIR US toward GODLINESS as we CONFIRM that we are SAVED.

NOT saved BY WORKS!! We confirm/evidence our salvation.

CHRIST is COMING AGAIN in GREAT GLORY and majesty.

He’s not merely a humble teacher and carpenter, he’s not the baby in the manger, he’s coming again as a conquering king and we want to be found on that day to be in the faith, resting in the righteousness of Christ alone.

The PROMISE of Christ’s COMING is RELIABLE.

Countless PROPHECIES in SCRIPTURE

PETER’S EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT to Christ’s glory

Application:

EARLY CHURCH frequently CONSIDERED & PRAYED for 2nd coming...

(Q) How often do we go through life so focused on our own plans that we neglect to think & pray for his coming?

OUR OWN PLANS...Do we even HOPE at times that HE DELAYS??

**Engaged couples (lol)

Challenge that we start to CONSIDER it MORE REGULARLY & the fact that for us in Christ it’s GOOD NEWS

1 Corinthians 16:22 ESV

22 If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come!

“MARANATHA” —Aramaic phrase.

When you pray in life, consider adding this, or English equivalent, to your prayers, to anticipate more frequently Christ’s coming.

**Should CHALLENGE us to CONTINUE in GODLINESS

**Should BRING US HOPE that the CRAZINESS & SIN of this world will be SOLVED by Christ.

**Close in prayer