2. 2 Peter 1:12-21
2 Peter: Be on Guard, Grow in Grace • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Intro: A Great Endeavour
Back in the 18th century there was an old SLIDE collier ship. It had a humdrum existence taking coal up and down the East coast (‘coals to Newcastle’!) Back and forth, every week.
Out of the blue this ship was selected for a remarkable new mission. It 1768 it was selected by (none other than) Captain Cook, it was given a new name SLIDE “ENDEAVOUR”, and it was kitted out - at great cost -with all the latest in ship technology. Between 1768 and 1771 IT was the ship that sailed on that most famous journey, circumnavigating the globe. On the way the ship faced all sorts of challenges but after surviving many great storms and numerous trials it arrived home to a hero’s welcome in London.
This is great illustration of what Peter has begun to tell us in this, his second letter, about the Christian life - That ship is an illustration of YOUR Christian life.
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If you have put your trust in Jesus you have been taken out of your old humdrum existence… given a new identity - forgiven child of God, sent out on a new mission to live, serve and speak for Jesus, there will be many storms and challenges on the way (just as the Christians Peter is writing to are facing the storm of false teaching), but in the end Jesus is coming back…. and so all his people (like that great ship) will, in the end, be welcomed home with great joy and celebration.
Isn’t that a great summary, or illustration? I can say that because it’s not mine, it came from Angus Macleay in his great book on 2 Peter.
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This series , on 2 Peter, is running across morning AND evening services for the next few weeks - that is your motivation to join us mornign AND evening - don’t miss an episode!
We began to see this morning, at the start of this letter, Peter is reminding us to…
SLIDE - LOOK UP / BACK / WITHIN / AHEAD
LOOK UP - to picture and to remember how glorious Jesus is - “Our God and Saviour Jesus Christ” as Peter calls him.
To LOOK BACK and remember (v4) Jesus’ great and precious promises - the promises of the Gospel… and the power of that Gospel - which has not only saved us from sin but has given us (v3)
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3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
Peter challenged us also to…
SLIDE - LOOK UP / BACK / WITHIN / AHEAD
LOOK WITHIN… and see the need we all have to make progress in the Christian life… to grow in the characteristics of Jesus himself - Peter, of course, is well placed to know the character traits of Jesus - having spent three years walking and talking with Jesus.
We are to grow (says Peter) in goodness, knowledge, self control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, and (above all) LOVE.
But finally we are also to LOOK AHEAD - to remember that this Jesus IS COMING BACK.
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Tonight’s passage - that is 2 Peter chapter 1, vv12-21… can, I reckon be summed up in one sentence. Here’s my stab at what this passage is saying to us….
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Passage Summary
The news about Jesus return isn’t wishful thinking, it comes from dependable eyewitnesses and divinely inspired scriptures, so be reminded, be refreshed and be remembering these things so you’ll be established in faith not carried away by falsehood.
And you can see that tonight’s headings (there on your sheet) simply break that sentence down into sections so we can clearly see this important message Peter has for US, tonight.
Firstly then…
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1. The news about Jesus return isn’t wishful thinking…
1. The news about Jesus return isn’t wishful thinking…
Jump right in - look at v12…SLIDE
12 So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have.
Peter says he will always remind us of THESE THINGS - your first question should be ‘what things?’ and the obvious answer is… the very things he has just been saying, and most especially the climax he has reached by v11 - where he speaks of faithful, fruitful believers receiving a rich… SLIDE
11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
This, as we’ve seen is a big theme in 2 Peter - the need to look AHEAD… the need to remember that Jesus is returning as both Saviour and judge - to take his people home and to judge the world.
This is KEY because this is the truth that the false teachers of the day were denying. You can see that very clearly in the way Peter continues - just skip down to v16… SLIDE
16 For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
There’s a question here - which ‘coming’ of the Lord Jesus is Peter talking about? Is it his first coming - is Peter looking back to when the incarnate Jesus walked on earth and called him (a humble fisherman) and did wonders and miracles and went to the cross and was raised from the empty tomb - is THAT the ‘coming’ Peter means? - Well, I think he’s talking AT LEAST about that first coming YES - in a moment he’s about to reference one of the most extraordinary moments in that first ‘coming’ - the transfiguration (more on that in a moment)… but given the context in 2 Peter… it seems to me this word COMING is quite a loaded term… the letter is LOADED with these references to the 2nd COMING (the return) of Jesus…
We’ve already seen that reference - chapter 1 verse 11 - to the coming eternal Kingdom.
In just a moment he’ll speak (AGAIN) about that future day which will soon dawn (this is chapter 1 verse 19) when the (quote) morning star rises in your hearts” - the morning Star elsewhere is a reference to Jesus.
Likewise chapter 2 verse 9, Peter will speak of the future coming when Jesus will judge the unrighteous.
And in chapter 3 he’ll really get into it when he plainly reveals that the contemporary false teachers were DENYING the 2nd coming of Jesus… he’ll say the Lord is waiting patiently for his people to come to repentence… he’ll speak about those who scoff at the ‘coming’ and he’ll say (this is chapter 3 verse 12) SLIDE
11 …You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.
BE SURE, says Peter… Jesus is coming back.
But how far up in our consciousness is this? I guess its the sort of thing that many Christians will give their mental ascent to, a mental ‘tick to… maybe you say the Apostles Creed (as we often do here) which includes that line… “He will come again to judge the living and the dead” - TICK. Orthodox Christian faith assured and re-stated.
But is it a living reality for us which changes the way we live? y’know…
I know that Jesus is soon returning, so getting right with him by faith in Jesus is not just some side-show or a Sunday hobby, it’s CRUCIAL.
I know Jesus is soon returning, so a key life priority is to grow in godliness now… so he will find me ready and prepared.
I know that Jesus is soon returning, so warning people they need a saviour and sharing Christ with them is acutely IMPORTANT to me.
I know that Jesus is soon returning, so I want to store up my treasure - to align my priorities - with heavenly things, not earthly things.
I know Jesus is soon returning, so I don’t need to ‘suck the juice out of life now’…. instead I need to live for his Kingdom knowing that great rewards await.
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ILL - death of my grandmother ‘soon and very soon we are going to see the King’.
RIFF - one way or the other, that is true for all of us - Peter certainly realises that…
Look at v13 SLIDE
13 I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, 14 because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.
In other words, Peter knows his days are short, his time is limited. Jesus himself warned him (you can read how in John chapter 21 - some bedtime reading for tonight).
I love the little link here that Peter makes - having said (earlier in the chapter) that WE should make every effort to grow in our godliness he uses that same phrase for himself (v15) SLIDE
15 And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.
Peter aint going to be around for much longer… and one way or another (wether we die or Christ returns) we’re going to meet Jesus soon…
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So, no. 1 - The News about Jesus’ return isn’t wishful thinking instead (point no. 2…)
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2. …It comes from dependable eyewitnesses and divinely inspired Scriptures.
2. …It comes from dependable eyewitnesses and divinely inspired Scriptures.
Peter makes two points here - closely connected. First he points out that, unlike the false teachers who are active in these churches in Asia Minor… he (and the others who walked with Jesus) are APOSTLES - eyewitnesses.
And of course, what did many of those apostles go on to write, including Peter himself? The answer, of course, is the New Testament.
Peter, saw lots of things that Jesus said and did, but he hones in on one event - the Transfiguration… (end of v16)
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16 …we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” 18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.
Of all the events of Jesus life this is an interesting one for him to chose… listen to what one commentator says.
We may note that Peter is pointing back to an incident which he is unlikely to have seen as his own finest hour. Luke records Peter suggesting that the three disciples present should build three shelters and adds that Peter didn’t know what he was saying (Luke 9:33). Mark adds that Peter said this whilst in a state of considerable fear (Mark 9:6).
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Teaching 2 Peter and Jude: From Text to Message 2. The New Testament is a Reliable Report about Christ (1:16–18)
We may note that Peter is pointing back to an incident which he is unlikely to have seen as his own finest hour. Luke records Peter suggesting that the three disciples present should build three shelters and adds that Peter didn’t know what he was saying (
So Peter isn’t recounting this incident to polish his reputation or identity… but instead (CRUCIALLY) to point to Jesus’ identity.
He’s reminding them of course of the future coming of Jesus, when he returns in glory and power - the transfiguration, in s asense is a taste of that… Jesus glory and true identity revealed… not least of all becuase of the voice that comes from heaven celaring (if you remember)… here it is from Luke’s account Luke 9.35
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35 A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”
Peter saw all of this with his own eyes…. he saw the glor of Jesus revealed - not just the carpenter from the backwater Nazareth but the powerful Son of God from the glory of heaven. That’s the Jesus who came, that’s the Jesus who is coming again… that’s the Jesus that the eyewitnesses saw and heard and walked and talked with.
The news about Jesus comes from dependable eyewitnesses who wrote the pages of the New Testament.
But of course the testimony about Jesus didn’t begin when Matthew, or Luke, or Paul or Peter took up their pens in the 1st century AD. The the prophecy and promise about Jesus began long before, as Peter goes on now - v19
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19 We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
From Genesis to Malachi THIS BOOK bears witness… makes promises… shows forth prophecies that the Christ will come….
Jesus is the seed promised to Abraham
he is the greater prophet that Moses foreshadowed
He is the King promised in the line of David who would regin forever
later on in the prophets he is what will be born when the virgin shall concieve
When all seems lost at the exile… when the tree of Israel’s prospects seemed to have been all but chopped down and cut off…. He (Jesus) is the shoot from the stump of Jesse (and we could go on).
In an absolutely extraordinary way… this book, written by over 40 human authors who lived in different times and places and cultures… over the span of 1000s of years tells one story which all points to Jesus… how on earth is this possible? how could this be written?
Peter gives the answer, and in doing so he gives us one of the best summaries of how we understand what Scripture (what the Bible is)… look at v20 now
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20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
RIFF - beautifully put…? / like Jesus the Bible has a divine and human nature….
ANd by the way.… is Peter only talking about the OT here? Is it only the old Testament writers and prophets who were inspired by or (to use his language) carried along by the Holy Spirt?
No. And we know that because of the way Peter uses the word SCRIPTURE - he uses it here in chapter 1, where he is (in the main) refering to the OT. However, later on in chapter three we read this….
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15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. 16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
Students of the Bible often smile when they hear Peter saying that sometimes Paul’s letters are hard to understand… wry smiles and nods of agreement. But notice that HE (Peter) considers Paul’s writings to be Scripture. “Some people distort Paul’s writings AS THEY DO THE OTHER SCRIPTURES” - implication - Paul’s writings too are Scriptures… he too SLIDE “Speaks from God as he is carried along by the Holy Spirit’.
So if we want to be a Holy Spirit church…. we must be a Bible church.
RIFF - American billboards “A Holy Spirit Church”.
RIFF - trust the eyewitnesses (apostles) trust the Scriptures, Old and New Testaments alike… we are surrounded by those who abandon God’s word, we dare not do likewise.
INSTEAD we need to be….
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3. So be reminded, be refreshed and be remembering these things
3. So be reminded, be refreshed and be remembering these things
You’ll have noticed we largely skipped over verses 12-15… so lets return there now.
See…. if we know God-appointed eyewitnesses and reliable…. and if we know the God-breathed scriptures are dependable… what do you think we NEED?
Well the answer is obvious isn’t it? We need to be saturated in these things. Again and again. Which is exactly Peter’s intention…
read from v12
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12 So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have.
You and I need to be constantly reminded of the truths of the Bible - the truths of the Gospel.
No preacher who stands here at this lectern should EVER try to be original. That’s not the gig! That’s not the job description. Instead whether it’s me standing here… or you discussing in Small Groups… or you doing your daily Bible reading (you do do daily Bible reading don’t you?) the point is to remind, remind, remind ourselves.
RIFF - every day, so many voices…. we need to hear God’s voice.
We need to be reminded. In fact there are three R’s here (whcih is really a preacher’s dream isn’t it?) - did you spot them? Peter wants to
REMIND us v12 of the truths of the Bible and of the Gospel.
He thinks it is right (v13) to REFRESH your memory
so that they will be able to (end of v15) REMEMBER these things.
No of course all of that is really saying the same thing three times in three slightly different ways, but then he did say he wanted to REMIND you didn’t he?!
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And this feels very important for Peter. Because, again, he knows he won’t always be around. v15 in full…
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15 And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.
That’s the same for every leader of course.
RIFF - my daily prayer is for these congregations to thrive into the next generation.
SO… back to our passage summary
The news about Jesus return isn’t wishful thinking, it comes from dependable eyewitnesses and divinely inspired scriptures, so be reminded, be refreshed and be remembering these things so.. (here’s our final point)
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4. …so you’ll be established in faith not carried away by falsehood
4. …so you’ll be established in faith not carried away by falsehood
Peter does have confidence that his readers are gorunded firmly in Jesus… planted solidly in Christ - you can see that v12
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12 So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have.
But compare that with chapter 3 verse 17 - this is where he’s driving….
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17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position.
They seem to be rooted in Christ… but there is the WARNING not to take that for granted… and end up being carried away by false teaching. That is so tragic isn’t it?
A saw a post the other day in one of the Christian forums or groups I’m in on Facebook… this particular one is a UK wide group if Evangelical Christians from all different denominations.
Someone had posted a picture of the church he had grown up in (this man had long since left that area, I believe he’s now a Christian leader elsewhere in the country) but he posted a picture of his former church…. the Evangelical church which had nourished him, where he had first professed faith, where he had been taught the Scriptures and (even) set on a path to Christian ministry.
He posted the picture of this once wonderful church with heavy heart… because things had changed in that church. There is was in the picture, bedecked in rainbow flags… which (I presume weren’t displayed in celebration of the story of Noah and the rainbow God paints in teh sky). No, here was a church fallen from its secure position…. a church which HADN’T remembered the Scriptures… which no longer teaches the return of Christ who will judge the living and the dead. Instead the church is just, well, dead.
And that is such a great tragedy because people need to know and need to be reminded that Jesus is King, his Gospel is true and live-giving and that he is returning in power as saviour and judge. Or to put it another way.
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The news about Jesus return isn’t wishful thinking, it comes from dependable eyewitnesses and divinely inspired scriptures, so be reminded, be refreshed and be remembering these things so you’ll be established in faith not carried away by falsehood.
Let it be so for us, let it be so here.
Let’s pray
