Not A Fable
2 Peter • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Scripture Reading: Mathew 17:1-8
Kids Time: alarm clock. Ask kids how their parents wake them up in the morning. Gentle voice? loud alarm? Pouncing and shaking?
Proposition:
Transitional Statement:
I. Benefits of Virtue
I. Benefits of Virtue
10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and choosing sure; for in doing these things, you will never stumble;
diligent — same as verse 5, maximum effort for a lifetime.
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 1
to make—Greek middle voice; to make so far as it depends on you; to do your part towards making. “To make” absolutely and finally is God’s part, and would be in the active.
calling — a one time spiritual experience where someone prayed a prayer or made a profession of faith does not mean that person is truly saved, because that so called faith is just a superficial faith if it has no lasting fruit as evidence that the calling was effective.
Sure — certain. legally valid.
Are you stumbling? You will continue to doubt the assurance of your salvation in Christ until you the virtues listed in verses 5-7 present and increasing in your walk with Him.
Election is never an excuse for Christian laziness!
If you are chosen, you will answer the call of God and if you answer the call, you will produce the fruit of virtue. It is not the answer of the call and the virtue that saves you, they are the evidence that you are truly saved. God elects us before He calls us but we no nothing about His election of us until we are called (that is why it is listed first).
11 for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.
Sounds to some like works gives entrance into the kingdom. Not what Peter is saying. He is echoing Paul…
13 each man’s work will become evident, for the day will indicate it because it is revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work.
14 If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward.
15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
What kind of entrance into heave would you like? All of those who believe in Jesus will enter but those who walk diligently will enter with great reward while those who live for themselves and the flesh will enter with their tail between their legs and suffer the loss of reward.
20 “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;
2 Peter & Jude Enriching Your Capacity to Enjoy the Eternal Kingdom (1:11)
Joy Davidman (poet, artist, and wife of CS Lewis) catches the sense of wonder that this prospect of entering heaven should create in us when she calls this world “a hothouse to nurse our growing spirits along until they are strong enough for the unimaginable outdoors we call heaven”
2 Peter How to Get Rid of Doubt
How to Get Rid of Doubt — Spurgeon
If you would get out of a doubting state, get out of an idle state; if you would get out of a trembling state, get out of an indifferent lukewarm state; for lukewarmness and doubting, and laziness and trembling, very naturally go hand in hand. If you would enjoy the eminent grace of the full assurance of faith under the blessed Spirit’s influence and assistance, do what the Scripture tells you—“Be zealous even more to make your calling and election secure.”
II. Reminders of Virtue
II. Reminders of Virtue
A. Because You Know Them Already
A. Because You Know Them Already
12 Therefore, I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been strengthened in the truth which is present with you.
We need reminders because even though we know the truth and are showing evidence of growing in virtue, false teachers can confuse us.
Peter was encouraging them.
Jesus told him to do it
32 “But I have prayed earnestly for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, once you have returned, strengthen your brothers.”
B. Because I Won’t Be Here for Long
B. Because I Won’t Be Here for Long
13 I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder,
stir — get up from sleeping. If you have kids (especially teen agers) you know how hard this can be. This letter from Peter is a wakeup call.
14 knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has indicated to me.
dwelling — tent. It was almost time to fold up the tent and leave it behind. Peter’s wandering days were almost over. Soon, his soul would go home to be with His God and Friend in heaven.
Jesus told Peter that he would die by force and ‘with stretched out hands”
18 “Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.”
19 Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me!”
2 Peter and Jude: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Brevity
Tradition—recorded by Eusebius [Ecclesiastical History, 3:1, 30]—attests that he was crucified, and upside down at his request because he felt unworthy to die exactly as Christ had died. AD 64-68)
15 And I will also be diligent that at any time after my departure you will be able to call these things to mind.
departure = exodus
He could have remained silent. He knew the struggles that believers would face. We see his love for his Savior and his pastoral heart for all those who would come to love the Savior as he did. This epistle is Peter’s inspired legacy to all of us as believers.
III. Basis For Virtue
III. Basis For Virtue
How do we know that way of virtuous living is the right way to live?
A. The Apostles Did Not Make it Up.
A. The Apostles Did Not Make it Up.
16 For we did not make known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, following cleverly devised myths, but being eyewitnesses of His majesty.
17 For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased”—
18 and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.
Matthew 17:1-8
B. The Holy Spirit Confirmed It.
B. The Holy Spirit Confirmed It.
19 And we have as more sure the prophetic word, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.
Prophetic Word = OT
The written Word of God is more sure to Peter than his own experience and his memory of events that he himself participated in!
20 Know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes by one’s own interpretation.
comes — originates
21 For no prophecy was ever made by the will of man, but men being moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
