Things to Remember
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Things To Remember
Things To Remember
1 “This is the command—the statutes and ordinances—the Lord your God has instructed me to teach you, so that you may follow them in the land you are about to enter and possess.
2 Do this so that you may fear the Lord your God all the days of your life by keeping all His statutes and commands I am giving you, your son, and your grandson, and so that you may have a long life.
3 Listen, Israel, and be careful to follow them, so that you may prosper and multiply greatly, because Yahweh, the God of your fathers, has promised you a land flowing with milk and honey.
4 “Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One.
5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
6 These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart.
7 Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
Moses summoned all Israel and said to them, “Israel, listen to the statutes and ordinances I am proclaiming as you hear them today. Learn and follow them carefully. The Lord our God made a covenant with us at Horeb. He did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with all of us who are alive here today. The Lord spoke to you face to face from the fire on the mountain. At that time I was standing between the Lord and you to report the word of the Lord to you, because you were afraid of the fire and did not go up the mountain. And He said:
I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery.
Do not have other gods besides Me.
Well, it’s Father’s Day and just to show you that God’s Word is always applicable to us, we come to our next book as we make our way through the bible a book at a week — the book of Peter with a Fresh Message. Novelty is not a word to describe the Bible. It’s old. It’s not new. But it is always fresh — It’s always very fresh, and relevant, and sufficient — and what God wants us to do is to teach and obey His Word.
A man ought to live so that everybody knows he is a Christian…and most of all, his family ought to know. — D.L. Moody
Deuteronomy 5:
And Father’s — this is your duty as a believer. One way in which your children know you are a Christian is by Repeating God’s word to your children. Talk about it, when you’re sitting, when you’re walking, when you lie down and when you get up. Bringing the Word to their remembrance.
What does that mean?
It means Repeat God’s Word to your children all the time — Remind them!
It means Repeat God’s Word to your children all the time — Remind them!
It’s what He commanded His people to do in the OT and His will has not changed.
We need to be reminded. We need to remember things. There are important things to remember. Israel suffered greatly for poor memory in spit of all the warnings and reminders throughout the centuries.
Look one more time at .
There waw that
5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
6 These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart.
7 Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
Deuteronomy 6:5-7
Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
Repeat them, repeat them, repeat them. Repeat the God’s Word over and over to your children, and your grandchildren.
And so — God commanded this repetedly throughout the OT — for them to Remember.
18 do not be afraid of them. Be sure to remember what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and all Egypt:
Deuteronomy 7:18
2 Remember that the Lord your God led you on the entire journey these 40 years in the wilderness, so that He might humble you and test you to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commands.
38 Do not forget the covenant that I have made with you. Do not fear other gods,
7 so that they might put their confidence in God and not forget God’s works, but keep His commands.
Psalm 78:7
Calls to remembrance of God, His word, and His works is replete throughout the Scripture.
Let’
With that in mind, let’s turn to our text — .
The leader of the Twelve wanted believers to avoid the hazards of spiritual negligence; therefore he labored vigorously through his preaching and writings to remind them of important issues. In face, so great was his desire, that in 2 Peter he offered a final will and testament to remind them of some vital things that they may “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
Let’s read our text.
Therefore I will always remind you about these things, even though you know them and are established in the truth you have. I consider it right, as long as I am in this bodily tent, to wake you up with a reminder, knowing that I will soon lay aside my tent, as our Lord Jesus Christ has also shown me. And I will also make every effort that you may be able to recall these things at any time after my departure.
And so, Paul sets out to Remind them of these things. Let’s look at first, the Urgency to be Reminded.
2
I. There is an Urgency to be Reminded.
I. There is an Urgency to be Reminded.
12 Therefore I will always remind you about these things, even though you know them and are established in the truth you have.
Therefore — refers back to what he has just finished saying concerning salvation and assurance and launches us into the urgency of Remembering.
Peter used the future tense — “I will always remind you.” Or like the NASB states it — “I will always be ready to remind you.” This is good for us to understand and remember. There is an urgency to Peter that he will always be ready to remind the church of truth whenever he is given the opportunity. This is what Pastors are to do, right?
2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.
2 Timothy 4:
Right?
And Fathers, you should be ready to give it to your children. And listen — they never get to old for you to remind them of these things!
Do you see Peter’s urgency in it?
He will always be ready to remind them. He’s prepared for it. He’s ready for it. It’s the way he will teach, the way he will preach — to remind them and remind them and remind them. It’s over and over again.
So, we have to first understand that there is an urgency to this message. There is an urgency because of what we need to be reminded of.
These Things
These Things
What’s he remind them of?
Well — he says — THESE THINGS!
II. There are some necessary things to be reminded of.
II. There are some necessary things to be reminded of.
These Things
These Things
In particular there are numerous things to be reminded of and if we were going verse by verse and not as an overview of the book, we would look at each of these things. And let me just list them for you. These are the things in verses 1-11.
Faith
Salvation
The Divine Gift of “Life and Godliness”
Promises
Being Partakers of the Divine Nature
Escaping from Corruption
Fruitfulness and
Diligence of Certainty
So, Paul gives glorious and wonderful things in just 11 verses.
But let me summarize these under two headings:
The Greatness of Salvation (vs 1-3) and The Blessedness of Assurance (vs 4-11)
The Greatness of Salvation
The Greatness of Salvation
In verse 3 Paul makes the amazing statement concerning our salvation: “Seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness.”
Whatever spiritual sufficiency you have and are living in as a Christian is not because of any power of yourself. This is derived from His divine power.
20 Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us—
Ephesians
This Divine Power that operates in the believer is the same power that resurrected Christ from the dead. His refers back to the Lord Jesus. If Peter were referring to God, then he wouldn’t have used the word Divine. He’s point out and underscoring the divine nature of the Son. But the point of this is that God supplies the spiritual power for believers — this Divine Power and it is for everything pertaining to life and godliness.
Everything
Everything emphatically tells us we lack nothing! If you think about God’s commandments and the fullness of them, then we understand the complete incapability to keep them.
27 “You have heard that it was said, Do not commit adultery.
28 But I tell you, everyone who looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Matthew 5:
That is an incredible fulness of the command not to commit adultery. How can we as men live in that? Guys, we can only do that through the Divine Power!
Do you see how wonderful this is? How urgent it is?
This is what Paul endeavors to remind them of.
Life and Godliness
This defines the realm of sanctification, living out the glory of God on this earth between initial salvation and our ultimate glorification. This is everything we need to sustain life. This is not physical life, but eternal life. And it’s Godliness that encompasses true reverence in worship and obedience to God. Not only is the power of God sufficient to save us, but it is equally powerful to sustain us and empower us for worship and obedience.
Through the Knowledge of Him
And this is done he says, “through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.”
This is no mere superficial knowledge of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Our Lord warned of superficial knowledge of Him in .
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven.
22 On that day many will say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, drive out demons in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name?’
23 Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you! Depart from Me, you lawbreakers!’
This is personal saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and it’s this knowledge of Him that not only saves, but for life and godliness. And it comes from the One who called us. And this is where we have Assurance of Salvation.
The Blessedness of Assurance
The Blessedness of Assurance
2 Peter
4 By these He has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desires.
Blessed Assurance comes through living in the reality of what God has promised.
Look how he described it all.
Very Great and Precious
They are great and valuable. That’s what he means. And they are that. He’s talking about spiritual life, resurrection life, abundant grace, the Holy Spirit, joy, strength, peace, guidance, instruction, wisdom, heaven, eternal rewards. This encompasses everything the Lord gives us. They are great and valuable.
III. Reminded Even Though We Know these things.
III. Reminded Even Though We Know these things.
12 Therefore I will always remind you about these things, even though you know them and are established in the truth you have.
“Even though you know them and are established in the truth you have.”
They knew the truth, believed the truth — they were established in it.
The verb “established” means to be firmly established in to the point that you are strengthened. And it’s a settled condition. This is evident in the fact that it is “present with you.”
In other words, there is no doubt of their spiritual condition. They are believers. And they are maturing believers. And this should tell us something of the necessity of remembrance in our lives — the constant reminder of the truth.
We need the Word of God again and again and again.
Look at verse 13 — Paul says, “I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling.”
Pau
He knew the brevity of time he had. This fueled his passion and motivation to remind them of the truth.
He goes on in verse 14 :
14 knowing that I will soon lay aside my tent, as our Lord Jesus Christ has also shown me.
You remember — the Lord told Peter that he would die to glorify God.
John 21:
18 “I assure you: When you were young, you would tie your belt and walk wherever you wanted. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will tie you and carry you where you don’t want to go.”
19 He said this to signify by what kind of death he would glorify God. After saying this, He told him, “Follow Me!”
But listen!
This did not stand in the way of Peter’s reminding them. “As long as I am in this bodily tent.” And he strengthens it by saying it this way.
“I consider it right…to wake you up with a reminder.”
This is tho thoroughly wake someone from sleep, from drowsiness, from lethargy. This is nothing short of spiritual alertness. We can become sluggish, can’t we? Don’t you get tired? Sleepy? Sluggish? Sure we do! But we need to be alert. Peter says, as long as I’m living, I’m going to keep reminding you and waking you up.
Why? Why do we need to be reminded and awakened?
Well, Peter covered this in his first epistle. let me just remind you of this.
8 Be serious! Be alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.
1 Peter
And here in his 2nd epistle he spends an entire 2nd chapter, warning them of false prophets and teachers.
But this is why the Word of God is so vital.
2 Peter 1:
20 First of all, you should know this: No prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own interpretation,
21 because no prophecy ever came by the will of man; instead, men spoke from God as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
And this is why he says, — First of All, you should know this.
The Word of God is that important. The Word of God is always First of All.
We need to be reminded — Reminded of the Greatness of Salvation, the Blessedness of Assurance, Even though we know these things, we need to be reminded.
IV. A Final Reminder
IV. A Final Reminder
1 Dear friends, this is now the second letter I have written to you; in both letters, I want to develop a genuine understanding with a reminder,
2 so that you can remember the words previously spoken by the holy prophets and the command of our Lord and Savior given through your apostles.
2 Peter 3:
Once again, with all effort, Peter seeks to stir them up or develop genuine understanding with a reminder. The is an effort to disturb and complacency and make clear the spiritual urgency with which he warned them of false teachers.
And he does this with again — the Word of God — verse 2, “So that you can remember the Words previously spoken by the holy prophets and the command of our Lord and Savior given through your apostles.”
By this he directs their attention to the Lord’s Return.
3 First, be aware of this: Scoffers will come in the last days to scoff, living according to their own desires,
2 so that you can remember the words previously spoken by the holy prophets and the command of our Lord and Savior given through your apostles.
3 First, be aware of this: Scoffers will come in the last days to scoff, living according to their own desires,
3 First, be aware of this: Scoffers will come in the last days to scoff, living according to their own desires,
9 The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.
10 But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed.
And then verse 17-18
;9-10
17 Therefore, dear friends, since you know this in advance, be on your guard, so that you are not led away by the error of lawless people and fall from your own stability.
18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
The urgency and necessity of being reminded is the difference between being “led away by error…and (to) fall” and “growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” And Peter, their father in the faith made it his urgent duty to remind them as his spiritual children. And Christian fathers should have no less an urgent desire.
Remind your children and grandchildren, Dad!
We desperately need to be reminded in the preaching, the teaching, your studying, your devotions, your readings of God’s Word.
Let’s Pray.
Father in heaven,
At this moment of prayer we want to thank You for the majesty of Your Word, for the instruction of Your Word, for the depth of Your Word that gives us the clarity of mind and purity of heart to embrace that truth.
Thank You for Your word of truth through Peter. May we be committed to remembering, to learning, to recover, to recalling, to rehearsing, to reactivating, to reapplying Your Word in our minds that we might function in obedience to You.
Bless these fathers to be strong in the Lord, to endeavor to remind their children of who You are and all You have done so that they may be saved.
Thank You for the deep, rich, true knowledge of You. We pray that Your Spirit would grant to us full understanding of it for the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
And everyone said — Amen!