The Supplements that Assure 2Peter 1:1-11

the first general letter of Peter was addressed to those who were dealing with the dangers of physical persecution. This second letter deals with the equally (perhaps more) devastating problem of false teaching which robs believers of the assurance of their salvation, their respect for scripture, and their expectation of Jesus' second coming.

In the first few sentences of this letter, Peter affirms the source and sufficiency of our salvation in Jesus Christ. He continues to assure believers of the certainty of salvation by faith in Jesus.

Because the believer has received all the exceedingly great and precious promises (v.1:4) and everything that pertains to life and godliness (v.1:3) there is an Appropriate Response which: Combats Doubt; Supplies Assurance; Produces Fruit

APPROPRIATE RESPONSE

to the gifts and promises of God in Jesus

• Diligence (v.5)- Not ...”Let go and let God.” rather – Make every effort to bring in or along side all zeal and eagerness with urgency.

• Add (v.5)– supply fully – supplement – minister (another epi word – epichoregeo) to your faith:

  • Virtue = purpose fulfilled – Bearing God's Image (not polished human image)

  • Knowledge = discernment – truth properly understood and applied.

  • Temperance/self-control = faith is not to be divorced from conduct Proverbs 25:28; 1Corinthian9:24-27

    NOTE Properly handling the pleasures of life

  • Patience/perseverance = Properly handling the pressures of life – enduring problems and problem people James 1:2-8

  • Godliness = to worship well – living above the petty 1Timothy 4:8

  • Brotherly Kindness = the companion of love for God – We love our brothers because of their likeness to us. John13:35; James2:10

  • Love = agape = sacrificial love – loving our brothers in spite of differences.

These characteristics do not point to the man or woman displaying them, but to the Spirit of God who produces them.

COMBATS DOUBT

• Why Doubts

  • The Sinfulness of sin

  • Failing to Trust Completeness of the Gospel Hebrews7:25; Romans8:30

  • The Past

    • Remembered – all forgiven? 1John2:1-2,12

    • Forgotten – the exact day

  • The Present – trials Count it joy... whom He loves He chastens

  • Willful Sin

• The Damage of Doubts

  • Enjoyment missed - assurance – obedience from love

  • Purpose missed Romans 11:29

  • Gratitude and praise forgone

  • Patience robbed Miss God's purpose in trials

  • Purifying hope missing 1John3:2-3

SUPPLIES ASSURANCE

• Growth is a sign of life.

• Living a life that can only be explained by God's activity.

• Progression in faith backs up your profession of faith.

• Avoid stumbling (v.10)into doubt and despair or fear

• Remembers purification

PRODUCES FRUIT

• Fruitfulness (v.8)= The kind of conduct and character God can trust with blessing

• Vision (v.9) = not shortsighted = seeing beyond your neighborhood John4:35

• True Knowledge of Lord Jesus Christ (v.8)= not just about Jesus, but saving, relational knowledge of Jesus

• Lavish provision of life in the eternal kingdom of Jesus

Some Christians will barely make it to heaven 1Corinthian3:15. But there is the option of lavish reward. Diligently add virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, love to your faith in Jesus Christ.

Who Are You? 2Peter 1:1-11

As we begin our study of the second general letter of Peter, we first of all acknowledge the letter as being authored by the Simon Peter who was a fisherman called by Jesus to follow Him and become a fisher of men – the one who walked on the water to Jesus for a while – the one who saw Jesus transfigured on a mountain top along with Moses and Elijah – the one who denied Jesus three time – the one whom Jesus restored – the one who preached at Pentecost when 3,000 people became believers in Jesus – the one who first took the gospel to non-Jews – the one who became a leader of the church in Jerusalem – the one who authored 1 Peter to the Christians scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Capadocia, Asia, and Bithynia - the one whose father, John, called him Simon, but whom Jesus renamed Peter (Greek) or Cephas (Aramaic) – that Peter.

That Peter, with all those credentials (and more), calls himself a bond-servant and missionary (apostle) of Jesus Christ and says of those he addresses that they have received the same kind of faith as his. Our question for the day is; “Who are you?” Are you one to whom Peter writes? Are you one who has the same kind of faith? If you are of “like faith” you have great cause for thanks. If you are not, you have great cause of thanks that today you will hear what this great faith is and hearing, have opportunity to respond in faith to God's salvation unto eternal life through the substitutionary atoning work of Jesus Christ.

THIS FAITH

• What is this “faith”? v.1

  • Objective - The gospel truth? The plan of salvation, The doctrines

  • Subjective - The obedient response to that gospel?

  • Received --- Both are gifts from God, not the reward or result of human effort or worthiness.

• “Same kind” indicates that Peter is speaking of the response of faith since there are various responses to God's call whereas there is only one gospel, one plan that saves.

  • “isotimon” = equal value or equal privilege

  • The gift - Ephesians 2:8-9; 1Corinthian2:5 1Co 2:5 that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

  • The response - to God's sovereign choice – Acts 16:14 Act 16:14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. ; Romans 10:9-10 Rom 10:9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

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• Where is it from? v.1

  • By the righteousness of someone else – Jesus Christ

  • who is our God and Savior. Philippians3:8-9 Php 3:8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

:9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith--

• ; Romans9:5 Jesus is God - Rom 9:5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.

• How does it work? v.2

  • In the realm of Grace and Peace

    • Grace – God's gift of favor which no one deserves reconciled to God Romans3:24 Rom 3:24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

      ; Ephesians1:7 Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

    • Peace – with God and from God in all life's circumstances Ephesians2:14-15 Eph 2:14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility

15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,

; Philippians4:7 Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

• Through the knowledge (v.3) of God and of Jesus our Lord.

  • “epignosis” = intimate understanding 1)of a person – Jesus Christ; 2) of the work of Jesus Christ; 3) through the truth of His Word 2Timothy3:15-17 2Ti 3:15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

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• Is it enough? vv.3-4

  • Enough for regeneration – Romans 3:24 (above), 8:16-17 Rom 8:16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

:17 and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

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• Enough to live the life – 2Corinthians9:8 2Co 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

  ; Philippians4:19 Php 4:19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

• Enough for sanctification – Ephesians3:17-19 Eph 3:17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,

19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

; Romans8:29; Rom 8:29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

• Enough for glorification – Romans8:17 Rom 8:17 and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

  , V. 30 Rom 8:30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

• It is like a wedding feast - Matthew22:2-ff; Revelation19:6-9 a celebration with nothing spared.

IS THIS FAITH YOURS? WHO ARE YOU?

• Innocent? You don't need it.

• Lost?

  • Rebelling, putting all faith in yourself?

  • Listening?

  Acts 3:22 Moses said, 'The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. 23 And it shall be that who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.'

• Having faith that you received from Jesus Christ, God and Savior

DURING THE COMMITMENT TIME (invitation):

You may come to receive Jesus as your personal Savior

You may come to join this body

You may come make an altar of prayer at the kneeling step

You may come and receive communion (for baptized believers).

Jesus in 25 Minutes / What God Expects of You Acts2:21-36

In this age of antagonistic or aggressive atheism, it is important for a believer to know what he believes and to be able to state it simply and then if need be to expand and explain his basic positions. This is crucial for purposes of offering an apologetic = answer (1Peter3:15) to those who ask who Jesus is (or by their rhetoric prove that they lack the answer). A skeptical world is not satisfied with, “If it was good for Paul and Silas, it's good enough for me.”

This morning we will not turn to all the scriptural references, but plenty have been included for you to study and choose some that are easy for you to remember and use. These are the basics. This is not exhaustive (John21:25).

Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

PRE-INCARNATE ETERNAL JESUS Being God, He has always existed.

• John1:1 Jesus Christ, the Son, has always been. He existed with God the Father (WITH GOD =literally, “before face of God”). He existed before the earth. He is coequal, co-eternal, equally divine with the other two persons of God (Father and Spirit). Micah 5:2; Isaiah 9:6-7; Zechariah2:10-11; John6:38,41*; Mark 14:61-64*; John10:30-33; 17:5* (*words of Jesus)

Col 1:16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him.

BIRTH OF JESUS Born of a flesh-and-blood woman, who had never had sexual contact with a man Matthew1:23; Luke1:34 (until after the birth of Jesus – Matthew1:25) Isaiah7:14 “alma” in the Hebrew Old Testament, there was some leeway for interpretation of the word we normally interpret as “virgin”. It could be translated “young woman.” NT Septuagint “parthenos”= virgin Matthew, however, quoted the Greek translation of the Old Testament which used a word that would only be interpreted as “virgin.” It should also be noted that the angel Gabriel and Mary both knew that the one who would bear the Savior was a virgin.

• By all scriptural indications, a normal delivery (as opposed to some mystic appearance avoiding the birth canal). Micah5:2-3

• At just the right time (God's) in history. Galatians 4:4-5

• Jesus' mother had a sin nature. Luke1:47 (she needed a Savior); 2:22 (she had to offer a sacrifice for purification) and she had other children

• Mat 13:55 Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? Mat 13:56 And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?"

SINLESS PERFECTION OF JESUS

• Jesus was born without a sin nature and lived without sinning. Hebrews4:15(yet without sin. ; 2Corinthians5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

  John8:46 Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?

PUBLIC MINISTRY

• Begins with His baptism. Matthew3:13-ff; Mark1:9;Luke3:21;John1:32-34

• Proven by miracles Acts2:22 – healing, raising dead, controlling nature.

• Prophet – Revealing the God John 14:8-ff (Show us the Father); 17:6-8 "I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.

• Priest – Luke 19:10 (Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost); Matthew9:2-6 forgave sin of paralytic and to show power to forgive – also healed ; Mark10:45 (offer sacrifice for your sin – Himself ...give his life a ransom); Hebrews7:24 (continues to intercede)

• King = Lord Matthew12:8 (Lord of sabbath); Luke6:46 ("Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?); John13:13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am

• Crucified for your sins Roman4:25 Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. ; Romans5:8; 1Corinthian 15:3...Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, ; 1John2:2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

• Resurrected John20;

  1Corinthian 15:3-8 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 1Co 15:4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 1Co 15:5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 1Co 15:6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 15:8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

• Physically Ascended into Heaven Acts1:9, Luke24:51; Ephesians 1:20 the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,...that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, Eph 1:21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

PERCENTAGES 91% of Jesus' ministry was in home, among family,

neighbors Luke2:51-52 subject to parents...grew wisdom, stature, favor w God

and man Luke 3:23 about age 30 when began public ministry

100% percent of Jesus' ministry was the Father's

will. John 17:4

PROOF Jesus; Cross; His Continuance; Relationships

HIS RETURN 1Thessalonians4:16-ff

HIS DEMAND ON YOUR LIFE –

Acts 2:38 - And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 3:19-20 - Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,

Romans10:9-10 - ...if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

1Thessalonians4:3 - For this is the will of God, your sanctification...

Galatians5:22-25 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

The Bible in 25 Minutes (What does God want from you?)

Voltaire, 18^th century French philosopher, predicted that the Bible would vanish within a hundred years – two hundred years ago. Nathaniel Webster said of the Bible, “I pity the man who cannot find in it a rich supply of thought and rules for conduct.” Abe Lincoln called it “the best gift God has given to man. And but for it we could not know right from wrong.” Greek scholar, A.T. Roberson said, “Give a man an opened Bible, an opened mind, and a conscience in good working order and he will have a hard time to keep from being a Baptist.”

George Gallop says that Americans revere the Bible but they don't read it. Many think that the Bible is beyond the understanding of common folks.

Today I will try to give you the basic arrangement, theme, and message of the Bible - written in 66 books - written by at least 30 different writers - writing over 1500 years - in different styles of writing - in different places and times attitudes - in different languages (Hebrew and Greek) - without knowing each others writings – yet fitting together into a book that tells what God wants from you.

THE BEGINNING The Table of Contents

Old Testament – Three sections

1. The Law – 17 books

2. The Writings – 5 books

3. The Prophets – 17 books

The Law – first 5 of 17 called Pentateuch (5 books) – give the law of God which reveals the character of God.

The Law – last 12 of 17 = narrative history of the activity of God which demonstrates His character, avoiding the “resume' problem.”

The Writings – Job through Song of Solomon = the experiences of the people of God – mostly wisdom and devotional literature.

The Prophets – Isaiah through Malachi = God's commentary on the history of Israel.

THE CHARACTER OF GOD

Eternal Creator – Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning, God...”

Loving Creator – Genesis 1:26 “Let us make man...”

Revealing Creator

Of Himself – Genesis 3:8

Of His Standards – Exodus 3:5-6; 6:7; 20

Sovereign (selective) Creator – Genesis 12; 25:23Exodus6:7; Deuteronomy 7:7-8

THEMES IN OLD TESTAMENT

God's Righteousness and Passion for Holiness (God's anger) Exodus19:6

Covenant – legalism versus relationship Genesis 6:18; 17:4; Exodus19:5

Atonement – (at one ment) not to appease or placate, but in relationship

Sacrifice – by guilty of innocent Exodus 12:27; 20:24

Anointed One (Messiah [Hebrew], Christ [Greek]) Hbakkuk3:17 no question of whether, but when Messiah would come. But as OT comes to Malachi God's people are near despair. At time of New Testament hope almost vanished

Old Testament = History, Holiness, Hope

God the Father as Sovereign/Savior God eager to have a relationship with man

God revealing Himself to men as guide and Captain of His army

God the Spirit, hovering over all the earth and inhabiting and empower His chosen for special tasks.

Problem Promise for His People :

Exodus 34:6-7

"The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,

Exo 34:7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty,

NEW TESTAMENT (NEW COVENANT) Christ, Covenant People, Creation - 27 books -4 gospels, Acts, 21 letter, Revelation

CHRIST - 4 stories of Messiah come = gospels

God became man, lived sinless life among needy, sinful men, gave His life for man's sin, resurrected victorious over sin and death, appeared to disciples

- Acts = transition to crucified and risen Jesus working through the church

COVENANT PEOPLE – based on faith in the Sovereign becoming the substitute ... Son of Man came to give His life a ransom Matthew20:28 Lion becomes the Lamb Revelation 5

CREATION REDEEMED – New heaven and new earth

Not only soul goes to be with God – the sandal – one day our bodies will be remade and God will be glorified in it.

Jesus = first fruits ... Garden of Eden restored (but become a city) New Jerusalem (holy of holies without separation)

In the New Testament God , the Father is still Sovereign -- eager to being relationship with mankind.

God the Son – the promised Messiah, the Anointed One has come to reconcile Man to God So THAT Exodus 34:6-7 is fulfilled.

God has been gracious. Wickedness and iniquity have been punished.

God the Holy Spirit is still moving over the face of the earth, moving on the hearts of people, convicting of sin, convincing of the righteousness of Jesus, drawing you to a relationship with God and enabling to live that life of relationship in the righteousness of Jesus, the Anointed One

Man in relationship with God through Jesus

God gracious and forgiving

Sin not forgotten but rather punished in Jesus

Man is able to Glorify God and Enjoy Him Forever. That is what God expect of you.

You Are Not Alone 1Peter 5:8-14

Let's set the stage. Imagine where Peter might have seen lions...probably not in a zoo...certainly not on a safari or a National Geographic TV special. He most likely had seen or known of the lions that were part of the gory Roman entertainment where victims faced lions in a public coliseum. Or maybe he thought back to pictures from the Old Testament such as Psalms 7:2; 10:9-10; 17:12. The warning is for believers to be on guard against the lion who is growling and intimidating and against the one who waylays his victim by hiding in the bushes waiting for him to pass by. Jesus said our adversary comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John10:10).

The call is not for us to hide or live in fear, neither is it to attack the devil or demons with prayers or formulas (Jude 8-ff); but to understand our need of the protection and power of God in our everyday lives and the lives of our beloved brothers and sisters in Christ.

A COMMON FOE

Adversary – opponent in a case of law

Devil - slanderer,false accuser

Intimidator - roaring, open mouthed Psalm22:13

What can the devil do?

• Attack believers in the realm of personal relationships – family, church, work place

• Attack the believers as the church –

  • Careless in responsibilities ... such as service and appointing leaders.

  • Cause possessiveness and lack of unity

  • Confuse the purpose of the church

• Be used by God to strengthen and discipline believers (Job; 1Corinthian5:1-5)

What can we do?

• Be sober = speaks against being intoxicated with alcohol + There are other things that can cause us to be as useless and careless as beverage alcohol... Luke 21:34 “heart overcharged (weighed down) with

  • surfeiting (excess) and drunkenness and cares of this life...”

  • Be watchful = be on guard as one who is in danger Matthew26:41; 6:13

  • Depend on God 1Peter5:6-7

  • Resist by firm faith = take a stand ... on the Word of God in faithful obedience to the Truth (the devil is a liar).

  
  

  COMMON AFFLICTION v.9b Hebrews 13:3

• vom.org

UNCOMMON GRACE ENABLES

• Endure by looking ahead v. 10 Hebrews 12:2

• Called you

• 1)perfect, 2)establish, 3)strengthen, 4)settle (Lumber terms) 1)make the joints in the building complete; 2)make each part mutually supported; 3)bind every part so do danger of warping, splitting, or falling; 4)cause all to rest evenly and firmly on the best foundation.

• Pray for others --- The Benedict missionary family in Jerez, Zacatecas, Mexico ask their supporters to pray “When you see a Taco Bell”. It would be worth while to find something to remind you to pray for persecuted and other fellow believers.

• Seek God's Glory v.11

Has He called you ?