Title: Again?

Text: II Peter 1:12-15

FCF: We often struggle remembering with the same passion that which we have been taught.

Prop: Because of this teaching’s grave importance, we must be continually reminded of God’s ongoing work with us.

Scripture Intro: CSB

[Slide 1] Turn in your bible to II Peter chapter 1.

Today’s passage serves several functions in this letter for Peter.

First, it serves as a conclusion to all that he has been saying since He wrote his Hebrew name on the page. It is basically a commentary on what he has written thus far.

Second, it serves as a springboard to get to the body of the letter, where he will address topics that he has not yet discussed.

Third, it is only half of that springboard because next week he will go even deeper into his own reliability and even the reliability of the scriptures. I wanted to give that its own sermon, since it is sure to take a good deal of time.

Today’s passage is an odd duck to be sure. Not because it is particularly difficult to understand or because there are theological or interpretational challenges. Rather, it is odd because Peter never overtly commands his readers to do anything. In fact, from verse 12 of chapter 1 through chapter 2 and into chapter 3 – Peter does not give one command to his audience.

What does that mean? It means that Peter is going to spend a good chunk of his letter giving several reasons that a specific command should be kept. And even though he is going to take a while to say it – it isn’t hard to catch what that command is. And this text is our first strong indicator of it.

In other words – this passage of scripture may seem unimportant… but I assure you, it is the very heart of Peter.

I’m in II Peter 1. I’ll start reading in verse 12. I am reading from the CSB but you can follow along in whatever version you prefer, including the pew bible starting on page 1369.

Sermon Intro:

When I am reading a book for theological or devotional purposes and the writer breaks into an anecdote, typically I find myself hoping he ends soon so he can tell me what he thinks in plain English.

Since it is natural for me to preach as I learn, I tend to stay away from stories. That isn’t to say I don’t use illustrations. I do. But most of them are short – like the training wheels illustration from last week.

Today however, I actually want to begin and end the sermon with two illustrations. We have the time – this will be a shorter sermon. And I think these serve to get us to where Peter is in the text.

Not so long ago a little country church much like ours, had just called a new pastor to lead them. The first sermon was fairly good. It had something to do with loving people. The second sermon was pretty good too. It was about loving other Christians. The third sermon was also pretty good. It was about loving other Christians like Christ loved them. The fourth sermon was his best yet, where he spoke about the sacrificial love of Christ to pay off the wrath of God for His enemies and how that is the same love we must love other Christians with.

However, by the end of the 4th week’s sermon, several people were upset. Do you know why?

It was the same sermon – 4 weeks in a row.

When confronted, the pastor’s response was simple. In love he said, “beloved, when you understand, believe, and obey what the scriptures say about loving one another – I will move on to another sermon.”

I read a statistic this week. I must confess that I was pretty discouraged by it.

1 hour after hearing someone orate… 90%... let me make sure you heard me right… 90% of what was spoken has been forgotten.

On average I speak about 4,500 words every week. That means that by the time Foundations is done… you have managed to retain 450 of them.

And we wonder why the bible calls preaching foolishness.

Transition:

Both of these illustrations serve to validate the point that Peter will make today. Let’s look to what he says.

I.) Because the stakes are so high, we must be continually reminded of God’s ongoing work with us. (12)

a. [Slide 2] 12 – Therefore

i. I had a Sunday school teacher growing up who always used to say “when you see ‘therefore’ in the bible, you need to ask yourself what it is ‘there for.’”

ii. That adage holds true here.

iii. What is Peter basing his following statement on?

iv. I believe it makes most sense to take it back to the beginning of the sentence in verse 10.

v. Based on these two paths, one of which leads to disastrous results, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. Why? Because if you do these things, you will never stumble and entry into the kingdom will be richly provided for you.

vi. In other words – the stakes - could not be higher.

vii. Fall away or enter the Kingdom. These are the two ends of these two paths.

viii. That is what pushes Peter to say…

b. [Slide 3] I will always remind you about these things,

i. Peter is never going to stop talking about these things.

ii. He is never going to stop reminding them about these things.

iii. Keen thinkers will notice what he says later and wonder how Peter plans to continue to remind them. We should probably see this letter as the outwork of that reminding. Peter expects this letter to continue to remind the church of these things.

iv. Now we have to ask – what things?

v. The obvious choice would be the increasing spiritual virtues.

vi. Not just reminding them to do them but even reminding them of all that God has supplied for them to be godly, and what is promised to them if they do or do not do them.

vii. In summary, the whole teaching of these increasing spiritual virtues and all that is entailed with them, which begins in verse 3 and extends through verse 11.

viii. Peter – given the stakes – is never going to stop reminding them that God has done all to get them from pre-ordination to glorification, but that all who He secures for glorification He secures WITH these growing spiritual virtues.

ix. He continues…

c. [Slide 4] Even though you know them

i. Peter is going to keep reminding his audience about these things, even though they know it already.

ii. They didn’t forget. In fact…

iii. He is going to keep reminding them even though they’ve heard it a thousand times.

iv. This isn’t some new revelation. This isn’t a novel doctrine.

v. This is established truth that has been taught since Christ came. First to the apostles, then from the apostles to the church. And now a thousandth time to them again.

vi. Even though they know them – Peter will not stop teaching it.

vii. But they not only know it -

d. [Slide 5] And are established in the truth you now have.

i. As he stated before, those who do and are increasing in these spiritual virtues will never stumble. They will be anchored in labor and fruitfulness.

ii. In other words, Peter is going to keep reminding them about these things – even though they know them – and even though they are practicing them.

iii. Even though they are producing these spiritual virtues in an increasing way – He is NOT going to stop from reminding them.

iv. Why?

v. Because the stakes are SOOO high.

vi. This is another log in the fire for a non-assurance only interpretation here.

vii. If he was just trying to assure them, here would be his chance to reference their doubt, or even his doubt based on their lack of these increasing virtues. But they are not doubting. And Peter expresses absolutely no reason to doubt them.

viii. They know the truth about all this and they are living it.

ix. But because knowing and living, faith and works, are required for entrance into heaven to be richly provided to them – Peter must keep on preaching it to them.

e. [Slide 6] Passage Truth: Peter reminds his audience that although they know everything that he is teaching them and will teach them, and although they are currently walking in these teachings, they must be reminded continually about them. They must be reminded because the stakes are high for them to remain established in the truth.

f. [Slide 7] Passage Application: So, for his audience, really the application is to humble themselves and submit to being reminded again and again.

g. [Slide 8] Broader Biblical Truth: Zooming out to all of scripture we see a theme that is, quite frankly, hard to miss. It is a theme of generational faithfulness and failure. What I mean by that is that when we see Israel remain faithful to God at any point in their history – we need only keep reading for another generation or two and find that they have fallen completely into spiritual ruin. The book of Judges demonstrates this in tight cycles but in reality the history of mankind is defined by God showing favor, people responding, and then forgetting or neglecting Him in subsequent generations, falling to their own destruction. So even though we believe and are obeying – we still need to be continually reminded so that we stay the course and not lose our way.

h. [Slide 9] Broader Biblical Application: So, CBC, if we viewed our salvation exclusively as a past event. That we said a prayer, made a confession, professed a belief or otherwise accomplished something that was done forevermore and that was the only aspect of salvation we believed in – then we might be tempted to be irritated with the constant preaching of the gospel message. We might be tempted to become tired of hearing the same things over and over again. We might get bothered even when we can’t seem to quite get beyond teaching the basic tenants of our faith. Ironically, if this is how you view salvation, it shows that you have truly forgotten what the apostles and Jesus taught about our salvation. For it is not only a past conversion or justification experience. Indeed, aspects of our salvation are not yet fulfilled. We aren’t quite saved yet. And also, aspects of our salvation are ongoing. We are being saved. And viewing our salvation as an ongoing thing that God is working in us, through us, and with us, bringing forth fruit from our faith, helps us to conclude with Peter – that we NEED to be reminded of the rich truth of our faith. Constantly. Even if we are holding fast and living in obedience – we need the gospel always on the forefront of our minds. So let us be humble, let us not grumble, and let us rejoice in hearing the truth again and again.

Transition:

[Slide 10(blank)] But the stakes being high is only the first reason that Peter must continually remind them of the ongoing work of God in their lives. In verses 13 and 14 he moves to another reason.

II.) Because a teacher’s time is short, we must be continually reminded of God’s ongoing work with us. (13-14)

a. [Slide 11] 13 - I think it is right, as long as I am in this bodily tent, to wake you up with a reminder,

i. Peter considers it just to wake them with a reminder.

ii. As we saw in verse 12, he needs to remind them, even though they know it, and even though they are practicing these virtues.

iii. Why?

iv. Because the stakes are high.

v. Here in verse 13, he also wants to shock them, to wake them, to stir them up.

vi. Oftentimes when we “know” something and when we are “doing” something is when we become quite complacent.

vii. We tend to be lulled to sleep by maintaining the status quo.

viii. Even though it is exactly where we should be – and even though there is no new information or application coming in – a fresh reminder serves to shock the system. It serves to rouse us, to wake us, to stir us up.

ix. It is right, it is just for Peter to do this for his audience while he is still alive.

x. And this introduces another reason that Peter must remind them of these things.

b. [Slide 12] 14 – since I know that I will soon lay aside my tent,

i. Peter will soon be martyred.

ii. Peter is approaching the day that he will no longer be able to remind them – since he will die for his Lord.

iii. From church tradition we think that this happened right around AD 64-66, when emperor Nero escalated his persecution of the “pernicious” Jewish cult known as “The Way”

iv. Tradition also tells us that Peter was crucified by Roman cross upside down, by his own choosing, citing that he was unworthy to be crucified in the same way that Christ was.

v. But we might wonder, how did Peter know that his time approached?

vi. Were there writings on the wall, did he see the persecution escalating?

vii. Well, we don’t have to wonder. Peter tells us how he knows.

c. [Slide 13] As our Lord Jesus Christ has indeed made clear to me.

i. To make clear means to reveal or indicate.

ii. This could mean that Peter is simply following the signs. This could be referring to some statement by Christ given to Peter while He was still on earth.

iii. Or probably he means both. Peter is looking around at his life and no doubt remembers the words that Jesus spoke to him, which John recorded in his gospel. Let’s read those

iv. [Slide 14] John 21:18-19

v. We see here with John’s commentary the truth that Jesus gave to Peter. That he would die as an Old man and as a prisoner. This is when and how he would die.

vi. So, the Spirit of God recalled to Peter’s mind the words of Christ in order to reveal to him that he would die soon. Peter is no doubt in his 60s at this point. Which in that time was definitely old. Life expectancy was in the mid-40s which is a somewhat skewed statistic because of infant mortality and war – but still 60 would be quite old at this time.

vii. So, the second reason Peter must remind them and shake them awake, is because he won’t be able to for much longer.

d. [Slide 15] Passage Truth: So, Peter reminds them that because he is old and Christ’s words predicted that he would be bound and killed against His will when he was old – that his time on earth was short. This adds a priority for him to continually remind them of these things.

e. [Slide 16] Passage Application: So again, the application for them is to humbly hear and be reminded of God’s ongoing work in their lives.

f. [Slide 17] Broader Biblical Truth: Zooming out to all of scripture we notice this truth plainly. The lives of men are a vapor. They wither like grass. Their lives are here today and gone tomorrow. Such is the nature of human life. It is frail and fragile. In light of such short lives – teachers are pressed to continually remind those in their charge of the beauty of God’s ongoing work.

g. [Slide 18] Broader Biblical Application: So, CBC, you would do well to humbly receive what your Elders teach. Lovingly listen to them communicate God’s truth. Some of your Elders have far more winters behind than they do ahead. Their lives are approaching the finish line. And even if they are not old, God has not guaranteed a certain number of years to any man, much less to us. So, while we teach, while we remind, while we recall all that God is doing in, though, and with His people – humbly hear and heed.

Transition:

[Slide 19(blank)] So because of the high stakes of them receiving and living the message, and because Peter’s life is coming to an end, he must remind them and continue to remind them of all these things. But there is one last reason he must do this.

III.) Because the goal is total saturation, we must be continually reminded of God’s ongoing work with us (15)

a. [Slide 20] 15 – And I will also make every effort,

i. Again, to make every effort is to zealously, with all you are, as if your life depended on it.

ii. Just as Peter told his audience to make every effort to add to their faith, and to confirm their calling and election, so he is committing to make every effort for them.

iii. His efforts are clearly focused on reminding his audience of these virtues and their importance.

iv. And now his third reason

b. [Slide 21] So that you are able to recall these things at any time after my departure.

i. Peter wants to remind and keep reminding his audience so that they will eventually be able to remind themselves.

ii. Peter desires that he teach on these virtues; their need, their place in God’s preservation of His people; and the stakes for not having them. He wants to teach on them so much that even when he is dead – his people would still hear the words ringing in their ears.

iii. That once he is gone they would have it so engrained in their heads that they would easily be able to recall all that he had taught them on the matter.

iv. This is total saturation. Peter wants to be able to prick their finger and see that they bleed these teachings.

v. And not just so they can recall them – but so they can teach others also.

vi. This is… every teacher’s wish.

c. [Slide 22] Passage Truth: So Peter reminds them that they need to continually receive the truth of God’s ongoing work in them because at some point they will be the ones that will need to pass down the truth to others. They will not always be the receivers but must transition to be the givers of such teaching.

d. [Slide 23] Passage Application: So they must, now, humbly receive each and every reminder of the ongoing work of God with them.

e. [Slide 24] Broader Biblical Truth: Zooming out to the rest of scripture we have the Shema which was designed to facilitate this exact thing. Turn with me to Deuteronomy 6:1-15 and we will read this. We see from this text the command to continually teach these principles to any and all who would listen. So they would not be forgotten and so God’s law would continually be obeyed. In the Shema the threat of curse or promise of blessing is assigned to their response. And so in many ways the Shema is a great corollary to what Peter is saying here. In this the desire is that God’s people would not simply hear and heed what God had said but then go and teach to others the same. That they would recall for themselves what God has said and do as God has commanded. For this same reason we must be continually reminded of the ongoing work of God to preserve us to the kingdom.

f. [Slide 25] Broader Biblical Application: So, CBC, we must humbly listen to the continual reminders of what God is doing in us and through us to get us to His Kingdom. The purpose for this is certainly so that we will stay the course – but not only that. Indeed, we need to be so full of this truth that we actually can remind ourselves. That we can teach it to others. That we can be those who pass down the teachings of those who instructed us. This is the goal of all biblical teaching and discipleship. To reproduce disciples of Christ.

Conclusion:

Well, just as we began with two illustrations, I have two more to close us out today. But both of these should be relatively familiar to you if you have grown up in the church, because both illustrations are biblical accounts. They are history. They are God-breathed history.

The first is from a passage we have already seen. Peter references a statement made to him by Christ which indicated that he was sure to die soon. But right before that verse in John 21, we have a rather famous miracle that sparks a rather famous conversation recorded for us.

Peter, having seen the Risen Christ but having not spent much time with Him, decides that he is going fishing. Three years ago, this was his occupation. Now – perhaps it will be again. He wasn’t very good as a disciple of Christ and a fisher of men. He was not able to help sustain the commitment to Christ of any of the disciples– primarily because, he himself denied Christ three times on the night of His trials. So, since he failed as a disciple, perhaps he could succeed as a fisherman again. He didn’t.

All night he labored with other disciples to bring in a catch of fish. They caught nothing.

At daybreak (an interesting word for next week) a man appears on the shore and calls them friends. He asks them if they’ve caught anything. To which they reply nothing. The man commands them to cast the net on the other side of the boat and they WILL catch fish. John says to Peter – it is the Lord. Peter abandons his nets again… As if to say – I’d do it all again.

He swims to shore as the rest of the disciples haul in the massive load of fish. They sit down to eat breakfast from the catch they just had. Not being able to possibly eat all they caught, Jesus looks to Peter, points to the fish and asks.

Do you love me more than these?

Peter says. “Lord you know I love you.” That’s why I left that boat. I can’t go back. I can’t. But Lord I can’t go forward either. I’m stuck. I failed you… but I have no where to go.

Jesus says “Feed my lambs, Peter.”

We aren’t told how long between the question, but later, perhaps after the fish had been sold to market, Jesus asks Peter.

“Do you love me Peter?”

He replied. “Yes Lord, you know that I love you.”

“Then Shepherd my sheep Peter.”

A third time, Jesus asks, yet again. “Peter, son of John… Do. You. Love. Me?”

Now for Peter, the number 3 had taken on special significance. It was the third day after his crucifixion that Jesus had arose. He spent 3 years as a disciple of Christ with 3 men who formed an inner circle of disciples. But more recently – it was the exact number of times Peter denied His Lord on the night of His betrayal. Proving to Peter that he was no better than Judas.

And Christ changed his question subtly too. Before he was asking Peter if he loved him unconditionally and selflessly. Peter responded with something that could be a synonym or, could be avoidance. He responded by saying that he loved Jesus like a brother.

But now Jesus changes His question. He asks – do you love me like a brother Peter?

With his denial and Jesus even questioning his statement about how he loved Christ… Peter was grieved terribly.

Through tears I’m sure Peter said , Lord you know all things. You can see my heart. I cannot lie to you – for there would be no point. You know Lord… that I love you.

Perhaps, Jesus took his hand and raised Peter’s chin to meet his eyes. And he said – “Then Feed my sheep Peter.”

Jesus gave the same teaching to Peter, three times. If you love me, obey me. If you love me, obey me. If you love me obey me. How? By passing on what I have given you.

In II Peter, he is simply following His Lord’s example.

My fellow Elders. Take note. Do not strive to be innovative. Do not strive to be relevant. Do not strive to be earth shattering or ground breaking. Do not become obsessed with keeping tradition for traditions sake, but do not treat tradition as the enemy but rather your friendly guide to interpreting scripture rightly. Why?

Standing on the beach and seeing the Pacific ocean, even swimming in its waters may enable you to speak to where you’ve been and what you’ve seen vividly – but the interpretational perspective of believers down through the ages provides a map of the Pacific ocean. And only with a map can you provide a tour for the people of God. Our role is simple but not easy. We must continually remind our people of the teachings, not of Chris, not of Eric, not of Justin, Not of CJ, not of Jerry, not of Nick – but of Christ. For He alone has the words of life. So brothers – let us feed His sheep.

My fellow fathers. Take note. Do not overcomplicate your role. Do not get up in your head. Do not be overwhelmed by guilt and fear. Do not drown yourself in over worked laws. Instead, see your role as simply to remind your wife and your children about the word of life! Take what your Elders have given you and give it to your family. Take what God has shown you, being careful to test it thoroughly as from the Lord, and give it to your family. Teach them in word, in example, in song, in prayer. Remind them of what you’ve been reminded.

My fellow Christians. Pass on what you’ve received from faithful witnesses. Don’t teach it once. Don’t teach it twice. Continually give the words of life to all you hold dear.

My fellow learners. Heed the historical account of Numbers 11.

The people were given manna from the Lord every day. Every single day they were given Manna. A substance that could be made into something like sweet pastries made with the finest oil. Do you know what we call that? They had donuts people. They woke up and ate a healthy life sustaining DONUT every single day.

But after about a year… what happened. They said to each other, “Remember before when in Egypt we got fish and we ate it with cucumbers, leeks, onions and garlic! OH man. SOOO Good. I hate this manna stuff. SO SICK OF IT!”

Though it was bread… from God. Life sustaining donuts from heaven. They grew to despise it.

My friends. Do not grumble. Do not complain. Do not protest at the preaching of the gospel of Christ. Do not roll your eyes at the preaching of yet another sermon on the grace of God. Yet another sermon on how we are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone revealed in scripture alone for the glory of God alone. Don’t let a sigh of exhaustion over another sermon calling you to live out the faith you have supposedly received. Don’t you dare beg for the fish of Egypt.

Because God gave his people quail to eat for an entire month. That is all they ate. So much so that they were sick. A plague broke out among them. And many died.

Do you know why churches today are plagued by spiritual sickness and those who think they are spiritually alive when they are still dead? Do you know why it is so hard to find a church that teaches that we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, revealed in the scriptures alone, for the glory of God alone? Do you know why so many church never teach on living out the faith that they supposedly have?

It is because people with itching ears don’t want that kind of message. They don’t want to be reminded that God works with His people in an ongoing way to keep them from failing. OH no. They would much rather receive messages on having their best life now. The 7 ways to be a likable person. The 10 ways God wants you to be happy. Or the 150 ways that God says you are special.

What has God done? He has given them preachers to teach those messages. He gave them quail. Enough to kill some of them.

So my friends – though you know it – though you live it – receive with gladness, humility, joy, love, and hope the message of God’s saving work, begun and finished by Him and ongoing with you. Learn to love the Old Old Story. For that, my friends, is what you need to keep living it.