3C's Bible Study

The main outcome of fellowship with the Father is that we get to know Him in an ever-increasing measure of intimacy. It is our knowledge of God that frees us from the shackles of sin and positions us to walk in practical love.

What does it then mean to "know" God as John described? How can we walk in this world as He walked? Let's find out together in this episode.

John begins this letter by pointing to the beginning as the only reference point for authentic Christianity. He explores the Word of Life which was from the beginning and the manifestations of that Life in human flesh and unveils fellowship or koinonia as the link between the two.

We dive into the meaning and practice of fellowship, weaving into the primary revelation that God is light. As light, God is the reference point for all measurements, the revealer of reality, and the energizer of our lives.

The study concludes with an open invitation to come into the light and experience the riches of fellowship with the Father.

John is the last apostle and his mission is to call the church back to the first and vital things. The heart of John's letter is an invitation to fellowship with the Father that makes for joy, righteousness, truth and assurance.

The call to fellowship is John's strategy for believers against the primary issue of the last days which is the drifting from truth caused by deception and falsehood.

We examine these broad themes in detail in this episode and conclude with John's call to lay down our idols so that we can come into the revelatory knowledge of God that is designed to complete us.

We consider some of the important principles of a secure faith as summarized by the apostle in this closing chapter. The primary principle is "to remember", which is the anchor of the letter.

Peter then highlights "the error of the wicked" which is the principle he wants his readers to avoid if they are to keep their steadfastness in the last days.

He also shows us what it means to hasten the coming of the Lord and invites us to grow in grace and in the knowledge of God rather than letting our spiritual lives remain fallow and open to deception.

In this closing part of chapter 2, Peter follows up on the exploration of the psychology of deception by defining the missing piece in all of the deceptions of the enemy aimed at our self-nature.

We consider this missing element and unveil how to ensure it in our walk with God. We conclude by examining the law of bondage and how to break free from the slippery path.

What is the root cause of falsehood and radical departures from the faith? It’s a question worth answering as Peter warns the church of the subtle infiltration of false teachers.

We examine the anatomy of deception - its root cause and outworkings and reveal the antidotes presented in this letter. We hope that the Lord will open our eyes and rid our hearts of everything that keeps us vulnerable to deception and empower us to live continuously in the truth.

In the concluding part of this chapter, Peter makes the case that faith needs to be enhanced by moral excellence and wisdom for the believer to be fruitful in the knowledge of God. He reveals through this that faith is only an entry point into something much bigger - our calling.

Though our calling and election are secure from God's perspective, the apostle urges us to apply ourselves diligently to ensure it. What principle reconciles these two poles of grace? Peter hopes that his hearers will master the fundamentals of faith and thus fulfil all that God called us to.

Peter begins this second letter by revealing that his readers and we have received the same faith as he and the heroes of the Old and New Testament, which subdued kingdoms, birthed righteousness, stopped the mouth of lions and more.

The question that leads to our exploration of faith in this episode is if you have received the same seed of faith as the greats we read about, what is missing or hindering your faith?

Let's find out together as we trust God for fruitfulness in our knowledge of Him.

Peter concludes this letter by addressing people in the specifics of their position in the church and circumstances in life. There is priceless advice for elders and pastors as well as followers and those called to submit. He concludes this chapter by pointing us to the attitudes that guarantee a supply of grace and an entrance into the glory that is prepared for us.

In this second part, we summarize the fundamental principle of overcoming suffering and highlight the five commitments that ensure that we actualize the glory that God has in every circumstance.