The Beginning of Knowledge

1 The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:

2 To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight,

3 to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity;

4 to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth—

5 Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance,

6 to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles.

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

. To walk as Christ walked is to love you brother as He has loved us. You are your brother’s keeper as Christ is to His brothers and sisters. - John 13:34-35

- 1 John 2:7-11 - “Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. 8 At the same time, it is a new commandment (John 13:34) that I am writing to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true (real, genuine) light (light of Christ) is already shining. (continues to give light) 9 Whoever says he is (exist) in the light (light of Christ) and hates (regard as ill-will, abhor) his brother (fellow-believer) is still in darkness. (remains in wickedness and misery) 10 Whoever loves his brother abides (to be held or kept continually) in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. (stumbling block, obstacle) 11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, (live in wickedness and misery) and does not know where he is going, (be led away in life) because the darkness has blinded his eyes.” (John 11:10)

• In Pilgrim’s Progress - Christian states concerning Talkative: "For my part, I am of opinion that he (Talkative) has, by his wicked life, caused many to stumble and fall; and will be, if God prevents not, the ruin of many more" - John Bunyan

Have you ever asked why God gave us His word and why Jesus is the Logos? - 2 Peter 1:3-4

- 1 John 2:12-14 - “I am writing to you, little children, because your sins (harmatia) are forgiven (to send away) for His name's sake. (on account of His name we have obtained something - John 1:12 ; Acts 10:43 ) 13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. (1 John 1:1) I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. (Ephesians 6:10) I write to you, children, because you know the Father. (John 14:7) 14 I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.”

Christ is our Advocate and Propitiation for our sin. The Advocate is the one who speaks on your behalf that you are not guilty; the Propitiation is the one who has paid the cost of your guilt.

- Hebrews 7:25 - “Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”

- 1 John 2:1-2 - “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate (parakletos: one who pleads another’s cause, intercessor) with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation (the means of appeasing) for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.”

• Moses as Advocate and to make Propitiation: Exodus 32:30-33
• Jesus the Advocate: Luke 23:34
• Jesus the Propitiation: Romans 3:21-26

You know that you know Christ not by a prayer spoken but by your life being changed. To know Him is to Love His word, to Love His word is to do His word.

- John 14:15-17 - “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.”

- 1 John 2:3-4 - “And by this we know (ginosko: to know God expressed in action) that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,”

You know that you are eternal HIs because He lives in you and you in Him. If you abide in Him you will and must live as He lived.

- John 14:23-24 - “Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.”

- 1 John 2:5-6 - “...but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know * that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”

1 John 1:1-10

Receive the Light - 1 John 1:1-4 "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word[a] of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—"

Proclaim the Light - 1 John 1:3-6 " that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our[b] joy may be complete. 5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

Walk in the Light - 1 John 1:7-10 "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."

READ: 2 Peter 3:11-18

To know Christ is returning, what kind of people should you be? - 1 John 3:2-3

- 2 Peter 3:11-13 - “Since all these (verse 10) things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, (aims and acts of devotion) 12 waiting for (look forward to) and hastening (earnestly desire) the coming of the day of God, (see below) because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies (elements from which all things come) will melt as they burn! 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new (superier to the old) heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” (Isaiah 65:17, 66:22; John 14:1-3)

• Matthew 24:29-31; Mark 13:24-27 ; 1 Thessalonians 5:2, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3; Romans 2:5 ; Philippians 1:6; John 6:38-40 ; 2 Timothy 4:8

We are continually reminded of Christ's return, and that there will continue to be those who reject the truth of His return, until that Great Day. - 2 Peter 3:3-4

- 2 Peter 3:14-16 - “Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, (Christ and the new heavens and new earth) be diligent to be found by him (recognized with the same character) without spot or blemish, and at peace. (assurance of salvation) 15 And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, (2 Peter 3:8-9) just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, 16 as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant (untaught) and unstable twist (pervert, to distort the limbs on a rack) to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.”

You are to grow in the knowledge of Christ, firm in the faith, and settled in your minds of the truth of Christ and His Gospel. - Ephesians 4:13-14

- 2 Peter 3:17-18 - “You therefore, beloved, (agapetos: dearly Loved one) knowing this beforehand, take care (Guard, protect) that you are not carried away (seduce) with the error (delusion) of lawless (unrestrained) people and lose (forfeit) your own stability. (settled frame of mind) 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.

READ: 2 Peter 3:1-10

Let us stir up one another until His return - Luke 12:35

- 2 Peter 3:1-3 - “This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, (1 Peter 4:7) 2 that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment (Matthew 24:44, 1 Thess. 5:6, Luke 12:35-48) of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, 3 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.” (epithymia: epi-thoo-mia = desire what is forbidden, lust)

The fool says in his heart there is no God; he also says He’s not coming, but history reminds us that there was a flood. Noah had flood insurance; do you have fire insurance? - Matthew 24:37-39

- 2 Peter 3:4-7 - “They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.”(atheistic view, “immutable uniformitariansism- unchanging uniformity” - John MacArthur) 5 For they deliberately overlook (thelo lanthano: willfully keep hidden, out of sight out of mind - Romans 1:19-21) this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, 6 and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. (Genesis 6:13; 7:23-24) 7 But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.” (Revelation 20:11-15)

Christ will keep His promise to deliver His people from His wrath and to bring to nothing all that is wicked and corrupt. - 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11

- 2 Peter 3:8-10 - “But do (sy: you) not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward YOU, not wishing (willing, pleased) that any (tis: certain one, some) should perish, (destroyed) but that all (pas: the whole) should reach (proceed, turn) repentance. (change any and all elements of life) 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, (1 Thessalonians 5:4) and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, (crash, loud noise) and the heavenly bodies (natural universe, elements of all things) will be burned up and dissolved, (burn up & demolish) and the earth (land, world) and the works (all things accomplished by man) that are done on it will be exposed.” (unhidden, found out)

READ: 2 Peter 2:4-22

As sure as God’s salvation is for His people, so is the judgment of the wicked and rebellious.)

- 2 Peter 3:7 - “But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.”

- 2 Peter 2:4-10a (Jude 6, Revelation 20:1-3; Genesis 6:17; 7:12-26; Genesis 18:20-21; 19:24-25; Genesis 19:10, 15-16)

Not everything that is called Christian is Christian. Pay attention to the warning and hold fast to the scripture.

- 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 - “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.”

- 2 Peter 2:11-16

What do we do concerning false teachers? We are commanded to beware and watchful - Matthew 7:15, warn the family of God - Acts 20:29, expose them - Ephesians 5:11, avoid them - Romans 16:17, and rebuke them - 1 Timothy 5:20.

- Romans 16:17-18 - “I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. 18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.” Colossians 2:8 - See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”

- 2 Peter 2:1-3 - “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in (introduce secretly and craftily) destructive heresies, (opinion meant to bring ruin or destruction by discord and contention) even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow (comply with, yield to) their sensuality, (unbridled lust, excess licentiousness, lascivousness, wantonness, outrageousness, shamelessness, insolence) and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 And in their greed (desire for more, covetousness) they will exploit you (to use you for gain) with false (molded, formed, not genuine) words. Their condemnation (penal judgment) from long ago is not idle, (inactive, delayed), and their destruction is not asleep.” (delay, linger)

• What is a false teacher? - Pseudo-didaskalos: lying, deceitful, false - teacher) One who purposes to lie, deceive, and speak falsely about God and His Word.

Since we are partakers of the divine nature, we must always, without fail, and not reluctantly, remind each other of how we must live and whom we represent. Genuine Faith is not seen in how genuinely human you are but in how genuinely Christ-like you are. - 2 Peter 1:5-7

- 2 Peter 1:12-15 - “Therefore, I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. 13 I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up (awake thoroughly) by way of reminder, 14 since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.”

Jesus Christ is not a myth devised by man’s imagination; He is the Great I am, worthy of all Glory, Majesty, and Power. - Luke 9:28-36

- 2 Peter 1:16-18 - “For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to Him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.”

God’s word is for Him, by Him, and through Him; given for the edification and sanctification of His people, for life and godliness,”...until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,..” - Hebrews 1:1-3

- 2 Peter 1:19-21 - “And we have (keep) the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well (practice with propriety) to pay attention (be on guard) as to a lamp shining (Matthew 5:17-20) in a dark (dingy, filthy) place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture (God’s Word) comes from someone's own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy (no inspired message) was ever produced (brought to bear) by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along (led to bear, bring forth, produce) by the Holy Spirit.

• Matthew Henry - “He (Apostle Peter) tells us, We do well if we take heed to them; that is, apply our minds to understand the sense, and our hearts to believe the truth, of this sure word, yea, bend ourselves to it, that we may be moulded and fashioned by it. The word is that form of doctrine into which we must be cast, that formulary of knowledge by which we are to regulate our thoughts and sentiments, our words and confessions, our whole life and conversation. If we thus apply ourselves to the word of God, we certainly do well in all respects, what is pleasing to God and profitable to ourselves; and this indeed is but paying that regard which is due to the oracles of God.”

Be In Awe of GOD & Obey His Commands - Ecclesiastes 12:13 - Lanny Lewis