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This epistle was written to every believer who is thinking, “My life would have been better if I had never met Jesus. It’s just too hard to follow Him!” The writer of Hebrews exposes the lie of that conclusion by reminding us of the greatness of Jesus and what’s at stake if we turn from Him. He is better than any alternative, and turning away from Him always brings loss to Christians. Not loss of salvation, but the forfeiture of all that your redeemed heart longs for.

The first episode of season two where Ed preaches through the book of Hebrews. This is an overview of the book, focusing on the message: Jesus is Better!

Study Notes Ed Underwood

The nine General Epistles point to the person and work of the resurrected Christ. They encourage Christians to cling to Him and exhort them to serve Him faithfully because He is the only source of life. Written primarily to persecuted Jewish Christians, the truths apply to every believer from every culture and in every age of church history.

The canon of Scripture closes with a majestic epistle written by the Apostle John in exile on the island of Patmos during the great persecution under the Roman Emperor Domitian (AD 95-96). John received the Revelation from the Lord Jesus through an angel. The letter was sent to the churches he shepherded in the Roman province of Asia. The book is a “Revelation of Jesus Christ,” an unveiling of His character and program of the ages. Just as Genesis is the book of beginnings, Revelation is the book of completion. In it the divine program of rescue of creation from sin is consummated, and the holy name of God is vindicated in the Second Advent and final victory of His Son, the resurrected Christ, who alone has authority to judge the earth, rescue creation, and to rule the universe in righteousness.

All Bible-centered believers and scholars agree that Revelation was written to assure Christians of the ultimate triumph of Christ over all who oppose Him and His people. The recipients in the early church were facing dark days of persecution and needed to know that Jesus would ultimately win. That’s the big picture message of Revelation—Jesus Wins!

All sincere and believing Christians and scholars do not agree on the interpretation of the message Jesus Wins! There are four major alternatives:

(1) The symbolic or idealist view sees Revelation as a symbolic portrait of the cosmic conflict of good vs. evil. Antichrist, in this view, is not a real person but the personification of evil.

(2) The preterist view (Latin word praeter means past) also rejects the prophetic aspect of Revelation, maintaining that it describes events of the first century. It is a symbolic description of the Roman persecution of the church, forced emperor worship under Domitian, and God’s judgment of Rome.

(3) The historicist view interprets the Apocalypse as an allegorical panorama of the church from the first century to the Second Advent.

(4) The futurist view we hold at Church of the Open Door, acknowledges the obvious allusions to the first-century persecution of the church by Rome had upon the letter. But we attempt to discern the literal meanings behind the symbolism of Revelation when sound interpretation permits it through the context and by correlation with other Scripture (especially the Old Testament prophets, and the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24-25). Our futurist view centers Revelation around the second advent of Christ who will return in power and glory to judge all who rejected His free gift of eternal life.

All of my notes and everything I say about the Book of Revelation is from the futurist view of prophecy. We believe in the snatching up of the church prior to the events of the Great Tribulation in chapters 6-19:6, the Second Coming in 19:7-21, a literal 1,000 year reign of Christ on earth or Millennium in chapter 20, and the rescue of creation in the new heaven and earth in 21:1-22:5.

Though we may not agree on the particulars of the Revelation, we should all agree that it is an unveiling of Jesus Christ—His person, His power, and His plan—for the rest of history. This book of prophecy is written to give us confidence that the One who washed us from our sins in His own blood will someday conquer evil and establish His rule over all creation:

The three major movements in the unveiling of Christ are previewed in 1:19: what you saw (1), what is (2- 3), and what will be after these things (4-22)

I. Live for Christ, because He is coming again to triumph over all who oppose Him.

1. What you saw (1): Promising a blessing to all who read this book (1:13), the first chapter portrays God concluding with a theophany (visible manifestation of God that overwhelms John. The glory of the omnipotent and omniscient Christ assures the reader that He will subjugate all things under His authority.

2. What is (2-3): Real messages to seven of the churches close to John’s heart warn and guide all churches until the Second Advent to remain faithful to Jesus Christ. All churches and Christians who have an ear to hear “better hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (3:22).

3. And what will be after these things (4:1-22:5): John is caught up into heaven where he is given a vision of the divine majesty and the future plans of God.

   1. Father and Son are on the throne and are worshiped by the host of heaven because of who they are and what they have done—creation and redemption. Christ is declared worthy to open the seven seals of the book of judgment (4-5).

4. Prophecies of the Great Tribulation (6:1-19:6).

   1. 1. Three cycles of seven judgments—seals, trumpets and bowls—are sent from heaven to earth, where the Antichrist persecutes Christ’s people, though 144,000 are sealed for ministry in His name and a great multitude believes in Him (6-16).

      2. The great religio-political system (Babylon) rebelling against Christ and parallel to some version of a revived Roman empire falls (17-19:6).

      3. Christ is about to return to earth. The marriage feast of the Lamb is a rich time of fellowship with His bride, the church, and all before the throne erupt in praise to God. Jesus Christ returns as King of Kings and vindicates His righteousness and all who have been persecuted for His name (19:7-21).

   2. Prophecies of the Millennium (20:1-15). Satan is bound and saints reign for 1,000 years. Satan is released. Incredibly, there is a huge rebellion of those born during the Millennium against King Jesus. Satan is finally judged and tormented forever. All who have rebelled against the grace of God throughout the ages are judged at the Great White Throne Judgment.

   3. Prophecies of the Eternal State (21:2-22:5). The heavens and earth are recreated, the New Jerusalem descends, and the New Jerusalem is described. As it was in the Garden, so it is again. His people are in the special place He prepared for them so that He can dwell among them and love them.

5. Epilogue (22:6-21): Revelation concludes with the reassurance that Christ is coming quickly and a warm invitation to all to “take of the water of life free of charge” (22:17). Then, there is a stern warning not to add to the words of the book.

II. REVELATION AND YOU: There’s so much to argue about when it comes to Revelation and prophecy. But here are three truths we all need to hear:

1. The primary purpose of Revelation is to encourage Christians to remain faithful during hard times, knowing that Jesus is going to win.

2. Jesus gave us a roadmap of history. It may not be crystal clear to us now, but I believe that the generation of Christ-followers living through the dark days of chapters 6-19 will have no trouble connecting the prophecies from heaven with events on earth.

3. The warm invitation is the church’s ministry and the words every man, woman, boy and girl need to hear and respond to. Do you want the water of life? It’s free of charge. Trust in Jesus!

Study Notes Ed Underwood

I now feel compelled instead to write to encourage you to contend earnestly for the faith.

(Jude 3)

The nine General Epistles point to the person and work of the resurrected Christ. They encourage Christians to cling to Him and exhort them to serve Him faithfully because He is the only source of life. Written primarily to persecuted Jewish Christians, the truths apply to every believer from every culture and in every age of church history.

Judas, or Jude, was the half-brother of Jesus Christ (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3), and the full-brother of James (Jude 1; Acts 15:13). Jesus’ brothers rejected His claims to be the Messiah during His life on earth (John 7:5), but they believed in Him after His resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:7). They were among the believers who gathered in the Upper Room awaiting the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:14), and they were traveling ministers of the Gospel in the early church (1 Corinthians 9:5).

Due to the similarities between Jude and 2 Peter, it seems best that Jude wrote his epistle to a predominantly Jewish church sometime after 2 Peter (A.D. 64-66). Both epistles deal with the danger of apostasy (departure from the faith). Peter prophetically warns against the future rise of false teachers (2 Peter 2:1-2; 3:3) whereas Jude documents the historical fulfillment of Peter’s warnings (Jude 4, 11-12, 17-18). This means that Jude wrote his letter sometime between A.D 66-80.

Much like James, Jude’s letter seems to be an “epistolary sermon,” a sermon he preached that he then sent in the form of an epistle. “One thought characterizes this epistle: beware of the apostates.” (Edward C. Pentecost, “Jude,” The Bible Knowledge Commentary: New Testament, p. 918) Though historically it occurs before the emergence of fully developed Gnosticism, incipient forms of that heresy seem to be involved. “Here, in an undeveloped form, are all the main characteristics which went to make up later Gnosticism—emphasis on knowledge which was emancipated from the claims of morality; arrogance toward ‘unenlightened’ church leaders; interest in angelology; divisiveness and lasciviousness.” (Michael Green, The Second Epistle General of Peter and the General Epistle of Jude, p. 39)

Apostasy means to depart from “the faith”—the teachings of Christ and the Apostles. It involves a denial or even a repudiation of a major truth of biblical Christianity. I believe it is a matter of obedience to Christ’s teaching rather than salvation. Both Christians and non-Christians can become apostate. It isn’t a changing of your status before God—redeemed or unredeemed, but a change in your conviction concerning the truth of God—accepting or rejecting.

The Book of Jude warns us of the very real possibility that not only must we remain faithful to the faith, but we must also fight for “the faith”—the teachings of Christ and the Apostles:

Like his brother James, Jude used powerful descriptive and cutting terms to describe those who compromise or pervert the truth concerning his half-brother Jesus, the Son of God, Messiah of Israel and Savior of the World.

I. Take care to remain faithful to the faith.

A. Purpose: Jude addresses believers to warn them against false teachers who undermine the grace of God by teaching licentiousness and who deny Christ. He implores his readers to contend earnestly for the faith (1-4).

B. Warning: Jude alerts his readers to the dangers of false teaching by illustrating past failures of those who strayed from God’s truth and by exposing the error of those who were teaching error (5-16).

1. Three examples of divine judgment on apostates from the Pentateuch illustrate the danger of apostasy: certain Israelites, certain angels, and certain pagans (5-7).

Jude: Contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints!

2. Threetragicmistakesapostatesmakeexposetheidiocyoftheirteaching(8-16).

1. They overestimate the importance of what they think they know. They are so sure of their “new truth” that they defile their lives, reject God’s authority, and even insult angels (8-9).

2. They,alongwiththegullible,underestimatetheseriousnessoftheirerror.LikeCain,Balaam, and Korah from the Old Testament, they spout foolish and powerless theories, are dangerous to everyone, and invite judgment (10-13).

3. They, along with the gullible, ignore the consequences of their error. Jesus is coming to judge all wrong, even and especially the wrongs of apostates because their weird but impressive teachings enchant people (14-16).

C. Exhortation: Remember the warning of the apostles that these apostates would show up, motivated only by their ungodly desires. Build yourselves up in the faith through prayer in the Spirit, receiving love from the Father, and looking forward to the mercy of the Son. Have mercy on those who waver due to the impact of these false teachers (17-23).

D. Benediction Praising Christ (24-25).

II. JUDE AND YOU: The slipperiest slippery slope in the universe—the path to apostasy. Keep in mind that an apostate is anyone who denies the truth of “the faith”—the teaching of Christ and the Apostles. This progression of the apostate in v. 4 comes from the notes of Tom Constable, “Jude,” pp. 3-4.

1. Ungodliness—the conscious decision to refuse to submit to God’s authority. This stems from a lack of reverence for God as the One who deserves obedience because He loves us.

2. License—now that these people have decided not to submit to God’s authority, their lives become boundary-less when it comes to sin. Their conduct becomes more and more outside the lines of morality and justice. Extremely sinful, hopeless, and hurtful lifestyles are often the result.

3. Intellectual Rationalization—finally, these people will justify their ridiculously sinful lifestyle with intellectual, religious, and philosophical theories that “prove” they are right and God is wrong. This is always based upon a denial of God’s Word and the conclusion that what God says is “right” is “wrong,” and what God says is “wrong” is “right.”

If you do not live what you believe, you will end up believing what you live.

Jude 4’s perspective on heresy and heretics:

Though heretical teachings are usually defended only on intellectual grounds, Jude 4 tells us that it often begins with rebellion against God that leads to an immoral life that must be justified.

Jude 4’s warning against the slippery slope:

In your own life, or someone you love, do you see evidences of the slipperiest slippery slope of rebellion- licentiousness-apostasy?

Study Notes Ed Underwood

(3 John 4)

The nine General Epistles point to the person and work of the resurrected Christ. They encourage Christians to cling to Him and exhort them to serve Him faithfully because He is the only source of life. Written primarily to persecuted Jewish Christians, the truths apply to every believer from every culture and in every age of church history.

John was with the apostles who were in Jerusalem (Acts 8:14), and Paul calls him one of the pillars of the church (Galatians 2:9). And then, for decades he’s not mentioned. Early Christian tradition tells us he left Jerusalem just before its destruction in A.D. 70 and headquartered in and around Ephesus. In his later years he wrote the Gospel of John and three epistles, probably as he was serving in Ephesus.

I believe Demetrius, a missionary John was commending to the churches under his influence, carried all three letters. John’s first letter was written to a group of churches in danger of following false teachers. His second letter is addressed to one of those churches (elect lady) and its members (her children) who are actually aiding and encouraging these false teachers. His third letter is to Gaius, a faithful leader of one of those churches.

Frustrated with a self-serving leader by the name of Diotrephes who resisted John’s instructions to support Demetrius and his team, John addresses faithful Gaius. His immediate purpose is to encourage Gaius and to make hospitality provisions for Demetrius. In just a few paragraphs John exposes the pride of Diotrephes by affirming the love of Gaius.

“This epistle presents one of the most vivid glimpses in the New Testament of a church in the first century.” (Charles C. Ryrie, The Third Epistle of John,” in The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 1483) Third John is the most personal of all the letters in the New Testament, but its message is timeless and applies to every believer and every church: Brotherly love is the product of abiding in the truth.

The messages of 2 John and 3 John portray the relationship between love and truth. Truth and love cannot be separated, and pride and love cannot coexist:

The word “beloved” (NKJV) or “dear friend” (NET) introduces each of three sections in the body of Third John.

I. Christian love that abides in the truth is selfless, hospitable, and generous (3 John).

1. John is writing a personal letter to Gaius, whom he loves in truth (truly and according to the teachings of Christ and the apostles, 1). Gaius is either a disciple of John or a man in this church well known to John who has influence in the church Diotrephes is bullying (see below).

2. In order to encourage Gaius to receive his emissary, Demetrius, John affirms Gaius’s selfless and hospitable behavior and condemns the self-serving and ambitious behavior of Diotrephes—Gaius upholds the truth with love (2-12).

   1. Dear friend(2-4):John commends Gaius’s walk in the truth by praying a blessing.

a. John expresses the wish that Gaius may do as well physically as he is spiritually (2). b. John rejoices over his spiritual well being: Gaius is a man who lives out the truth (3-4).

3 John: True love is demonstrated in hospitality and giving!

1. Dear friend (5-10): John contrasts Gaius’s loving display of the truth to Diotrephes’s selfish desire for preeminence in the church.

   1. The proof that Gaius walks in the truth is his love for the brethren demonstrated in his hospitality and generous support for Christian workers sent by John from Ephesus, even those he had never met (5-8).

   2. The proof that Diotrephes only desires power is his refusal to receive John or his coworkers, his foolish and senseless verbal attacks on John, and his bullying of all that oppose him, even to the point of putting them out of the church (9-10).

2. Dear friend (11-12): John exhorts Gaius to do the good work expected of a child of God— receive and support Demetrius.

   1. Don’t follow Diotrephes’ evil ways, but continue in your good ways—sure proof that you, not Diotrephes are following God (of God=behavior expected from a child of God in John’s epistles, seen God is to be in His light, 1 John 3:6-10; 4:1-4; 6-7. There is nothing in this letter that causes us to conclude that Diotrephes either is or is not regenerate. Carnal leaders and unbelieving wolves preying on the flock display the same behaviors. 11).

   2. Receive and support Demetrius because of the good report I send (12).

C. Farewell (13-15): This letter is brief but necessary; I’m coming soon!

II. 3 JOHN AND YOU: Truth or Power? The difference is real and observable!

1. Power-broking “love” is conditional and self-serving. It is extended only to those who give them preeminence, can never be trusted, and should be resisted by all!

   1. How to identify a “Diotrephes” in the local church:

      1. They want to be “in charge.” Desiring preeminence is exactly the opposite of the Lord’s example (Philippians 2:7) and teaching (Mark 10:44) and usurps His rightful place in a local church (Colossians 1:18).

      2. They never stop talking about whatever and whoever upsets them. With unbelievable energy, they “prattle on” with malicious words and foolishly nonsensical arguments.

      3. They will actually try to throw those who disagree out of the church if they get the chance!

   2. How to relate to a “Diotrephes” in the local church:

      The leaders should confront them; the people should ignore them, and nobody should underestimate them!

2. Truth-abiding love is unconditional and selfless. It is extended to workers of the truth through hospitality and generous support, can be trusted, and should be honored by all.

1. How to identify a “Gaius” in the local church: a. They want to lead, but they do not have to have their way. b. They are known for their hospitality and generosity, especially for Christian workers.

2. How to relate to a “Gaius” in the local church: Honor them and follow them!

Study Notes Ed Underwood

2 John True Love

The message of 2 John—love is based on truth—is a timeless reminder to every Christian and every church. Truth and love cannot be separated:

The nine General Epistles point to the person and work of the resurrected Christ. They encourage Christians to cling to Him and exhort them to serve Him faithfully because He is the only source of life. Written primarily to persecuted Jewish Christians, the truths apply to every believer from every culture and in every age of church history.

John was with the apostles who were in Jerusalem (Acts 8:14), and Paul calls him one of the pillars of the church (Galatians 2:9). And then, for decades he’s not mentioned. Early Christian tradition tells us he left Jerusalem just before its destruction in A.D. 70 and headquartered in and around Ephesus. In his later years he wrote the Gospel of John and three epistles, probably as he was serving in Ephesus.

John’s first epistle was written to a group of churches in danger of following false teachers. His second letter is addressed to one of those churches (elect lady) and its members (her children) who are actually aiding and encouraging these false teachers.

Wrongly concluding that Christian love demands a tolerance of heresy, these believers were in danger of losing all that they had worked for on earth (disciplemaking ministry) and some of what they hoped for in heaven (eternal rewards).

John wastes no words as he makes his point in this letter sent hastily with First John to warn them, “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine (the teachings of Christ and the Apostles), do not receive him into your house nor greet him” (v 10).

The epistle easily divides into the relationship of truth and love in personal relationships (1-6), and in church relationships (7-13).

I. Abiding in Christ’s truth is critical to maintaining Christian love. A. John exhorts the church to love one another by walking in the truth they originally heard.

1. This church (elect lady, the chosen assembling in a local church) of maturing disciples (have come to know the truth, 1 John 2:3-4) should listen to the elder (Apostle John) because he loves them in truth (emphasis of truth, 6X in 3 verses, 1-3).

2. John pleads with them to love one another by abiding in the truth(4-6).

1. John was delighted to discover that members of this church were walking in the truth (note the emphasis on disciplemaking, not just conversion in John’s ministry, 4).

2. In spite of the good report or maybe because of the good report, John now implores them to love one another by living according to the truth they heard from the beginning (apostolic teachings, 5-6).

2 John: Abide in the truth if you want to love well!

B. John exhorts the church to love one another by resisting false teachers who deceive Christians. 1. John instructs them to love one another by resisting error(4-6).

a. The reason (for) they should love one another in truth is because false teachers have gone out to deceive Christians and oppose Christ’s work (deceivers and antichrists, 7).

b. Warning: False teaching in the church severely damages a disciplemaking ministry (all that we worked for) and could lead to a loss of reward (full reward threatened) for all who have served Christ in a local church (we occurs 3X, 8).

c. Identification: Anyone who goes beyond or turns aside from apostolic doctrine (doctrine of Christ) does not have God, is not abiding in His love and truth (9).

d. Instructions: Do not help (receive him into your house, hospitality) or encourage (greeting that is a type of rejoicing) this person in any way (10). In fact, you are either resisting them or joining them (11).

2. This matter is so pressing that John had to write this brief letter, but they can count on a personal letter soon and the love of their sister church from which John is writing (elect lady, the chosen assembling in a local church, 12-13).

II. 2 JOHN AND YOU: What we believe will determine the quality of our love. If we want to love others with the love of Christ, we need to abide in the truth and abide in Him.

1. We love others best by living according to the truth as the Spirit teaches it! 1. True love can not be separated from God’s truth (2John6). 2. The best gift of love I can give is the objective truth of God’s Word (Ephesians4:15). 3. The impact of my love is maximized by my obedience to God’s Word (walk in truth, lifestyle).

2. We love others best by protecting them against false teaching!

   1. True love cannot be separated from God’s truth (2John6).

   2. Heresy always hurts those we love and the ministries we love.

   3. Tolerating false teachers in the name of love foolishly risks the spiritual health of those we love.

   4. Supporting or encouraging false teachers in the name of love is aiding and abetting Christ’s enemies!

   5. When false teachers “come for a visit” to your home, your family, your disciples, or your church, the most loving action is to slam the door in their face!

Study Notes Ed Underwood

The nine General Epistles point to the person and work of the resurrected Christ. They encourage Christians to cling to Him and exhort them to serve Him faithfully because He is the only source of life. Written primarily to persecuted Jewish Christians, the truths apply to every believer from every culture and in every age of church history.

John was with the apostles who were in Jerusalem (Acts 8:14), and Paul calls him one of the pillars of the church (Galatians 2:9). And then, for decades he’s not mentioned. Early Christian tradition tells us he left Jerusalem just before its destruction in A.D. 70 and headquartered in and around Ephesus. In his later years he wrote the Gospel of John and three epistles, probably as he was serving in Ephesus.

False teachers were confusing the churches John oversaw by saying that Christ only seemed to have a human body. Not only were they denying the Incarnation, but they were claiming to have secret knowledge about God that made them a kind of spiritual elite. Some of the most talented brethren left these fledgling churches to form new communities that denied the reality of Christ’s humanity (4:2) and taught an “advanced” spirituality that promised to take its initiates beyond sin (1:8).

John responds as a father protecting his “little children.” What they must know is that these new teachings are not only wrong, but they will steal the greatest joy any believer will ever know—the joy of life in the family of God.

The theme of First John is fellowship—that experience of intimacy with Christ and His people only available to those who belong to Him and only experienced by those who walk in His light and love. The passion of John is, “don’t lose it by listening to these lying teachers.”

Both the Gospel of John and 1 John address the subject of eternal life. John wrote his Gospel so that people “may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have eternal life” (John 20:31) He wrote his First Epistle so that Christians “may have fellowship” with the apostles, with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3).

I. John refutes the errors of those who deny the humanity of Christ and warns his readers against losing something far more valuable than any “insider knowledge” the false teachers were offering—the joy of fellowship with Jesus Christ.

1. Prologue—call to fellowship (1:4): John declares his purpose that he wants them to experience the joy of fellowship with Jesus.

2. Preamble—live in fellowship with God (1:5-2:11): Fellowship with God is made possible by the blood of Christ, but believers must walk honestly and openly in His light and love.

   1. WalkinGod’slightbystayingonthepathofholinessbybeinghonestaboutyoursin(1:5-22).

   2. KnowtheGodoflightbyfollowingChristandlovingHispeople(2:3-11).

3. Body—live with the confidence of fellowship with God (2:12-4:19): Fellowship with God gives believers confidence.

1. Fellowship with God reassures us that we have the spiritual assets to resist the world and the antichrists (2:12-27).

1 John: Don’t lose the joy of fellowship!

2. Fellowship with God empowers us to display Christ’s character so that we will be confident at His Coming (2:28-4:19). Confident, or abiding Christians display Christ’s righteousness and love for one another, and display the Spirit’s truth and love.

1. Application—don’t lie about being in fellowship with God (4:20-5:17): Only those believers who love one another from the new nature (even the prodigal!) are living in fellowship with God.

2. Epilogue—the certainties of fellowship (5:18-21): Those believers who live in fellowship with God experience victory over sin and joy in this wicked world.

II. 1 JOHN AND YOU: This epistle was written to encourage every Christian to pursue deeper intimacy with God. The greater our intimacy with God, the more we will experience the full potential of eternal life. Every Christian possesses eternal life (John 20:31; 1 John 5:11-13, but not every believer is living the abundant experience of eternal life God meant for us to enjoy (John 10:10; 1 John 1:3).

Don’t miss the joy of fellowship!

Fellowship with God is the essence of eternal life, and eternal life it not just for heaven. Friendship with the Son of God can be yours on earth if you know His truth as the Spirit teaches it, live a pure life as His Spirit cleanses it, and love His people as He has loved you!

If you are a Christian, First John says you can live the best life on earth, a life that is absolutely unique and satisfying in this world—a life lived in intimate friendship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

If you are still thinking about what you will miss if you live in fellowship with Christ—a life guided by His truth, demonstrating His righteousness, and loving His people—you need to know that you will not miss any of it because the joy of fellowship eclipses every “happiness” this world has to offer.

The choice is yours. It’s your way or His way. And His way is an experience of eternal life you will be talking about in heaven forever...what a way to live!

1. If you want intimacy with God, then you must live in His light. Every believer receives the “light” of eternal life. We view the world differently (2:20) and we can know how we ought to live (2:27). But we have a responsibility to walk in that light by knowing God’s will and obeying His will (1:7) and to honestly admit when we’re not in the light (1:4).

2. If you want intimacy with God, then you must love with His love. Every believer receives the “love” of God. God is love, and we receive His life. We have the capacity and even the inner yearning to love with His love. But we have a responsibility to walk in that love (3:11ff) by loving one another, loving Him more than this world, and obeying Him (5:1-4).

Study Notes Ed Underwood

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18).

The nine General Epistles point to the person and work of the resurrected Christ. They encourage Christians to cling to Him and exhort them to serve Him faithfully because He is the only source of life. Written primarily to persecuted Jewish Christians, the truths apply to every believer from every culture and in every age of church history.

Though Peter’s letters are grouped with the General Epistles, they are primarily to the mostly Gentile churches of Asia Minor (1 Peter 1:1). His first letter encourages these fledgling churches to stand firm in grace in the face of suffering (1 Peter 5:12). The second letter admonishes them to grow in grace in the face of false teaching (2 Peter 3:18). Here is a rough comparison of the two:

1 Peter “suffering” 16X

External Opposition Suffering from Persecution Need for Submission to Christ Comfort to the Hurting Hope in the Lord’s Return

2 Peter “knowledge” 16X

Internal Opposition Heresy from Apostasy Need for Knowledge of Christ Caution to the Vulnerable Confidence in the Lord’s Return

Second Peter deals with the proper response to erroneous teaching within the church: Know the truth and use your power to apply the truth to your life.

I. Peter exhorts Christians to fulfill their responsibilities as recipients of grace by accessing the power of God and claiming the promises of God so that they will realize their potential and maintain purity.

1. Diligently appropriate your resources in Christ—true knowledge of Jesus Christ (1). Because of your great and precious promises in Christ, move forward in your faith to be more like Him. Hold fast to the truth of the inspired Scriptures.

2. Resist false teachers who undermine the confidence of believers and entice them into error and sin (2). Peter exposes the motives and dangers of these self-absorbed and arrogant false teachers.

3. Diligently appropriate your resource in Christ—the promises of God in prophecy (3). In spite of mockers who say that Jesus will not return, the day of he Lord will surely come and God will make all things right.

II. 2 PETER AND YOU: If you’re a Christian you have received all the grace you will ever need to live for Christ. With this grace comes the responsibility to use that grace to glorify Him. We are responsible to use God’s power and to claim His promises. Here are four steps toward living out the full potential of our new life in Christ Jesus:

A. Know Your Grace Resources. The more you know Christ, the more you will realize how rich you are in His grace. “I can pray this because his divine power has bestowed on us everything necessary for life and godliness through the rich knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and excellence. Through these things he has bestowed on us his precious and most magnificent promises, so that by means of what was promised you may become partakers of the divine nature, after escaping the worldly corruption that is produced by evil desire” (2 Peter 1:3).

B. Know Your Grace Responsibilities. Since we have the power of God and the Word of God, we should diligently pursue disciplines that equip us to grow in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith excellence [moral excellence], to excellence, knowledge; to knowledge, self-control; to self-control, perseverance; to perseverance, godliness; to godliness, brotherly affection; to brotherly affection, unselfish love. For if these things are really yours and are continually increasing, they will keep you from becoming ineffective and unproductive in your pursuit of knowing our Lord Jesus Christ more intimately. But concerning the one who lacks such things—he is blind. That is to say, he is nearsighted, since he has forgotten about the cleansing of his past sins. Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to be sure of your calling and election. For by doing this you will never stumble into sin. For thus an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be richly provided for you.” (2 Peter 1:5-11)

C.

Know How to Identify a False Teacher. Second Peter 2 gives us five identifying characteristics of a false teacher:

1. They deny the sufficiency of Christ. “These false teachers will infiltrate your midst with destructive heresies, even to the point of denying the Master who bought them. As a result, they will bring swift destruction on themselves” (2 Peter 2:1).

2. Theirsinfullifestyle.“Andmanywillfollowtheirdebauchedlifestyles”(2Peter2:2).

3. Their greed and self-absorbed lifestyle. “And in their greed they will exploit you with deceptive

   words” (2 Peter 2:3).

4. They brazenly speak of demons as if a fallen angel is subject to their personal power. “Brazen and insolent, they are not afraid to insult the glorious ones, yet even angels, who are much more powerful, do not bring a slanderous judgment against them before the Lord. But these men, like irrational animals—creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed—do not understand whom they are insulting, and consequently in their destruction they will be destroyed” (2 Peter 2:11-12).

5. They entice immature believers by offering them a freedom that isn’t freedom at all, but a return to the slavery of sin. “Although these false teachers promise such people freedom, they themselves are enslaved to immorality. For whatever a person succumbs to, to that he is enslaved” (2 Peter 2:11).

D. Know your Bible, especially prophecy. “Above all, you do well if you recognize this: No prophecy of scripture ever comes about by the prophet’ s own imagination, for no prophecy was ever borne of human impulse; rather, men carried along by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” (2 Peter 1:20-21).Above all, understand this: In the last days blatant scoffers will come, being propelled by their own evil urges and saying, ‘Where is his promised return? For ever since our ancestors died, all things have continued as they were from the beginning of creation.’ For they deliberately suppress this fact. (2 Peter 3:3-5)

Study Notes Ed Underwood

Experiencing Grace in the Midst of Suffering

“I have written to you briefly, in order to encourage you, and testify that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.” (1 Peter 5:12, NET Bible)

The news of Paul’s death and the raw threat of persecution and suffering forces the young church and its even younger shepherds and flocks to ask the questions every follower of Christ will ask:

If God is good, then how could He allow this to happen to us? I thought He loved us! If Christ is building His church, then why is this so hard? I thought we were the world’ s only hope! Someone needed to step in with the answers to those faith-shattering questions. Someone needed to bring God’s message to these stumbling fellowships. Someone needed to teach these immature shepherds and their flocks how to access grace in the midst of suffering. Someone did. The Apostle Peter writes from his own experience. Our study of Mark traced Peter’s personal struggle with the Lord’s hard message: Those who follow the Suffering Servant must be prepared to suffer and serve in His name.

The lessons Peter learned along the way are the lessons he teaches in this letter to the church. Lessons that take followers of Christ beyond the anticipation of suffering to the expectation of power and grace in the midst of suffering. Lessons to carry you through your darkest days. Lessons to show you how the light of God’s grace in Christ Jesus will penetrate your darkest days and fill you with a joy only those who continue to follow will ever know:

First Peter is a field manual for warriors serving their King in a hostile land.

I. Peter encourages Christians to persevere during hard times by reminding us of who we are and exhorting us to live as if it’s true.

A. The Apostle Peter wrote this letter from Rome to Christians scattered throughout Asia Minor, living as aliens in a hostile land under a hostile king.

1. In the same way Peter referred to Mark symbolically as “my son,” he referred to the Roman church as “she who is in Babylon” (5:13). Peter chose the term “Babylon” to emphasize the evil of the Roman Empire without explicitly referring to it in ways that put the church at risk. This also emphasizes the “alien” dynamic recalling Israel’s exile to Babylon where they lived as aliens in a hostile land.

2. Peter is specifically writing to the geographical areas in Asia Minor where Paul’s ministry barely penetrated (Acts 16:6-7). These congregations were mixed, Jewish-Gentile. His heavy use of the Old Testament and referral to “elect strangers of the dispersion” (1:1) identifies the Jewish believers. His reference to them as a people who “once were no people, but now you are a people of God” (2:10), and the exhortation not to live any longer as “Gentiles” (4:4) identifies the Gentile believers.

3. It seems Peter used Sylvanus as the editor and courier of this letter (5:12). Sylvanus, a traveling companion of Paul would have been familiar to the Gentile readers and more acquainted with Paul’s writings. Peter, of course, was known as a pillar of the church.

Grace is never more powerful than when life hurts the most!

1. The Apostle Peter wrote this letter to encourage these congregations in the faith in the face of growing persecution and to affirm the teachings of Paul.

   1. Paul’sdeathleftthemvulnerabletothosewhoopposedPaul’sradicalmessageofgrace.

   2. Paul’s death left them discouraged and doubting God’s goodness and power in the face of suffering.

2. Outline: Peter reminds us of who we are in Christ and then tells us to live our lives as if it’s true— even during hard times.

   1. Introduction:ThisisalettertoGod’select,livingasscatteredaliensinahostilelandundera hostile king (1:1-2).

   2. BlessGodwhosemercyhasrecreatedusinChrist(1:3-2:10).

      1. We have a precious salvation which gives us hope and joy was predicted by the prophets and desired by the angels (1:3-12).

      2. Our precious salvation compels us to a holy life as our Father’s obedient children who love Him and His children (1:13-25).

      3. We have become a chosen priesthood who crave His word and offer genuine worship because we are God’s new spiritual house built upon the precious stone the builders rejected and His new nation to the praise of His glory (2:1-10).

   3. LiveforGodbyhonoringHiminyourrelationshipwiththisworldandoneanother(2:11-5:11).

      1. Live for God in the world by abstaining from sin and living good lives before non-Christians, respecting everyone (including authorities) selflessly (2:11-3:12), suffering well by remembering God is good, following Christ’s example, hoping in heaven (3:13-4:6), and by clinging to one another to face the hard times together (4:7-11).

      2. Live for God in the church by remembering that the time to serve one another is short (4:7- 11), knowing that it is a privilege to suffer for Christ (4:12-19), and persevering in spite of suffering (5:1-11).

3. Conclusion: This is a letter encouraging you to stand firm in God’s grace from your friends in the church at Rome.

II. 1 PETER AND YOU The question isn’t, “Will I suffer for Christ?” The question is, “Will I know how to access His grace when I suffer for Christ?”

1. The Cornerstone of our faith is a Person—Jesus Christ. Intimacy with Him will make every difference during hard times.

2. He is the Cornerstone of a community of faith—the church. Intimacy with His people will make every difference during hard times.

3. It’s one thing to say suffering for Christ is a privilege, it’s quite another to believe it. How can your community of faith help you believe that glorifying the Cornerstone of our faith is worth the pain?

4. Remember that Peter learned his lessons on suffering for Christ the hard way—through failure, guilt, and shame.