Awakened by Reminders
2Peter 1:12-15
Subject: Spiritual Growth
Theme: submit to Bible instructions to
continue growth in Christian character.
Introduction:
Peter transitions from a focus on the work of God in
believers’ lives (1:3-11) to the Word of God as the mechanism for character
cultivation (1:16-21). He starts with
his personal yearning for believers to retain all God has communicated through
him (1:12-15). Peter knew his days were numbered; therefore, he urged these
believers to hold on tight to the precious truth. In fact, he uses the word “remembrance” (1:12, 13, 15) three times to signify
this most vital need.
He was not being critical, nor did he suggest they
were wavering in their faith. His
purpose was preventive and not corrective. He wanted them to stay that way.
Currently a major problem in many churches is not that believers do not know
what God expects of them, but they either forget (2 Peter 1:9) or are unwilling
to live out the truth they have.
Continuation in and adherence to God’s Word is absolutely essential to our
spiritual progress (2Pet. 1:12-21). The Bible is the God provided instrument
for nurturing continuous Christ-like living.
So how do we help believers learn the Bible and then practice what they
know? How do we impress believers with
what is actually essential to spiritual growth? (Based
on W. W. Wiersbe)
Message:
I.
Peter Repeatedly Emphasized the Need to Develop
Christian Character (2Pet. 1:12-18).
As he
considered the present and eternal implications of spiritual growth, Peter
determined to keep on reminding believers of the importance of developing
Christian character. Even if we already knew this, we needed to be constantly
reminded. But why was Peter so adamant about this?
A. To Awaken Believers from Spiritual Slumber (2Pet. 1:13-15).
Peter not only had good
intentions, but he believed it his duty to stir… up the saints through
frequent reminders for the rest of his
life (1:13). The phrase “stir you up”
means “to wake up, to awaken, to arouse.” Peter desired to do a thorough job of
arousing their minds and render them active. This same word is used to describe
a storm on the Sea of Galilee! (John 6:18) Peter knew that our minds have a
tendency to get accustomed to truth and then to take it for granted. We forget
what we ought to remember, and we remember what we ought to forget! But, Peter purposed to do this by reminding
them of the things which they had been taught. He would arouse their minds to
action by reminding them of the truth they had learned from the Word of God. (Based
on W. W. Wiersbe)
1. By Means of
Personal Reminders (1:13-14).
i. Notice His
Method (1:13). Peter said, “Yea, I
think it meet,” that is he personally felt the fitness of keeping them
from spiritual drowsiness as he approached the close of his life (1:13).
a. What was it that Peter wanted to accomplish?
The answer is found in the word that is repeated in 2 Peter 1:12–13 and 15—remembrance. Peter wanted to impress his readers’
minds with the Word of God so that they would never forget it! “I think it
meet... to stir you up by putting you in remembrance” (2 Peter 1:13). –Wiersbe,
Warren
b. And so do we. Even though we are “established in the present truth” (1:12), there
is always the danger of a preoccupied moment or a forgetful hour. So the truth
must be constantly repeated. Even when
believers are grounded, there is need for motivation and exhortation (Rom. 15:14-15).
c. Peter was a preacher with a passion for stirring
believers out of their spiritual slumber and awakening them to the truths of
God’s word and the related responsibilities.
I personally need someone in the pulpit, who is burning hot for Jesus
Christ, filled with the love of God, and who takes the Bible and “stir me up!”
ii. Notice His
Motive (1:14). Life is short. The “Lord
Jesus Christ” 1:14) had already revealed to Peter the fact
that he would die and the manner in which he would die (John 21:18, 19).
Many years had elapsed since then. The aging apostle knew that in the normal
course of events, his death was near. This knowledge gave added impetus to his
determination to care for the spiritual welfare of God’s people during whatever
time remained. The fact is none of us have very long to serve the Lord because
time is running out.
a. Death is a putting “off this my tabernacle,”(1:14) a laying aside of
our earthly dwelling or putting off our physical body (1:14). Just as a
tent is a temporary dwelling for travelers, so the body is the structure in
which we dwell during our pilgrimage on earth. In death the tent is taken down.
At the Rapture, the body will be raised and changed. In its eternal, glorified
form the body is portrayed as a permanent dwelling—a building and a house (2
Cor. 5:1).
b. Both Peter and Paul used this expression when
referring to the body. Paul wrote, “For we know that if
our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God,
an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Cor. 5:1). A
tent is a pretty flimsy sort of thing, and if you don’t believe that your
little tent is flimsy, you step out on one of these rainy days and allow
yourself to get soaking wet.
c. Paul also says, “We are
confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be
present with the Lord” (2 Cor. 5:8). That is the way both Peter and Paul
speak of death. This little tent we live in is put down into the grave. It goes
to sleep, but the soul never dies. And, of course, the soul is never raised
from the dead since it never dies. The word resurrection refers to the
body. In the Greek it is anastasis, which means “to stand up,” and
obviously that refers to the body.
d. Peter uses the word “decease” (1:15) and it is related to the
word exodus. It is the same word used to describe the death of Christ in
Luke 9:31. Death is not the cessation of being but the departure from one place
to another. Simon Peter knew that shortly he would move out of his body and
into God’s presence, he had spoken of the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ, and longed to be with Him there.
e. Therefore, we cannot afford to keep putting off
serving the Lord and touching other lives with His Word. Life is short, and we need to always be
preparing and serving others because we are running out of time. (Based on Dr. W. McDonald)
iii. Notice His
Manner (1:14). Peter is referring to what Jesus had told him
that morning when He had prepared breakfast for them on the shore of the Sea of
Galilee after His resurrection. He had said, “Verily,
verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and
walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch
forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou
wouldest not.” Then John comments, “This spake
he, signifying by what death he should glorify God …” (John 21:18–19).
a. This passage in 2 Peter has been one of the most
important sections in the entire Word of God.
It is his deathbed statement. When a man is on his deathbed, he is apt
to say something of importance. It is interesting that the Word of God attaches
some importance to deathbed statements. Let me illustrate this from the Old
Testament.
b. When Moses knew that he would not enter the Promised
Land but would die on Mount Nebo in the land of Moab, he gathered the twelve
tribes about him and blessed each of them before his death. It was a very
important discourse that he gave to them at that time. The Book of Deuteronomy is the message.
c. When Joshua was old and ready to depart from this
life, he also gathered the tribes of Israel together and delivered to them his
final charge. Then he challenged them to follow God and gave the testimony of
his own life: “… as for me and my house, we will serve
the Lord” (Josh. 24:15).
d. Then, in the New Testament when the Lord Jesus came
into Jerusalem for that last Passover, He made it very clear to His own in His
Upper Room Discourse that it was His last time with them—before He would die
and rise again in a glorified body. Oh, what tremendous truths He gave to them
on that last evening! (Based on Dr. W. McDonald)
e. The apostle Paul, as we have seen, gave his final
epitaph in 2 Timothy. Notice what he said: “For I am
now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought
a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth
there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous
judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also
that love his appearing” (2 Tim. 4:6–8).
f. Now Simon Peter says, “Knowing
that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle.” He knows that he has
come to the end of his earthly life. Tradition tells us that he was crucified
with his head down. Peter felt himself unworthy of dying in the same manner his
Lord died; so he died upside down.
2. By Means of
Permanent Reminders (1:15). Not only did the apostle determine personally to
remind the saints of the importance of spiritual progress, he also arranged to
leave a reminder behind
in permanent written form (1:15). Through his writings, believers are able to
remind themselves at any time.
i. He Gave Us
Scripture. Resultantly, Peter’s
Letters have shed light on the path of men and women encouraging them to
spiritual growth now for over nineteen centuries, and will continue doing so
till the dawn of the eternal age.
a. In addition, reliable ancient tradition says that the
Gospel of Mark is essentially the eyewitness account of the Apostle Peter.
b. The importance of written ministry is clear here. It
is the written word that lasts. Through the written word, a man’s ministry goes
on while his body is lying in the grave.
ii. He Gave Us a
Priority. These verses have special value to us because
they show what is important to a man of God who is living in the shadow of
death. Believers must frequently expose themselves to the Word of God;
participate in private and family devotions, the teaching, preaching, and Bible
study opportunities of the church, and good Christian literature as good
approaches to spiritual development.
B. To Impress Believers with the Need for Fundamental
Teachings (2Pet. 1:12, 15).
1. Notice His
Focus. “These things” occurs four times—verses 8, 9, 12 and 15.
i. On Growth
and Commitment (1:8). Failure to
persevere in the development of Christian character leads to barrenness,
unfruitfulness, blindness, shortsightedness, and forgetfulness (1:8-10). Saints must grow in grace, lest spiritual
senility set in. There are Christians today—and I am sure you have met some of
them—who are actually spiritually senile. They are shuffling around
without all of their faculties. When this happens we know we are failing to
grow. We must commit ourselves to growth.
ii. On Belief
and Behavior (1:12). “These things” relates to both Christian character and
fundamental teachings.
a. Peter connects beliefs with behavior, convictions to
conduct, and commitment to character.
b. Fundamental teachings provide the fuel for character
transformation. Think about the basic
teaching on the “blood of Christ” as the full payment for sin, the fact that
Jesus Christ is the “Son of God,” or the truth that the Bible is “inspired.”
All three truths provide confidence, cleansing, power, and grace for Christian
living!
iii. On Living
and Dying (1:15). “These things” refer
to the great, basic truths of the Christian faith, which still have enormous
value even when seen from the borders of the eternal world (1:15). Peter
didn’t need a new teaching as he was preparing to die, no, the same doctrines
that proved sufficient to live by are sufficient to die by! When we have proved
the value of the truth in life, it is easier to rest in those same truths when
facing death! Peter’s focus did not change, it was strengthened even while
facing death.
2. Notice His
Diligence. “Wherefore I will not
be negligent to put you always in remembrance.” (1:12) (See Eccl. 9:10; Rom. 12:11; 1Cor. 15:10; Col. 3:23)
i. To Provide
an Example. The importance and advantage of progress and
perseverance in grace and holiness made the apostle to be very diligent in
doing the work of a minister of Christ, that he might thereby excite and assist
them to be diligent in the duty of Christians. If ministers be negligent in
their work, it can hardly be expected that the people will be diligent in
theirs; therefore Peter will not be negligent (that is, at no time or
place, in no part of his work, to no part of his charge), but will be
exemplarily and universally diligent, and that in the work of a remembrancer.
This is the office of the best ministers…. From Matthew Henry
ii. To
Provide the Word. Peter was diligent to complete Letters
(Scripture) to provide ongoing written testimony of the truths so close to his
heart.
iii. To
Provide Preachers.
a. Clearly his own life and ministry was
extended into the lives of others, as Silas (1Pet. 5:12) and Mark, who would
carry on his work after he died. And certainly Peter wanted to be sure that the
Lord’s people would not forget God’s work and God’s Word.
b. When David was about to die, he called Solomon to him.
David said to Solomon, “I go the way of all the earth.” (What a picture that is
of death! I don’t know who you are or where you are, but I can tell you the
road on which you are traveling. You are going the way of all the earth, and
that is to the cemetery. I realize that this doesn’t sound very good, but all
of us are on that route.) Then David charged Solomon with the responsibility of
building the temple of God, and he exhorted all Israel to help him, for “…
Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the
work is great: for the palace is not for man, but for the Lord God” (1 Chron. 29:1).
c. Through their preaching and teaching, the Apostles and
New Testament prophets laid the foundation of the church (Eph. 2:20) and we in
later generations are building on that foundation. However, the men were not
the foundation; Jesus Christ is the Foundation (1 Cor. 3:11). He is also the
chief Cornerstone that ties the building together (Eph. 2:20). If the church is
to last, it cannot be built on mere men. It must be built on the Son of God.
–The Bible Exposition Commentary
3. Notice His
Emphasis.
i. Peter constantly calls attention to Jesus
Christ and the Word of God. I too want to be a Jesus
preacher and a Word of God preacher!
ii. In fact, it is challenging to distinguish
between the written Word (the Bible) and the incarnate Word (Christ) in Peter
emphasis throughout the remainder of the chapter. They are both major avenues
of God’s revelation (Ps. 19:7-11; John 1:18; Heb. 1:2)
and therefore both come into focus throughout the remainder of this chapter.
Conclusion:
The preacher
and teacher should be an intense student of the Word, bringing to the church
fresh, new truth with the dew of heaven upon it. But there is a place for the
repetition of the old truths which the saints know well. Much of it has not yet
been put into practice, and the fact that it is repeated gives the Holy Spirit
an opportunity to make it experiential in the life of the believer.
Submit to
Bible instructions to continue growth in Christian character.
