ramsey creek baptist church

Peter uses his teaching about false teachers and the second coming as a springboard for further instructions on how to live properly. So his goal remains consistent – tell Christians how to live properly for the glory of Jesus Christ. "Take care" - Christians need to be intentionally watchful about what and who they listen to, because it can have serious effects in their lives. We’ve been told to be diligent to be found at peace, but peace and stability can never come from twisting the Scriptures. If you aren’t growing in the grace & knowledge of Jesus Christ, you’ll be unstable. to persevere as a Christian, we must guard ourselves from spiritual error and grow in the grace and knowledge of Him. As often as you consider His patience and grace toward you, give Him glory.

Peter uses his teaching about false teachers and the second coming as a springboard for further instructions on how to live properly. So his goal remains consistent – tell Christians how to live properly for the glory of Jesus Christ. "Take care" - Christians need to be intentionally watchful about what and who they listen to, because it can have serious effects in their lives. We’ve been told to be diligent to be found at peace, but peace and stability can never come from twisting the Scriptures. If you aren’t growing in the grace & knowledge of Jesus Christ, you’ll be unstable. to persevere as a Christian, we must guard ourselves from spiritual error and grow in the grace and knowledge of Him. As often as you consider His patience and grace toward you, give Him glory.

“Since you are looking forward to this” - Peter expects that Christians eagerly anticipate Christ’s immanent return. We won't worry or be disappointed on that day, because God's good and sovereign will will be done. Whether He judges or whether He has mercy, God remains good and sovereign because it is His nature. "Be diligent" doesn't mean "Work really hard for God to love you". Any diligence in the Christian life is motivated and fueled by Christ’s righteousness. Similarly, the only way to truly be found “at peace” on the day of the Lord is to trust and rest now in the already finished atoning work of Christ. Romans 2:3-5 shows that Peter and Paul agree – the kindness and patience of God are meant to lead people to repentance. Christian - as you recognize the kindness and patience of the Lord more and more in your life, you will be more and more motivated to live lives of active holiness while you wait.

“Since you are looking forward to this” - Peter expects that Christians eagerly anticipate Christ’s immanent return. We won't worry or be disappointed on that day, because God's good and sovereign will will be done. Whether He judges or whether He has mercy, God remains good and sovereign because it is His nature. "Be diligent" doesn't mean "Work really hard for God to love you". Any diligence in the Christian life is motivated and fueled by Christ’s righteousness. Similarly, the only way to truly be found “at peace” on the day of the Lord is to trust and rest now in the already finished atoning work of Christ. Romans 2:3-5 shows that Peter and Paul agree – the kindness and patience of God are meant to lead people to repentance. Christian - as you recognize the kindness and patience of the Lord more and more in your life, you will be more and more motivated to live lives of active holiness while you wait.

In His divine patience, God’s mercy and love are on full display, and the offer of the Gospel goes out to all, and all who respond by faith will be saved (whosoever believes). The day of the Lord is coming quickly, so it matters how you live now. ESV Study Bible note – “The second coming should be motivation to live a holy life.” Because it will happen when you least expect it, spend your time living properly in eager expectation of Christ’s coming.

In His divine patience, God’s mercy and love are on full display, and the offer of the Gospel goes out to all, and all who respond by faith will be saved (whosoever believes). The day of the Lord is coming quickly, so it matters how you live now. ESV Study Bible note – “The second coming should be motivation to live a holy life.” Because it will happen when you least expect it, spend your time living properly in eager expectation of Christ’s coming.

To the Lord, a thousand years is but a day because He experiences time very differently than we do. Peter points out the differences in our experience of time compared to God’s & says, "Remember God’s promise-keeping abilities." God’s promises are not like man’s promises because God is not bound by time the way that human beings are. Therefore, God’s promises cannot be viewed through the lens of human time. Why has God has waited so long for the second coming? Peter’s answer – to showcase God’s patience and mercy. It may seem like we’re having to wait for a really long time, but from God’s perspective, it’s just a nanosecond in eternity. But don’t mistake His patience for indifference – the end will come with fire [v.7], and the destruction of the ungodly is sure. God’s patience and mercy continue to extend to everything & everyone in creation until those whom He is calling respond in faith, at which point Christ will return.

To the Lord, a thousand years is but a day because He experiences time very differently than we do. Peter points out the differences in our experience of time compared to God’s & says, "Remember God’s promise-keeping abilities." God’s promises are not like man’s promises because God is not bound by time the way that human beings are. Therefore, God’s promises cannot be viewed through the lens of human time. Why has God has waited so long for the second coming? Peter’s answer – to showcase God’s patience and mercy. It may seem like we’re having to wait for a really long time, but from God’s perspective, it’s just a nanosecond in eternity. But don’t mistake His patience for indifference – the end will come with fire [v.7], and the destruction of the ungodly is sure. God’s patience and mercy continue to extend to everything & everyone in creation until those whom He is calling respond in faith, at which point Christ will return.

Peter has been warning Christians of false teachers, assuring Christians of two big things: 1. The Scriptures are not the ideas and feelings of men, but the words of God. 2. People will try to twist those Scriptures to serve themselves & drag others with them. Peter’s saying that he wants to remind Christians of this truth: Jesus is coming back. False teachers and scoffers claim that nothing has changed, so Peter offers three examples of God intervening in world history: 1. God’s authorship in creation. 2. God’s judgment in the worldwide flood. 3. God’s coming judgment on the ungodly. The scoffers ask, “Where is the promise?” It’s found in Jesus. It IS Jesus. If Jesus is who He said He is, and if He’s done what He’s said He’s done, then you can know for certain that He'll do what He said He’ll do.

Peter has been warning Christians of false teachers, assuring Christians of two big things: 1. The Scriptures are not the ideas and feelings of men, but the words of God. 2. People will try to twist those Scriptures to serve themselves & drag others with them. Peter’s saying that he wants to remind Christians of this truth: Jesus is coming back. False teachers and scoffers claim that nothing has changed, so Peter offers three examples of God intervening in world history: 1. God’s authorship in creation. 2. God’s judgment in the worldwide flood. 3. God’s coming judgment on the ungodly. The scoffers ask, “Where is the promise?” It’s found in Jesus. It IS Jesus. If Jesus is who He said He is, and if He’s done what He’s said He’s done, then you can know for certain that He'll do what He said He’ll do.

The prosperity gospel is based on the lie that you can get everything you want in this world by following God and having enough faith. Can you imagine a martyr’s response to this teaching?! A False teacher's allure isn’t actual truth, but what might be gained by exploiting the truth. They advertise freedom, but deliver further bondage. True freedom isn’t found in the stuff Jesus can give us, but in Jesus Himself. Freedom in Christ is really at the heart of the Gospel message, but it’s not a call to give free reign to the “passions of the flesh”. [v.18] In the end of [v.20-22] Peter says that to know the truth and to be changed by the truth is to endure. If you have heard the truth of the Gospel, the expectation is true belief, true repentance, and enduring till the end. A Christian’s nature has been fundamentally changed by Jesus, and He will finish what He’s started.

The prosperity gospel is based on the lie that you can get everything you want in this world by following God and having enough faith. Can you imagine a martyr’s response to this teaching?! A False teacher's allure isn’t actual truth, but what might be gained by exploiting the truth. They advertise freedom, but deliver further bondage. True freedom isn’t found in the stuff Jesus can give us, but in Jesus Himself. Freedom in Christ is really at the heart of the Gospel message, but it’s not a call to give free reign to the “passions of the flesh”. [v.18] In the end of [v.20-22] Peter says that to know the truth and to be changed by the truth is to endure. If you have heard the truth of the Gospel, the expectation is true belief, true repentance, and enduring till the end. A Christian’s nature has been fundamentally changed by Jesus, and He will finish what He’s started.

The Bible teaches that there is objective truth to believe in & hold on to (John 17:17, Psalm 119:160). Scripture is the truth for everyone and it all points to Jesus. False doctrine leads people into all sorts of wrong beliefs. Lifestyle flows from the truth you believe. "Wages" are what you earn from your actions. Applied to what Peter is saying, no one will be able to stand before God when they die and claim unfairness. Because of Christ, when the Father looks at a redeemed sinner (a Christian) He sees His Son, without spot or blemish. Peter uses the example of Balaam and his talking donnkey to illustrate that it’s madness to live as if God and truth don’t exist. What you believe about God directs your life. God’s Word is sufficient to direct every area of your life.

The Bible teaches that there is objective truth to believe in & hold on to (John 17:17, Psalm 119:160). Scripture is the truth for everyone and it all points to Jesus. False doctrine leads people into all sorts of wrong beliefs. Lifestyle flows from the truth you believe. "Wages" are what you earn from your actions. Applied to what Peter is saying, no one will be able to stand before God when they die and claim unfairness. Because of Christ, when the Father looks at a redeemed sinner (a Christian) He sees His Son, without spot or blemish. Peter uses the example of Balaam and his talking donnkey to illustrate that it’s madness to live as if God and truth don’t exist. What you believe about God directs your life. God’s Word is sufficient to direct every area of your life.

Guest speaker John David preaches through 2 Timothy 4:1-8, explaining how to spot false teachers and real truth in the process.

The words of Scripture are not the mere words of men, they are the words of God. And they matter, truth matters - doctrine matters. Christians are called to love people, but not by compromising truth. Christians are also called to unity in the body, but not by compromising truth. Without the truth of Scripture, love and unity are hollow goals that do not accomplish what God intends. Sound doctrine actually unites the church under the authority of God. The church needs under-shepherds who will not lull the people of God toward laziness (like the leaders in Jeremiah's day - Jer. 23), but who stir the, up toward godliness and action. Peter uses three OT examples of what happens when lies are believed instead of truth, and reminds us of the Rescuer who has come to seek and to save the lost.

The words of Scripture are not the mere words of men, they are the words of God. And they matter, truth matters - doctrine matters. Christians are called to love people, but not by compromising truth. Christians are also called to unity in the body, but not by compromising truth. Without the truth of Scripture, love and unity are hollow goals that do not accomplish what God intends. Sound doctrine actually unites the church under the authority of God. The church needs under-shepherds who will not lull the people of God toward laziness (like the leaders in Jeremiah's day - Jer. 23), but who stir the, up toward godliness and action. Peter uses three OT examples of what happens when lies are believed instead of truth, and reminds us of the Rescuer who has come to seek and to save the lost.

Peter says the truth he and other biblilcal authors have given weren’t cleverly designed fables, legends, or untrue stories – it was truth. When Moses saw the glory of God from the cleft of the rock in Exodus 33 & 34, it was reflected in his appearance for a while. The glory revealed through his face was a reflection of the majesty and glory of God. But when Peter saw Jesus transfigured, the glory shining from Jesus wasn’t being reflected – it was glory bursting from within. What Peter & James & John heard and saw on that mountain confirmed what the prophets had been saying all along. If we say we love God and believe His Word, then we can’t believe and live as though that Word means whatever we want. We don’t need to twist Scripture to be happy. Real joy, real peace, real freedom comes from hearing and believing what God says plainly in His Word and letting it shape our lives.

Peter says the truth he and other biblilcal authors have given weren’t cleverly designed fables, legends, or untrue stories – it was truth. When Moses saw the glory of God from the cleft of the rock in Exodus 33 & 34, it was reflected in his appearance for a while. The glory revealed through his face was a reflection of the majesty and glory of God. But when Peter saw Jesus transfigured, the glory shining from Jesus wasn’t being reflected – it was glory bursting from within. What Peter & James & John heard and saw on that mountain confirmed what the prophets had been saying all along. If we say we love God and believe His Word, then we can’t believe and live as though that Word means whatever we want. We don’t need to twist Scripture to be happy. Real joy, real peace, real freedom comes from hearing and believing what God says plainly in His Word and letting it shape our lives.

Through Peter's letters, God has been showing us what it looks like to live by the power of the Spirit as partakers of the divine nature. There are real, demonstratable ways to know if you are in Christ or not, and Peter has explaining them to us all along. Romans 8:29 says that God predestined all the elect to be conformed to the image of Christ. The reassuring evidence of your calling & election is increasing in Christlikeness. If these qualities are in you and increasing, Peter says: - you will not be fruitless (v. 8) - you will not fall away (v. 10) - you will enter the eternal kingdom of Christ (v. 11) Peter's "dying wish" (so to speak) is that he wants Christians to remember the qualities of a person changed by the grace of God. But remember that your pursuit of them doesn’t earn your salvation, it proves it. The Word of God warns us against being lazy in our faith and drifting away from Jesus Christ as our only hope. Strive against the current that tells you to be lazy. Resist the temptation to not put real, consistent effort into your walk with Christ. Be reminded of the forgiveness of God through Christ, and of God’s call to Christlikeness. Seek out brothers and sisters who are swimming in the right direction and ask if they will help you learn to keep pace.