2 Peter 1:12-15

2 Peter 1:12-15

Reminder

I. Jesus is all we need to know, but we must remember, to continue to grow; so we must be reminded of the gospel today (v. 12)

a. “Therefore”, calls our attention back to the things which Peter just described in verses 3-11. He calls us to remember the reality of the truth of the faith we’ve received through salvation in Christ; granted by the same divine power of God that raised Christ from the dead, and which restored the spiritual life in us which God intended in our creation, but which was lost in our sin. He calls us to remember God’s divine power, which gave us everything we need, to grow to know Jesus more deeply and personally and grow into His image as we supply diligent effort to build on who we are in Him, grow to know Him even more fully, and grow in assurance of our salvation. Peter clearly says that not only do his readers know these things, but that they have literally been “strengthened” in the truth of Christ which is present within them. But just knowing something is no guarantee we’ll apply it. He’s already called us to supply diligence to build on the foundation of faith in Christ which we already have. In order to be continually “strengthened” and maturing in the gospel truth, on which our lives must be built, we must be reminded continually, because we’re forgetful creatures. The reason we don’t display constant and continual growth in Christ in every situation and circumstance of our lives, is because we constantly forget the reality of who He is and who we are in Him, and get led astray, even subtly, by false truth from within or without. God reminds us to remember the amazing grace and truth of the gospel today, that we would praise Him and worship Him, which is our spiritual service of worship in Christ. To the degree in which we “remember” who God is and what He’s done for us through the gospel, our lives will increasingly reflect His character. (v. 12; Exod. 20:8-11; Deut. 5:12-15; 16:3; Ps. 126:1-3; Luke 22:19-20, 32; Rom. 12:1-2; 1 Cor. 15:1; Col. 1:5-6; 2 Tim. 2:8, 14; Jude 3)

II. Jesus is all we need to know, but we must remember, to continue to grow; so we must be stirred up to serve the Lord because time is short (Vv. 13-14)

a. Peter wanted his readers and us to remember who God is, what He’s done for us through the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the necessity and blessing of diligently seeking to grow in Him. But we must also remember the sense of urgency the gospel necessitates. Peter knew his end was imminent, but he knew that his physical body and earthly life was only temporary, and that he will be “laying it aside” for better garments. In light of the brevity, but great importance of this life, and the amazing truth of who we are in Christ, Peter feels compelled that it’s only right to “stir you up” to remember and act on the gospel. Peter knows our days are also numbered. We must ask God to teach us to number our days, so they’ll have the maximum value for the One who gave them to us. Peter thought the truth of the gospel to be an urgent and important message that couldn’t wait, be overlooked, or certainly not forgotten. If you belong to Christ, you’d likely consent to the same truth, but if we don’t live out the gospel urgently in our daily lives, why should we expect someone who doesn’t know Christ to take Him seriously based on what they see in us? In light of the amazing reality of the gospel, and the temporary and unpredictable nature of our earthly lives, we must remember the gospel daily, that it might continually guide us in truth and away from falsehood, and seek to live it out with a sense of urgency into the world around us. (Vv. 13-14; Ps. 90:9-12; John 21:18-19; Eph. 5:15-16; 1 Cor. 15:54-58; 2 Cor. 4:16-18; 5:1-10; 6:1-2; Jas. 4:13-17)

III. Jesus is all we need to know, but we must remember, to continue to grow; so we must be continually reminded of the gospel every day to come (v. 15)

a. Peter is concerned about today and our urgent zeal of the gospel, but Peter is also concerned about tomorrow and every day to come. As he reemphasizes his impending death, he also doubles down on his diligent and intense effort to provide what’s necessary for his readers and us, “to hold these things continually in remembrance”. Peter is speaking in future tense, and referring to the rest of his letter. What he’s saying is that, he wants what he’s already told us and what we’re about to learn, to be readily accessible in our hearts and minds, so that it can be recalled and put into practice, after he’s gone, and every day after that. He wants them and us to be constantly exhorted that we have all we need in Christ for life and godliness, and that we have every reminder from him necessary to urge us on to live our lives with a gospel consciousness in everything, so that we won’t be led astray by false teaching, and so we’ll make the most of our lives for Christ, as we grow continually in Him. (v. 15; Ps. 126:5-6; Luke 9:23-25; Heb. 3:13)