#bibleteaching #2Peter #ChapterOne #Series #Virtue #Glory #history #christianity #christian #God #doctrine #ChartridgeMissionChurch #chesham #PastorKennethClaassen #MarlowBaptistChurch #thefriendliestfellowship #LearningTheBibleTogether
Pastor Kenneth Claassen once again shares his astounding grasp of Scripture from the pulpit of Chartridge Mission Church. In this video, Pastor Kenneth Claassen opens our new Bible study series with chapter one of 2 Peter. Kenneth Claassen is the Pastor of Marlow Baptist Church and is a much in-demand international preacher from South Africa. He is known for his no-nonsense verse-by-verse exposition, with a strong emphasis on context and the spiritual growth of Christians, and is truly gifted as one of the very best Bible teachers alive today.
Pastor Kenneth Claassen YouTube Playlist:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeLtfVhcCUFuGVKXk-wrUvdNSnXf1OCVS&si=zl7DxKtln2fvfMm5
Chartridge Mission Church, a beacon of faith, was founded in 1844 and remains in the village of Chartridge, just outside Chesham, in the picturesque Chiltern Hills of Buckinghamshire, England, UK.
We are a warm and welcoming fellowship and would be delighted to have you visit us in person. Join us for our Sunday service at 6 pm, followed by refreshments.
Our Church is fully accessible, with wheelchair ramps and an accessible toilet, ensuring everyone can participate in our services.
Chartridge Mission Church, Chapel Lane, Chartridge, Chesham, Buckinghamshire, HP5 2TH
The village Church with an international audience.
Support our work at Chartridge Mission Church:
Donations via Stewardship.org.uk:
https://www.stewardship.org.uk/partners/20005300
Cheques can be made payable to Chartridge Mission Church and sent to the above address for the attention of Pastor Barry Kempson.
Recorded on Sunday, 11th January 2026.
Join us for our Sunday service at 6 pm.
www.Chartridge.UK
The Friendliest Fellowship.
Pastor Kenneth Claassen once again shares his astounding grasp of Scripture from the pulpit of Chartridge Mission Church. In this video, Pastor Kenneth Claassen opens our new Bible study series with chapter one of 2 Peter. Kenneth Claassen is the Pastor of Marlow Baptist Church and is a much in-demand international preacher from South Africa. He is known for his no-nonsense verse-by-verse exposition, with a strong emphasis on context and the spiritual growth of Christians, and is truly gifted as one of the very best Bible teachers alive today.
Pastor Kenneth Claassen YouTube Playlist:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeLtfVhcCUFuGVKXk-wrUvdNSnXf1OCVS&si=zl7DxKtln2fvfMm5
Chartridge Mission Church, a beacon of faith, was founded in 1844 and remains in the village of Chartridge, just outside Chesham, in the picturesque Chiltern Hills of Buckinghamshire, England, UK.
We are a warm and welcoming fellowship and would be delighted to have you visit us in person. Join us for our Sunday service at 6 pm, followed by refreshments.
Our Church is fully accessible, with wheelchair ramps and an accessible toilet, ensuring everyone can participate in our services.
Chartridge Mission Church, Chapel Lane, Chartridge, Chesham, Buckinghamshire, HP5 2TH
The village Church with an international audience.
Support our work at Chartridge Mission Church:
Donations via Stewardship.org.uk:
https://www.stewardship.org.uk/partners/20005300
Cheques can be made payable to Chartridge Mission Church and sent to the above address for the attention of Pastor Barry Kempson.
Recorded on Sunday, 11th January 2026.
Join us for our Sunday service at 6 pm.
www.Chartridge.UK
The Friendliest Fellowship.
Category
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LearningTranscript
00:00This is my story, this is my song, praising my Saviour all the day long.
00:11This is my story, this is my song, praising my Saviour all the day long.
00:22This evening we start a new book and preaching series on the book of 2 Peter.
00:31And this evening I'll be speaking on 2 Peter chapter 1, a very important chapter, and especially a very important epistle.
00:39So I invite you to turn with me to 2 Peter chapter 1, and we're just going to read from verse 1.
00:45Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ to them that have obtained like precious faith with us to the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.
00:57Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
01:04According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness,
01:10and through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue,
01:17whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises,
01:21that by these ye might be partakers of His divine nature,
01:25having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
01:30And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge,
01:35and to knowledge temperance, and to temperance patience, and to patience godliness,
01:39and to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness charity.
01:45For if these things be in you and abound, they make you that you shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
01:56But he that lacketh these things is blind and cannot see afar off,
02:00and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
02:05Wherefore, the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure.
02:10For if you do these things, you shall never fall.
02:15For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
02:24Wherefore, I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things,
02:30though you know them, and be established in the present truth.
02:34Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle,
02:38to stir you up by putting you in remembrance,
02:41knowing that shortly I must put off my tabernacle,
02:45even as our Lord Jesus Christ has showed me.
02:48Moreover, I will endeavour that ye may be able, after my decease,
02:53to have these things always in remembrance.
02:57We have not followed cunningly devised fables,
03:00when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,
03:05but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
03:07For he received from God the Father honour and glory,
03:12when there came such a voice to him from excellent glory.
03:15This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
03:20And this voice which came from heaven,
03:22we heard when we were with him in the Holy Mount.
03:26We have also a more sure word of prophecy,
03:29whereunto he do well, that ye take heed,
03:32as unto a light that shineth in a dark place,
03:35until the day dawn and the day star arise in your hearts,
03:39knowing this first,
03:41that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation.
03:46For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man,
03:50but holy men of God spake,
03:53as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
03:58Now firstly, as we approach this chapter,
04:02there are a few things that we need to lay as a foundation,
04:04before we just approach this chapter,
04:07because it's very, very important.
04:09Firstly, we have to just go back to how we do interpret,
04:13as we look at this chapter.
04:16The golden rule of interpretation is always the same when we look at Scripture.
04:19We have to ask, firstly, who is writing?
04:23Secondly, to whom are they writing?
04:26Then we ask, when was it written?
04:29And then we say, what is the content?
04:31What is being said?
04:32So, who is writing?
04:34To whom are they writing?
04:36When was it written?
04:38And what is the content of what is being said?
04:42Within that framework, we also have to ask very pertinent questions.
04:46Most of the Bible, if not, let's say, the New Testament,
04:49most of the New Testament is written to believers when we deal with the epistles.
04:54So, most of the epistles are written to believers.
04:56What is the content of that when writing to believers?
04:59You don't write to believers in the sense of speaking to unbelievers.
05:04You don't write to believers and you say,
05:06well, you must believe the gospel to be saved,
05:08because they're already saved.
05:11So, we have to ask the question,
05:13is Peter here, when he's writing and speaking of the things he's speaking about,
05:17is he speaking about justification, which is to be saved?
05:21No, he can't, because he's writing to believers.
05:23So, much of what Peter is saying in this chapter
05:26is not dealing with justification, which is your initial salvation,
05:30but he's dealing with sanctification, which is your Christian walk,
05:33and your walk as a believer.
05:36If those two things are confused, we're in big trouble,
05:38because what happens is,
05:40sometimes the writer will say something that is relating to sanctification,
05:44you'll think, no, no, we're going to put that in justification,
05:46and then what happens is you start feeling that the writer, of course, which is God,
05:51is then casting doubt on your salvation,
05:53because of the terminology of encouragement.
05:57So, what are we dealing with?
05:58We're not dealing with justification,
05:59we're dealing with sanctification,
06:01which is the walk of the believer.
06:03That is the encouragement that Peter is giving to those he's writing to.
06:07And the final part, of course, of salvation is glorification,
06:11which Peter was anticipating in leaving this tabernacle.
06:14So, you've got justification, which is initial salvation.
06:17This is what you must do to be saved.
06:19Now that you are saved,
06:21sanctification is your Christian walk,
06:24and you are moving toward glorification,
06:26which is your ultimate salvation,
06:28when you are in the presence of the Lord.
06:30Now, we might think, oh, that's a bit complicated.
06:32Well, if we don't apply that properly,
06:33we will be in big trouble with this passage.
06:35It's a very difficult chapter.
06:37There are verses here that, if it's taken out of its context,
06:40can cause great problems and distress to the believer.
06:43And so, I'm sorry, I have to lay the foundation.
06:46Before you build the building, you have to build a proper foundation.
06:48We're not just going to throw things together and hope for the best,
06:51because then we are not going to be faithful to the text,
06:53which is my responsibility tonight.
06:56And so, it's very clear, I believe, as you read this passage,
06:59that Peter is writing to believers,
07:01and he's talking about their walk.
07:05He's not casting doubt on if you're not going to be faithful.
07:08You'll see very clearly from the chapter.
07:10He's not saying that if you're not faithful,
07:11you're going to be cut off from God,
07:12and you're not going to make it.
07:14He's not saying that at all.
07:15He's saying you're going to be unfruitful,
07:17because he's dealing with your walk as a believer,
07:20which is important.
07:23So, firstly, as we look at the chapter,
07:24before we get into the specifics,
07:27now, in dealing with 1 Peter,
07:28I hope this may be, hopefully, was put in there.
07:31I haven't listened to what was said previously,
07:34but it's very clear in Peter's epistles
07:36that he's writing to believers, as I've said.
07:38But what type of believers?
07:40In the book of Galatians, chapter 2, verse 7,
07:44Peter speaks to Paul, and Paul speaks to Peter,
07:47and Peter acknowledges that Paul's ministry is to the Gentiles,
07:50and Peter's ministry is to the Jews.
07:52So, if I look at Peter, who's he writing to?
07:58It's very clear that he's writing to Jewish believers.
08:01He's not writing to non-Jewish churches.
08:03How do I know that?
08:05It's very clear from when you go to 1 Peter, chapter 1.
08:11If you look there,
08:12he speaks about strangers scattered.
08:16There's only one group of people that you speak about a diaspora.
08:20Not so?
08:21So, if you turn with me to Acts, chapter 11.
08:24Why is this important?
08:25It's very important in the content.
08:27So, it's important.
08:27Let's turn to Acts, chapter 11, verse 19 to 21.
08:31This is Acts, chapter 11, by the way.
08:33This is nine chapters after Pentecost.
08:36It's saying.
08:38And look what it says.
08:39Now, when they were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen.
08:45Who was that?
08:46Who was sort of scattered?
08:47It was the early believers, not so?
08:50Okay.
08:51So, when they were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen,
08:56traveled as far as Venice and Cyprus and Antioch,
08:59preaching the word to none but,
09:02it says, Jews only.
09:06Why are you only speaking to Jews?
09:10What happened in the previous chapter?
09:13In the previous chapter, God has to bring down a sheet.
09:18I read this with my son on,
09:22this is the last night, actually.
09:24The sheet comes down with clean and unclean animals.
09:27And the voice from heaven says to Peter, kill and eat.
09:29And Peter's like, I haven't touched anything that's unclean.
09:31And God says, don't call anything unclean that I've cleansed.
09:34And suddenly there's a knock on the door to go and speak to whom?
09:37A Gentile.
09:38What's that?
09:39So, the early church focused on Jewish people.
09:44But what's key here is the persecution that arose after Stephen.
09:47There was a diaspora.
09:48So, much of what Peter writes, he is writing to Jewish believers.
09:54Many of them could have come from Israel.
09:57But many of them had Jewish churches.
10:00Why?
10:00Because in the early part of the first century, do we think,
10:03I mean, it's quite a strange thing, and I chuckle about this,
10:06that what happens is, before we finish the verse,
10:13is that we think in the first century that people just had bacon butties outside
10:18and then would arrive in church together with Jews and was all fine.
10:21Do we think that was the picture?
10:22I'd love you to find that picture in the book of Acts,
10:25where Jew and Gentile in the first 15 chapters get together and have a wonderful time together.
10:29What do we think would have happened if a Gentile arrived at Pentecost to say,
10:35can I join the celebration?
10:37What would have happened?
10:38What happened when Paul was accused of bringing a Gentile into the temple area?
10:43What happened in Jerusalem?
10:44There was a riot.
10:44So I don't understand, from a Christian perspective,
10:49this thinking that the early part of the book of Acts
10:51was this wonderful togetherness between Jew and Gentile.
10:56No, it wasn't.
10:58So many of the disciples focused their ministry very specifically on Jewish believers,
11:03as Peter did.
11:04Peter acknowledged Paul's ministry, yes,
11:06but Peter's focus was on writing to those who were scattered.
11:11So if you read verse 20, just to finish the verse,
11:15and some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene,
11:17which when they came to Antioch, spoke unto Grecians,
11:22preaching the Lord Jesus.
11:24Now I would love a Bible teacher to say that Grecians are Gentiles.
11:28I would love that.
11:29A Grecian is a Greek-speaking Jew.
11:32That's what a Grecian is, not a Gentile.
11:37If they were Gentiles, they'd be called Greeks.
11:38If you're a Grecian, you speak Greek, but you are Jewish.
11:44On the day of Pentecost, people came from all over the world.
11:48They were Greek-speaking Jews who came to Pentecost.
11:52And verse 21,
11:53And the hand of the Lord was with them,
11:55and a great number believed and turned unto the Lord.
11:58Now, why is that important?
11:59Because who's Peter writing to?
12:01Peter's writing to Jewish believers.
12:03I'm not saying that Gentiles were not in those churches,
12:05but predominantly his writing, his audience, is a Jewish audience.
12:10Therefore, the content is very important of what he's saying.
12:18Because why is this important?
12:20Because it doesn't change the truth,
12:21but it gives insight to what's being said.
12:23Same as the Epistle of James.
12:24Martin Luther struggled.
12:25He couldn't cope.
12:27Martin Luther couldn't cope with the Epistle of James.
12:29Wanted it out of the Bible.
12:30And I would have just sat with him in his monk clothing and said to him,
12:34It's very simple, Martin.
12:36If you realize that James, in the first verse,
12:39says, I'm writing to the twelve tribes scattered abroad,
12:42you would understand the Epistle of James,
12:43and it wouldn't be that difficult for you.
12:45It doesn't take much.
12:46Just read it.
12:48But because he made the term Israel generic for all believers,
12:53of course you're going to be confused.
12:54And therefore, when we read Peter,
12:57we have to understand his very specific ministry.
13:03When you look at the content of Paul's Epistles,
13:05when he speaks to Gentiles,
13:06in comparison to how the general Epistles
13:08often speak to Jewish believers,
13:10it's similar, but it's slightly different
13:12in certain things that it emphasizes.
13:15Now, we all learn from the same truth, 100%.
13:17All of Scripture is given by inspiration of God, 100%.
13:19We all grow from it.
13:20But you can just see why certain things are being said.
13:23And it's an encouragement to us as well,
13:25because we are now, within this 2,000 years on,
13:28Gentiles were never seen as the sojourners
13:31in the first century, because they were the people.
13:35We are now sojourners, because as time has gone on,
13:39and the world has become a different place,
13:41we can take from this 100%,
13:43but I'm speaking about the initial intent,
13:45the initial group of people that's spoken to,
13:47which is important.
13:51And that's very important.
13:52Also, he's prepared to die soon.
13:56So you can see in the chapter,
13:57very similar to when Paul writes to Timothy,
14:01he's preparing to cast off his tabernacle.
14:03He knows his death is closed.
14:04So he's going to be very specific about what he says.
14:09There's going to be an urgency to what he's saying.
14:13And we have to read between the lines,
14:15because there's an urgency,
14:16and this is important.
14:17So let's look at the text.
14:19I want to look at verse 1 to 4.
14:20I've sort of broken it up a little bit for us to make it,
14:22because it needs to be bite-sized chunks.
14:24So verse 1 to 4, what we see is,
14:27Peter affirms and establishes important truth
14:31in these first four verses.
14:33So what he says here,
14:35is Simon Peter's servant,
14:37an apostle, apostle of Jesus Christ,
14:39to them that have obtained like precious faith with us.
14:42So you've obtained this precious faith,
14:45but how have you obtained it?
14:48How have you obtained this precious faith?
14:50And he says,
14:51through the righteousness of God and our Savior,
14:54Jesus Christ.
14:55That's always the key.
14:56It's so sound.
14:58That you receive your faith,
15:00and the preciousness of our faith,
15:03and the security of our faith,
15:05comes through the righteousness of God.
15:07Because God has said,
15:09the just shall live by faith.
15:11God has said,
15:13that Abraham believed God,
15:14and was counted for him for righteousness.
15:16So your faith is precious,
15:19because God has said,
15:21through your faith you are justified.
15:23Through your faith you are righteous,
15:24because he is righteous.
15:27And that's an important truth.
15:28Not because my faith is strong,
15:30not because I'm a good person,
15:32not because I've really worked hard,
15:33not because I've fasted for hours and hours,
15:35that my faith,
15:36this concept of your faith growing,
15:38in the sense of,
15:39oh, it becomes so strong.
15:41Jesus said,
15:42if you have faith like a mustard seed,
15:43you can move a mountain,
15:44because it's not the mustard seed,
15:46or your faith that moves the mountain,
15:47it's God that moves the mountain.
15:49Not so?
15:50It's the object of your faith,
15:52not the size of it.
15:55The object is the Lord Jesus Christ,
15:57and his righteousness establishes faith for us.
16:02And that's so important.
16:03And then he moves on in verse 3,
16:08because verse 2 is just part of the greeting.
16:09Let's look at verse 3.
16:10According as his divine power has given unto us
16:14all things that pertain unto life and godliness.
16:18If the church can just rest there and be done,
16:20we can just basically close this chapter tonight
16:23and go home,
16:23because we want just the church to live in that place.
16:26All we need to know is that he has given us
16:29all things that pertain to godliness and to life.
16:34Everything I need is in Christ.
16:36I don't need anything more.
16:38The greatest problem we have in the church today
16:40is people think they need more.
16:43I need more power.
16:45I need more knowledge.
16:46I need more this.
16:47I need more that.
16:48I need more righteousness.
16:51I need more...
16:51If only people were holy,
16:54then the world will change.
17:00Not so?
17:01If only people were willing to really work
17:04and be holy,
17:05then the world will change.
17:06No.
17:06What changes the world is not your holiness.
17:07What changes the world is the gospel.
17:11Because everything we need is in Christ.
17:14And as we focus on Christ,
17:16will we become more righteous?
17:17Yes.
17:17As you focus on Christ,
17:18will your holiness be more manifested?
17:21Yes.
17:21But your focus is on Christ.
17:22You can't manifest holiness yourself.
17:24That's been the greatest problem,
17:26I think,
17:26in this country for 300 years.
17:28Since Wesley's squad went out,
17:31what we're clamoring after
17:32is that people become holy.
17:34People cannot become holy
17:35unless they know Christ.
17:39What we want is them...
17:40We want them to abstain from things
17:42to produce holiness in them.
17:44What is this?
17:45This is pagan aesthetic thinking
17:47that is not of God.
17:50Jesus said,
17:50it's not what goes in you
17:52that makes you unrighteous,
17:53but what comes?
17:55Out.
17:57And therefore,
17:58if we go to the world
17:59saying that they need to deny themselves
18:01more of these things
18:01because that will produce holiness,
18:03then we are no better than the pagans.
18:06Because the pagans preach
18:06exactly the same thing.
18:08Your devotion
18:08means the divine will give you some gift.
18:11It's just crazy thinking.
18:14It's about Christ.
18:15Knowing Him more.
18:17Abiding in Him more.
18:20Resting in Him more.
18:22Produces things in us.
18:24So if we want people
18:26to live holy lives
18:27and righteous lives,
18:28we need to point them
18:29to the Savior.
18:30They need to abide in Christ.
18:32If someone is struggling
18:33with their walk with the Lord,
18:35if they're struggling with holiness,
18:36it's because they're not abiding in Christ.
18:38That's why.
18:40They've been consumed by the world.
18:42So it seems very noble
18:43and people can go down that path
18:45of trying to produce things in people,
18:48but it's not going to happen.
18:50It's not.
18:51Because everything we need
18:53is given to us
18:55and it says,
18:56it pertains to life and godliness
18:57through the knowledge of Him
18:59that has called us
19:01to glory and virtue.
19:04So He's given us all things.
19:06That's the beginning point.
19:07Everything you need is in Christ.
19:11I mean,
19:11Galatians chapter 2 verse 10
19:12says you are complete in Him.
19:15It's very interesting
19:15the word complete.
19:16I actually preached about it this morning.
19:18If you look at Galatians 2 verse 9,
19:19it says that in Him dwells
19:21the fullness of the Godhead bodily.
19:24Was Jesus ever not God?
19:25No, He was always God.
19:27The word fullness in Greek
19:29is the same as complete in verse 10.
19:32So as Jesus never ceased to be God,
19:34He was filled to the brim of God.
19:36He is God.
19:38So the next verse says,
19:39you and I are complete in Him.
19:41I am never lacking in Christ.
19:45I'm filled to the brim.
19:47Everything I need is there.
19:49What I just need to do now as a believer
19:50is draw from it.
19:53So Peter establishes
19:54these very important truths.
19:56Look at verse 4.
19:57Whereby is given unto us
19:58exceedingly great
19:59and precious promises
20:01that by these
20:03you might be partakers
20:04of the divine nature.
20:06So as you grow
20:07in those promises
20:08that God has given in Christ,
20:10so your character
20:12starts developing.
20:14Your character then
20:15becomes more
20:16like Christ.
20:17According to Romans 8
20:1929.
20:20Verse 28.
20:22All things work together
20:23for the good
20:23to those who love God.
20:24And then 29.
20:25So that we might be conformed
20:27to the image of His Son.
20:28So the more we focus on Christ,
20:30the more we draw from Him,
20:32the more our character
20:33gets molded and shaped.
20:34And that's what we need.
20:36And how do we know this?
20:38We know this today
20:39more than ever
20:40because what happens
20:41is you've got people
20:41that are great orators,
20:43but spiritually
20:44they're bankrupt.
20:46Just because a guy can preach
20:48doesn't make him
20:48a godly man.
20:52This is such an old thinking.
20:54The more that the preacher
20:55can shout and look like
20:56he's convicted
20:56and look like he's serious,
20:58oh, that's a godly man
20:59because look how he speaks.
21:05Dwight Moody was
21:06the wisest on that.
21:09Because they always,
21:11when Dwight Moody
21:11used to go around,
21:12they would bring
21:13this new,
21:14they would talk about
21:14oh, there's this new preacher
21:15and we'll see him preach.
21:17And Moody's like,
21:17I can preach well,
21:18but can I chat to his wife?
21:20Because that defines you.
21:22And so here,
21:25that divine nature
21:27is partaking of
21:28the godliness
21:29that Christ has
21:30and we then experience.
21:34And look,
21:35it says,
21:35having escaped
21:36the corruption
21:37that is in the world
21:38through lust.
21:39And the word they're having,
21:40so it's sort of like
21:41a past tense,
21:42not so?
21:42In Christ,
21:44we have escaped.
21:47So the Christian life is,
21:48I am separate from the world,
21:50I am holy initially,
21:52yes,
21:52but the problem is
21:53when I partake of the world,
21:54I get drawn back in.
21:56So if I forget the promises
21:58that Christ has given to me,
21:59if I don't abide in Christ,
22:01it's possible for me
22:02to get drawn back
22:03into the world.
22:06It doesn't mean
22:07I lose my salvation,
22:08no,
22:08but it just means
22:09that I then partake
22:10once again
22:11of this corruption.
22:12And don't think
22:13it only happens
22:14to certain people.
22:15Paul the Apostle
22:15speaks about it
22:16in Romans 7.
22:17The things I want to do
22:18I don't seem to do.
22:19The things I hate
22:19that I do.
22:21Who will deliver me
22:22from this body of sin?
22:23We will get drawn
22:24into the world at times.
22:29But the reality
22:29is that Christ
22:30has set us free
22:31from the world
22:32positionally in Him.
22:34Christ has given us
22:35everything we need.
22:36Now,
22:37that's what Peter's
22:37trying to say.
22:38Peter's saying,
22:38to us,
22:39draw from Him.
22:41Focus on Him.
22:42This is what He has established.
22:44So that's why
22:44in the first four verses
22:45as he starts
22:46this important epistle,
22:48he affirms
22:48and establishes
22:49very important truth.
22:52And we have to grow in that.
22:54But then from verse 5 to 12,
22:56what we have is
22:57that he encourages
22:58faithful living.
23:00And this is based
23:01on the foundation
23:02of verse 1 to 4.
23:03Now, this is my belief.
23:04Some people disagree
23:05and it's fine
23:06because you can really,
23:07if you want to
23:07disagree with me,
23:08it's fine.
23:09Then you can just
23:09see what happens
23:10because we can all
23:11take a risk there.
23:12But I don't believe
23:14from a church perspective,
23:16a Christian perspective,
23:17that we can produce
23:18godliness
23:18unless we teach
23:19sound doctrine.
23:20because sound doctrine
23:25is the foundation
23:26of the character of God.
23:28We grow in...
23:29So if you want people
23:30to love the Lord more,
23:31teach sound doctrine.
23:31If you want them
23:32to know Him more,
23:33teach sound doctrine.
23:34That's the starting point.
23:35That's the foundation.
23:37That doesn't mean
23:38that you become a lecturer
23:39or that we want to come to church
23:40and it's just cerebral.
23:41That's what I'm saying.
23:41I'm just saying
23:42in everything we do,
23:43every conversation we have,
23:44every scripture reading
23:45that's taken in church
23:47or things that are done,
23:48is it sound?
23:50Is it according
23:51to what God wants us
23:53to speak about?
23:54Because there are many verses
23:55in the Bible
23:55and people love
23:57looking at certain verses.
23:58If you take those verses
23:59out of context
23:59and you just throw them out there,
24:01it's not sound.
24:03And if it's not sound,
24:05it's not going to produce
24:05good fruit.
24:06What we want is sound doctrine,
24:08sound teaching.
24:10And that will encourage
24:12faithful living
24:13based upon...
24:14Peter's saying,
24:14look at all these things
24:15that Christ has done,
24:16what we have in Him.
24:18Now it must produce
24:19these things.
24:21But the starting point
24:22is not pushing people
24:23to produce.
24:24The starting point is,
24:25let me tell you
24:26the sound truth
24:27of who Christ is.
24:29And then from there
24:30you launch to produce
24:31good things.
24:32So he moves on
24:33to verse 5 and 7.
24:34He said,
24:34beside this giving
24:35all diligence.
24:36Diligence is a very important word.
24:39Diligence.
24:39It's an important aspect
24:41of the Christian walk
24:41and that's why
24:42sanctification is vital.
24:43We are not here tonight
24:44and this is the part,
24:45where people struggle
24:48because we are called
24:50to live holy,
24:51godly lives.
24:52That is important.
24:53We must give diligence
24:54to that.
24:56It's not a joke.
24:59Because to fulfill
25:00God's purpose
25:01it is for us
25:01to be serious
25:02about our walk
25:03in the Lord.
25:04And therefore
25:05he says,
25:05give diligence.
25:06Diligence is always,
25:07this is important.
25:08The same as in 2 Timothy 2.15,
25:10give diligence
25:11to rightly divide
25:12the word of truth.
25:14Understand the scriptures
25:14is serious.
25:16Living it out
25:17is serious.
25:18And so he says,
25:19beside this give all diligence,
25:21add to your faith
25:22virtue
25:22and to virtue
25:23knowledge
25:24and to knowledge
25:25temperance
25:25and to temperance
25:26patience
25:27and to patience
25:28godliness
25:28and to godliness
25:29brotherly kindness
25:30and to brotherly kindness
25:32charity.
25:36So believers
25:37must focus
25:38on manifesting
25:39godly character.
25:40And this is a self
25:41sort of
25:42self-reflection.
25:43If I'm not manifesting
25:44the fruits of the spirit
25:45if you go back
25:46to Galatians 5
25:46it's very similar.
25:47But if I don't manifest
25:49the fruits
25:49then there's something
25:50wrong in my walk
25:51with the Lord.
25:53And I've seen this
25:54over so many years.
25:55I mean I've
25:56I haven't been a Christian
25:57as long as
25:57some of you might be.
25:59I'm sort of moving
25:59into my
26:0025th year now.
26:03Now to you
26:03it might not be that long
26:05but it is more
26:05than half my life.
26:07And I've been in church
26:08and ministry
26:09and I know people
26:10I've spent time
26:11with people
26:11whether they're
26:12preachers or not
26:13and I've just spent
26:13time with every
26:15level of church
26:16things.
26:19And there's a
26:20massive lack
26:21of the fruits
26:21of the spirit.
26:25Just
26:25just lacking.
26:27And what I'm saying
26:28that is
26:28I love people
26:30because I do
26:30charitable things
26:31for them.
26:33It's like the charity
26:33shops.
26:34I'm not saying
26:34the charity shops
26:35I give stuff
26:35for the charity shop
26:36I'm such a wonderful
26:37person.
26:37No, the charity shop
26:38is a dumping ground
26:39for your stuff
26:40you don't need.
26:42And the church
26:43also gets consumed
26:44with activism
26:45of doing nice things
26:46because it makes
26:47us feel good.
26:47That's not the
26:48fruits of the spirit.
26:48The love
26:49that Galatians 5
26:51speaks about
26:52and even here
26:52the virtue
26:53and the faith
26:54and things that
26:54speak is what
26:55Christ manifested.
26:59Christ's love
26:59was both
27:00gracious
27:01but also
27:01willing
27:02to speak
27:03the truth.
27:04So love
27:04has got
27:05many facets
27:05so it's not
27:06just
27:06oh I'm doing
27:07nice things
27:07for people.
27:08It's nice
27:08to do good
27:09things for people
27:09it's not wrong
27:09but don't
27:10don't equate
27:11that to
27:12spiritual things
27:12because there
27:13are a lot
27:13of people
27:13that don't
27:14know the
27:14Lord
27:14who will
27:15do very
27:15nice things
27:15for people.
27:17We want
27:18to find out
27:18what does
27:19God mean
27:19when he speaks
27:20about joy?
27:20How do I
27:21live out
27:22and manifest
27:23joy?
27:24Because a lot
27:24of people
27:25they lack
27:26in joy
27:26we lack
27:27in love
27:27because we
27:29are not
27:29willing to
27:30have the
27:30awkward
27:30conversation
27:31with someone
27:32in love.
27:38So we're
27:39willing to
27:39criticize
27:40and gossip
27:40but we're
27:40not willing
27:41to have
27:41that awkward
27:41conversation.
27:44It's awkward.
27:45If I really
27:46love someone
27:47I have that
27:47conversation
27:48eyeball to
27:48eyeball.
27:50This is one
27:51example in
27:52church
27:52what people
27:52do.
27:55And then
27:55temperance
27:56as well.
27:57Temperance
27:58is not
27:58just
27:59oh I
28:00deny myself
28:01of things
28:02and I'm
28:02so spiritual.
28:03Temperance
28:03is that
28:04living for
28:05Christ
28:06is far
28:06more
28:07valuable
28:07than
28:08indulging
28:08in sin.
28:09As Charles
28:09Spurgeon
28:10said let
28:10us not
28:11indulge
28:11in the
28:11sins
28:11that Jesus
28:12died for.
28:14So all
28:14these things
28:15that he
28:15mentions
28:16here from
28:16five to
28:17seven
28:17is things
28:18that are
28:18manifested
28:19because our
28:19faith is
28:20sound.
28:21We know
28:21who Christ
28:22is.
28:22We've
28:22grown in
28:23him.
28:23We grow
28:24in him
28:24and we
28:25grow in
28:25those promises
28:26and the
28:26truths of
28:27scripture.
28:28And suddenly
28:28what happens
28:29character develops.
28:30And as I
28:30said in
28:31the church
28:31people can
28:32talk spiritual
28:33stuff.
28:33They can
28:33mean well.
28:34They can
28:34do all
28:35the things.
28:35But unless
28:36we are
28:36willing to
28:37serve Christ
28:37and serve
28:38God's people
28:39and humble
28:39ourselves
28:40according to
28:40Philippians 2
28:41we all have
28:42work to do
28:43when it comes
28:44to the
28:44fruits of the
28:45spirit toward
28:45our brothers
28:46and sisters
28:46in Christ.
28:48And for me
28:49it's always
28:49where the
28:49rubber hits
28:50the road
28:50because I
28:51preach.
28:51I can
28:51preach great
28:52sermons
28:52and be
28:53very far
28:53from the
28:54Lord.
28:55It's
28:55simple.
28:55It's really
28:56easy.
28:56If you
28:56preach long
28:57enough it's
28:57easy.
28:57So not
28:59because a
29:00guy can
29:00preach
29:00means
29:01absolutely
29:01nothing.
29:03It just
29:03means he
29:04can share
29:04a good
29:04homily.
29:06Ultimately
29:06for all
29:07of us
29:07it's
29:08am I
29:09manifesting
29:10the fruits
29:11of the
29:11spirit
29:11in my
29:12life?
29:13Am I
29:14growing?
29:15And
29:15therefore
29:16Peter
29:16encourages
29:17this.
29:18Let's
29:18look at
29:18verse 8.
29:19For if
29:20these things
29:20be in
29:21you and
29:22abound
29:22they make
29:23you that
29:24you shall
29:24neither be
29:25barren nor
29:26unfruitful in
29:27the knowledge
29:27of our
29:28Lord Jesus
29:28Christ.
29:29Interesting it
29:30talks about
29:30knowledge because
29:31it's epinosis.
29:32It's knowledge.
29:33It's a deeper
29:34knowledge.
29:34A deeper
29:34understanding.
29:35And what's
29:35interesting here
29:36in verse 8 is
29:37it speaks about
29:38barren and
29:39fruitful.
29:39Not talking about
29:40salvation issues
29:41here.
29:41It's not saying
29:42that if you're
29:43not showing
29:43these things
29:44in your
29:44faith that
29:45you are
29:46not saved.
29:47And I
29:47don't want to
29:47hear this because
29:48I hear this so
29:49often.
29:49I mean this to
29:50be not to
29:50be unkind.
29:51If I hear
29:51again you
29:52shall know
29:52them by
29:53their fruits.
29:55Have
29:55people read
29:56that verse?
29:56Have you read
29:57the verse in
29:57the context
29:57of what Jesus
29:58is talking
29:58about?
30:00He's talking
30:01about Pharisees
30:02and their
30:02teaching.
30:02He's not
30:03talking about
30:03believers.
30:06And people
30:06quote that like
30:07that's how you
30:09determine if
30:09someone's saved
30:10by their
30:11fruit.
30:11What fruit?
30:14Do we know
30:15exactly what
30:16fruit?
30:16I mean it's
30:16just insane.
30:17but the
30:19reality is
30:20that if
30:20we are
30:21not
30:21manifesting
30:22godliness
30:23in the
30:24way that
30:24we walk
30:25and live
30:25our lives
30:25what it
30:26shows is
30:26that we
30:26are being
30:27unfruitful
30:28and barren.
30:30And there
30:30are many
30:30believers who
30:31know the
30:31Lord Jesus
30:32Christ but
30:33they're not
30:33manifesting the
30:34fruits of the
30:34spirit.
30:35It's not
30:35part of
30:35their lives
30:36because they
30:37are too
30:37indulgent in
30:38the world.
30:38They've lost
30:39focus.
30:39I'm not
30:39talking about
30:40immoral things.
30:40Immoral things
30:41are a completely
30:41different discussion.
30:42I'm just
30:42talking about
30:43generally how
30:44people live
30:44that know
30:45the Lord
30:46and then
30:47what happens
30:48is you
30:48become
30:48unfruitful
30:49and barren
30:50and unfruitful
30:53for the
30:53Lord.
30:56Barren in
30:56the fact
30:57that you're
30:57not growing
30:57you're
30:58becoming a
30:58desert that
30:59has no
30:59life.
31:01And therefore
31:02that's why
31:03we must
31:03look at our
31:04own hearts
31:04and say
31:05am I
31:06virtuous
31:07in Christ
31:08and do I
31:09add
31:09have I
31:10grown?
31:10I know
31:11Christians
31:11have been
31:11Christians
31:12for 30
31:12years and
31:13they still
31:13don't know
31:14the scriptures.
31:14I'm not
31:15talking about
31:15knowing every
31:16single verse
31:16but I'm
31:16saying generally
31:17they don't
31:17know the
31:17scriptures.
31:18They still
31:18quote the
31:19certain passages
31:19out of context.
31:20They basically
31:21all they know
31:22is some
31:22things they've
31:23pulled out
31:24of my daily
31:24bread.
31:25They don't
31:26know the
31:26Bible after
31:2730 years.
31:29That's a
31:29concern because
31:29if I'm not
31:30adding knowledge
31:31to my
31:31Christian walk
31:32it's a sign
31:32that something's
31:33wrong.
31:35It's cute
31:36when a baby
31:37doesn't know.
31:38It's not
31:38cute when a
31:3950 year old
31:40person doesn't
31:40know something.
31:41It's not
31:41cute.
31:42To see
31:43immaturity
31:45and shall
31:45I say
31:46stunted
31:47growth
31:48it's not
31:49a nice
31:49thing to
31:50see.
31:51A baby
31:51might not
31:52know and
31:52it's cute.
31:53They don't
31:53know something
31:53and you can't
31:54talk.
31:54It's fine.
31:54But if you're
31:5450 years old
31:55and you can't
31:55talk it's a
31:56very awkward
31:56thing to
31:57observe isn't
31:57it?
31:59So in the
31:59same way our
32:00Bible knowledge
32:01has to
32:01increase.
32:02We have to
32:02know the
32:02word.
32:03We can't be
32:03Christians for
32:0430-40 years
32:04and still not
32:05know certain
32:07things.
32:07Important
32:07things we need
32:08to know.
32:08because then
32:10we are
32:10barren
32:10and unfruitful.
32:13Verse 9
32:14and again
32:15the key
32:15point here
32:16is fruitfulness
32:16here.
32:17It's dealing
32:17with fruitfulness
32:17not dealing
32:18with salvation.
32:19It's fruitfulness.
32:20Verse 9
32:20he continues
32:21but he that
32:22lacketh these
32:22things is
32:23blind.
32:25Doesn't
32:25mean spiritually
32:26blind in the
32:26sense that
32:27you're not a
32:27believer.
32:29Because look
32:30at the context.
32:31He's saying
32:31that they are
32:31blind.
32:32They cannot
32:32see afar off.
32:33So what
32:33happens is your
32:34wisdom and your
32:35spiritual perception
32:36is a problem.
32:37because you
32:38cannot see afar
32:39off and has
32:40forgotten that
32:41he was purged.
32:42So is he
32:43speaking to a
32:43believer or
32:44unbeliever?
32:45He can't be
32:45speaking to an
32:46unbeliever because
32:46he wouldn't say
32:47that you have
32:47been purged
32:48because an
32:48unbeliever hasn't
32:49been purged
32:49have they?
32:51So he's saying
32:52clearly here
32:52that as a
32:54believer if you
32:54become barren and
32:55you don't add to
32:56your faith all
32:57these virtuous things
32:58because you're not
32:58growing in your
32:59faith what's
33:00happening is that
33:01you are like a
33:02blind person that
33:03cannot see afar
33:03off and you have
33:04forgotten that he
33:05was purged from
33:06the old sin.
33:07And of course
33:09Peter will say
33:10like it's a dog
33:11returning to its
33:11own vomit.
33:13That's what it
33:14is.
33:18And so there's a
33:19strong message
33:20here for the
33:21believers that he's
33:22writing to
33:23to not take
33:25things for
33:26granted but to
33:26continue to
33:27grow.
33:28and it's a
33:31message to us
33:32tonight.
33:34And it's not
33:35work it's not
33:35effort it's just
33:37focus what's
33:39important.
33:42Because people
33:42will I find it
33:44flat I was
33:45shocked sometimes
33:45people listen to
33:46let's say sermons on
33:47YouTube or sermons on
33:49the radio and
33:50listen and I
33:50listen to a guy
33:51speak sometimes on
33:52the radio or
33:52YouTube or whatever
33:53I can listen within
33:53five minutes
33:54doctrinally they are
33:55way off and
33:56people say wow
33:57it's a wonderful
33:57message.
33:58I'm like
33:58immediately you can
34:01hear markers what
34:02someone's saying
34:02before we even
34:04move on I can
34:05hear they're going
34:06in this direction
34:07because you know
34:08the scriptures and
34:09you can pick it up
34:10and we think just
34:12because a guy says
34:12some nice words
34:13that it makes it
34:14good.
34:14no.
34:16And that's where
34:17we need to be as
34:17Christians be
34:18discerning understand
34:19what is truth and
34:20what is error.
34:21Now verse 10 of
34:22course is the
34:22difficult one depending
34:24on where people are
34:25at in their sort of
34:26structures the
34:28Calvinist get very
34:29excited about verse
34:3110.
34:32The Arminius I
34:33don't know how
34:33excited they get
34:34about verse 10 but
34:35I know that the
34:35Calvinist sort of this
34:36is sort of their
34:37flag and it's not
34:38really what he's
34:39saying but I'm
34:40going to try and
34:40deal with this and
34:41generally the
34:42Calvinist will get
34:43upset if you sort
34:44of move away from
34:46what they think
34:47it's saying because
34:47as soon as they
34:47see the word
34:48elect it's like
34:49all I'm seeing
34:51now is elect.
34:53They don't see
34:54that election can
34:55be used differently
34:55but I'll speak
34:56about that.
34:56Let's look at
34:57verse 10.
34:57So wherefore the
34:58rather brethren
34:59give diligence once
35:00again focus to
35:02make your calling.
35:03What is the
35:04calling there?
35:04It's interesting
35:05the calling there
35:05is not specific.
35:07The word calling
35:08there doesn't mean
35:08that God has
35:09specifically called
35:10you.
35:10It's a general
35:11call.
35:12So when the word
35:12calling is used
35:13in the context
35:14there in Greek
35:14it's the gospel
35:15call.
35:16It's the call
35:16of salvation.
35:17You've heard
35:18the call and
35:18you've responded
35:19to the call.
35:20That's what the
35:21calling is.
35:22So what he's
35:22saying here is
35:23your salvation.
35:24The word calling
35:25there is your
35:25salvation.
35:26You've heard
35:26the call,
35:27you've responded.
35:30So make your
35:31calling which is
35:33the general gospel
35:34call that you've
35:35responded to in
35:36salvation and
35:38election sure.
35:40So what is
35:41election in the
35:42context here?
35:43It is your
35:44status.
35:45So what it
35:45is, it's your
35:46salvation and
35:47your status.
35:48Make those
35:49sure about
35:49living this
35:50out.
35:51So that people
35:51don't doubt.
35:52That people
35:52don't doubt
35:53your salvation,
35:54they don't
35:54doubt your
35:55status.
35:56I'm going to
35:57share this,
35:57I don't want to
35:58go into too
35:58much detail
35:58because it
35:59is quite a
35:59minefield of
36:00a subject.
36:02But I find
36:02it very odd
36:03that people
36:04don't think
36:05that the word
36:05election can be
36:06used for a
36:07corporate group.
36:08I don't
36:08understand.
36:09In the Old
36:10Testament, is
36:11Israel a
36:11group or
36:12individuals?
36:13It's a
36:14group.
36:15Does God
36:15call them
36:16his elect?
36:18He does,
36:19doesn't he?
36:20So Israel in
36:21the Old
36:22Testament as a
36:22corporate group
36:23are called
36:23the elect.
36:26So in the
36:27New Testament
36:27that completely
36:28changes.
36:28So in the
36:29New Testament
36:29there's no
36:30corporate
36:30election, only
36:31in the Old
36:31Testament.
36:33So Christians
36:33cannot be part
36:34of a corporate
36:35group called
36:36the elect.
36:37Impossible.
36:37Only Israel
36:38could.
36:39What?
36:42So what
36:42Peter's writing
36:43about here is
36:44your status.
36:44He's not
36:45saying, he's
36:46not dealing
36:46with Calvinism
36:47here, he's
36:47not thinking
36:47even about
36:48Geneva, anything
36:50like that.
36:50What he's
36:50thinking about
36:51here is
36:51saying that
36:52your status
36:53as part of
36:54the elect,
36:55which is
36:56God's people,
36:58make that
36:58sure so that
36:59people don't
37:00doubt.
37:00You don't
37:00walk around
37:01saying, I
37:02know Christ
37:03and I'm
37:03part of him
37:04and then you
37:05live a life
37:05that is
37:06deplorable.
37:06That's
37:06what he's
37:07saying.
37:07So he's
37:07saying, give
37:07diligence to
37:09your calling,
37:11which was your
37:11salvation call,
37:12and your
37:13election, which
37:13is your status
37:14being in
37:15Christ as
37:16an elect.
37:17For if you
37:18do these
37:18things, you
37:19shall never
37:20fall.
37:20Now fall, of
37:21course, is the
37:22big one.
37:24If anyone,
37:24again, that's
37:26what I find
37:26funny, this
37:27verse.
37:28So Andy will
37:29forgive me, I'll
37:29give a wink
37:30here.
37:31So literally,
37:32you'll have
37:32Calvinist and
37:33Arminius coming
37:34to verse 10
37:35and it's
37:35going to be
37:35a bun
37:36fight.
37:37Because the
37:37Arminius believes
37:38in the fall,
37:39being you can
37:40lose your
37:40salvation, the
37:41Calvinist will
37:42love the term
37:42elect.
37:42So I'm
37:43going to be
37:43like, that's
37:43going to be a
37:44very interesting
37:44conversation.
37:45Because the
37:45Calvinist doesn't
37:46believe that you
37:47can fall, but
37:48it says fall
37:49there, and
37:50then they also
37:51love the election
37:52thing.
37:52Because what is
37:52the word fall
37:53there?
37:54The word fall
37:55there is not
37:55losing your
37:55salvation.
37:56The word fall
37:57there in Greek
37:57is to stumble.
38:00Now look at the
38:00context when you
38:01go to the
38:02verse before.
38:03what happens
38:04when you
38:05don't see?
38:05What happens
38:06when you're
38:06blind?
38:07What is the
38:07potential for
38:08you to stumble?
38:12So what he's
38:13saying is, make
38:14sure that you
38:15add to your
38:16faith all these
38:17virtues and
38:17these fruits by
38:18focusing on
38:19Christ.
38:19Because if you
38:20don't, you
38:20are barren, you
38:21are then
38:22potentially becoming
38:23spiritually blind,
38:24which will then
38:24cause you to
38:26stumble in your
38:27life.
38:29Not stumble out
38:30of salvation, but
38:31stumble off the
38:32path.
38:34And lose
38:34focus.
38:36That's what he's
38:37saying.
38:38He's not talking
38:39about anything
38:39about losing
38:40salvation.
38:40He's just saying
38:41in your walk as
38:42a believer, you
38:43could stumble.
38:44And Christians
38:44stumble often.
38:47Some of us
38:48stumble.
38:50Some of us
38:51here might be in
38:52a state of
38:52stumbling.
38:53It's part of the
38:54Christian walk.
38:55Sometimes we
38:55stumble and we
38:56have to be brought
38:57back and chastised
38:58by the Lord and
38:59brought back to
38:59the path.
39:00It's okay.
39:01No one ever is
39:02going to keep on
39:04the path their
39:04whole lives.
39:05There will be
39:05times when you
39:06will stumble.
39:09But let us be
39:10focused to not
39:11stumble.
39:13And then verse
39:1311 says, for so
39:14an entrance.
39:15Now it's
39:15interesting here again,
39:16look at the
39:16terminology.
39:17For so an
39:18entrance shall be
39:19ministered unto
39:20you abundantly into
39:23the everlasting
39:23kingdom of our
39:24Lord Jesus Christ.
39:25When you look at
39:26the Greek words
39:26there, it uses
39:27very interesting
39:27words.
39:29So in the
39:29Greek, when it
39:30speaks here about
39:31entrance, it
39:32actually means to
39:33be supplied and
39:34it also uses the
39:35term abundantly.
39:37Both of those
39:37words supplied and
39:40abundantly are
39:41connected to a
39:42reward.
39:45So what Peter is
39:46saying is, if you
39:47are not stumbling
39:48or falling, if
39:50you are not
39:50barren, you will
39:51enter into the
39:52kingdom with a
39:53godly reward
39:54because you've
39:55added to your
39:56faith all of
39:56these things.
39:57That's what he
39:57said.
39:58So it's how
39:59you're going to
39:59enter in.
40:02Same as Paul
40:02the apostle in
40:03the book of
40:03Philippians chapter
40:043.
40:04Forgetting which
40:05is behind, I
40:05press forward.
40:06Why?
40:08Because he's
40:08saying, in
40:09what manner
40:10will I enter
40:10into eternity?
40:11That's really
40:11what the passage
40:12means in the
40:13Greek there.
40:13What manner
40:13will I enter?
40:14The question
40:14is, how
40:15will we enter
40:15eternity?
40:16Will we enter
40:17limping or
40:18will you enter
40:18running the race
40:19properly?
40:20That's the
40:20choice.
40:22It's the same
40:23what Paul writes
40:24about in
40:241 Corinthians
40:259, that he
40:25brings his
40:26body into
40:26subjection so
40:27he doesn't
40:27become a
40:27castaway.
40:28We don't
40:28want to
40:29enter into
40:29eternity as
40:30castaways where
40:31we haven't
40:31fulfilled the
40:32purpose.
40:33I don't want
40:34to be busy
40:34with sin when
40:35Jesus returns,
40:36do you?
40:37I want to
40:38enter in doing
40:39faithful things
40:41for the Lord.
40:42And that's
40:42what Peter is
40:43saying.
40:43If you focus
40:44on these things
40:45and you live a
40:46godly life,
40:46you will enter
40:47into the
40:47kingdom with
40:48a reward
40:49because of
40:50your faithfulness.
40:51And therefore
40:55he says,
40:55therefore,
40:56I'll not be
40:57negligent to
40:58put you into
40:59remembrance of
40:59these things,
41:01though you
41:01know them,
41:01love that,
41:02now you
41:03know them,
41:03and be
41:04established in
41:05this present
41:06truth.
41:07And then from
41:08verse 13 to
41:0815 he speaks
41:09about his
41:10death and
41:10of course in
41:11John 21,
41:1318 to 19
41:14Jesus spoke,
41:15and it's quite
41:15interesting that
41:15Jesus said to
41:16him that you
41:17will be bound
41:18and taken
41:19where you
41:19don't want
41:20to go.
41:23And it
41:24says,
41:24of course,
41:25in the
41:25passage in
41:26John 21
41:26that this
41:27Jesus spoke
41:28of the
41:28death.
41:30Now it
41:30doesn't say
41:30crucifixion,
41:31the history
41:32says that
41:32Peter was
41:33crucified upside
41:34down,
41:34we've got
41:34nothing
41:34biblically,
41:36it's a guesswork
41:37because we
41:37have to
41:37trust history,
41:39it's a bit
41:42sketchy
41:42sometimes,
41:43but let's
41:44say it's
41:44true,
41:45Jesus wasn't
41:46referring to
41:46the crucifixion
41:47of Peter,
41:48he was just
41:48referring to
41:48the fact
41:49that it's
41:50going to
41:50be a
41:50martyr's
41:51death,
41:51you're
41:51going to
41:52go where
41:52you don't
41:52want to
41:52go.
41:53And Peter
41:54here from
41:54verse 13
41:55to 15
41:56is anticipating
41:57his martyr's
41:57death,
41:58as the Lord
41:59said,
41:59as the Lord
42:00showed him
42:01there in
42:01verse 14.
42:04And then we
42:04conclude with
42:06the word of
42:07the prophets
42:08and apostles
42:09are sure,
42:11the word of
42:12the prophets
42:13and apostles
42:13are sure.
42:16Now what's
42:16interesting here
42:17is that Peter
42:19then says,
42:20for we have
42:21not followed
42:21cunning
42:22devised
42:23fables when
42:24he made
42:24known unto
42:25you the
42:25power and
42:25the coming
42:26of our
42:26Lord Jesus
42:26Christ,
42:27but were
42:28eyewitnesses
42:29of his
42:29majesty.
42:30It's very
42:30important,
42:30the apostleship.
42:31I don't
42:31think we
42:32emphasize it
42:33enough,
42:34because you
42:34have guys
42:35walking around
42:35today calling
42:36themselves
42:36apostles,
42:37which is
42:37frightening.
42:38the twelve
42:41were very
42:42specific in
42:43their position
42:43as apostles.
42:44The twelve
42:45will have
42:45seats in
42:46the kingdom.
42:48Their names
42:49are written
42:49in the
42:49foundation of
42:50the New
42:50Jerusalem.
42:52Guys running
42:53around in
42:53white suits
42:53on TBN
42:54today calling
42:55themselves
42:55apostles,
42:56scare me.
42:57You are not
42:58an apostle.
42:59There are
42:59twelve and
43:00Paul specifically
43:02became a
43:03unique apostle
43:04to the Gentile
43:04and he
43:05calls himself
43:06that.
43:07So when
43:07Peter says
43:08here,
43:08we have
43:08not lied
43:09to you,
43:09we were
43:09eyewitnesses,
43:10he's saying
43:11this as an
43:11apostle,
43:12not saying
43:12this as
43:12just a
43:13general
43:13believer,
43:13he's saying
43:14you've got
43:14to trust
43:14my word
43:15because I'm
43:16writing this
43:16epistle and
43:17I was an
43:17eyewitness to
43:18the resurrection
43:18of Christ.
43:20So Peter
43:21is not
43:21deceiving,
43:22Peter's word
43:22is sure as
43:23an apostle.
43:25Then he also
43:25speaks about
43:26the mount
43:26of transfiguration
43:27from verse
43:2817 to 18
43:29because we
43:29were on the
43:30mount.
43:30We heard
43:31not just
43:32the voice
43:33of Jesus,
43:33we heard
43:34the voice
43:34of the
43:34father once
43:35again on
43:37the mount
43:37of transfiguration.
43:38This is my
43:38beloved son
43:39in whom I'm
43:39well pleased.
43:40So the
43:41word of
43:41God is
43:42sure from
43:42heaven.
43:44Our
43:44word is
43:45sure as
43:45apostles.
43:46God's
43:46word was
43:47sure from
43:47heaven on
43:48the mount.
43:50Then verse
43:5019 also
43:51speaks of
43:52the word
43:53of Christ
43:54that is
43:54sure.
43:56Because not
43:57only was
43:58it Peter's
43:59word that
43:59sure God
44:00the father's
44:01word that
44:01sure but
44:02also everything
44:02spoken about
44:03Christ and
44:04that Christ
44:04said is
44:05sure.
44:09And then
44:09finally from
44:10verse 20
44:10to 21 he's
44:11speaking about
44:11God's word
44:12being sure
44:13for no
44:13word of
44:14prophecy
44:14can just
44:17be interpreted
44:17personally.
44:18So knowing
44:19this first
44:19that no
44:19prophecy of
44:20scripture and
44:21prophecy is
44:21not talking
44:22about end
44:22time stuff.
44:23Prophecy is
44:23talking about
44:24the prophetic
44:24word of
44:25scripture.
44:26It fits in
44:26with prophecy
44:27but it's
44:27not just
44:27prophecy.
44:29Knowing this
44:29first that
44:30no prophecy
44:31of scripture
44:31is of
44:32private
44:32interpretation.
44:33People can't
44:34just use
44:34verses the
44:35way you
44:35want to
44:36and make
44:36up your
44:36own
44:36things.
44:37It doesn't
44:37work like
44:38that.
44:39For the
44:40prophecy
44:40came not
44:41in old
44:41times with
44:42the will
44:42of man
44:43but holy
44:44men of
44:45God
44:45spake as
44:47they were
44:47moved by
44:48the Holy
44:48Spirit.
44:49Therefore
44:49I'm
44:50uncomfortable
44:50at times
44:51with the
44:52red letter
44:53edition
44:53Bible.
44:54The words
44:55of Jesus
44:55in red.
44:56It should
44:56be read
44:57from Genesis
44:581 to
44:59Revelation
44:5922 because
45:00it's all
45:00God's
45:01word.
45:01Every
45:04single
45:04thing.
45:05Also we
45:05have to
45:05be careful
45:06of Bible
45:06teachers
45:07when they
45:07look at
45:08the intent
45:09in the
45:09sense of
45:10they look
45:10at the
45:11author
45:11and what
45:11was his
45:12back?
45:12What did
45:13he know
45:13here?
45:14No,
45:14it's
45:14God's
45:15word.
45:15It
45:15doesn't
45:16matter.
45:18It
45:18matters
45:18what God
45:19says.
45:21And too
45:21many people
45:21want to
45:21fiddle.
45:23The fact
45:23is that
45:23the
45:23apostles
45:24their
45:24word
45:25was
45:25sure.
45:25Christ's
45:27word
45:27was
45:28sure.
45:28The
45:28father's
45:29word
45:29is
45:29sure.
45:30And
45:30the
45:30Bible's
45:31declaration
45:32to us
45:33how the
45:33prophet
45:33spoke,
45:34it is
45:35sure.
45:37And
45:37therefore we
45:38trust it.
45:38I'm not
45:38interested in
45:39history.
45:40I'm not
45:40interested in
45:41church history.
45:42I'm not
45:43interested in
45:43what other
45:43people wrote.
45:44I'm interested
45:44in the
45:45Bible and
45:45the Bible
45:46alone.
45:47It is
45:48the only
45:48authority by
45:49which I
45:50personally live
45:51my Christian
45:51life.
45:52and I
45:52believe that
45:53every
45:53Christian
45:53should
45:54live
45:54their
45:54lives
45:54by the
45:54authority
45:55of the
45:55Bible
45:55alone.
45:56I'm not
45:57interested in
45:57what other
45:57people have
45:58said.
45:58Because if we
45:59start living
45:59our lives
46:00based on
46:00commentaries
46:01we become
46:01no better
46:02than those
46:03who followed
46:03the Talmud.
46:06I'm not
46:07interested in
46:07commentaries.
46:08I've used
46:09them 100%.
46:10But they
46:10don't become
46:11the baseline
46:12for how we
46:12interpret
46:13scripture.
46:14So I
46:15trust that
46:16you were
46:16encouraged and
46:17fed this
46:19evening from
46:20God's
46:20word.
46:20Let us
46:20pray.
46:21blessed
46:22assurance
46:23Jesus
46:25is
46:25mine
46:26Oh
46:27what a
46:28fortress
46:29of glory
46:30divine
46:32Heir of
46:33salvation
46:34Purchase
46:35of God
46:37Born
46:37of His
46:38Spirit
46:39Lost
46:40in His
46:41blood
46:42This
46:43is my
46:43story
46:45This
46:46is my
46:46song
46:47Praise
46:48in my
46:49Savior
46:50Savior
46:51all the
46:51day
46:51long
46:53This
46:53is my
46:54story
46:55This
46:56is my
46:57song
46:58Praising
46:59my
46:59Savior
47:00all the
47:02day
47:02long
47:03Perfect
47:05vision
47:06Perfect
47:07delight
47:09Visions
47:10of
47:11rapture
47:12First
47:13on my
47:13sight
47:15Angels
47:16descending
47:17ring
47:18ring
47:19ring
47:19ring
47:19ring
47:20ring
47:20ring
47:20from above
47:21Echoes
47:21of mercy
47:23This is my story, this is my song
47:31Praising my Savior all and and all
47:37This is my story, this is my song
47:42Praising my Savior all and and all
47:48Perfect submission, all is at rest
47:54I in my Savior am happy and blessed
48:00Washing and waiting, looking above
48:06Filled with His goodness, lost in His love
48:11This is my story, this is my song
48:17Praising my Savior all and and all
48:23This is my story, this is my song
48:28Praising my Savior all and and all
48:35Thank you
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