1. May 26, 2014 O’Neal church of Christ, Athens, Al.

3. And the truth shall make you F R E E ! F R E E ! John 8:32 John 8:32

4. Studying the Bible together at O’Neal

5. 2 Peter 1:10-15 2 Peter was written to warn believers of the danger of false teachers and harmful influences 2 Peter was written to warn believers of the danger of false teachers and harmful influences

6. Peter writes: To those who have obtained like precious faith: To those who have obtained like precious faith: “like precious faith” “like precious faith” Peter wrote to those who had the same salvation he had experienced, Peter wrote to those who had the same salvation he had experienced,

7. Faith is ‘precious’ 1.with precious things, 1.with precious things, 2.with precious promises, 2.with precious promises, 3. with precious blood, 3. with precious blood, 4.with a precious redemption, 4.with a precious redemption, 5. with all the preciousness of the person of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 5. with all the preciousness of the person of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

8. Precious Trials of Our Faith (1 Peter 1:5-7)

9. There are several Facts we should know about Trials: (vs. 6) There are several Facts we should know about Trials: (vs. 6) Trials Meet Our Needs – Notice Peter’s phrase, “if need be”; Trials Meet Our Needs – Notice Peter’s phrase, “if need be”; 1. There are special times in which God knows we need to go through trials; 1. There are special times in which God knows we need to go through trials;.. Sometimes because we have disobeyed God’s Word.. Sometimes because we have disobeyed God’s Word … Sometimes to prepare us for growth … Sometimes to prepare us for growth … Sometimes to prevent us from sinning … Sometimes to prevent us from sinning

10. We do not always know the reason, but we can be sure that God does what is best. We do not always know the reason, but we can be sure that God does what is best.

11. Precious Blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18-22)

12. Precious Faith (2 Peter 1:1)

13. Precious Promises (2 Peter 1:4)

14. 2 Pet. 1:3. His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness: However, not only grace and peace - but also all things that pertain to life and godliness are ours through the knowledge of Him. Knowing God is the key to all things that pertain to life and godliness.. His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness: However, not only grace and peace - but also all things that pertain to life and godliness are ours through the knowledge of Him. Knowing God is the key to all things that pertain to life and godliness.

15. Adam Clark says: Adam Clark says:. "God having given to you - believing Gentiles, the same faith and salvation which he had given to us - believing Jews." (Clarke). "God having given to you - believing Gentiles, the same faith and salvation which he had given to us - believing Jews." (Clarke)

16. Add: Add to your faith virtue: We begin our life with God with faith, but faith progresses into virtue, knowledge,temperance,, patience,, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity – Add to your faith virtue: We begin our life with God with faith, but faith progresses into virtue, knowledge,temperance,, patience,, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity – love being the capstone of all God's work in us. love being the capstone of all God's work in us.

17. He who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness: He who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness: If we lack these things, it shows we have "eye trouble” If we lack these things, it shows we have "eye trouble”

18. He has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. He has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. I John 2:1-2 I John 2:1-2 I John 1:7 I John 1:7

19. Lest We forget.. Perhaps this one has forgotten how bad he was, and how much he needed this cleansing. Perhaps this one has forgotten how bad he was, and how much he needed this cleansing. Perhaps this one has forgotten the great cost of this purging of sin's dirty stain. Perhaps this one has forgotten the great cost of this purging of sin's dirty stain. Perhaps this one has forgotten how great and complete the cleansing is, making a once guilty sinner now as pure and as white as snow (Isaiah 1:18) Perhaps this one has forgotten how great and complete the cleansing is, making a once guilty sinner now as pure and as white as snow (Isaiah 1:18)

20. #1 Making Our Calling and Election Sure.. 2 Pet. 1:10 2 Pet. 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.

21. Making our Calling and Election S U R E ! Don’t forget that…. Don’t forget that…. 1. It may take us through some difficult 1. It may take us through some difficult Times in our lives. Times in our lives. Will your anchor hold in the storm of Will your anchor hold in the storm of Life? Life? Make sure you are sure! Daniel Taylor Make sure you are sure! Daniel Taylor

22. Be even more diligent to make your call and election sure: We can be sure that God called us, and that we are His elect: We can be sure that God called us, and that we are His elect: It is by doing these things spoken of in 2 Peter 1:5-7 (faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love). It is by doing these things spoken of in 2 Peter 1:5-7 (faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love).

23. If YOU do these things… For if you do these things you will never stumble: For if you do these things you will never stumble: In pursuing these things we keep from stumbling. Continual growth and progress in the Christian life is the sure way to keep from stumbling. In pursuing these things we keep from stumbling. Continual growth and progress in the Christian life is the sure way to keep from stumbling. 2 Pet. 3:18 2 Pet. 3:18 Acts 20:32 Acts 20:32

24. #2 Must be Reminded For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. 2 Pet. 1:12 For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. 2 Pet. 1:12 Why do we preach many of the same things over and over? Why do we preach many of the same things over and over? Why must we be reminded of these things? “Lest we forget”.. Why must we be reminded of these things? “Lest we forget”..

25. Keep repeating! Over and Over Keep repeating! Over and Over Matt Taylor with the small children Matt Taylor with the small children On Sunday night… On Sunday night… We adults need a constant REMINDER We adults need a constant REMINDER ‘lest we forget” ‘lest we forget” If it is the truth, it can be repeated over and over!. Always the same!. If it is the truth, it can be repeated over and over!. Always the same!.

26. Peter said: “I will not be negligence “ Peter said: “I will not be negligence “ to remind you always of the basics of the Christian life to remind you always of the basics of the Christian life 1. Preach the Word. 2 Tim. 4:2-4 1. Preach the Word. 2 Tim. 4:2-4 2. Tell the glad story, over and over. 2. Tell the glad story, over and over. Matt. 28:18-20; Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15,16 Mark 16:15,16

27. So Easy to Stumble 1. Peter knows about this firsthand. 1. Peter knows about this firsthand. “he denied the Lord 3 times”. “he denied the Lord 3 times”. John 13:38 Then Jesus answered, "Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will (deny) disown me three times! John 13:38 Then Jesus answered, "Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will (deny) disown me three times!John 13:38John 13:38 Matt. 26:74,75 And he did! Matt. 26:74,75 And he did!.

28. Keep going over and over.. A sports team going for the championship will practice the same fundamentals over and over again. They do this, even though they know the techniques, because they want the victory. A sports team going for the championship will practice the same fundamentals over and over again. They do this, even though they know the techniques, because they want the victory.

29. Lest we forget Christians should never get tired hearing the basics of the Christian life. Christians should never get tired hearing the basics of the Christian life. We should rejoice every time Jesus Christ and His gospel and plan for our lives is preached We should rejoice every time Jesus Christ and His gospel and plan for our lives is preached

30. Luke 22:32 Luke 22:32, when Jesus told Peter "when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren." Luke 22:32, when Jesus told Peter "when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren."

31. #3 As long as I am in this tabernacle.. this tent.. 2 Pet. 1:13 Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tabernacle, (tent,) to stir you up by reminding you, knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. 2 Pet. 1:13 Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tabernacle, (tent,) to stir you up by reminding you, knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. Peter, like all of us, knew he only had Peter, like all of us, knew he only had A limited amount of time to do this reminding!. A limited amount of time to do this reminding!. 2 Cor. 6:2 “now” 2 Cor. 6:2 “now”

32. James 4:13-14 James 4:13-14 We are going down the valley, one by one. We are going down the valley, one by one. But Peter knew this one thing: But Peter knew this one thing: “I will continue to remind you of these things as long as I am in this body, and “I will continue to remind you of these things as long as I am in this body, and With you” With you”

33. It was right for Peter to do this.. Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me.

34. I think it is right: Because of what is at stake, Peter knew it was right to remind people constantly, especially because he knew that the days of his earthly life were soon coming to an end. Because of what is at stake, Peter knew it was right to remind people constantly, especially because he knew that the days of his earthly life were soon coming to an end.

35. Shortly I must put off my tent: Shortly I must put off my tent: Peter considered his body no more than a tent. Peter considered his body no more than a tent. A tent is a temporary place to live. A tent is a temporary place to live. Tents should be taken care of, but you wouldn't invest large resources into fixing up a tent. Tents should be taken care of, but you wouldn't invest large resources into fixing up a tent. You save your real resources for a more permanent place to live. Our more permanent place to live is heaven, and we should invest more in heaven than in our tent - our physical body. (Matt. 6:19-21) You save your real resources for a more permanent place to live. Our more permanent place to live is heaven, and we should invest more in heaven than in our tent - our physical body. (Matt. 6:19-21)

36. Paul says: 2 Cor.5:1 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 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. We’ll have a new place to live forever! We’ll have a new place to live forever!

37. Lest we forget… How did Peter know that shortly I must put off my tent? How did Peter know that shortly I must put off my tent? Perhaps it was because Peter was simply getting old. Perhaps it was because Peter was simply getting old. Perhaps it was because the flames of persecution were getting hotter around him. Perhaps it was because the flames of persecution were getting hotter around him. Church history tells us that Peter did die a martyr, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed him (John 21:18-19). Church history tells us that Peter did die a martyr, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed him (John 21:18-19).

38. #4 Peter prepares for the future Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease. Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease. I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder: I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder: Peter put this reminder in a letter, so the people of God would have a constant reminder even after his departure. Peter put this reminder in a letter, so the people of God would have a constant reminder even after his departure. Our problem: we just don’t read the letters sent from God ! Our problem: we just don’t read the letters sent from God !

39. After my decease: 1. Peter seemed aware of the significance of the passing of the apostles and the need to preserve the authoritative teaching of the apostles and prophets. 1. Peter seemed aware of the significance of the passing of the apostles and the need to preserve the authoritative teaching of the apostles and prophets. 2. This, the written teaching of the apostles and those who wrote letters for God., Is the foundation of the church preserved by God for all generations 2. This, the written teaching of the apostles and those who wrote letters for God., Is the foundation of the church preserved by God for all generations Eph. 2:20” and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; “ Eph. 2:20” and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; “

40. God does not forget us. God does not forget us. Our family will remember us. Our family will remember us. Our brothers and sisters in Christ whereever we have labored remember. Our brothers and sisters in Christ whereever we have labored remember. (Ill. Friday at H.H.) (Ill. Friday at H.H.)

41. We all need to be reminded: Amos 4:12 “Prepare to meet thy God” Amos 4:12 “Prepare to meet thy God” 1. Reminded about the awesome God we serve. 1. Reminded about the awesome God we serve. Heb. 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the ‘living God’: Heb. 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the ‘living God’: 2. Reminded about the precious Saviour that we have. Heb. 2:9 2. Reminded about the precious Saviour that we have. Heb. 2:9 3. Reminded of “the faith”…of which we are a part. Eph. 4:1-6. 3. Reminded of “the faith”…of which we are a part. Eph. 4:1-6. 4. Reminded of how wonderful it is to serve 4. Reminded of how wonderful it is to serve God all the days of our lives. I Cor. 15:58 God all the days of our lives. I Cor. 15:58

42. Lest we forget Men build statues - to remind us. Men build statues - to remind us. Men carve their names in stone at the Men carve their names in stone at the Place where our bodies are put. Place where our bodies are put. Good to remember all the men and women who have died for us… Good to remember all the men and women who have died for us… But let us never forget: What JESUS has done for us!. But let us never forget: What JESUS has done for us!.