We head into 2nd Peter this today. These were the final words of Peter to the church before his departure. These are always good! Be blessed.
2 Peter 1: Greeting
1 Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ:
2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
Make Your Calling and Election Sure
3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,
4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,
6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,
7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so near-sighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.
10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.
11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
12 Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have.
13 I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder,
14 since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me.
15 And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.
Christ's Glory and the Prophetic Word
16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
17 For when he received honour and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,"
18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.
19 And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,
20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation.
21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
2 Peter 2: False Prophets and Teachers
1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.
2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed.
3 And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment;
5 if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly;
6 if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly;
7 and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked
8 (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard);
9 then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment,
10 and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority. Bold and willful, they do not tremble as they blaspheme the glorious ones,
11 whereas angels, though greater in might and power, do not pronounce a blasphemous judgment against them before the Lord.
12 But these, like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed, blaspheming about matters of which they are ignorant, will also be destroyed in their destruction,
13 suffering wrong as the wage for their wrongdoing. They count it pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, revelling in their deceptions, while they feast with you.
14 They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children!
15 Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing,
16 but was rebuked for his own transgression; a speechless donkey spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet's madness.
17 These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved.
18 For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error.
19 They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.
20 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.
21 For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.
22 What the true proverb says has happened to them: "The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire."
Things to think about…
Faith without fruit is false! This is the message of 2 Peter in 1:1-15. Peter says if you don’t have the qualities of grace, he says you are near-sighted to the point of blindness, vs 9. He is so passionate about this message that he does not want it to be lost even after he dies, vs 15. Do we want people to remember what our main focus in life was after we die? If not, perhaps we have the wrong focus. Ask the question, what will you be most remembered for? Is this what you want, and does it align with the calling of Christ in you?
What are you certain of? 2Pet1:16-21 is one of the most stirring passages of scripture for those who trust in mere feelings or emotion. Peter in essence says, ‘I have had the most emotional, charismatic, exciting experience anyone could have…I saw the glorified Christ and was only one of 3 to experience it, that’s if you don’t include Moses and Elijah who were there in the spirit!!!’ Rather than rely on this vision as conformation of truth, Peter says we have something that is ‘more sure, the prophetic word’. Our experiences, our emotions and feelings come and go. But the Word of God remains forever. Exalt the Word above everything else. The Lord does!
Have a look at chapter 2. Peter just nails how human history is littered with evil intentions. He mentions the judgment that came upon the world in Noah’s day, then Sodom and Gomorrah, and now these people go on to despise God’s judgements, where not even angels would dare to tread! This is the fruit of remaining in the flesh – there is no fear of God! Our witness is to show this fear, IE respect, honour, reverence. “Balaam, the son of Beor”, 2Pet 2:15 is described as a sensual man without sense. Such is our society today. Wanting stuff, without sacrifice and self willed. Self-will, it seems must be satisfied at all costs. The cost of course is the loss of care and compassion in our society and a generation that follows Balaam to judgement, vs 21
Look at what these people are like folks 2Pet2:12ff. They are like brute beasts…full of adultery, insatiable for sin…WHILE THEY FEAST WITH YOU vs 13! Consider that these folks were in the church! Just as Micah the prophet spoke about Balaam son of Beor, here Peter makes a reference to him. You remember him. He quoted the word of God, was used it to proclaim God’s truth about Israel and yet was judged because his heart was bent on destroying God’s people. The Word without witness is worthless! Don’t be like these people who are like the dog or a pig – going back to filth. Stay near the cross, Peter says don’t turn away from righteousness once you have found it! Make sure you point someone to righteousness today!
Peter finishes off 2 Peter 2 in vs 22 “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire”. While we cannot lose our salvation, people may, like Balaam, quote the Word of God, come into church for a while, but the world and their sinful desires takes them away and eventually they don’t bother with anything regarding Christ. Try and bring someone back to the cross you can. Invite someone to church and pray that the Lord may open their eyes to the true value of God’s saving grace.
Vision statement for CBC
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Prayer Points
1. Leaders meetings this week. Year planning services.
2. The right choice for a full time Youth and Young Adults Pastor.
3. New contacts remain engaged and connected into the church.
4. Our One for Israel ministry.
5. Pray for other building projects – café roof, the repair of the house roof.
6. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
Praise Points
1. Wonderful start to the new year. Thankyou Doug and Graham for preaching.
2. Thankyou to those who have supported the church and youth and young adults role - $49. 640 raised thus far.
3. New folk becoming members of CBC
4. Those who faithfully serve in ministries, Worship, Sound/Technical/Kids Church/ Cell Groups/Admin - Bulletins/Finances/Property/Welcoming/Spiritual Leadership/Cafe
5. Joy, peace and grace we see at CBC. Thankyou Lord
Announcements
1. Special meeting confirming Youth and Young Adults role engagement/employment tasks – 22nd Jan after the morning service.
2. Sign up for a cell group or welcoming team.
3. Remember to check your duty rosters.
4. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
5. Tune in again this week on our youtube page. Subscribe to the CBC channel Chuwar Baptist YouTube channel.
Catechism questions for January...
Q. 4. How can you glorify God? A. By loving Him and doing what He commands.
