Grace Bible Church Gillette, Wyoming

1. Because 1) Christian Virtues Promote the Believer’s Fruitfulness (8), 2) Christian Virtues Prevent Spiritual Blindness (9), 3) Christian Virtues Presume a Sure Calling (10), and Christian Virtues Prove Entrance into the kingdom (11) Peter will always be ready to remind these believers of these truths.

2. This section (2Pe 1:12-15) and specifically 2Pe 1:12 is the key verse because Peter’s whole purpose for writing is to establish these believers in the truth so that:

a) They never forget the great truths of salvation.

b) They do not fall into false teaching.

c) They continue to grow spiritually by applying Christian Virtues.

d) They continue to stand strong in the truth after Peter’s martyrdom.

B. Ready to Remind

1. To “remind” (hupomimnesk) means to call to or bring to one’s mind something already known (re-mind).

2. Even if believers already know the truths of Scripture and are established (mature), they are to be reminded.

3. Good teachers remind their students and Peter was a good teacher, always being ready to remind them.

C. Established in the Truth

1. “Established” is the Greek word stêrizō (stêrigx - to build a support or prop) and means to cause someone to become stronger in the sense of more firm and unchanging in attitude or belief (Louw-Nida).

2. In the Christian sense, to establish means to cause a believer to stand firm in his beliefs of God’s truth. Being established keeps the believer from becoming weak or wavering.

a) The gospel foundationally establishes the believer in truth (Rom 16:25).

b) The Lord establishes believer in good works (2Th 2:16-17).

c) God establishes believers through suffering (1Pe 5:10).

d) Believers are established by knowing that the Lord is near (Jam 5:8).

e) God will establish and protect the believer from the evil one (2Th 3:3).

f) Believers are to establish other believers in the truth (Act 14:22; 16:5).

g) Believers are to be established so they do not fall into false teaching (2Pe 1:12).

II. STRENGTHENED BY REMINDERS (13)

A. Reminders by Teaching

1. When Peter states that he would continuously “remind” (hupomimneskō – to call or bring to one’s mind again) them of these truths, he is referring to teaching, either in person or in writing. Through apostolic teaching,

2. As an apostle, it was it was right and imperative that believers get the truth and keep the truth. This was accomplished by way of apostolic reminders (Php 3:1; Rom 15:15; 2Th 2:5; Jude 5).

3. These apostolic reminders are what Scripture calls “apostles teaching” (Act 2:42; 13:1, 5; 1Co 4:17; 2Ti 1:11). They are taught and retaught. They are same truths that are taught and retaught by their disciples, and their disciples and so on.

4. It through the teaching and reminding of the Word of God that believers are established in God’s truth (Psa 119:28, 38, 133; Act 14:21-22; Act 15:32; Act 18:23).

B. Peter’s Faithful Determination

1. Peter’s “earthly dwelling” (skênōma – tent or habitation) was his natural body. It was temporal unlike the resurrection body all believers will receive (Rom 8:11; 1Co 15:53-54).

2. Peter’s determination and faithfulness was that as long as he was alive, he was going to do all he could to establish these believers.

3. The desired response by Peter’s reminders were to spiritually “stir up” (diegeirō – to mentally rouse and awaken) these believers. Perhaps it is not so much that believers actually forget, but that can they become lethargic and desensitized.

III. STRONG AFTER PETER’S MARTYRDOM (14)

A. Peter’s Knowledge of Martyrdom

1. It is in 2Pe 1:14 that Peter reveals that he is speaking specifically of his impending martyrdom.

2. The “laying aside” of his earthly dwelling (tent) is figurative language for trading one tent for another (death) (cf. 2Co 5:1-2).

3. Peter knew about his “imminent” (tachinos – swift or soon) martyrdom not only because he was at least seventy years old by then, but also because Jesus had made it clear to him. In Joh 21:18-19 Jesus intimated that Peter grew old his hands would be stretched out and he would go where he did not wish to go, i.e. martyrdom and even crucifixion.

B. Peter’s Historical Martyrdom

1. Peter, through unrighteous envy, endured not one or two, but numerous labours and when he had at length suffered martyrdom, departed to the place of glory due to him (Clement of Rome, Anti-Nicene Fathers, Vol I, Chapter 5).

2. "Thus Nero publicly announcing himself as the chief enemy of God, was led on in his fury to slaughter the apostles. Paul is therefore said to have been beheaded at Rome, and Peter to have been crucified under him. And this account is confirmed by the fact, that the names of Peter and Paul still remain in the cemeteries of that city even to this day" (Ecclesiastical History 2:25).

3. "Peter appears to have preached through Pontus, Galatia, Bithynia, Cappadocia, and Asia, to the Jews that were scattered abroad; who also, finally coming to Rome, was crucified with his head downward, having requested of himself to suffer in this way" (Ecclesiastical History 3:1).

IV. STRONG TO CALL TO MIND (15)

A. Peter’s Urgency

1. Peter’s purpose was clear, he did not want his readers to forget, especially after his martyrdom.

2. Therefore, he would be “diligent” (same word as 2Pe 1:5) in reminding and teaching God’s truths.

B. Established was Calling to Mind

1. If they were established in the truth, Peter’s readers themselves would be able to call to mind all the truths he had taught them.

2. Believers must be taught and retaught. Yet they themselves must also do their own recalling and reminding.

V. OBSRVATIONS AND APPLICATIONS

A. Watch out for New Teachings - The answer to false doctrine is not a new teaching, but a correct understanding of the old teaching, the teaching that God had revealed (1Co 15:1-3; 2Pe 3:1-2). We should always be wary, then, of people who arrive with a new or different Christian message, and look out for the danger sign that Peters basic lesson is being sidetracked in favour of a more attractive or relevant message. (Dunagan in loc).

B. Weary Not of Old-Time Religion - The preacher must never grow weary of repeating valuable truths. There is something drastically wrong when the grand old story becomes wearisome to a child of God. That the purity of the faith of our Lord depends upon a constant repetition of every phrase and facet of divine revelation. Let neither preacher nor member grow weary of hearing it. Let all understand that when they do, they are witnessing a symptom of apostasy. We all stand in danger of drifting away from the things we have heard and know very well (ibid).

C. Awaken with the Sword of the Spirit - Unfortunately, many modern religious leaders have lost their faith in the Word of God to stir up their members. Thus, other tactics are being used. 2. Some feel that it is the job of the preacher to find something new in the Bible [or new techniques]. 3. Peter believed that the Word of God is the tool to stimulate brethren (Heb 4:12-13). 4. The preacher also needs to remember that he is to stimulate the brethren instead of discouraging them. Someone has jokingly described the task of the preacher as trying to raise the dead in [45] minutes (ibid).

Grace Bible Church · 4000 E. Collins Rd · PO Box #3762 · Gillette, WY · (307) 686-1516