Review for the Test 2Peter 1:12-18
How precious is the Word of God to you...to us as a church? Is it a delight to us? Do we hunger for it? Does it shape you? Is the Word of God something that is critical or essential to your daily life? Do you see it as important as the latest medical news or diet fad or answer to your nations economic woes?
Is the Word of God your standard by which you evaluate life and health and success and science and politics? Or do you use all those things to evaluate the Word of God?
The apostle Simon Peter expresses his belief that the greatest use of his last days on earth would be to remind people he loves and people for whom he is responsible of the Word of God, its content and its intent.
This morning let us consider Peter's approach to his urgent task and then consider our approach in view of some hyperbolic examples of Bible characters' attitudes toward God's Word.
PETER'S APPROACH Therefore(v.12) refers back to V.4: since you have been given...since you are partakers...since you have escaped...I will be:
Urgent in Reminding You v.12
“not negligent” (NKJV) “intend always” (ESV)
“shortly” v.14
Kind in Evaluating You
“though you know” v.12
“reminding you” v.13
Faithful in Carrying Out the Task
“it is right” v.13 “the putting off of my body will be soon” v.14 (ESV)
Creative (or at least persistent) in the Presentation
“that you always have a reminder” v.15
God believes in repetition – Deuteronomy 6:4-9 H. Richard Niebhur's classic Christ and Culture. “Great Christian revolutions come not by the discovery of something that was not known before. They happen when somebody takes radically something that was always there.”
YOUR APPROACH
Most here would probably say, “I believe the Word of God. I believe it is inspired, inerrant, perfect, a guide for life.” ... But does your living match your profession?
A Couple of Hyperboles
King Josiah 2Kings 22:1-2, 8-11
Josiah = grandson of Manasseh (2Kings 21:2, 16)
son of Amon (2Kings 21:18-23)
The Word of God had been lost v.22:8
lost in the inside the House of God
Josiah did what was right in the sight of the Lord because he had a heart for God
despite his background
Josiah was broken and penitent (vv.11, 19)
No excuses about his environment
No accusations – He tore his own robes, not someone else's.
Josiah was a godly king who was moved by God's Word – though he was out of bad stock. This means that our background does not hinder God. The background of those we meet, those we pray for does not hinder God.
2. King Jehoiakim (Eliakim) 2Kings 23:34-37; Jeremiah 36
Son of godly king, Josiah
Godly environment 2Kings 23:1-25
Disregarded the Word of God Jeremiah 36:21-24
REGARD FOR GOD'S WORD
Broken By The Word
Remembering and Reminding
Burning The Word
In whole
In part – You don't have to buy an album any more. CDs are on the way out because of downloading...just choose what you really like and ignore the rest. Do we do that with God's Word – choose what we like and reject the rest?
There is Hope for The One Who Remembers God's Word
Personal repentance – tearing your own robes – not someone else's.
Diligent obedience – v.1:5
There is Hope for the Nation Who Remembers God's Word. May presidents and prime ministers discover the lost Word of God and at least forestall God's wrath on their nation.
Not to gain salvation (2Peter1:12), but to show the sufficiency of salvation in Jesus Christ.
Death is not the test. At death, the test has been taken. The first part of the test is – Do you trust Jesus for your salvation or do you trust yourself? The next part of the test is – do you live out the life of grace? Do you bear the true image of God? Is His Word, interpreted by His Spirit, the guide for your actions and attitudes and aspirations?
