2 Peter Series - You Have Been Forewarned!

                                                 You Have Been Forewarned!

2 Peter 3:15-18

When someone gives a warning, one of two things happens, You will take heed and obey or you will disregard any thought of listening and obedience and go about doing your own will and to whatever outcome it may bring to you.

Peter has sent a clear warning to the believers in the church. He has seen both sides of the warnings from Jesus as he walked with him: Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees,which is hypocrisy, “Watch out!” Jesus warned them. “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Matt. 16:6, and beware of the wolves,“Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves.” Matt. 7:15, “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them.” Luke 21. He saw some who listened and obeyed, others ignored the warnings and there were consequences to both.

Let’s read the first part of the text, “So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 

Peter’s first warning to the believers is to be holy and pure, blameless and spotless, and at peace with Jesus, for the Day of the Lord is coming soon. Peter addresses the righteousness that comes from being clothed in the righteous work of Christ on the cross. The believer’s faith, trust, and unyielding obedience to Jesus would be tried by fire (persecution), and there would be false teachers alluring them by a false peace and gospel. 

 Many of the believers were surrounded by the evil of the world and the false teachings about God’s Word, and they were experiencing and facing the persecution Jesus had warned about in Luke 21:12-13,16-19, “But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. And so you will bear testimony to me... You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. Everyone will hate you because of me. But not a hair of your head will perish. Stand firm, and you will win life.” NLT

It is through knowing God’s Word and this purification through trials that their faith was purified. “These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. 1 Peter 1:7 NLT”

Application - As I look at the church worldwide, there has been persecution of Christians in various places, usually in countries where a strong authoritarian rule is established. These believers faced the fire for their faith in Jesus Christ, yet in America, persecution has not happened as in other countries. In these countries, the believer’s faith is pure, they stand firm and blameless because of their trust in Jesus. Some have been imprisoned, beaten, denied freedoms, we in America deem as human rights. And like the church in Smyrna, they are faithful, even to death. 

I believe that the purging of the church in America is coming. Persecution will separate the chaff from the wheat, refine the faithful and reveal the false teaching of the enemy. We have had the Bible in this country from its conception. Yet today, very few American Christians read it, let alone know the God of the Bible. They have given themselves in alliance to world religions, the doctrines of false teachers and false prophets, and to the ways of this world and its pleasures and forms of peace. 

Jesus said in Luke 18:8 “However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” This is the question that needs to be answered in American churches. Are we the church that longs for Jesus’ return, that loves him and their neighbors more than themselves, the spotless and blameless bride who has readied herself for the groom, who has not adulterated their faith with the world’s ways, and who is at the task our Lord and the master gave us to do? We have been forewarned!

The second warning from Peter reminded the believers to understand long suffering (patience). God is their source of and example of patience. Let’s look at the next portion of text, “Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.”

Peter understood that it took patience in waiting for the purpose and will of God to be fulfilled, and the longer the time of trials and persecution meant that God was still waiting for mankind to trust in Jesus Christ for salvation, God’s plan. 

Some of the believers had heard about the rapture from Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians, as well as other letters to the churches that were circulated. Peter affirms that the letters and teaching from Paul (Gal.2:7-10) were Holy Spirit inspired and profitable for teaching, correcting, and training in righteousness. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness 2 Tim. 3:16

Paul’s letters warned of the false teachers and false prophets who had distorted the teaching of the coming rapture of the church (2 Thes.2:1-3), that salvation is by faith plus certain works of the Law (Gal.2:4-5), perverting the gospel of Christ (Gal.1:7), and living and teaching another gospel while living in the state of lawlessness of the world (2 Tim.3:1-9).

Application - God is patiently waiting for every person to come to salvation. “Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

But He will not wait forever, He has appointed a time for the coming of His Son for his bride, and to come and judge, reign and rule on this earth. But He has given us His Son,  salvation by grace (unmerited favor) to all who would believe in Him, and he has given us His Holy Spirit to indwell all who placed their faith in His Son. Second, a false teaching that has crept into the Church, it is the cheapening of God’s grace. 

Dietrich Bonhoeffer in his book “Cost of Discipleship” wrote about the false teaching on God’s grace in the modern church, he calls it cheap grace.

“Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate. 

Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will go and sell all that he has. It is the pearl of great price to buy which the merchant will sell all his goods. It is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck out the eye which causes him to stumble; it is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him. Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock. Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: "ye were bought at a price," and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is the Incarnation of God.”

― Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

Please, let us take to heart true grace, costly grace for our salvation is based on it. Paul by the Holy Spirit stated it for us, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” Eph. 2:8-9

Next Peter gives his final warning in the letter to the believers, let’s look at the text. “Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.”

Peter knew the dangers of Satan’s lies, and how he manipulates the scriptures, like he did in tempting Jesus. These other gospels and false teachings were being spread throughout the Roman world. He gave three admonitions to the believers in order to be secure in their faith. First, “be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position.”

The believers were under attack, not only by the lawlessness in the world, but also from within, the wolves in sheep’s clothing, false teachers. It was Paul who wrote, many in the church will want their ears tickled, “For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.”  2 Tim. 4:3

The believers throughout Israel and Asia Minor were under the rule of Greco-Roman laws and culture. They were being acclimated into accepting the ways of the world, and these believers were assimilating the teaching of Jesus, the gospel, and the teaching of Paul with the writings of Greek and Roman philosophies. As well, some of those who were in the church ran ahead with false teaching, some from their own imagination. “These are the things you are to teach and insist on. If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.” 1 Tim. 6:3-5; “From this we know that the last hour has come. These people left our churches, but they never really belonged with us; otherwise they would have stayed with us. When they left, it proved that they did not belong with us. But you are not like that, for the Holy One has given you his Spirit, and all of you know the truth. So I am writing to you not because you don’t know the truth but because you know the difference between truth and lies.” 1 Jn. 2:18b-21

Peter gives a final exhortation to the believers, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” Throughout the beginning of the church, growth in knowing God and His Son Jesus were the signs of spiritual maturity. To all who truly believe, growth was by God’s grace and mercy, His unmerited favor and love, they knew they were saved, having a new life and living hope in Christ Jesus. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.” 1 Pet. 1:3-5 And Paul’s prayer for the believers, “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Eph.3:16-19

This is the solid core of the gospel, Jesus Christ, the Son of God came to earth as a baby, was crucified for the sins of mankind, resurrected victorious over sin, death, and Hell, and will return for His church as the bridegroom. The believers were to praise God the Father for giving them such a salvation through amazing grace and an inheritance assured for all who placed their faith, trust, and wholehearted obedience in Jesus. God, not only saved by faith, but shielded all believers with the Holy Spirit, God’s power, until the day He takes them to heaven. This is the blessed hope of the church in the last day.

Application - We have been forewarned! God has given us His gospel, His Word. He has warned us about being ready and alert for His coming, and He has warned us to know the true gospel not the lies of another gospel. God has given us everything we need to grow in our faith in His Son. God has not left believers wanting and starving for strength, knowledge, the depth of His love. For God wants to fill us daily with the fullness of His riches in heaven. For all of this is for everyone who would believe in God’s Son. As Peter, Paul, and John wrote these are the last days, the last hour before His imminent return. It would behoove us to hear the question again, “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” 

  I’m again including the ABC’s of salvation (JD Farag). Please the day is drawing near, won't you please be ready?

A - Admit that you are a sinner. This is where that godly sorrow leads to genuine repentance for sinning against a righteous God and there is a change of heart, we change our mind and God changes our hearts and regenerates us from the inside out. Romans 3:10 - As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one." Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (We are all born sinners which is why we must be born spiritually in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven). Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The bad news is that the wages of sin is death, in other words our sin means that we have been given a death sentence, we have the death penalty hanging over our heads, that's the bad news. But here's the good news: The good news is that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 2:8-9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

 B - Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Jesus from the dead. This is trusting with all of your heart that Jesus Christ is who he said he was. Romans 10:9-10 - That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 

C - Call upon the name of the Lord. Every single person who ever lived since Adam will bend their knee and confess with their mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Romans 14:11 - For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." Don't wait until later — do this now. Romans 10:13 - For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." "O God, I am a sinner. I'm sorry for my sin. I want to turn from my sin. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son; I believe that He died on the cross for my sin and that He was buried and You raised Him to life. I have decided to place my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior, trusting only in His shed blood as sufficient to save my soul and to take me to heaven. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen."

Please share this with someone this week, the Lord knows that we and they need it.

If you would like other lessons, please go to http://pmdinhisservice.blogspot.com 

Until next week, In His Service Mike Davis