Remember God’s Promises
Remember! – Message 1
Perry Duggar
April 24, 2022

I. Introduction: We begin a survey of 2nd Peter, called, Remember!
A. The letter is attributed to Simon Peter, one of Jesus’ original twelve disciples.

1. It was written in A.D.63-65, toward the end of Peter’s life.
   
2. False teaching had infiltrated the churches; Peter wrote to warn them about people who were saying Jesus would not return, so they could live any way they liked.
   
3. They asserted the soul is spiritual and pure, unaffected by sins committed with the body.
   
4. To enable believers to resist this heresy, Peter urged them to remember their identity in Christ, encouraged growth in their knowledge and trust in the promise of Jesus’ return.
   

B. Today’s focus is 2 Peter 1:1-11; the title is, Remember God’s Promises.

1. Theme verse: 2 Peter 1:4 (NLT)— And because of His glory and excellence, He has given us great and precious promises.
   
2. 2 Peter 1:1–2 (NLT)—This letter is from Simon Peter [Hebrew and Greek], a slave [doulos, total devotion to Jesus] and apostle of Jesus Christ [sent by to proclaim the Gospel]. I am writing to you who share the same precious faith we have. [All equal before God, sinners saved by grace, no elitism] This faith was given to you because of the justice and fairness of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior. [His sacrifice justifies all.] 2 May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. [Increasing intimacy with God provides greater favor and increased peace from God (inner calm from God, not circumstances).] 
3. Peter began his letter by identifying his audience as true believers of Jesus Christ, because people who did not claim faith would be disinterested in what he wrote.
   
4. Today, Christians who are being disoriented by diverse messages they are encountering in the culture, and even in some churches, want reliable direction about living by faith.
   
5. Our culture, especially in media and through celebrities, promotes alternative meanings of salvation and faith, and advocates standards of morality in conflict with Scripture.
   
6. Politicians, musicians, actors, athletes, teachers and pastors seek to influence our thinking, but who is right, what is truthful, what agenda is motivating their messages?
   
7. In summary, where can truth be found? Where can guidance be obtained?
   
8. Peter’s answer for us to focus on the promises of God as our guide for life.
   
   

II. The promises of God… (2 Peter 1:3-11)

A. #1 - Provide power for godliness. (2 Peter 1:3-4. C/R: Ephesians 3:20; 4:21-24; 6:10-12; 2 Timothy 1:7)

1. 2 Peter 1:3a (NLT)—By His divine power, God has given us [people who possess and want to practice their faith] everything we need for living a godly life.
   
2. Believers are fully enabled to live a life committed to God and pleasing to Him.
   
3. 2 Peter 1:3b (NLT)—We have received all of this by coming to know Him, the One who called us to Himself by means of His marvelous glory and excellence. [by grace]
   
4. Peter declared that knowing God (possessing true faith) leads to godly behavior.
   
5. He was exposing teaching stating you could practice sin and remain spiritual as false.
   
6. When we know God, are born again by faith in Jesus, we receive power from the Holy Spirit who transforms our thinking, our beliefs, our lives, by conforming us to Christ.
   
7. This Spirit power enables us to live lives which display, not ours, but God’s goodness.
   
8. 2 Peter 1:4 (NLT)—And because of His glory and excellence [God’s character], He has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share His divine nature [through Spirit’s presence, regeneration] and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.
   
9. When we know Christ, we receive of all of God’s promises to His children.
   
10. With the Spirit’s presence within, God’s promises become the beliefs by which we live.
    
11. These promises include forgiveness for our sins (past, present, future), the return of Jesus (2nd coming) to collect all believers and the promise of eternity in heaven.
    
12. We are promised the power to resist sin, to escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires (lusts); we don’t have to submit, we have the strength to refuse!
    
13. 1 John 3:9 (NLT)—Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God. [also Romans 6:11-14; 1 Corinthians 10:13; Hebrews 12:1]
    
14. APP.: Are you living a godly life by experiencing and exercising divine power?
    
    

The promises of God…
B. #2 - Promote spiritual growth. (2 Peter 1:5-8. C/R: Ephesians 5:8-9; Colossians 1:9-10; 3:10; 1 John 1:5-7)

1. 2 Peter 1:5a (NLT)—In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises.
   
2. We have the freedom and responsibility to live according to God’s promises, which means they become the truths by which we make decisions and decide actions.
   
3. As we grow closer to Christ—which we do by living according to God’s promises, believing them, being guided by them—we reflect His nature in greater measure.
   
4. Knowing Jesus not only empowers us to stop sinning, but also enables us to grow spiritually; we cooperate with God’s Spirit to be conformed to Jesus’ nature.
   
5. 2 Peter 1:5b (NLT)—Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence [continual dependence on Jesus, connection to Him, improves our morals], and moral excellence with knowledge [divine truth produces discernment and wisdom],
   
6. We can’t draw close to God until we’ve dealt with our sin, but as we repent, turn away from offensive behaviors, we draw closer to God. (Ex. Works the same with people.)
   
7. 2 Peter 1:6-7 (NLT)—[Supplement]6 and knowledge with self-control [intimacy with God enables ability to resist sin, false faith cannot deliver from sin’s control, so false believers remain controlled by lusts], and self-control with patient endurance [perseverance despite opposition from culture], and patient endurance with godliness [living to honor and adore God], 7 and godliness with brotherly affection [for other believers], and brotherly affection with love for everyone. [when filled with God’s love, it will be expressed to all—including unbelievers and even those who oppose you.]
   
8. These character traits—morality, knowledge of God, self-control, patient endurance, godliness and love—are not independent of each other.
   
9. Each character quality, or virtue, leads to the next; they do not develop separately or singularly, all result from being led and empowered by the Spirit.
   
10. 2 Peter 1:8 (NLT)—The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
    
11. As we grow and mature spiritually, evidenced by increasing character qualities, our faith becomes more productive and useful, which means it is displayed in practical ways as we love and serve others in Christ’s name. (Love God by Loving People!)
    
12. Colossians 3:10 (NLT)—Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like Him. [Becoming like Jesus; Romans 8:29]
    
13. APP.: Do you display increasing Christ-like character traits? Is your faith productive and useful?
    
    

The promises of God…
#3 - Prevent falling away. (2 Peter 1:9-11. C/R: 2 Corinthians 13:5; 2 Timothy 4:3-4; Hebrews 3:12-14; 1 Peter 1:13-16)

1. 2 Peter 1:9 (NLT)—But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.
   
2. If someone professes faith in Christ, but fails to grow spiritually and doesn’t escape sin, he/she will be unsure of their true spiritual condition, whether saved or lost.
   
3. Once blind before salvation, then enabled to see, these people experience a kind of spiritual blindness again since they can’t see Christ or themselves clearly.
   
4. Forgetting what they have been forgiven of, not remembering what it felt like to be freed, pardoned, cleansed, leads to repeating old sins, which will rob even real Christians of assurance of their salvation
   
5. 2 Peter 1:10a (NLT)—So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen [to salvation].
   
6. This does not mean that people earn salvation by working hard to display Christian virtues; Peter has already stated that salvation depends on Jesus alone (1 Peter 1:1).
   
7. Rather, pursuing Christ will result in developing Christ-like character, which confirms the reality of faith in your life.
   
8. 2 Peter 1:10b (NLT)—Do these things, and you will never fall away [or stumble].
   
9. When people are motivated to live Spirit-led lives, being productive and useful in their knowledge of Jesus (2 Peter 1:8), they will be focused on loving people in practical ways through service.
   
10. As a result, they will not fall away, because they won’t be interested in or attracted by, enticements to turn away from God.
    
11. Have you noticed that when you are consumed with helping someone, acting in a selfless way, you avoid temptation, which is always self-centered? (Ex. mission trips)
    
12. When we pursue godly living and, as a result, develop Christ-like character, we will be able to discern and reject influences that encourage compromise with this world.
    
13. The joyful result of a godly, well-lived, life is eternal reward in heaven.
    
14. 2 Peter 1:11 (NLT)—Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
    
15. APP.: Are you living a godly life on earth, motivated by eventual reward in heaven?
    

Memory verse: 2 Peter 1:4 (NLT)— And because of His glory and excellence, He has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share His divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.