"THE SECOND EPISTLE OF PETER" Perspectives From An Aged Apostle (1:12-15) INTRODUCTION 1. When a person faces impending death, their mind usually turns to thinking about things most important to them 2. For example, when Jesus knew His death was imminent, His prayer in John 17 reveals that the unity of believers was a great concern to Him - Jn 17:20-21 3. From our text for this lesson, it is evident that the apostle Peter knew his time on earth was short - 2Pe 1:12-15 (READ) 4. What sort of things were on the mind of Peter at this time? What did this apostle of our Lord consider to be of great importance? 5. There are several things we can glean from this passage in answer to these questions, that I call "Perspectives From An Aged Apostle" [For example, consider...] I. HIS PERSPECTIVE ON THE NEED TO BE REMINDED A. PETER'S CONCERN... 1. He does not want to be negligent in reminding them - 2Pe 1:12 2. He thinks it proper to remind them - 2Pe 1:13 3. He is even taking steps to ensure that they are reminded after his death - 2Pe 1:15 B. FREQUENT REMINDING CAN "STIR UP"... 1. Peter's concern is not a reflection on their present condition - 2Pe 1:13 a. It is not as though they don't know what they should know b. It is not as though they weren't established in what they know 2. But there is always the need to "stir up" a. The Greek word is diegeiro {dee-eg-i'-ro}, and means "to wake fully, i.e. arouse (lit. or fig.):--arise, awake, raise, stir up" b. The tendency is for one to become slack in their service to God c. Somehow we need to be constantly "aroused, awakened" d. Being reminded of things that are important is one way to do this! C. WAYS TO BE REMINDED (OR "STIRRED UP")... 1. Through frequent assembling with other Christians - He 10: 24-25 2. Through daily Bible reading -- this is how Peter continues to remind us after his death - cf. 2Pe 1:15 [Do we appreciate the importance of being reminded, especially of things pertaining to the Christian life? May the concerns of an aged apostle help us to appreciate this need! Peter also shares with us...] II. HIS PERSPECTIVE OF THE BODY AND DEATH A. THE BODY IS A "TENT"... 1. Peter views his body as a "tabernacle" (KJV) or "tent" (NKJV) - 2Pe 1:13-14 2. In other words, a temporary housing for his "inner man" which continues after death - cf. Mt 10:28 3. Does this not contradict the view of the "Jehovah's Witnesses" who claim that the body IS the soul, and not a housing for the soul? 4. Paul's concept of the body was the same as Peter's - cf. 2 Co 5:1-8 B. DEATH IS "PUTTING OFF THE TENT", AND "AN EXODUS"... 1. Peter speaks of his impending death, which the Lord had showed him - 2Pe 1:14 (a possible reference to Jn 21:18-19?) 2. He first describes his dying as "I must put off my tent" a. Again, this reflects his view of the body b. And the differentiation between the soul ("I") and the body ("my tent") 3. In further describing his death, he uses the Greek word exodos {ex'-od-os} - 2Pe 1:15 a. Which means "an exit, i.e. (fig.) death:--decease, departing" b. It is the same word used to describe the Israel's "exodus" from Egyptian bondage c. Far from viewing death as an end, Peter sees it as a an exit from one world to the next [Our apprehension of dying can be lessened if we adopt this aged apostle's view of the body and death. It can certainly help keep things in proper perspective! Finally, let's try to glean from our text...] III. HIS PERSPECTIVE AS TO WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT A. TWICE, PETER REFERS TO "THESE THINGS"... 1. "I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things" - 2Pe 1:12 2. "I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things" - 2Pe 2:15 -- What are "these things" that Peter is so concerned about? B. GROWING IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF JESUS CHRIST... 1. "These things" must refer to what Peter had described in previous verses 2. Which we saw in our previous lesson dealt with "Growing In The Knowledge Of Jesus Christ" - 2Pe 1:5-11 3. Does this not say something about the importance of our previous study? a. Peter knew his time on earth was short, that death was imminent b. In what little time he had left, he wanted to remind them of that which was most important c. Even his last words in this epistle come back to this theme - 2Pe 3:18 d. It is evident, then, that "growing in the knowledge of Jesus Christ" as defined by Peter in verses 5-11 should be of utmost importance to the Christian! 1) Other things certainly have their place (e.g., the identity, organization, work, and worship of the church) 2) But if there is to be a priority for the growing Christian, let it be that which Peter was most concerned about during his final days on earth! CONCLUSION 1. I have often benefited greatly from the time spent visiting with aged saints, who knew that their time on earth was short... a. They were often prone to speak of noble themes, such as the meaning of life and death, and what is really important in life b. Their perspective on things was sharpened, both by their experience and by the realization that life is but a vapor 2. What a privilege it must have been for those Christians in the first century who were around Peter as his end drew near! a. To be able to sit at his feet, and listen to his words of exhortation and warning b. To receive counsel from one who knew our Lord intimately, and served Him long and faithfully 3. Fortunately for us, Peter was indeed "careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things" after his decease, and we have that reminder in his epistles! Will we take advantage of the "Perspectives Of An Aged Apostle", and allow his "reminders" to stir us up?Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011
