WEBVTT

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 Amen. Well, thank you very much to Fiona and the band and to Katie for reading that passage.

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 Let's turn to God in prayer before we begin. Let's pray together.

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 Heavenly Father, we thank you for the privilege it is to be able to openly and freely read your word.

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 Lord, now as we come to meditate on it, we pray that the meditations of all of our hearts

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 and that the words of my mouth would be pleasing to you.

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 Father, would I decrease and would you increase?

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 And we pray that everything that is done in this service would be for your glory and fame.

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 In Jesus' name. Amen.

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 In the 1940s, there was a 65-year-old man living in Kentucky.

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 He drove a beat-up car and was living on minimal benefits.

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 Now, he'd known success in his life. He had previously owned a restaurant but had lost it all.

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 But he hadn't given up yet. He wasn't done.

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 See, he decided to make a change in his life.

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 So at the ripe young age of 65, this man looked at his life and asked himself,

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 what would he have to offer others?

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 And his answer was fried chicken.

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 He took to the road with his fried chicken recipe that all of his family and friends loved.

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 He drove for miles and miles all over the US trying to sell his recipe to different restaurants.

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 He was so desperate that he was basically giving it away, simply asking for a little bit of the profit.

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 But still, many, in fact most, restaurants declined.

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 1,009 restaurants rejected this man.

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 But he kept on going.

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 He made every effort to achieve what he wanted.

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 And eventually, restaurant number 1,010 said yes.

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 Now, do you know who I'm talking about?

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 Kentucky Fried Chicken.

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 Colonel Harland Sanders, the founder and face of KFC.

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 He made every effort to achieve his goal despite over 1,000 setbacks.

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 He kept on fighting and eventually achieved what he wanted and more.

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 KFC is now third in the world's top 25 most lucrative restaurant chains.

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 Colonel Sanders made every effort.

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 Now, we've seen that language of making every effort in 2 Peter already, haven't we?

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 Look back at chapter 1, verse 10.

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 Peter says, make every effort to confirm your calling and election.

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 Meaning that a Christian's life should be a living example of the calling they have received,

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 which is to live godly lives.

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 And then Peter says of himself in chapter 1, verse 15,

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 Meaning that as Peter knew his death was imminent,

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 he would diligently work to make sure that the Christians he was writing to

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 would always remember what growth in godliness,

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 which is rooted in the gospel, looks like.

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 And this letter is part of that reminder.

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 And then this evening, at the very end of the letter,

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 we get the final make every effort in verse 14.

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 Read it with me.

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 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this,

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 make every effort to be found spotless, blameless, and at peace with him.

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 This is the main point of our passage tonight.

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 So if you're looking for a sentence that summarizes exactly what Peter wants you to walk away with,

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 that is it.

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 If you're a Christian here this evening,

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 Peter is speaking directly to you,

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 and he is saying,

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 Now, if 2 Peter were to end there, it would be great, wouldn't it?

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 But we'd still have questions.

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 We would want to know, well, how exactly do we make every effort?

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 Peter isn't holding up a sign that says,

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 Jesus is coming back soon, look busy.

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 He isn't saying, do more or work harder.

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 He isn't saying, be better.

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 But instead, he's giving us two practical things in these verses

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 that we can do in our daily lives

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 to make every effort to be found spotless, blameless, and at peace with him.

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 Peter says, Christians, bear in mind and be on God.

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 So the first thing we see in this passage is bear in mind.

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 In verses 14 to 16, bear in mind.

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 See, the goal of our diligence, of our making every effort,

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 is that on that final day when Jesus returns,

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 as we thought about last week,

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 we will be found spotless, blameless, and at peace with him.

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 The Christian, the person who trusts in Jesus,

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 is made spotless and blameless and is at peace with God.

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 But we are called to become more like Jesus.

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 We're called to grow in moral purity.

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 We're called to grow in our identity as people who are spotless and blameless.

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 That's what verse 14 says.

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 So that on that final day when all of our actions are laid bare before God,

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 as verse 10 says, we will be found without fault.

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 Now that is impossible by ourselves.

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 Maybe you're here and you're not a Christian.

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 Maybe you think that you're good enough.

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 You're a good enough person to get into heaven,

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 that you do good things.

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 You don't hurt people.

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 So surely you must be in God's good books.

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 Well, the Bible is clear that every person is naturally an enemy of God.

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 Naturally at odds with him.

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 Naturally deserving of his wrath.

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 Unable to be good enough or to do enough to be right with him on our own.

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 So what hope is there for anyone who stands before God on that final day on their own merit?

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 To put it bluntly, there is no hope.

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 Nobody can stand before the almighty creator and judge of the world based on their own works

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 and be accepted into the presence of God forever.

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 Because the only hope to be found on that day is that when you stand before God,

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 and everyone will,

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 as your thoughts, your actions, your attitudes and imagination are all put on display,

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 your only hope is that Jesus stands beside you and says,

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 I have paid for that person.

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 The only hope that exists when it comes to someone spending eternity in the presence of God

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 and the peace and not under judgment,

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 is the already completed work of Jesus Christ on the cross,

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 where he died in our place,

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 bearing God's wrath,

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 and securing salvation and a perfect relationship with God for all those who trust in him.

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 He died so that you can live.

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 Jesus died so that we can be spotless,

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 blameless,

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 and at peace with God.

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 Now those two descriptions put together,

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 blameless and spotless,

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 should make us think of Jesus,

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 the perfect lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

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 And it is through Jesus' sacrifice

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 that we're able to have that relationship with God.

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 Naturally, we are born enemies of God,

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 dead in our sin,

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 slaves to the passions of our sin-stained hearts,

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 living in darkness.

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 But when we put our trust in Jesus,

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 when we come before him in repentance and believe,

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 we are transformed.

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 We become children of light.

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 We are given power to live the life that we are called to live,

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 that we were created to live,

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 no longer enemies of God,

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 but children of God.

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 We are at peace with him.

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 And Peter says,

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 brothers and sisters,

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 bear your salvation in mind.

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 Remember that you are saved,

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 not by what you do,

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 but by what Jesus has already done.

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 And then in verse 15,

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 he says,

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 read it with me.

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 Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation.

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 Just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you

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 with the wisdom that God gave him.

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 He writes the same way in all his letters,

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 speaking in them of these matters.

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 His letters contain some things that are hard to understand,

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 which ignorant and unstable people distort

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 as they do other scriptures to their own destruction.

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 Peter says,

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 remember that Jesus hasn't come back yet

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 because God is patient,

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 allowing time for others to come to faith.

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 And we thought about that a little bit last week in verse nine.

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 And Peter brings in Paul at this point,

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 I think to bolster his argument.

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 He mentions Paul's other letters in verse 15

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 as a way of saying,

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 look,

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 I'm not the only one teaching this.

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 Another apostle is teaching the same thing.

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 And then Peter goes even further in verse 16

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 and mentions Paul's letters alongside scripture,

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 putting them both on the same level of authority.

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 Peter is saying what Paul writes

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 is also the authoritative word of God.

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 Now at this point,

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 most of Paul's letters were written

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 and some of them would have been circulating quite widely.

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 So Peter's using Paul's letters

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 to bolster his own argument,

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 using them as evidence,

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 maybe because the false teachers and scoffers

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 were twisting Peter's words

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 to support their own evil desires and schemes.

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 Peter says,

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 not a chance.

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 Me and Paul are on the same page.

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 And it's comforting to know,

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 at least I think it is,

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 that I'm not the only one

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 who has struggled at times

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 to understand Paul's letters.

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 Peter says in verse 16,

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 referring to Paul,

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 that his letters contain some things

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 that are hard to understand.

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 But the issue was that these false teachers

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 were distorting Paul's words

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 and the rest of the Old Testament

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 to their own destruction,

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 showing their ignorance and instability.

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 So Peter says,

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 bear that in mind.

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 Remember the gospel.

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 Remember the salvation that you have in Jesus.

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 Remember truth.

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 And do not let yourself be distracted

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 by distorted lies and unstable people.

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 But instead,

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 verse 14,

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 make every effort to be found spotless,

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 blameless and at peace with him.

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 J.C. Ryle,

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 a minister and bishop from many years ago,

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 put it this way in his great book on holiness,

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 which I highly recommend you grab a copy of.

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 He says,

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 the child of God has two great marks about him.

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 He may be known for his inward warfare

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 as well as his inward peace.

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 As a Christian,

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 you are a soldier who is constantly at war

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 because a battle is raging

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 and you are to make every effort in it.

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 We can't sit back and relax

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 if we are to be found spotless and blameless.

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 Yes, we have been made those things by Jesus,

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 but we are called to continue to grow in them

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 every single day.

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 We are to grow in our moral purity

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 for the glory of God.

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 So ask yourselves,

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 what are the sins that you are struggling with?

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 What are the temptations that you face every day

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 that you need to wage war against?

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 See, we're called to be like Jesus,

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 who is spotless and blameless.

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 He is untainted in character

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 and without defect.

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 He is perfect.

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 We cannot do that whilst lust

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 has any part to play in our lives.

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 We cannot let pride,

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 adultery,

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 lying,

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 coveting,

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 gossip,

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 anger,

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 boastfulness,

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 be part of our lives

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 if we are to make every effort

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 to be found spotless and blameless

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 on that day.

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 Christians are made at peace with Christ

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 and so we are to wage war

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 against our sinful nature.

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 As John Owen,

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 a theologian from years ago,

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 famously said,

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 be killing sin

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 or sin will be killing you.

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 Bear in mind,

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 Peter says,

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 remember the salvation

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 that you have in Jesus

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 and live it out.

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 Remember that God's patience

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 means salvation.

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 So how should these,

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 remembering these two things

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 help us?

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 Well,

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 by remembering the gospel,

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 we remember the price

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 that was paid

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 to make peace

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 between us and God possible.

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 We remember the sacrifice

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 that Jesus was

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 to make us spotless

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 and blameless before God

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 and so out of a thankfulness

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 and love for him,

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 we should live holy lives.

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 The lives we were created

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 to live.

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 How do we do that?

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 We gather with the Lord's people

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 on a Sunday.

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 We celebrate communion

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 as we remember Jesus' sacrifice.

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 We study the Bible together,

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 both corporately,

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 in smaller groups together

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 and individually.

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 And we die to ourselves

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 and we live for him.

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 Rejecting our old nature and sin

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 and instead living lives

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 of holiness.

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 And we remember

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 that God's patience

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 means salvation

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 and that should impact

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 how we live

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 because we're called

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 to go into this world

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 and share the message

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 of hope.

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 The only message

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 that can give true hope

00:14:52.980 --> 00:14:53.959
 and true life,

00:14:54.720 --> 00:14:55.579
 the message of Jesus.

00:14:56.579 --> 00:14:57.679
 That's what we're to take

00:14:57.679 --> 00:14:58.379
 into the world.

00:14:59.980 --> 00:15:00.459
 Friends,

00:15:00.519 --> 00:15:01.500
 we cannot simply have

00:15:01.500 --> 00:15:03.000
 an intellectual understanding

00:15:03.000 --> 00:15:03.899
 of these things.

00:15:03.899 --> 00:15:04.959
 all theology

00:15:04.959 --> 00:15:06.419
 should lead

00:15:06.419 --> 00:15:08.399
 to changed lives.

00:15:09.959 --> 00:15:11.259
 We need to know

00:15:11.259 --> 00:15:12.959
 and live out the truth.

00:15:14.079 --> 00:15:14.819
 Peter says,

00:15:14.980 --> 00:15:16.059
 bear in mind,

00:15:16.439 --> 00:15:17.519
 remember the salvation

00:15:17.519 --> 00:15:18.600
 that you have in Jesus

00:15:18.600 --> 00:15:19.439
 and remember

00:15:19.439 --> 00:15:20.519
 that God's patience

00:15:20.519 --> 00:15:22.240
 means salvation.

00:15:24.959 --> 00:15:26.039
 And the second thing

00:15:26.039 --> 00:15:27.299
 we see in this passage

00:15:27.299 --> 00:15:29.039
 is be on God.

00:15:29.039 --> 00:15:31.179
 in verses 17 to 18,

00:15:31.319 --> 00:15:33.059
 be on God.

00:15:34.019 --> 00:15:35.360
 Now I don't know about you

00:15:35.360 --> 00:15:36.079
 but growing up

00:15:36.079 --> 00:15:37.620
 I loved watching movies

00:15:37.620 --> 00:15:38.480
 with my grandparents.

00:15:39.159 --> 00:15:39.879
 With my gran

00:15:39.879 --> 00:15:40.659
 it was always

00:15:40.659 --> 00:15:41.819
 cowboy and Indian movies

00:15:41.819 --> 00:15:43.000
 and with my grandpa

00:15:43.000 --> 00:15:43.740
 it was normally

00:15:43.740 --> 00:15:45.279
 World War II movies.

00:15:45.939 --> 00:15:47.039
 Two completely

00:15:47.039 --> 00:15:48.120
 different times

00:15:48.120 --> 00:15:50.080
 but one consistent

00:15:50.080 --> 00:15:51.120
 thing happened

00:15:51.120 --> 00:15:52.299
 and still happens

00:15:52.299 --> 00:15:54.080
 in almost every movie

00:15:54.080 --> 00:15:55.220
 where there's

00:15:55.220 --> 00:15:56.019
 something to do

00:15:56.019 --> 00:15:56.600
 with a war

00:15:56.600 --> 00:15:57.620
 or a battle.

00:15:58.440 --> 00:16:00.019
 When night time comes

00:16:00.019 --> 00:16:01.480
 there is always

00:16:01.480 --> 00:16:02.080
 someone

00:16:02.080 --> 00:16:02.940
 who watches

00:16:02.940 --> 00:16:03.740
 God.

00:16:05.700 --> 00:16:06.980
 Read verse 17

00:16:06.980 --> 00:16:07.360
 with me.

00:16:07.419 --> 00:16:08.320
 Peter says this,

00:16:08.679 --> 00:16:09.899
 therefore dear friends

00:16:09.899 --> 00:16:10.779
 since you have

00:16:10.779 --> 00:16:11.940
 been forewarned

00:16:11.940 --> 00:16:13.600
 be on your guard

00:16:13.600 --> 00:16:15.019
 so that you may

00:16:15.019 --> 00:16:16.159
 not be carried away

00:16:16.159 --> 00:16:16.840
 by the error

00:16:16.840 --> 00:16:17.919
 of the lawless

00:16:17.919 --> 00:16:18.860
 and fall

00:16:18.860 --> 00:16:19.839
 from your secure

00:16:19.839 --> 00:16:20.740
 position.

00:16:22.079 --> 00:16:23.599
 Now in any war movie

00:16:23.599 --> 00:16:24.620
 or in any real life

00:16:24.620 --> 00:16:25.219
 situation

00:16:25.219 --> 00:16:26.360
 if you receive

00:16:26.360 --> 00:16:27.019
 a warning

00:16:27.019 --> 00:16:29.039
 you watch for it

00:16:29.039 --> 00:16:29.419
 don't you?

00:16:30.939 --> 00:16:31.759
 You're not going to

00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:32.699
 see a warning signs

00:16:32.699 --> 00:16:33.199
 on a beach

00:16:33.199 --> 00:16:34.179
 about a particularly

00:16:34.179 --> 00:16:36.019
 dangerous undercurrent

00:16:36.019 --> 00:16:36.740
 and decide

00:16:36.740 --> 00:16:37.860
 that now's the time

00:16:37.860 --> 00:16:38.839
 to go for a swim.

00:16:40.099 --> 00:16:40.979
 You aren't going to

00:16:40.979 --> 00:16:41.599
 hear warnings

00:16:41.599 --> 00:16:42.219
 of a shark

00:16:42.219 --> 00:16:42.879
 in the water

00:16:42.879 --> 00:16:43.980
 and decide

00:16:43.980 --> 00:16:44.959
 to paddle around

00:16:44.959 --> 00:16:45.579
 for fun

00:16:45.579 --> 00:16:46.459
 in the hot

00:16:46.459 --> 00:16:47.000
 summer's day.

00:16:47.079 --> 00:16:47.319
 No.

00:16:47.919 --> 00:16:49.139
 You've been warned

00:16:49.139 --> 00:16:51.019
 and so you stay

00:16:51.019 --> 00:16:51.500
 alert

00:16:51.500 --> 00:16:52.439
 you are on

00:16:52.439 --> 00:16:53.120
 God.

00:16:54.659 --> 00:16:55.759
 The same is true

00:16:55.759 --> 00:16:56.419
 for the Christian

00:16:56.419 --> 00:16:56.779
 life.

00:16:56.879 --> 00:16:57.799
 If you want to do

00:16:57.799 --> 00:16:59.199
 what verse 14

00:16:59.199 --> 00:17:00.259
 says to be found

00:17:00.259 --> 00:17:00.879
 spotless,

00:17:01.059 --> 00:17:01.439
 blameless

00:17:01.439 --> 00:17:02.059
 and at peace

00:17:02.059 --> 00:17:02.519
 with God

00:17:02.519 --> 00:17:03.719
 then we need

00:17:03.719 --> 00:17:04.740
 to be on

00:17:04.740 --> 00:17:05.240
 God.

00:17:06.339 --> 00:17:07.319
 Peter has warned us

00:17:07.319 --> 00:17:08.079
 throughout this letter

00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:08.680
 hasn't he?

00:17:09.059 --> 00:17:09.960
 Of the dangers

00:17:09.960 --> 00:17:11.180
 associated with

00:17:11.180 --> 00:17:11.980
 false teaching

00:17:11.980 --> 00:17:13.200
 and false teachers.

00:17:13.200 --> 00:17:15.740
 So out of love

00:17:15.740 --> 00:17:16.559
 for these Christians

00:17:16.559 --> 00:17:17.400
 Peter is saying

00:17:17.400 --> 00:17:18.120
 be careful

00:17:18.120 --> 00:17:19.559
 don't be carried

00:17:19.559 --> 00:17:20.080
 away

00:17:20.080 --> 00:17:21.360
 by the error

00:17:21.360 --> 00:17:23.100
 of the lawless

00:17:23.100 --> 00:17:23.920
 and fall.

00:17:25.000 --> 00:17:25.440
 Now the word

00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:26.299
 translated as

00:17:26.299 --> 00:17:26.759
 fall

00:17:26.759 --> 00:17:28.299
 means apostasy

00:17:28.299 --> 00:17:29.120
 walking away

00:17:29.120 --> 00:17:29.819
 from the faith

00:17:29.819 --> 00:17:31.019
 renouncing what

00:17:31.019 --> 00:17:31.519
 you believe

00:17:31.519 --> 00:17:32.120
 and following

00:17:32.120 --> 00:17:33.279
 a different path.

00:17:35.480 --> 00:17:36.420
 That happens

00:17:36.420 --> 00:17:36.940
 when someone

00:17:36.940 --> 00:17:37.640
 lets their God

00:17:37.640 --> 00:17:37.980
 down.

00:17:37.980 --> 00:17:41.200
 they get caught

00:17:41.200 --> 00:17:41.980
 and when they

00:17:41.980 --> 00:17:42.579
 get caught up

00:17:42.579 --> 00:17:43.339
 in false teaching

00:17:43.339 --> 00:17:44.180
 they get swept

00:17:44.180 --> 00:17:45.079
 away by error.

00:17:46.640 --> 00:17:47.299
 Peter is using

00:17:47.299 --> 00:17:47.720
 the imagery

00:17:47.720 --> 00:17:48.360
 of a river

00:17:48.360 --> 00:17:50.559
 that carries

00:17:50.559 --> 00:17:51.420
 someone downstream

00:17:51.420 --> 00:17:52.360
 and they can do

00:17:52.360 --> 00:17:53.519
 nothing about it.

00:17:55.039 --> 00:17:55.700
 I wonder if you've

00:17:55.700 --> 00:17:56.740
 seen videos

00:17:56.740 --> 00:17:57.380
 of a flood

00:17:57.380 --> 00:17:57.819
 and you see

00:17:57.819 --> 00:17:58.880
 these massive cars

00:17:58.880 --> 00:17:59.799
 that weigh a ton

00:17:59.799 --> 00:18:00.980
 being thrown

00:18:00.980 --> 00:18:01.819
 around by the

00:18:01.819 --> 00:18:02.519
 rushing water

00:18:02.519 --> 00:18:03.160
 like they were

00:18:03.160 --> 00:18:04.140
 a little toy car

00:18:04.140 --> 00:18:04.759
 in a bathtub.

00:18:06.519 --> 00:18:07.299
 That's the kind

00:18:07.299 --> 00:18:07.900
 of thing we should

00:18:07.900 --> 00:18:08.840
 be imagining here.

00:18:09.420 --> 00:18:09.660
 You see

00:18:09.660 --> 00:18:10.440
 false teaching

00:18:10.440 --> 00:18:11.660
 isn't harmless

00:18:11.660 --> 00:18:12.660
 it is not

00:18:12.660 --> 00:18:13.560
 something to be

00:18:13.560 --> 00:18:14.280
 messed with.

00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:16.740
 So often

00:18:16.740 --> 00:18:17.900
 I hear Christians

00:18:17.900 --> 00:18:19.019
 who are listening

00:18:19.019 --> 00:18:19.900
 to and reading

00:18:19.900 --> 00:18:20.620
 material from

00:18:20.620 --> 00:18:21.180
 well-known

00:18:21.180 --> 00:18:21.960
 false teachers

00:18:21.960 --> 00:18:23.240
 and they say

00:18:23.240 --> 00:18:23.820
 things like

00:18:23.820 --> 00:18:24.380
 well I just

00:18:24.380 --> 00:18:25.060
 take the good

00:18:25.060 --> 00:18:25.620
 and I leave

00:18:25.620 --> 00:18:26.120
 the bad.

00:18:27.519 --> 00:18:28.660
 I eat the meat

00:18:28.660 --> 00:18:29.620
 and I spit out

00:18:29.620 --> 00:18:30.019
 the bones

00:18:30.019 --> 00:18:30.780
 that kind of thing.

00:18:32.140 --> 00:18:33.000
 But do you see

00:18:33.000 --> 00:18:34.220
 how unwise it is?

00:18:35.500 --> 00:18:36.560
 Because if you know

00:18:36.560 --> 00:18:37.480
 you had a life

00:18:37.480 --> 00:18:38.420
 threatening disease

00:18:38.420 --> 00:18:39.420
 you would go

00:18:39.420 --> 00:18:40.620
 to a good doctor.

00:18:41.160 --> 00:18:41.799
 You'd get the

00:18:41.799 --> 00:18:42.680
 treatment that you

00:18:42.680 --> 00:18:43.000
 need.

00:18:43.079 --> 00:18:43.620
 You would seek

00:18:43.620 --> 00:18:44.440
 out the truth.

00:18:44.839 --> 00:18:45.400
 You wouldn't go

00:18:45.400 --> 00:18:46.279
 to a doctor who

00:18:46.279 --> 00:18:47.140
 will just reassure

00:18:47.140 --> 00:18:47.839
 you with a smile

00:18:47.839 --> 00:18:48.339
 that everything

00:18:48.339 --> 00:18:49.160
 will be fine.

00:18:50.920 --> 00:18:51.640
 It may be

00:18:51.640 --> 00:18:52.660
 comforting initially.

00:18:53.339 --> 00:18:54.019
 It may be what

00:18:54.019 --> 00:18:54.799
 you want to hear.

00:18:56.759 --> 00:18:57.660
 But it won't last

00:18:57.660 --> 00:18:58.400
 long and it will

00:18:58.400 --> 00:19:00.019
 only bring damage.

00:19:00.019 --> 00:19:03.119
 and in terms of

00:19:03.119 --> 00:19:04.839
 faith and theology

00:19:04.839 --> 00:19:07.759
 that has eternal

00:19:07.759 --> 00:19:08.440
 consequences.

00:19:10.180 --> 00:19:11.400
 So often Christians

00:19:11.400 --> 00:19:12.180
 are tempted to

00:19:12.180 --> 00:19:12.980
 listen to voices

00:19:12.980 --> 00:19:14.240
 that only offer

00:19:14.240 --> 00:19:14.900
 encouragement.

00:19:16.299 --> 00:19:17.339
 People who think

00:19:17.339 --> 00:19:18.079
 and say that the

00:19:18.079 --> 00:19:19.339
 Christian life should

00:19:19.339 --> 00:19:20.220
 only be one of

00:19:20.220 --> 00:19:21.079
 goodness and

00:19:21.079 --> 00:19:21.579
 happiness.

00:19:22.259 --> 00:19:22.920
 That's not what the

00:19:22.920 --> 00:19:23.839
 Bible tells us.

00:19:25.279 --> 00:19:26.740
 The diagnosis that

00:19:26.740 --> 00:19:27.879
 the Bible gives us

00:19:27.880 --> 00:19:28.860
 that we were

00:19:28.860 --> 00:19:29.660
 thinking about this

00:19:29.660 --> 00:19:30.440
 morning is that

00:19:30.440 --> 00:19:31.980
 every single day in

00:19:31.980 --> 00:19:32.820
 the Christian life

00:19:32.820 --> 00:19:33.800
 is a battle.

00:19:36.300 --> 00:19:37.260
 Don't go to the

00:19:37.260 --> 00:19:37.900
 teacher who will

00:19:37.900 --> 00:19:38.800
 tickle your ears.

00:19:39.260 --> 00:19:40.120
 Go to those who

00:19:40.120 --> 00:19:41.500
 faithfully and

00:19:41.500 --> 00:19:42.760
 consistently point you

00:19:42.760 --> 00:19:43.700
 to Jesus and who

00:19:43.700 --> 00:19:44.660
 preach the Bible.

00:19:46.360 --> 00:19:47.800
 Not personal opinion.

00:19:47.799 --> 00:19:50.220
 The New Testament

00:19:50.220 --> 00:19:51.519
 warns us again and

00:19:51.519 --> 00:19:52.779
 again do not play

00:19:52.779 --> 00:19:53.759
 with false teaching

00:19:53.759 --> 00:19:54.599
 and Peter is

00:19:54.599 --> 00:19:55.500
 warning you.

00:19:56.599 --> 00:19:57.200
 Whilst at the

00:19:57.200 --> 00:19:59.279
 minute that false

00:19:59.279 --> 00:20:00.639
 teaching may seem

00:20:00.639 --> 00:20:01.480
 like a nice little

00:20:01.480 --> 00:20:02.639
 stream to dip your

00:20:02.639 --> 00:20:04.960
 toe into, it will

00:20:04.960 --> 00:20:05.819
 become a raging

00:20:05.819 --> 00:20:07.119
 river that will

00:20:07.119 --> 00:20:08.279
 carry you off and

00:20:08.279 --> 00:20:09.159
 away from Christ.

00:20:11.339 --> 00:20:12.279
 You have been

00:20:12.279 --> 00:20:13.619
 warned, Peter says.

00:20:14.220 --> 00:20:15.720
 So be on guard.

00:20:15.720 --> 00:20:17.880
 Do not be carried

00:20:17.880 --> 00:20:18.740
 away by error.

00:20:20.700 --> 00:20:22.059
 But simply avoiding

00:20:22.059 --> 00:20:23.100
 false teaching isn't

00:20:23.100 --> 00:20:23.819
 enough, is it?

00:20:25.160 --> 00:20:26.519
 It is absolutely a

00:20:26.519 --> 00:20:27.319
 wise and necessary

00:20:27.319 --> 00:20:28.880
 thing to do but by

00:20:28.880 --> 00:20:29.700
 avoiding false

00:20:29.700 --> 00:20:30.480
 teaching are we

00:20:30.480 --> 00:20:31.660
 really making every

00:20:31.660 --> 00:20:32.680
 effort to be found

00:20:32.680 --> 00:20:33.900
 spotless and blameless

00:20:33.900 --> 00:20:34.720
 and at peace with

00:20:34.720 --> 00:20:35.039
 God?

00:20:36.940 --> 00:20:38.019
 Peter doesn't think

00:20:38.019 --> 00:20:38.299
 so.

00:20:39.259 --> 00:20:40.100
 And he gives us one

00:20:40.100 --> 00:20:41.319
 final aspect of this

00:20:41.319 --> 00:20:42.860
 command to be on

00:20:42.860 --> 00:20:44.079
 God in verse 18

00:20:44.079 --> 00:20:45.539
 where he says,

00:20:45.539 --> 00:20:46.779
 but grow in the

00:20:46.779 --> 00:20:47.920
 grace and knowledge

00:20:47.920 --> 00:20:48.859
 of our Lord and

00:20:48.859 --> 00:20:50.059
 Saviour Jesus Christ.

00:20:51.200 --> 00:20:52.059
 See this is where we

00:20:52.059 --> 00:20:53.460
 come full circle in

00:20:53.460 --> 00:20:54.379
 the book of 2 Peter.

00:20:55.440 --> 00:20:56.420
 Because this book

00:20:56.420 --> 00:20:57.659
 opens in chapter 1

00:20:57.659 --> 00:20:58.980
 verse 2 with Peter's

00:20:58.980 --> 00:21:00.619
 prayer that grace

00:21:00.619 --> 00:21:01.579
 would grow in

00:21:01.579 --> 00:21:02.700
 abundance in these

00:21:02.700 --> 00:21:03.639
 Christians lives

00:21:03.639 --> 00:21:04.980
 through the knowledge

00:21:04.980 --> 00:21:05.519
 of Jesus.

00:21:07.099 --> 00:21:08.299
 And he ends this

00:21:08.299 --> 00:21:09.099
 letter with a call

00:21:09.099 --> 00:21:10.099
 to grow in that

00:21:10.099 --> 00:21:10.559
 grace.

00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:12.859
 And throughout this

00:21:12.859 --> 00:21:13.720
 whole letter Peter

00:21:13.720 --> 00:21:14.640
 has been building

00:21:14.640 --> 00:21:16.420
 an argument of the

00:21:16.420 --> 00:21:17.740
 necessity of every

00:21:17.740 --> 00:21:19.480
 single Christian to

00:21:19.480 --> 00:21:21.120
 know and live out

00:21:21.120 --> 00:21:21.740
 the truth.

00:21:23.100 --> 00:21:24.460
 That is only possible

00:21:24.460 --> 00:21:25.579
 if we are rooted in

00:21:25.579 --> 00:21:26.039
 Christ.

00:21:26.380 --> 00:21:27.240
 If we find our

00:21:27.240 --> 00:21:28.380
 salvation in him and

00:21:28.380 --> 00:21:29.440
 then make every effort

00:21:29.440 --> 00:21:30.720
 to grow in him.

00:21:31.799 --> 00:21:33.700
 To have a faithful,

00:21:34.259 --> 00:21:35.660
 healthy, established,

00:21:35.880 --> 00:21:36.980
 vibrant faith.

00:21:36.980 --> 00:21:37.059
 faith.

00:21:38.299 --> 00:21:39.160
 We need to do what

00:21:39.160 --> 00:21:40.079
 Peter said right at

00:21:40.079 --> 00:21:40.900
 the beginning of this

00:21:40.900 --> 00:21:42.480
 letter in chapter 1

00:21:42.480 --> 00:21:44.079
 verses 3 to 11.

00:21:44.220 --> 00:21:46.019
 We need to depend on

00:21:46.019 --> 00:21:47.319
 God's power and on

00:21:47.319 --> 00:21:49.860
 God's promises which

00:21:49.860 --> 00:21:51.860
 requires us to properly

00:21:51.860 --> 00:21:53.000
 know him.

00:21:55.000 --> 00:21:57.180
 In 2019 a survey was

00:21:57.180 --> 00:21:58.259
 done in the UK which

00:21:58.259 --> 00:21:59.759
 showed that most

00:21:59.759 --> 00:22:00.880
 Christian millennials,

00:22:01.400 --> 00:22:04.019
 51% in the UK,

00:22:04.019 --> 00:22:06.039
 engage with the Bible

00:22:06.039 --> 00:22:07.559
 a few times a year

00:22:07.559 --> 00:22:08.259
 or less.

00:22:09.639 --> 00:22:11.200
 Only 9% of Christian

00:22:11.200 --> 00:22:12.759
 millennials read the

00:22:12.759 --> 00:22:13.960
 Bible every day and

00:22:13.960 --> 00:22:15.759
 about 13% look at the

00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:16.879
 Bible a few times a

00:22:16.879 --> 00:22:17.139
 week.

00:22:19.079 --> 00:22:20.200
 Now these studies are

00:22:20.200 --> 00:22:21.720
 never super accurate but

00:22:21.720 --> 00:22:24.000
 it shows a decline in

00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:25.160
 the reading of God's

00:22:25.160 --> 00:22:26.400
 word and I don't think

00:22:26.400 --> 00:22:27.599
 it is only a problem for

00:22:27.599 --> 00:22:28.039
 millennials.

00:22:28.900 --> 00:22:30.039
 In fact I know it's not.

00:22:31.559 --> 00:22:32.619
 See friends if we want to

00:22:32.619 --> 00:22:33.899
 take our faith seriously.

00:22:34.219 --> 00:22:35.839
 If we want to be able to

00:22:35.839 --> 00:22:37.159
 stand spotless and

00:22:37.159 --> 00:22:38.159
 blameless and at peace

00:22:38.159 --> 00:22:39.239
 with God on that final

00:22:39.239 --> 00:22:40.859
 day then we need to

00:22:40.859 --> 00:22:42.279
 know the truth and live

00:22:42.279 --> 00:22:42.799
 it out.

00:22:43.659 --> 00:22:45.319
 We must be on our guard.

00:22:45.439 --> 00:22:46.659
 We must be careful of

00:22:46.659 --> 00:22:47.959
 the teaching we take in

00:22:47.959 --> 00:22:49.579
 and be diligent in

00:22:49.579 --> 00:22:50.659
 growing and becoming

00:22:50.659 --> 00:22:51.559
 more and more like

00:22:51.559 --> 00:22:51.899
 Jesus.

00:22:53.839 --> 00:22:54.899
 Read your Bibles.

00:22:56.779 --> 00:22:57.959
 Get to know the

00:22:57.959 --> 00:22:58.819
 promises of God.

00:22:59.000 --> 00:23:00.279
 Memorise Bible verses.

00:23:00.559 --> 00:23:01.799
 Pray regularly.

00:23:01.799 --> 00:23:02.879
 Gather with God's

00:23:02.879 --> 00:23:03.279
 people.

00:23:03.720 --> 00:23:04.700
 Start reading the Bible

00:23:04.700 --> 00:23:05.539
 with other people.

00:23:06.460 --> 00:23:07.879
 If you're older here

00:23:07.879 --> 00:23:09.759
 please invest in the

00:23:09.759 --> 00:23:10.720
 younger generation.

00:23:11.200 --> 00:23:12.779
 We want to learn from

00:23:12.779 --> 00:23:13.039
 you.

00:23:14.200 --> 00:23:15.579
 If you're younger sit

00:23:15.579 --> 00:23:16.599
 under the teaching of

00:23:16.599 --> 00:23:18.079
 these older saints who

00:23:18.079 --> 00:23:18.940
 have journeyed with

00:23:18.940 --> 00:23:20.899
 Jesus for years and

00:23:20.899 --> 00:23:21.480
 learn.

00:23:24.180 --> 00:23:25.079
 It was said of John

00:23:25.079 --> 00:23:26.139
 Bunyan the author of

00:23:26.139 --> 00:23:27.139
 The Pilgrim's Progress

00:23:27.139 --> 00:23:28.759
 that if you would have

00:23:28.759 --> 00:23:29.819
 cut him he would have

00:23:29.819 --> 00:23:30.799
 bled scripture.

00:23:31.799 --> 00:23:33.919
 That should be our

00:23:33.919 --> 00:23:34.339
 desire.

00:23:35.339 --> 00:23:37.220
 To be so submerged in

00:23:37.220 --> 00:23:38.440
 God's word that it

00:23:38.440 --> 00:23:39.759
 becomes so dear to us

00:23:39.759 --> 00:23:40.740
 that we keep returning

00:23:40.740 --> 00:23:42.000
 to it every day because

00:23:42.000 --> 00:23:44.139
 that is how we grow in

00:23:44.139 --> 00:23:45.299
 the knowledge of Jesus

00:23:45.299 --> 00:23:46.720
 and the more we know

00:23:46.720 --> 00:23:48.019
 him the more we will

00:23:48.019 --> 00:23:49.079
 become like him.

00:23:50.980 --> 00:23:52.379
 Be on guard Peter says

00:23:52.379 --> 00:23:53.639
 do not get carried away

00:23:53.639 --> 00:23:55.359
 by false teaching but

00:23:55.359 --> 00:23:57.240
 grow in grace and the

00:23:57.240 --> 00:23:58.279
 knowledge of Jesus.

00:23:58.279 --> 00:23:58.480
 Jesus.

00:24:00.220 --> 00:24:01.660
 And all of this Jesus

00:24:01.660 --> 00:24:04.099
 says all of this Peter

00:24:04.099 --> 00:24:05.500
 says is for Jesus.

00:24:06.339 --> 00:24:07.059
 Do you see that at the

00:24:07.059 --> 00:24:08.019
 end of verse 18?

00:24:08.799 --> 00:24:11.220
 To him be glory both now

00:24:11.220 --> 00:24:12.779
 and forevermore.

00:24:13.339 --> 00:24:13.720
 Amen.

00:24:15.319 --> 00:24:17.420
 The ultimate goal of a

00:24:17.420 --> 00:24:18.599
 Christian who knows and

00:24:18.599 --> 00:24:19.639
 lives out the truth the

00:24:19.639 --> 00:24:20.859
 ultimate goal of making

00:24:20.859 --> 00:24:22.799
 every effort is for the

00:24:22.799 --> 00:24:24.700
 display of God's glory his

00:24:24.700 --> 00:24:26.980
 power his majesty his

00:24:26.980 --> 00:24:27.500
 beauty.

00:24:30.120 --> 00:24:31.779
 We glorify God by being

00:24:31.779 --> 00:24:32.980
 grounded in the gospel

00:24:32.980 --> 00:24:35.120
 by understanding the

00:24:35.120 --> 00:24:36.360
 grace that God has shown

00:24:36.360 --> 00:24:37.500
 us through the death and

00:24:37.500 --> 00:24:39.680
 resurrection of Jesus and

00:24:39.680 --> 00:24:41.539
 from that we make every

00:24:41.539 --> 00:24:43.480
 effort to grow in him and

00:24:43.480 --> 00:24:45.660
 to and to be like him

00:24:45.660 --> 00:24:47.980
 whilst giving him all the

00:24:47.980 --> 00:24:49.259
 glory and honor.

00:24:49.259 --> 00:24:53.200
 The KFC is arguably a

00:24:53.200 --> 00:24:54.539
 restaurant empire that was

00:24:54.539 --> 00:24:56.480
 started by one man in a

00:24:56.480 --> 00:24:57.839
 beat up truck who loved

00:24:57.839 --> 00:24:58.539
 fried chicken.

00:24:59.140 --> 00:25:01.440
 He made every attempt every

00:25:01.440 --> 00:25:03.079
 effort to achieve his goal

00:25:03.079 --> 00:25:05.379
 and the kingdom of God is

00:25:05.379 --> 00:25:08.299
 far far far bigger than

00:25:08.299 --> 00:25:09.740
 anything that could be built

00:25:09.740 --> 00:25:11.680
 by human hands in this life

00:25:11.680 --> 00:25:14.539
 and the kingdom of God will

00:25:14.539 --> 00:25:17.500
 last forever and Jesus will

00:25:17.500 --> 00:25:19.099
 get all of the glory that is

00:25:19.099 --> 00:25:21.480
 the goal that we should be

00:25:21.480 --> 00:25:23.119
 striving to make every

00:25:23.119 --> 00:25:24.639
 effort to achieve.

00:25:25.719 --> 00:25:28.379
 So then dear friends since

00:25:28.379 --> 00:25:29.519
 you are looking forward to

00:25:29.519 --> 00:25:30.799
 the second coming of Jesus

00:25:30.799 --> 00:25:33.699
 make every effort to be found

00:25:33.699 --> 00:25:36.259
 spotless and blameless and

00:25:36.259 --> 00:25:37.039
 at peace with him.

00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:39.000
 Let's pray together.

00:25:43.419 --> 00:25:44.740
 Heavenly Father we thank you

00:25:44.740 --> 00:25:45.879
 for your word and the

00:25:45.879 --> 00:25:47.559
 warnings that it gives us.

00:25:47.559 --> 00:25:49.879
 we thank you for the

00:25:49.879 --> 00:25:51.299
 challenge that it brings us

00:25:51.299 --> 00:25:53.440
 of the necessity to know

00:25:53.440 --> 00:25:55.599
 the truth and to have that

00:25:55.599 --> 00:25:57.240
 truth impact the way we live

00:25:57.240 --> 00:25:58.000
 our lives.

00:26:00.319 --> 00:26:01.859
 Father forgive us for the

00:26:01.859 --> 00:26:03.720
 times where we have flirted

00:26:03.720 --> 00:26:06.079
 with false teaching, where we

00:26:06.079 --> 00:26:07.460
 flirted with the things of this

00:26:07.460 --> 00:26:09.159
 world and thought that it would

00:26:09.159 --> 00:26:09.859
 be harmless.

00:26:12.099 --> 00:26:13.579
 And Lord by your spirit we ask

00:26:13.579 --> 00:26:15.240
 that you would give us strength

00:26:15.240 --> 00:26:17.180
 love and the ability to

00:26:17.180 --> 00:26:19.279
 discern what is true and what

00:26:19.279 --> 00:26:19.859
 is false.

00:26:21.359 --> 00:26:23.339
 Help us to follow you with all

00:26:23.339 --> 00:26:25.339
 of our hearts, with our minds,

00:26:25.500 --> 00:26:28.359
 with our souls and to depend on

00:26:28.359 --> 00:26:29.400
 you for our everything.

00:26:31.620 --> 00:26:33.500
 And Jesus we pray that as we live

00:26:33.500 --> 00:26:35.319
 this life as individuals, as we

00:26:35.319 --> 00:26:37.140
 live this life as a church here at

00:26:37.140 --> 00:26:38.680
 Brunsfield Evangelical Church,

00:26:38.680 --> 00:26:41.539
 we pray that you would get all the

00:26:41.539 --> 00:26:45.140
 glory as we eagerly await the

00:26:45.140 --> 00:26:46.240
 second coming of Jesus.

00:26:47.299 --> 00:26:49.640
 In his holy and precious name we

00:26:49.640 --> 00:26:49.980
 pray.

00:26:50.980 --> 00:26:51.299
 Amen.

00:26:51.299 --> 00:26:51.440
 Amen.

00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:52.299
 Amen.

00:26:52.299 --> 00:26:53.299
 Amen.

00:26:53.299 --> 00:26:53.460
 Amen.

00:26:53.460 --> 00:26:53.560
 Amen.

00:26:53.560 --> 00:26:53.620
 Amen.

00:26:53.620 --> 00:26:53.660
 Amen.

00:26:53.660 --> 00:26:53.720
 Amen.

00:26:53.720 --> 00:26:53.820
 Amen.