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"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?
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Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2009
