Lesson 12

Don't Forget This!

2 Peter 1:12-21

What causes a believer to backslide? You know what I mean by the word backslide? It's an old word that preachers use to use regularly. We don't hear it often anymore. It's a Bible word. It's a Bible concept. Jeremiah knew about it when he wrote, (3:22) "Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings." Hosea knew about it when he said, (Hosea 11:7) "And my people are bent to backsliding from me." Peter knew about it and warned about falling from your own steadfastness. Paul knew about it and wrote to Timothy about stirring up or rekindling the fire. John knew about it when he wrote about those seven disciples who lost their focus and returned to their nets and boats. Jesus knew about when he rebuked the church at Ephesus for having "left their first love." I suspect that you know about backsliding yourself. I confess that I know it.

But what causes a believer to backslide? May I suggest to you this morning that the primary cause of backsliding is perhaps forgetfulness? That's right. If we are not very careful, you and I will forget about God, forget about what He has done in our lives, forget about His mighty deeds, forget about His word. Forgetfulness is probably the leading cause of backsliding.

In the Book of Deuteronomy, God reiterates His law. He gave it first at Mt. Sinai to that generation of Israel who left Egypt. He gave it again to the next generation just before they crossed the Jordan River to receive their "promised land." And the Lord warned them. Read it with me in Deuteronomy 8 (vs. 1-2; 11-19). Now think about the history of Israel. It wasn't long until they looked around at the other nations in the neighborhood and wanted a King. And it wasn't long after that until the kingdom divided. Israel (10 tribes) became the northern kingdom and Judah (2 tribes) became the southern kingdom. And it wasn't long after that until the northern kingdom of Israel became idol worships and were destroyed utterly by the Assyrians. And it wasn't long after that that the southern kingdom followed in the footsteps of the northern kingdom and became idolatrous. Jeremiah was a prophet to the southern kingdom during this time period. Listen to what he said. (Read 2:32b; 3:21-22; 13:25; 18:15; Ezekiel 22:12; Hosea 4:6).

Israel's backsliding happened because, in spite of God's warning, they forget about God and His word. No wonder the Psalmist reminded himself over and over not to forget God's Word (see Psalm 119:16, 93, 109, 141, 153, 176). We have a tendency to forget what we should remember and to remember what we should forget.

And according to Peter, he concluded that the twilight days of his ministry would be spent in a ministry of reminding. I have become keenly aware that Sarah and I are soon to be separated. In just a few weeks, we will travel to Florida with Sarah and come home without her. I keep thinking of things that I want her to remember when I am not around to remind her. She's been hearing a lot of that from me this summer. And Peter, with a pastoral tone, Peter said in II Peter 1:12-21, that he intended to live out the remainder of his days reminding Christians what they already know. Why? So as to help them not backslide or, in cases where the backsliding had already occurred, to call them back to close relationship with God, see II Peter 1:12-15.

What is it that Peter wants people to remember? In the text before us, there are specifically two things that we should always remember.

Remember To Look For The Return Of Christ, 1:16-18.

The ancient Greek and Roman world abounded in mythical stories about their gods and goddesses. But Peter says plainly, when we teach the return of Christ, it is not some cleverly constructed story. For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Peter reports his own experience with regard to Christ's return. He saw with his own eyes the majesty of Christ and heard with his own ears a voice from heaven, vss. 17-18. What is Peter talking about here.

Let's look back to Matthew 16:27ff and discover what and when Peter had such an experience. All three of the synoptic gospel accounts follow the promise of Jesus given in verse 28 with the Transfiguration. What Peter, James and John saw was a momentary lifting of that human veil shrouding Christ so that His full glory was revealed. The scene was like a mini-kingdom. Christ in full glory as He will be when He returns as King of kings and Lord of lords. Moses representing those saints who have died and Elijah, those who have been raptured. They saw Christ in glory and they heard the voice of the Father declaring His sonship. It is this event that Peter reports as proof that Jesus Christ is returning.

But there is something even more sure, more certain, more firm than Peter's personal experience. And in verse 19, Peter makes a transition to the second thing that he wants us to remember.

Remember To Build Your Life On The Word Of God, 1:19-21.

Verse 19 says that the Word of God is sure. The Greek word mean firm or certain. It is a "more sure word" meaning that it is more certain, more reliable even than one's person experiences. Your memory of what you have experienced is both defective and selective. The older I get, the more I know that. I use to pride myself in my memory. No more. The hard drive is full, there's not enough RAM and it runs a little slow these days.

You cannot base your faith on your experience. But there is something more reliable than what you saw with your own eyes or heard with your own ears. That is the word of God. Psalm 19:7 - The testimony of the LORD is sure. Psalm 93:5 Thy testimonies are very sure. Psalm 111:7 - All his commandments are sure.

Verse 19 also says that the Word of God shines. This world is a dark place, murky and hard to see in. It is getting darker all the time. But God's Word is a bright light in a dark world. Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. It's night now but the "day star" (morning star; sun of Righteousness) will rise. That's the return of Christ.

Verses 20-21 says that the Word of God is Spirit Given. These verses affirm the divine inspiration of God's Word. Paul declared that to Timothy. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God." Here is the process of inspiration. Holy men of God were moved (driven, controlled) by the Holy Spirit.

Verse 20 is not prohibiting the private study of the Bible as Roman Catholicism teaches. They say that only certain men are qualified to interpret Scripture and use this verse as their defense. That's not what Peter is saying at all. The Word of God was written to common people not just to theological professors. It is for every Christian to read, to understand and to apply.

Verse 20 is encouraging us to compare Scripture with Scripture. Since it is all inspired by the same Spirit, no one scripture should be divorced from the others. By isolating verses from their proper context and from each other, one can prove almost anything in the Bible, which is exactly what false teachers do.

Verse 20 is also telling us that the prophet didn't think up his prophecy himself. It came not by the will of man but by and from the Holy Spirit.

The bottom line is that we must remember to build our lives on the sure and shining and Spirit-given Word of God.

Men die, but the Word lives. Experiences fade, but the Word remains. The world grows darker, but the prophetic light shines brighter. The believer who remembers to build his life on the Word of God and to look for the coming of the Christ is not likely to get backslidden.