Posted 5 years ago by Anonymous

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Summary

“Until He Comes: Grow Forward!”- II Peter 3:14-18 When you know something/one important is coming, & there are things you can do to prepare, that’s the best course of action - look forward to it & get ready for it. That was Peter’s emphasis as he concluded his 2nd epistle. 2012 Theme: “Until He Comes” - looking for Jesus to come and living according to that perspective. Until Jesus comes, we must grow forward, that we might be found by Him w/out spot or blemish, & at peace. Peter’s 1st epistle aimed to encourage his readers in the midst of persecution/tribulation. Peter’s 2nd epistle calls us to hold fast to the truth of God’s Word in a world of false teaching & lies. One of the truths we must hold to is the sure hope of Christ’s return, the coming of “the day of the Lord. II Peter 3:14-18 Vs14 - “Be diligent” - “exert one’s self, endeavor” (Strong’s) - Work hard. There is a very real sense in which we need to stop striving to please God. We must depend totally upon the Holy Spirit to work in/thru us, Jesus to live His life in/thru us. But that’s not a passive thing. Continually give way to Him, depend on Him, long to know Him more, draw near to Him, draw life from Him, apply ourselves to what He calls us to be/do. Work hard to be found by Jesus, when He comes: 1)W/out spot or blemish - that means “free from censure, irreproachable, unsullied; blameless” (Strong’s). 2)Be found by Him at peace - “harmony, accord” (Strong’s). Romans 5:1, Romans 12:18 Vs15-16 - God is patiently waiting for those yet to be gathered into His fold, patiently working in us to make us like Christ & save us from ourselves. God’s timing will always be right - He is never late - Galatians 4:4. Jesus won’t be late when He comes again. Romans 2:4 There are some who twist the truth, even the truth of God’s word, to their own ends. Gudzik - “Just because someone quotes the Bible doesn’t mean that they teach Biblical truth. It’s possible that they twist the Scriptures. Therefore, we should be like the Bereans (Acts 17:11), ‘examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.’” Vs17 - The way to maintain stability in your faith/life is to grow. Vs18 - We prepare for Christ’s coming & the day of the Lord by knowing Him as Savior & Lord & steadily growing. We are to grow in “the grace & knowledge of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ.” We grow in grace by receiving more & more grace from God, but how? I Peter 5:5b-7 How do we grow in the knowledge of Christ? Study, yes, but much more by spending time with Him. Peter closed w/a great benediction: “To Him be the glory both now & to the day of eternity. Amen.” Until Jesus comes, we must look forward & be ready. We must grow forward, that we might be found by Him w/out spot or blemish, & at peace.