08-03-2025 One Eternal Kingdom (2 Peter 1:3-11)

One Eternal Kingdom2 Peter 1:3-111 Thessalonians 1:9-109 for they themselves report what kind of reception we had from you: how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.For us men and for our salvation,he came down from heaven;by the power of the Holy Spirithe became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,and was made man.For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;he suffered death and was buried.On the third day he rose againin accordance with the scriptures;He ascended into Heavenand is seated at the right hand of the Father.He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,and his kingdom will have no end."Three is a magic numberYes it is, it's a magic numberSomewhere in that ancient mystic TrinityYou get three as a magic numberThe past and the present and the futureFaith and hope and charityThe heart and the brain and the bodyGive you three as a magic number"Threes in the Christian Life:Father, Son, Holy SpiritFaith, Hope, Charity (love, agape)Triduum: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, ResurrectionOn the third day...Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.On the third day he rose againin accordance with the scriptures;He ascended into Heavenand is seated at the right hand of the Father.He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,and his kingdom will have no end.Resurrection, bodily ascension, heavenly sessionWhy THIS resurrection? "The resurrection is a means by which God reveals another dimension of existence at work in our midst. The Lord's victory over sin and death is a demonstration of the divine presence in a world we have viewed from too limited a perspective. It is God's word to us that there is more to reality than we can see through a telescope or under a microscope. Ever after the discovery of that empty tomb in Jerusalem, we are to look at reality through an entirely different kind of lens: the lens of God's extraordinarily powerful presence in the midst of sin and death."–Laurence Hull StookeyThe Confession of the Christian:Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.The Confession of God's People Being Formed:Christ has died, and I with Him (Gal. 2:20)Christ is risen, and I with Him (Rom. 6:5)Christ will come again, and I, whether dead or alive, will live together with Him (1 Thess. 5:10)2 Peter 1:3-113 His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 By these he has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, 6 knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, 7 godliness with brotherly affection (philadelphia), and brotherly affection with love (agape). 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 The person who lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten the cleansing from his past sins. 10 Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election, because if you do these things you will never stumble. 11 For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.GoodnessKnowledgeSelf-ControlEnduranceGodlinessBrotherly Affection (philadelphia)Love (agape)Turning, Serving, Waiting