2 Peter

This Sunday we'll be in 2 Peter 2, discussing false teachers and false prophets, greed and sensuality, and the threats that arise from within the Church through the generations. I found this passage to have some close parallels with 1 Timothy 6, and I encourage you to be reading along with us in preparation! We will also be celebrating Communion together—a time when we participate in the body and blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and partake of Him through the Table that has been set for us. Gather for worship with a sense of expectation!

This Sunday's passage is a tremendous reminder of the weight of Scripture. The apostles didn't come with myths (not even cleverly-devised ones), nor did they peddle in prophecies that sprang from the imagination or will of men… rather, Scripture contains the very words of God. It is a powerful reminder of what we experience through worship. As our Confession reminds us: "The authority of the holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed and obeyed, dependeth not upon the testimony of any man or church, but wholly upon God (who is truth itself), the Author thereof; and therefore it is to be received, because it is the Word of God." (WCF I.IV)

Christian faith is sustained not by initial knowledge, but by continual remembrance of Christ and the gospel, a theme emphasized throughout Scripture and especially in 2 Peter 1:12–15. Forgetfulness, not ignorance, is the greatest threat to the faith, and thus believers must intentionally cultivate habits of remembrance through regular Scripture engagement, worship, sacraments, and corporate confession of historic creeds like the Nicene Creed. Drawing from personal experience and biblical examples—including Peter's impending death and Paul's imprisonment—the sermon underscores that repetition is not empty ritual, but a vital means of grace that strengthens faith, combats spiritual complacency, and equips believers to contend for the faith against false teaching and cultural drift. The tone is both pastoral and urgent, calling the church to resist the danger of familiarity breeding contempt by renewing their focus on Christ's resurrection, sacrifice, and promised return, so that in every season of life—high or low, busy or weary—they may always recall and behold the Savior who never forgets them.

This Sunday we are taking a bit of a step forward with Peter. The apostle is going to begin our passage with "For this very reason, make every effort…" Later, he'll follow that up with "Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to…" And usually at these times in Scripture, we think of these passages as times of application—times when we are told how we are supposed to live. There's some truth to that, because Scripture does call us to live in certain ways. But don't miss that there is no degree of separation between knowing Christ and living like one who knows Christ. There is no conflict between God's sovereign work and our response to that work. The Christian call is not essentially a command to "do this"—the Christian call is "behold Christ," but that will always, inevitably, inexorably lead to lives that are changed.

This week we are starting off in Second Peter, and I hope you are reading along with us! This book is a compelling "final word" from Peter, and I found it moving to consider what Peter wanted to communicate with some of his final words. This letter encourages believers to grow in Chris, to beware false teachers, to stand firm, and to live in light of Christ's ultimate return.