2 Peter 1, Part 10

Why read the Bible? 

"Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of a reminder since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things." 2 Peter 1:12-15

Welcome today, Today we are continuing our in-depth study of 2 Peter 1. If you have been with us for the past 9 weeks, thanks, and you know we have come to the above passage. If you have not, or would like to get caught up, please check out the archives and see all messages here.

So Peter continues in this letter to tell the "Jewish Christians" Jews that accepted Jesus, that all the things we have discussed for the past 9 weeks, need to be remembered. They need to become a part of you. Not just something you heard here or there, or something you read once. No. He says this.

"Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have."

He goes on to say while he, who? Peter. While he is in the body, or alive, he intended to continue to remind people of the gospel. Of course, he wrote this a couple of thousand years ago and he is long since gone from the body. However, he is still reminding us to this day. As is Paul, the Prophets, David, Solomon, and of course Jesus Himself. It is all right here. {Holding up the Bible.} It is all right here.

Just like the food we eat feeds our body, you NEED to feed your spirit with this. The Word of God. This is THE Truth. There is truth in all things. The importance of knowing the truth is simple. Once you know the truth, you will never fall for a lie. You know your name. That is true. When I was born, I was given the name Peter. That is the truth. If someone came up to me and said, "Your name is Bob," they would be wrong. I would understand that they are mistaken, or, if after correcting, they continue to call me Bob, I will then know that they are lying and have no desire to know the truth. So I would no longer waste my time attempting to correct them. However, that does not make my name Bob. 

We read this in the Word. Jesus tells us this.

"But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come." John 16:13

The world has decided that they want the truth to be relevant. Why? Because if they can change the truth whenever they become uncomfortable, then all is good. The world uses things like compassion and human emotions to attempt to persuade you that they are right and just. If you do not have a solid foundation in the Word of God, then you may, and most likely will believe the lies.

This is the whole reason we have the Bible. Look here.

"He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created." James 1:18

He created us. Then we messed things up. He gave us messengers and we ignored, abused, and even killed them. He gave us His Word. First in written form, then later in the flesh. The whole Bible is alive. It is. The whole Bible is the living word of the living God. The entire Bible is about Jesus. He IS the Word. This is why it is so important to read this. Look how David puts it here.

"How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes! With my lips, I declare all the rules of your mouth. In the way of your testimonies, I delight as much as in all riches. I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word." Psalm 119:9-16 

It is simply a fact that,

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness," 2 Timothy 3:16

This, {Holding up the Bible} is the infallible, incorruptible, absolute, and complete, Word of God. It is NOT a history book. It is not a religious book. It is not a book of cans and can't or do's and don't's. It is the only way that you can receive the right mind. It is the only way you can take your mind off of worldly things and put them on Spiritual things.

"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." Colossians 3:2

We are so overwhelmed with the things of this world, that sometimes they can come and choke out the very word of God from our lives. The lies start to be whispered in our ears. "The Bible is nothing important. It is filled with contradictions and is only meant to control your life." "It was written thousands of years ago. It does not apply to today." "You will never understand it." "You just don't have time to read it."

It is the living Word of the living God. There are NO contradictions in the Bible. Zero. There are misinterpretations, misunderstandings, and some differing perspectives, but there are NO contradictions. It was written by the hand of man, however, "All Scripture is breathed out by God." You cannot think about Godly things and worldly things at the same time. When we are in the flesh, we mind the things of the flesh, when we are living and walking in the spirit. we mind the things of the spirit.

"For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace." Romans 8:6

It is ok to read this once? No. Ever watch a movie or read any other book and understand all aspects of it? Of course not. If it is something you really enjoyed, you what? Yup, read it or watch it again and again. You have most likely heard it said that you can read the Bible a hundred times and find a hundred different things new each time. How? Because it will speak directly to you. God can and does use His Word to speak directly to His children. A message He has for all of us is the Gospel. However, He has a message directly for you Peter. Directly for you Tom. Directly for you Susan. God can and does speak directly to us all the time through His Word.

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." Hebrews 4:12

It is alien to us. It goes against our sinful flesh. This is why so many see it as a list of "dos" and "don't." As restrictive. As confining and controlling. Instead of for what it is. A way to live our lives in love, safety, and security. An instruction manual for life itself. To keep us safe, and from those things that we do to ourselves, that can hurt us.

This is why God tells us things like we should not murder or steal. We will go to jail, be killed ourselves, or worse, never get to Heaven.

Do not commit adultery. We will hurt those we claim to love the most, and again, we may even be killed.

Do not have any other Gods before God? Because everything else is a lie. And it will not matter in the end.

Do not eat too much pork. We will get sick.

It is all in here. Everything you need. But without applying it in your life, what benefit do you have? Without reading it continuously, praying continuously, going to church, and spending time with your God family, you can and will fall away. You can and will believe lies. You will not be able to have these qualities in your life. "Faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly affection, and love."

Allow Peter to remind you. Allow Paul to talk to you. Allow Jesus to talk to you. Allow God Himself to speak into your spirit and life. The question is not, will He? The question is will you let Him? Will you lay a solid foundation through prayerfully reading God's Word? Or will you allow the world to sway you over and over again? Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, You shall be saved." Romans 10:9. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10

If you want to tell me, comment, questions, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!!