God knows how to prepare me for the tasks he has in store! It was no accident that we began 2 Peter just a week before he had me go to Africa to meet other brothers and sisters who are in my spiritual family but not in my physical vicinity. After all, as we learned in Critical Update #1, “God’s family is global, so we are not alone!” Thank you, Jesus, for making sure I live what I preach.
How about you? Any experiences that have been a type of ‘living proof’ of Critical Update #1? Feel free to comment!
Hey Todd,
My wife and I had the opportunity to travel out of country to do some evangelism as well as encourage some underground church groups. It was interesting to speak to believers there because they were fascinated by these American Christians that would come overseas just to talk to them. To them we were these “bold and mighty Christians.” And we were fascinated to talk to them because they were a church that was persecuted by their government and forced to worship in rebellion. To us, they were these “bold and mighty Christians.” It was kind of a race to see who could question the other the most. After a couple days, both groups of set aside trying to elevate the other and settled down into a fast but deep friendship that came out of the realization that we all shared that “faith of equal standing” that Peter talks about in 2 Peter 1:1.
LP
God’s power is not just all we need; it is more than we need! In fact, Peter touches on at least three doctrines in 2 Peter 1:3-4 that are wrought by the power of God: a) Election (the “promises” he has given us that “call” us to His new life), regeneration (that moment when God’s power transforms us inwardly and we become “partakers of the divine nature”), and sanctification (the process in which God’s power gives us “all things that pertain to life and godliness”). WOW!
Now get this — Paul summarized this process in Romans when he said that the Gospel was “the power of God unto salvation” (Romans 1:16). That’s the encompassing word that we use to talk about all the things that happen when God makes us Christians (from election to justification to regenreation, etc.) It’s all because of the power of God!
And Luke knew that this God-powered salvation was to be the point of our mission as we “received power to be his witnesses” (Acts 1:8). So there it is again — power, not just for salvation, but now for mission!
May we never underestimate the power of God, for look at all it has accomplished!
There is much more about election that I wanted to share in my message on Sunday, but time was just not available. And I was so glad to hear so many of your comments and questions. So here are some of my thoughts that might help with some of the questions that came my way afterward. Click here for my article “Casting a Vote for Election.” Also, a very good (and long) paper on this topic by John Piper can be read by clicking here.
Hi Todd,
Really enjoyed the sermon about brotherly kindness and love. I’ve always found Peter’s spiritual development fascinating and it seems to culminate in 2 Peter 1:5-7 with his understanding of the importance of phileo and the primacy of agape. From his exchange with Jesus in John 21, when Jesus reinstated him, he seemed to be either unable to recognize the difference between the two, or unable to commit to the higher form of love, or not confident in his ability to love at that level after so recently failing Jesus. Peter’s words (both sermons from Acts and his letters) always strike me as very “lived in.” They come from a place of experience, both in success and in falling short.
LP
Here is a very encouraging report from one of our LH leaders (David Davenport)… “I just wanted to share with you about a good Lighthouse we had a week ago. I am not very good at communicating with leadership on stuff like this, partly because I struggle quite a bit with the very topic we discussed: pride. So, to preface this, all glory goes to God! Anyway, 3 weeks ago we had a discussion on trials. We asked ourselves if trials were truly the only way to gain godliness, and followed that up by exploring why God would make it that way. We then discussed why we don’t really like this method and ended up at the root issue being pride (who likes to be exposed?). So, fast forward to last week and I was preparing to do a study on John the Baptist and exploring his purpose and why he was even necessary. And then you pulled out the pride talk on Sunday and I reluctantly knew I should switch gears and hit the pride topic again in Lighthouse. We ended up having a wonderful discussion on examples of how God opposed pride in the Bible. There are a ton! My favorite is Nebuchadnezzar in Dan 4… wow, talk about in your face opposition! We then challenged Augustine’s presupposition and played what I called the “Pride Connection” game where we tried to draw the connection from outward sins (lying, gossiping, angry outbursts, sexual impurity, etc) to the underlying root cause of pride. Definitely a strong connection with most sins. I then challenged them with how they are struggling with pride in their life… and people really opened up. We were then able to pray for each other. It was a great moment of true Christian community…and humility was at the core. I marvel at how God set up the Christian life and the process of spiritual growth. The wisdom behind it is incredible!”
One of the continuing struggles in this current study is learning to balance concepts that seem to be in tension … juggling ideas that are actually complemetary but seem to be conmpeting. Like election and responsibility. God’s sufficiency and my participation. Grace and works. Security and surety.
Well, we are not alone in that struggle. Peter was immersed in it, as was Paul. And Paul does a splendid job of talking about God’s grace and our works in 1 Cor. 15. I love the first 12 verses! In fact, he starts by using the word “remind” (sounds like Peter, doesn’t it?), then proceeds to talk about the Gospel and the power of God’s undeserved grace. Then, almost out of nowhere, he says this grace was not in vain, but instead it caused him to “work harder” — WOW! Sounds a ton like 2 Peter 1, eh?!
So as you wrestle with these apparently “opposite” concepts and ideas, don’t get frustrated! Encourage your group to simply believe both “poles” and embrace God’s ability to balance his work and our work all together in his sovereignly powerfulway. Keep reminding them of the truth so that it recalculates our direction each and every day.
And be sure and check the Lighthouse Leaders section (see tab above) for extra questions regarding Critical Update #4.
While I was meditating on the first 18 verses of 2 Peter 1 this week, an intriguing observatione emerged. I don’t believe this is the textual point of the passage, but I do think it is a worthy application.
Isn’t it interesting how Peter sandwiches our diligence between two things we have nothing to do with — the wonder of spiritual regenration and the wonder of Jesus’ transfiguration? I almost see it as two worship “events” that should totally consume us. When they do, then we won’t have to “muster up” diligence or pretend to be working hard with God in our sanctification. Instead, worship of God/Jesus as our first goal produces the work from God that we need so badly! We cannot afford to get these items out of order. It’s always worship, then work. When we do misprioritize them, we begin to think we can work our way up to God, pull ourselves up by our own boot straps, etc. Not at all! Only when life starts with God’s unmerited favor and calling and is consistently lived out by looking at Jesus in all his glory can we expect to have the necessary desire and determination to bring our diligence into any kind of convergence with God’s sovereign sancitfication of us.
While reading through 2 Peter 1: 19-21, the inspiration of scripture seemed to be first and foremost in my mind. I found an article (or a transcribed sermon) that was good for me to read over and thought that some might get use out of it: http://www.biblebb.com/files/MAC/90-156.HTM
The inspiration of the scripture was kind of a recurring theme in our Lighthouse Tuesday as well.
We talked about the idea that the inspiration of the scripture wasn’t a one-time event that “activated” the writers to put pen to paper, but an ongoing miracle that we plug into when we read. And this explained how a passage could affect you completely differently from one season of life to the next, containing insights and wisdom that were useful, even if they were different, each time.
There was also a sense that we were trying to balance those differences against creating our own versions of “cleverly invented stories.” We wanted to take care to not overlay our own prejudices and worldly thinking on God’s word and therefore teach inaccuracies to others.
How do we walk the line between the Spirit’s fresh insight and a infallible, unchanging Word?
Ben — Thanks! And there is a really good and lengthy PDF document on our Web site regarding the Word of God as well…some systematic theology for us about this topic! It’s under the LISTEN link at the top and then listed as an Extra Point on that page. You’ll see it under the date 1/31/10. Thanks for posting and making your finding available.
No doubt 2 Peter 2 contains stark pictures, eye-opening imagery, and hard words. In our culture, that isn’t always appreciated. However, when it come to false teachers, that is exactly the kind of environment that is needed to ensure maximum protection and discernment. In fact, Peter’s second letter didn’t seem harsh at all to the scattered believers in that first century. It was on par with much of the language of the other letters from the apostles. Take a look at what false teachers are called in other parts of the New Testament:
Phil 3:2 “Dogs, evildoers, and flesh mutilators”
Col 2:8 “philosophers with empty deceit”
Col 2:18 “puffed up minds”
I Tim 1:3-7 “mytholizers without understanding”
1 Tim 1:19 “blasphemers”
1 Tim 4:1-2 followers of “deceitful spirit spirits and demons” & “liars with calloused consciences”
1 Tim 6:3-5 “puffed up and understand nothing” & “depraved and deprived”
2 Tim 2:14-18 “irreverent babblers” akin to “gangrene”
2 Tim 2:23 “ignorant and controversial fools”
Titus 1:10-16 “insubordinate, empty, deceitful talkers”, “shameful and greedy teachers”, & “detestable and disobedient deniers”
2 Peter 2:1-3 “secret destroyers”, “heretics” & “exploiters”
2 Peter 3:16 “ignorant and unstable”
I John 2:18 “antichrists”
Jude 16 “grumblers” & “loud-mouthed boasters”
It would serve your group well to look at some of these passages to understand further the gravity of the situation the early church was in, as we are today! As you do, I pray God will grant you the wisdom and courage to never underestimate the hellish power of a false teacher.
One of the clear and consistent signs of genuine salvation is change. In fact, from the Gospels to Revelation, this thread is so clearly evident that I often find it amusing that people even argue the point (Matt. 7, Matt. 13, John 6, John 10, Romans 6-7, 2 Cor. 5, Hebrews 6, Hebrews 10, 1 John 3, to name a few). Even a simple reading of the last 27 books of the Bible reveal that God’s true children, over time, are changed inside and out by him. Theologically, it is called sanctification. Street-ologically (yes, I made that word up), you’re simply different than you used to be.
Knowing this, however, raises another question, one I am always asked after preaching on this issue (which I do quite frequently): Is change the ultimate test? Or, to phrase it in a more blatant way, if someone is changed, does that mean they are regenerated? How’s this for an answer – Yes, but mostly no. (With answers like that, I should run for office somewhere.)
I say “yes” in that fruit is the sign that we have the seed of God. But the rest of the answer is where the “no” comes in to play. We have to ask ourselves, “From what source is the fruit being produced?” Like it or not, the source of change is an integral part of the answer.
In Matthew 7, there was much fruit on display in the lives of the religious people; things like casting out demons, prophesying, and “mighty works.” We might even call this lifestyle an apparently changed life. But it was from a source that was unreliable. False. Plastic. Deceptive. The result? Not real change/fruit, only apparent change/fruit.
Likewise, two houses are contrasted in Matthew 7. And the one that was left standing – the one that was actually real – was the one that had the right foundation. Think source. The other one? Well, it got blasted in the storm and was proven to be nothing more than false. Deceptive. Plastic. Untrue. Why? Because its source was false. Untrue. Deceptive.
Essentially, the question is deeper than “Are you changed?” Quite frankly, there are many changed people. From Mormons to Buddhists to Muslims to New Agers, people all over the globe are “changing” and trying to become a better, even sometimes different, person. But the fact of change alone doesn’t tell the whole story. The fuller and deeper question is, “What is changing you?” We must at some point get to the foundational issue – the source of our change.
Jesus states quite clearly that all sources other than himself – religion, effort, fear, family, sincerity, etc. – will end up as empty wells and false foundations (Matthew 7:21). They will be proven deceptive. They won’t last. Only Jesus brings change in this life and into the next (John 14:1-6). It is thus wise for each of us to ask ourselves the full question – What is bringing about change in my life? What well am I drawing my water from? What foundation am I building my house upon? What vine am I connected to? Sure, change indicates something is happening. But only when you know the source of that change can you definitively say you are being changed by God and, consequently, owned by him.
This is why the Gospel matters so intensely and urgently. It is the story of the only real life-changer, Jesus. And without it, we have no hope of truly changing for the right reasons. No wonder Paul consistently points to the Gospel in his letters as the starting place for real change. He encouraged people to tell it, hear it, accept it, stand on it, confess it, cling to it, and even die for it. Which simply begs the question – does your changed life stem from the good news of Jesus Christ, the only God-man who died and rose again and is the exclusive way to God?
So yes, change is fundamental, but so is the source of that change. We need to be willing to answer both aspects of this issue as we examine ourselves to see whether or not we are “in the faith” (2 Cor. 13:5).
God knows how to prepare me for the tasks he has in store! It was no accident that we began 2 Peter just a week before he had me go to Africa to meet other brothers and sisters who are in my spiritual family but not in my physical vicinity. After all, as we learned in Critical Update #1, “God’s family is global, so we are not alone!” Thank you, Jesus, for making sure I live what I preach.
How about you? Any experiences that have been a type of ‘living proof’ of Critical Update #1? Feel free to comment!
Hey Todd,
My wife and I had the opportunity to travel out of country to do some evangelism as well as encourage some underground church groups. It was interesting to speak to believers there because they were fascinated by these American Christians that would come overseas just to talk to them. To them we were these “bold and mighty Christians.” And we were fascinated to talk to them because they were a church that was persecuted by their government and forced to worship in rebellion. To us, they were these “bold and mighty Christians.” It was kind of a race to see who could question the other the most. After a couple days, both groups of set aside trying to elevate the other and settled down into a fast but deep friendship that came out of the realization that we all shared that “faith of equal standing” that Peter talks about in 2 Peter 1:1.
LP
God’s power is not just all we need; it is more than we need! In fact, Peter touches on at least three doctrines in 2 Peter 1:3-4 that are wrought by the power of God: a) Election (the “promises” he has given us that “call” us to His new life), regeneration (that moment when God’s power transforms us inwardly and we become “partakers of the divine nature”), and sanctification (the process in which God’s power gives us “all things that pertain to life and godliness”). WOW!
Now get this — Paul summarized this process in Romans when he said that the Gospel was “the power of God unto salvation” (Romans 1:16). That’s the encompassing word that we use to talk about all the things that happen when God makes us Christians (from election to justification to regenreation, etc.) It’s all because of the power of God!
And Luke knew that this God-powered salvation was to be the point of our mission as we “received power to be his witnesses” (Acts 1:8). So there it is again — power, not just for salvation, but now for mission!
May we never underestimate the power of God, for look at all it has accomplished!
There is much more about election that I wanted to share in my message on Sunday, but time was just not available. And I was so glad to hear so many of your comments and questions. So here are some of my thoughts that might help with some of the questions that came my way afterward. Click here for my article “Casting a Vote for Election.” Also, a very good (and long) paper on this topic by John Piper can be read by clicking here.
Hi Todd,
Really enjoyed the sermon about brotherly kindness and love. I’ve always found Peter’s spiritual development fascinating and it seems to culminate in 2 Peter 1:5-7 with his understanding of the importance of phileo and the primacy of agape. From his exchange with Jesus in John 21, when Jesus reinstated him, he seemed to be either unable to recognize the difference between the two, or unable to commit to the higher form of love, or not confident in his ability to love at that level after so recently failing Jesus. Peter’s words (both sermons from Acts and his letters) always strike me as very “lived in.” They come from a place of experience, both in success and in falling short.
LP
Here is a very encouraging report from one of our LH leaders (David Davenport)…
So, to preface this, all glory goes to God! Anyway, 3 weeks ago we had a discussion on trials. We asked ourselves if trials were truly the only way to gain godliness, and followed that up by exploring why God would make it that way. We then discussed why we don’t really like this method and ended up at the root issue being pride (who likes to be exposed?). So, fast forward to last week and I was preparing to do a study on John the Baptist and exploring his purpose and why he was even necessary. And then you pulled out the pride talk on Sunday and I reluctantly knew I should switch gears and hit the pride topic again in Lighthouse. We ended up having a wonderful discussion on examples of how God opposed pride in the Bible. There are a ton! My favorite is Nebuchadnezzar in Dan 4… wow, talk about in your face opposition! We then challenged Augustine’s presupposition and played what I called the “Pride Connection” game where we tried to draw the connection from outward sins (lying, gossiping, angry outbursts, sexual impurity, etc) to the underlying root cause of pride. Definitely a strong connection with most sins. I then challenged them with how they are struggling with pride in their life… and people really opened up. We were then able to pray for each other. It was a great moment of true Christian community…and humility was at the core. I marvel at how God set up the Christian life and the process of spiritual growth. The wisdom behind it is incredible!”
“I just wanted to share with you about a good Lighthouse we had a week ago. I am not very good at communicating with leadership on stuff like this, partly because I struggle quite a bit with the very topic we discussed: pride.
One of the continuing struggles in this current study is learning to balance concepts that seem to be in tension … juggling ideas that are actually complemetary but seem to be conmpeting. Like election and responsibility. God’s sufficiency and my participation. Grace and works. Security and surety.
Well, we are not alone in that struggle. Peter was immersed in it, as was Paul. And Paul does a splendid job of talking about God’s grace and our works in 1 Cor. 15. I love the first 12 verses! In fact, he starts by using the word “remind” (sounds like Peter, doesn’t it?), then proceeds to talk about the Gospel and the power of God’s undeserved grace. Then, almost out of nowhere, he says this grace was not in vain, but instead it caused him to “work harder” — WOW! Sounds a ton like 2 Peter 1, eh?!
So as you wrestle with these apparently “opposite” concepts and ideas, don’t get frustrated! Encourage your group to simply believe both “poles” and embrace God’s ability to balance his work and our work all together in his sovereignly powerfulway. Keep reminding them of the truth so that it recalculates our direction each and every day.
And be sure and check the Lighthouse Leaders section (see tab above) for extra questions regarding Critical Update #4.
While I was meditating on the first 18 verses of 2 Peter 1 this week, an intriguing observatione emerged. I don’t believe this is the textual point of the passage, but I do think it is a worthy application.
Isn’t it interesting how Peter sandwiches our diligence between two things we have nothing to do with — the wonder of spiritual regenration and the wonder of Jesus’ transfiguration? I almost see it as two worship “events” that should totally consume us. When they do, then we won’t have to “muster up” diligence or pretend to be working hard with God in our sanctification. Instead, worship of God/Jesus as our first goal produces the work from God that we need so badly! We cannot afford to get these items out of order. It’s always worship, then work. When we do misprioritize them, we begin to think we can work our way up to God, pull ourselves up by our own boot straps, etc. Not at all! Only when life starts with God’s unmerited favor and calling and is consistently lived out by looking at Jesus in all his glory can we expect to have the necessary desire and determination to bring our diligence into any kind of convergence with God’s sovereign sancitfication of us.
While reading through 2 Peter 1: 19-21, the inspiration of scripture seemed to be first and foremost in my mind. I found an article (or a transcribed sermon) that was good for me to read over and thought that some might get use out of it: http://www.biblebb.com/files/MAC/90-156.HTM
The inspiration of the scripture was kind of a recurring theme in our Lighthouse Tuesday as well.
We talked about the idea that the inspiration of the scripture wasn’t a one-time event that “activated” the writers to put pen to paper, but an ongoing miracle that we plug into when we read. And this explained how a passage could affect you completely differently from one season of life to the next, containing insights and wisdom that were useful, even if they were different, each time.
There was also a sense that we were trying to balance those differences against creating our own versions of “cleverly invented stories.” We wanted to take care to not overlay our own prejudices and worldly thinking on God’s word and therefore teach inaccuracies to others.
How do we walk the line between the Spirit’s fresh insight and a infallible, unchanging Word?
–LP
Ben — Thanks! And there is a really good and lengthy PDF document on our Web site regarding the Word of God as well…some systematic theology for us about this topic! It’s under the LISTEN link at the top and then listed as an Extra Point on that page. You’ll see it under the date 1/31/10. Thanks for posting and making your finding available.
Regarding CU 7.0 and the topic of false teachers…
No doubt 2 Peter 2 contains stark pictures, eye-opening imagery, and hard words. In our culture, that isn’t always appreciated. However, when it come to false teachers, that is exactly the kind of environment that is needed to ensure maximum protection and discernment. In fact, Peter’s second letter didn’t seem harsh at all to the scattered believers in that first century. It was on par with much of the language of the other letters from the apostles. Take a look at what false teachers are called in other parts of the New Testament:
Phil 3:2 “Dogs, evildoers, and flesh mutilators”
Col 2:8 “philosophers with empty deceit”
Col 2:18 “puffed up minds”
I Tim 1:3-7 “mytholizers without understanding”
1 Tim 1:19 “blasphemers”
1 Tim 4:1-2 followers of “deceitful spirit spirits and demons” & “liars with calloused consciences”
1 Tim 6:3-5 “puffed up and understand nothing” & “depraved and deprived”
2 Tim 2:14-18 “irreverent babblers” akin to “gangrene”
2 Tim 2:23 “ignorant and controversial fools”
Titus 1:10-16 “insubordinate, empty, deceitful talkers”, “shameful and greedy teachers”, & “detestable and disobedient deniers”
2 Peter 2:1-3 “secret destroyers”, “heretics” & “exploiters”
2 Peter 3:16 “ignorant and unstable”
I John 2:18 “antichrists”
Jude 16 “grumblers” & “loud-mouthed boasters”
It would serve your group well to look at some of these passages to understand further the gravity of the situation the early church was in, as we are today! As you do, I pray God will grant you the wisdom and courage to never underestimate the hellish power of a false teacher.
When spotting false doctrine and error, here’s a good quote by J.I. Packer: “A half truth masquerading as the whole truth becomes a complete untruth.”
One of the clear and consistent signs of genuine salvation is change. In fact, from the Gospels to Revelation, this thread is so clearly evident that I often find it amusing that people even argue the point (Matt. 7, Matt. 13, John 6, John 10, Romans 6-7, 2 Cor. 5, Hebrews 6, Hebrews 10, 1 John 3, to name a few). Even a simple reading of the last 27 books of the Bible reveal that God’s true children, over time, are changed inside and out by him. Theologically, it is called sanctification. Street-ologically (yes, I made that word up), you’re simply different than you used to be.
Knowing this, however, raises another question, one I am always asked after preaching on this issue (which I do quite frequently): Is change the ultimate test? Or, to phrase it in a more blatant way, if someone is changed, does that mean they are regenerated? How’s this for an answer – Yes, but mostly no. (With answers like that, I should run for office somewhere.)
I say “yes” in that fruit is the sign that we have the seed of God. But the rest of the answer is where the “no” comes in to play. We have to ask ourselves, “From what source is the fruit being produced?” Like it or not, the source of change is an integral part of the answer.
In Matthew 7, there was much fruit on display in the lives of the religious people; things like casting out demons, prophesying, and “mighty works.” We might even call this lifestyle an apparently changed life. But it was from a source that was unreliable. False. Plastic. Deceptive. The result? Not real change/fruit, only apparent change/fruit.
Likewise, two houses are contrasted in Matthew 7. And the one that was left standing – the one that was actually real – was the one that had the right foundation. Think source. The other one? Well, it got blasted in the storm and was proven to be nothing more than false. Deceptive. Plastic. Untrue. Why? Because its source was false. Untrue. Deceptive.
Essentially, the question is deeper than “Are you changed?” Quite frankly, there are many changed people. From Mormons to Buddhists to Muslims to New Agers, people all over the globe are “changing” and trying to become a better, even sometimes different, person. But the fact of change alone doesn’t tell the whole story. The fuller and deeper question is, “What is changing you?” We must at some point get to the foundational issue – the source of our change.
Jesus states quite clearly that all sources other than himself – religion, effort, fear, family, sincerity, etc. – will end up as empty wells and false foundations (Matthew 7:21). They will be proven deceptive. They won’t last. Only Jesus brings change in this life and into the next (John 14:1-6). It is thus wise for each of us to ask ourselves the full question – What is bringing about change in my life? What well am I drawing my water from? What foundation am I building my house upon? What vine am I connected to? Sure, change indicates something is happening. But only when you know the source of that change can you definitively say you are being changed by God and, consequently, owned by him.
This is why the Gospel matters so intensely and urgently. It is the story of the only real life-changer, Jesus. And without it, we have no hope of truly changing for the right reasons. No wonder Paul consistently points to the Gospel in his letters as the starting place for real change. He encouraged people to tell it, hear it, accept it, stand on it, confess it, cling to it, and even die for it. Which simply begs the question – does your changed life stem from the good news of Jesus Christ, the only God-man who died and rose again and is the exclusive way to God?
So yes, change is fundamental, but so is the source of that change. We need to be willing to answer both aspects of this issue as we examine ourselves to see whether or not we are “in the faith” (2 Cor. 13:5).