August 19, 2007
Sun Oak Baptist Church

Introduction

        God repeatedly warns us that our tendency to forget (a result of the Fall) will directly and profoundly impact our relationship with Him and this problem is a key thing on Peter’s mind just before he died. See Deut. 8:11-14; Ps. 50:22-23.

        3 principles that will help us guard against this danger.

I. Principle #1: there is a difference between knowing truth and living out truth. See 1:12.

        A. Remember what it was like attending school.

                1. A low grade on a test demonstrates that we really did not                 possess the facts we thought we knew in the sense that Peter                 means here – we couldn’t live them out – we weren’t                 “established” in them.

                2. James 4:17: “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and                 does not do it, to him it is sin.” There is a world of difference                 between knowing what is good and doing it.

        B. Remember the difference between “awareness” of truth versus         living out that truth. Faith without works is dead – knowledge without         execution means nothing.

II. Principle #2: our memories must be exercised. See 1:13.

        A. Remember that in order to remain effective memories must be         “stirred” up.

                1. The word “stir” means to wake up or to vigorously agitate                 something like stirring up the mud from the bottom of pond.

                2. God saves us in verses 1-4 and then our response is to work                 at keeping “these things” (the things he’s been talking about in                 the previous verses) actively present in the center of our minds.

        B. Remember 2 aspects of the “stirring” here.

                1. The importance of keeping things we learn about being a                 Christian right in the front of our minds.

                2. The importance of not living in the past – the danger of trying                 to live on memories that have settled in the backs of our minds.

        C. The Christian life demands and requires consistently reminding         ourselves and thinking about Biblical truth. This is the incredible value         and importance of reading the Bible every single day; the incredible         value of praying every single day; the incredible value of making it to         church each and every Sunday no matter what; and the incredible         value of meaningful Christian relationships and fellowship.

III. Principle #3: one of the primary purposes of the church is to constantly remind us about Biblical truth. See 1:14-15.

        3 things that Peter says we need to constantly remember – 3 truths that were on the forefront of his mind and that need to constantly be in the forefront of our memories.

        A. Remember that it’s God that saves. See 1:1-4.

        B. Remember the critical importance of Christian growth. See 1:5-8.

        C. Remember the final end of man’s life. See 1:15.

        The word “decease” is the Greek word for “exodus.” That’s death for the Christian: it’s just an exodus; Israel leaving Egypt; crossing of the Red Sea and the Jordan River and finally entering the land of Canaan with all of its amazing possessions.

Conclusion