““Firmly Firmly Established”Established”

2 Peter 1:12-212 Peter 1:12-21

January 31, 2010

I. I. RememberRemember spiritual truth spiritual truth (12-15)(12-15)

Although we may be firmly Although we may be firmly established in what we know.established in what we know.

We all know some spiritual truth.We all know some spiritual truth.

We can be grounded in that truth, but We can be grounded in that truth, but still need to learn more.still need to learn more.

I. I. RememberRemember spiritual truth spiritual truth (12-15)(12-15)

We need to refresh our memories.We need to refresh our memories.

We need to be reminded of “these We need to be reminded of “these things.”things.”

This needs to be established beyond any This needs to be established beyond any one individual teacher.one individual teacher.

2 Timothy 3:1-2; 5-62 Timothy 3:1-2; 5-6

““But mark this, there will be terrible But mark this, there will be terrible times in the last days. People will times in the last days. People will be…lovers of pleasure rather than be…lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God – having a form of lovers of God – having a form of

godliness but denying its power. godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. Have nothing to do with them.

They are the kind who worm their They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control way into homes and gain control

over weak-willed women…”over weak-willed women…”

II. II. DocumentDocument spiritual truth spiritual truth (16-18)(16-18)

Be careful not to follow cleverly Be careful not to follow cleverly invented stories.invented stories.

There is a danger of being swept away There is a danger of being swept away by glib talkers.by glib talkers.

There are those who are tossed to and There are those who are tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine.fro by every wind of doctrine.

Ephesians 4:13-14 (KJV)Ephesians 4:13-14 (KJV)

““Till we all come in the unity of the faith, Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the God, unto a perfect man, unto the

measure of the stature of the fulness of measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by about with every wind of doctrine, by

the sleight of men, and cunning the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to

deceive.”deceive.”

III. III. KnowKnow the the validityvalidity of of spiritual truth (19-21)spiritual truth (19-21)

We need to pay attention to the We need to pay attention to the word of the prophets.word of the prophets.

We have the word of the prophets made We have the word of the prophets made certain.certain.

Scriptures reveal spiritual truth.Scriptures reveal spiritual truth.

III. III. KnowKnow the the validityvalidity of of spiritual truth (19-21)spiritual truth (19-21)

We need to understand how We need to understand how prophecy came about.prophecy came about.

Not prophecy of Scripture came about Not prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophets own interpretation.by the prophets own interpretation.

Men spoke from God as they were Men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.carried along by the Holy Spirit.

ApplicationApplication

We continue in the process as We continue in the process as followers of Christfollowers of Christ On what do you base your learning?On what do you base your learning? We have the Scriptures to study and We have the Scriptures to study and

test the teachings.test the teachings. Be firmly established in what we know;Be firmly established in what we know; Document what we do experience; andDocument what we do experience; and Fully trust in the validity of the inspired Fully trust in the validity of the inspired

Word of God.Word of God.