The Big Read – 2 Peter

Powerpoint Pictures: 2+2=4; Children sledging; Hedgehog; Dark sky at night; Astronaut on moon; Elephant; Premier League table

How certain are you about the following things? [2+2=4; It will snow on Christmas Day; Hedgehogs are prickly; It gets dark at night; People have landed on the moon; An elephant never forgets; Crystal Palace will be relegated].

Being certain is what the letter of 2 Peter is all about.

Peter wants his readers to be absolutely certain about a few things because soon he will be dead and soon the church will come under attack from false teachers.

So what does Peter want them to be certain about?

He wants them to be certain about being a Christians – that God has given us everything we need to live as Christians and grow as Christians.

He wants them to be certain about the Bible – that it is God’s Word and that it can be trusted.

He wants them to be certain about the False Teachers – that they are trying to trick you with lies and that God will punish them for doing so.

And he wants them to be certain about God’s Judgment –  that it is coming.

He then finishes his letter by telling us why he wants them and us to be certain about these things.

“Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position.  But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 3:17-18)

He wants us to be certain so that we are not trick by false teachers and so that we keep growing as Christians.  He wants to protect us and help us to persevere.