Peter writes to us of the last days and of the peril of false teaching--The Book, The Event Second Coming, The Purpose for Us

Peter writes to us of the last days and of the peril of false teaching--The Book, The Event Second Coming, The Purpose for Us
2 Peter 3 " Beloved I now write to you, in which I stir up your pure minds by remembrance....."
Stir up- wake up lit. to arouse us out of sleep.

" that ye may Be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour"

" Read, Mark, learn, inwardly digest" " All Holy Scriptures which were written for our learning"
" in such wise hear them---that we may ever hold the blessed hope of everlasting life which Thou hast given us in Thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord"

We are people of the Book of God. These are the teachings and words to which we must pay attention, not to the scoffers who say He will not return , bodily , visibly, in a glorious reappearing .

This teaching comes from God Himself who inspired and taught His apostles and prophets, " for the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." 2 Peter 1:21

So our traditions, ceremonies and very lives are lived in the light of this Word as Peter said, " we have a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts." 1:19

As the early Americans learned the alphabet in the Primer they said for the letter B, " Thy life to mend, This Book attend." A - " In Adam's fall, we sinned all." T- " Time cuts down all. Both Great and Small."

Churches are assemblies of people who love God, His Book and His people through Jesus Christ our Lord. Scoffers ( those who deny the Scriptures) have their place, but not in church leadership. Peter calls such mockers and evil as well , following evil desires. Jesus said to beware of wolves in sheep's clothing. Mt 7:15

2. " The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night."
The Reality of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ is affirmed by the Apostle Peter just as the world was flooded vs. 6 " Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished."

One day is a thousand years and a thousand years as one day . The Lord is longsuffering to us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

" the day when He shall come to judge the hearts of us all" From Advent Lessons and Carols

As was read in I Thessalonians, " The call to be vigilant for the coming of the Lord" in this Service in England, Chapel of ST. John's College, Cambridge..." ch 5 " For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night...But ye brethren are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you as a thief...Ye are children of light."

"The third day He arose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead." Apostles' creed

3. What should we do?
vs. 11 of 2 P 3 " Seeing that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness...v. 14 " Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless"

" The return of Christ should not occasion restless excitement but calm confidence...We should remember if He delays His coming it is to give us an opportunity to accept and proclaim His salvation." Erdman, The General Epistles.

As Christians then we have hope in His Word, His Coming and His claiming of us to Himself in true holiness, without spot. He is able to do what He said. In this second Sunday of Advent, often called Bible Sunday because of the Prayer (Collect), we do well to heed its warnings, its promises and its fulfillment soon for we too acknowledge that one day is as a thousand years with the Lord, and a thousand years as one day.

Esther de Waal, an Anglican took the prayers of one man who visited the people of Scotland in the country and hills and here is one. It links our theology, our understanding of God, His book, and His Coming in glory through the power of the Holy Trinity into our very lives, in whatever we do.

" I make my circuit In the fellowship of my saint, On the machair ( level land of the outer Hebrides), on the meadow, On the cold heathery hill;
Though I should travel ocean, And the hard globe of the world , No harm can e'er befall me, 'Neath the shelter of thy shield;
O Michael the victorious, Jewel of my heart, O Michael the victorious, God's shepherd thou art. Be the sacred Three of Glory aye at peace with me, With my horses, with my cattle, with my wooly sheep in flocks...Every thing on high or low,...Belong to the holy Triune of glory. And to Michael the victorious."

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