Author: Scott Lane

Re:Verse passage – 2 Peter 2:17-22 (day five)

 “These people are as useless as dried-up springs or as mist blown away by the wind. They are doomed to blackest darkness.” 2 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Don’t you just love Pastor Peter’s heart?  We see that fiery emotional personality that first appeared in the gospels. Early as he just started following Christ, Peter was always ready to jump out, call out, and leave out- impetuous, reactive, and often uninformed. “Ready, Fire, Aim!!”

Yet God has redeemed his will, his heart, and his emotions. So that Peter’s passion and energy are used for God’s glory and effective ministry. Instead of being just an attacker, Peter is now also a protector. He is looking out for these new christians. He is caring for them as they begin to grow in the gospel. His attention is on both the false/fake teachers as well as the vulnerable christians. God has grown and shaped Peter’s heart and life. May The Spirit do that same refining work in us that we might be honed and shaped for service and ministry in the Kingdom of God!!

Re:Verse passage – 2 Peter 2:10-16 (day five)

Words are an invaluable treasure in God’s economy. He spoke the world into existence (Genesis 1). His Son is often referred to as The Word (John 1). He has intentionally chosen to reveal Himself in the scriptures (John 5). If words are that important and significant to the Lord, they should be to us as well. What and how we read and listen are important. Being intentional to “hear” what is being said (preached) is crucial. That is one of the “litmus tests” Peter prescribes in pointing out false teachers- their words. 3 times (revile) in this short passage, Peter points to what is being said (or not said) as a telling indicator of a false teacher. We must listen, read, and hear with supernatural discernment that comes from the Spirit. Wanna spot a fake?  Want clarity on their heart?  Want guidance on whom to trust and follow?  Pay attention to their words.  “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” 1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬ ‭ “But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.” 1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭21‬-‭22‬

Re:Verse passage – 2 Peter 2:4-9 (day five)

Last week I had the pleasure to travel with a group from our church to Washington DC and Lancaster, Pa. One of the highlights of our trip, was to see the production of “Noah” at Sight and Sound Theater. It was visually stunning. It was theologically accurate. The main theme which was said and sung throughout the production was, “God keeps His promises.”  As persecution and temptation came, Noah would constantly remind himself, his family, and those around him of this truth. Perhaps today (in a broken world often hostile to the things of God) you might just need to hear the Spirit whisper, “God keeps His Promises.”  Our task is to find His promises in the scriptures and to remember them in our times of trial and temptation. “He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.” 2 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬

So, here’s a promise to remember today- “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.” John‬ ‭10‬:‭27‬-‭28‬

Re:Verse passage – 2 Peter 1:16-21 (day five).
It’s one of the things I love most about FBCSA- the regard and affinity for the scriptures. Re:Verse is just one example. Peter had this same perspective. This written message from the prophets and apostles was and would be of the utmost importance AND authority. I found these comments from Charles Spurgeon this week very enlightening:

“Do not say that you would accept (God’s) call if it was spoken with a voice rather than written; you know that it is not so in daily life. If a man receives a written letter from his father or friend, does he attach less importance to it than he would have done to his spoken communication? I reckon that many of you in business are quite content to get written orders for goods, and when you get them, you do not require a purchaser to ask you in person, you would just assume that he should not; in fact, you commonly say that you would like to have it in black and white. Is it not so? Well, then you have your wish, here is the call in black-and-white: and I do but speak, according to common sense, when I say, if the Lord’s call to you be written in the Bible, and it certainly is, you do not speak truth when you say, ‘I would listen to it if it was spoken, but I cannot listen to it because it is written.’ The call as given by the book of inspiration ought to have over your minds a masterly power, and if your hearts were right before God that word spoken in the scriptures by the Holy Ghost would be at once obeyed.”

Re:Verse passage – 2 Peter 1:12-15 (day five)
Saturday was my favorite day of the week. Why?  That was the day I most likely could sleep late. I could (in theory) wake up whenever I wanted or needed. Monday thru Friday was an early morning wake-up for school. And Sunday was the consistent wake-up for church. What I remember and want to point out, is that there was always a reason and activity for the “wake-up” announcement- school, church, trip, vacation, sports game, activity. Some were more appealing than others. Yet, there was always purpose and opportunity behind every “wake-up sleepyhead!!”

Same here in the Re:Verse passage. Peter is using the same language. “Stir you up” is the translation for a word used in the context of being woken-up from sleep. And with this wake-up message and action there is good reason.  Peter wants to ensure there is attention, focus, activity, and energy needed and given by his readers to this message of the gospel. A good reminder for me to faithfully and continually wake-up and remember the gospel.

Re:Verse passage – 2 Peter 1:8-11  (day five)

“For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.”

I had a professor in college who used to say, “You won’t know how saved you are if you forget how lost you were.”  The human heart has a tendency to forget these things. King David knew this as well. “Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits; Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion; Who satisfies your years with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.” Psalm 103‬:‭2‬-‭5‬

Need a reminder?  I do too!  When the elements for the Lord’s Supper pass by, remember His sacrifice and my/your sin. When someone is baptized, remember when it was me/you who met Christ and was changed forever – buried and raised. When we read the scriptures, remember how big, holy, and kind God is. Remember that we are not. When we sing and praise God, remember how worthy He is of our adoration and worship – and that we (all) fall short of His glory.

“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now I’m found
Was blind, but now I see.”
(emphasis mine)

Re:Verse passage – 2 Peter 1:5-8  (day five)

One of the approaches I use in my Re:Verse reading and study, is to look at different translations. Sometimes a word or words used in other translations resonate better with me – causing me to think deeper and reflect more clearly. That happened this week. In verse 5, translators used the words – add to your faith, supplement your faith, building on (your faith), applying diligence. There is action and activity required on my part to grow my faith. There is work and dedication needed on my part for “increase” (verse 8). Reminds me of Paul’s writing that God is at work in us resulting/requiring that we work as well.  Jerry Bridges describes it this way:

A farmer plows his field, sows his seed, and fertilizes and cultivates—all the while knowing that in the final analysis he is utterly dependent on forces outside of himself. He knows he cannot cause the seed to germinate, nor can he produce the rain and sunshine for growing and harvesting the crop. For the successful harvest, he is dependent on these things from God. Yet the farmer knows that unless he diligently pursues his responsibilities to plow, plant, fertilize, and cultivate, he cannot expect a harvest at the end of the season. In a sense he is in partnership with God, and he will reap its benefits only when he has fulfilled his responsibilities. Farming is a joint venture between God and the farmer. The farmer cannot do what God must do, and God will not do what the farmer should do. We can say just as accurately that the pursuit of holiness is a joint venture between God and the Christian. No one can attain any degree of holiness without God working in his life, but just as surely no one will attain it without effort on his own part. God has made it possible for us to walk in holiness. But He has given to us the responsibility of doing the walking; He does not do that for us.

Re:Verse passage – 2 Peter 1:1-4  (day five)

For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

How incredibly important are the promises of God. Peter connects them to becoming partakers of divine nature – thinking, hoping, praying, loving, and living like Jesus – all informed by the promises of God found throughout the scriptures. Look at David for example. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me.” We see circumstances (walk through the valley) and a divine reaction (will not fear) because of the promise of God (you are with me). There is both faith and freedom found in God’s promises.

“The full evidence of Jesus’ power will be seen only in the future when he keeps his promise. That truth frees us from having to pretend to be perfectly whole people today. We are Christians, who are gripped by God’s promises for the future, thrilled by them, and motivated to live godly lives now in his power.” – Christopher Green