1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:10,720 2 Peter 3 – and I want us to focus in especially on the last two verses, verses 17 and 18 where 2 00:00:10,720 –> 00:00:12,740 Peter calls us to action. 3 00:00:12,740 –> 00:00:27,959 2 Peter 3, and verse 17 – be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the 4 00:00:28,400 –> 00:00:37,200 error of lawless men, and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and the knowledge 5 00:00:37,200 –> 00:00:49,400 of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever, Amen. 6 00:00:49,400 –> 00:00:58,700 Now, second Peter we have seen is all about the sufficiency of Jesus Christ. God has given 7 00:00:58,700 –> 00:01:03,939 you everything you need, for everything you will ever face in your life in this world, 8 00:01:03,939 –> 00:01:10,940 and knowing his Son, Jesus Christ. If you are in Christ, think of this. The Son of God 9 00:01:11,139 –> 00:01:18,139 is for you, he is with you, he is in you, in everything that you face, in every circumstance 10 00:01:20,300 –> 00:01:27,300 of life, in every season of life from here to eternity. And this is an amazing promise, 11 00:01:28,059 –> 00:01:32,419 everything you need in Christ. And of course it’s not just here in Second Peter. It runs 12 00:01:32,419 –> 00:01:39,419 through all of the Bible. My God shall supply all your need, Paul says, according to His 13 00:01:40,339 –> 00:01:47,339 riches in Christ Jesus. Everything you need, you will find in him. That’s Philippians chapter 14 00:01:47,339 –> 00:01:54,339 four in verse 19. Or again, from the same chapter, Paul says I can do all things through 15 00:01:54,580 –> 00:02:00,540 Christ who gives me strength. That’s where my resource for life is. 16 00:02:00,540 –> 00:02:07,540 Christ says to Paul, on another occasion Second Corinthians and chapter twelve, it’s my grace, 17 00:02:07,860 –> 00:02:14,860 Christ says, that is sufficient for you. And it’s my strength that is made perfect in your 18 00:02:15,039 –> 00:02:19,300 weakness. And this is how we face life as Christian 19 00:02:19,300 –> 00:02:23,419 believers, isn’t it? Thank God that being a Christian is more than 20 00:02:23,419 –> 00:02:28,460 believing a creed. Thank God that being a Christian is more than 21 00:02:28,460 –> 00:02:34,339 adopting a way of life. To be a Christian is to know and to enjoy 22 00:02:34,380 –> 00:02:39,460 and to live on the power and presence of Jesus Christ in your 23 00:02:39,460 –> 00:02:43,860 life, in everything you face from here to eternity. 24 00:02:43,860 –> 00:02:47,539 And that’s what this letter is about, the sufficiency of Jesus 25 00:02:47,539 –> 00:02:50,320 Christ for everything you face in all of your life. 26 00:02:50,320 –> 00:02:54,320 And so, our aim in this series has been that we will embrace 27 00:02:54,320 –> 00:02:58,220 the Lord Jesus Christ more fully, more gladly, more joyfully 28 00:02:58,580 –> 00:03:03,100 and that we will prove him. No matter what it is that you face 29 00:03:03,100 –> 00:03:07,580 in your life, we face in our life and ministry, together. 30 00:03:07,580 –> 00:03:13,059 As we move through this series, we’ve seen that Jesus Christ is 31 00:03:13,059 –> 00:03:17,899 everything that we need for life, for growth, for faith, 32 00:03:17,899 –> 00:03:23,240 for deliverance, for patience, for hope, and today 33 00:03:23,240 –> 00:03:25,160 that he is everything we need for action. 34 00:03:25,160 –> 00:03:27,919 I want you to notice, then, that at the end of this letter, 35 00:03:27,919 –> 00:03:30,699 Peter calls us to action and he does it in three ways. 36 00:03:31,539 –> 00:03:34,800 First, there’s something that we’re to guard, verse 17, 37 00:03:35,779 –> 00:03:39,559 and we, to be real proactive about this, guard against 38 00:03:39,559 –> 00:03:42,720 distortions of the gospel that diminish Jesus Christ, 39 00:03:42,720 –> 00:03:44,419 something to guard. 40 00:03:44,419 –> 00:03:48,500 Second, he wants us to grow, verse 18, grow in the knowledge 41 00:03:48,500 –> 00:03:51,899 of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 42 00:03:51,899 –> 00:03:54,660 And thirdly, wants us to glorify our Lord 43 00:03:54,660 –> 00:03:59,520 and Savior, Jesus Christ, both now and forevermore. 44 00:03:59,520 –> 00:04:02,279 That’s the Call to Action, with which Peter ends 45 00:04:02,279 –> 00:04:04,960 this marvelous, marvelous letter. 46 00:04:04,960 –> 00:04:08,440 And I want you to notice how all of his Call to Action 47 00:04:08,440 –> 00:04:12,759 is centered in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 48 00:04:12,759 –> 00:04:14,199 Gonna look at these three things 49 00:04:14,199 –> 00:04:16,119 disproportionately on the first, 50 00:04:16,119 –> 00:04:18,079 just so that you don’t think I’ve 51 00:04:18,079 –> 00:04:20,899 completely lost it this week. 52 00:04:21,760 –> 00:04:23,260 Number one, then, guard. 53 00:04:24,540 –> 00:04:29,420 Guard against distortions of the gospel 54 00:04:29,440 –> 00:04:32,679 that diminish Jesus Christ. 55 00:04:33,579 –> 00:04:37,019 And of course, if we have seen as a congregation 56 00:04:37,019 –> 00:04:40,480 that all that we need for life is in Jesus Christ, 57 00:04:40,480 –> 00:04:42,640 we will want to guard very carefully 58 00:04:42,640 –> 00:04:45,940 against anything that displaces Jesus Christ, 59 00:04:45,940 –> 00:04:48,779 anything that diminishes Jesus Christ, 60 00:04:48,779 –> 00:04:52,619 anything that moves the focus of ministry away 61 00:04:52,619 –> 00:04:54,839 from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 62 00:04:54,839 –> 00:04:57,880 And that’s where Peter comes at the end of the letter. 63 00:04:57,880 –> 00:05:00,339 Verse 17, therefore, dear friends, 64 00:05:01,339 –> 00:05:03,619 since you already know this, 65 00:05:04,540 –> 00:05:09,220 be on your guard so that you may not be carried away 66 00:05:09,220 –> 00:05:10,940 by the error of lawless men 67 00:05:10,940 –> 00:05:14,820 and fall from your secure position. 68 00:05:14,820 –> 00:05:16,640 And what’s he saying? 69 00:05:16,640 –> 00:05:20,760 Since you already know this, know what? 70 00:05:22,440 –> 00:05:27,440 What do we already know that will put us on guard 71 00:05:27,739 –> 00:05:29,399 with regards to the gospel? 72 00:05:30,220 –> 00:05:33,019 Well, verse 16 tells us that there are some things 73 00:05:33,019 –> 00:05:35,440 in the Bible, Peter says, 74 00:05:35,440 –> 00:05:40,019 which ignorant and unstable people distort. 75 00:05:40,019 –> 00:05:42,100 Notice that word. 76 00:05:42,100 –> 00:05:43,820 As they do the other scriptures, 77 00:05:43,820 –> 00:05:47,600 and they do this, verse 16, to their own destruction. 78 00:05:49,019 –> 00:05:50,140 Now that, in the context, 79 00:05:50,140 –> 00:05:52,459 is why he says that we, as Christian people, 80 00:05:52,459 –> 00:05:54,279 individually and together, 81 00:05:54,279 –> 00:05:56,700 always need to be on our guard. 82 00:05:56,739 –> 00:05:57,579 Why? 83 00:05:57,579 –> 00:06:01,100 Because we know, and we must know this, 84 00:06:01,100 –> 00:06:03,260 that in every generation there will be people 85 00:06:03,260 –> 00:06:05,260 who distort the message of the Bible, 86 00:06:05,260 –> 00:06:09,859 which of course is about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 87 00:06:09,859 –> 00:06:12,399 They will do this, notice what Peter says, 88 00:06:12,399 –> 00:06:14,540 to their own destruction. 89 00:06:15,579 –> 00:06:18,640 The problem, of course, is that the destruction 90 00:06:18,640 –> 00:06:21,899 of such ministry has broader effects 91 00:06:21,899 –> 00:06:23,700 within the church as well. 92 00:06:24,640 –> 00:06:28,760 Distorting the gospel always diminishes Jesus Christ. 93 00:06:28,760 –> 00:06:30,820 Whenever you have a distortion of the gospel, 94 00:06:30,820 –> 00:06:33,079 and we’ll look at just a few examples in a moment, 95 00:06:33,079 –> 00:06:35,540 they always diminish Jesus Christ 96 00:06:35,540 –> 00:06:37,579 and displace him with something 97 00:06:37,579 –> 00:06:41,019 or someone else at the center. 98 00:06:41,019 –> 00:06:42,640 You can see why that’s so destructive, 99 00:06:42,640 –> 00:06:44,640 because if it is in Christ that we have everything 100 00:06:44,640 –> 00:06:45,859 that we need for life, 101 00:06:47,459 –> 00:06:49,540 then moving away from Him, 102 00:06:49,540 –> 00:06:53,220 we’re no longer going to be able to have or to offer 103 00:06:54,500 –> 00:06:56,140 what people need in life. 104 00:06:56,140 –> 00:06:57,100 It’s a very strange thing. 105 00:06:57,100 –> 00:06:58,399 Think about this irony 106 00:06:59,339 –> 00:07:01,700 that there are many churches today 107 00:07:01,700 –> 00:07:04,100 who feel that they want to focus 108 00:07:04,100 –> 00:07:07,779 on helping people to do life. 109 00:07:09,200 –> 00:07:11,399 And here’s the irony, 110 00:07:11,399 –> 00:07:14,540 if we move the focus away from Jesus Christ 111 00:07:14,540 –> 00:07:17,399 in order to help people how to do life, 112 00:07:17,399 –> 00:07:20,260 we lose the capacity to help people how to do life, 113 00:07:20,260 –> 00:07:23,600 because the way to do life is in knowing Jesus Christ. 114 00:07:26,299 –> 00:07:28,820 Now, guard against this, 115 00:07:28,820 –> 00:07:31,359 that’s what Peter’s saying at the end of the letter. 116 00:07:34,140 –> 00:07:35,760 From time to time I have the privilege 117 00:07:35,760 –> 00:07:37,440 of being involved in an interview 118 00:07:37,440 –> 00:07:39,299 with a man who wants to be a pastor. 119 00:07:41,019 –> 00:07:43,820 One of the questions I like to ask is this. 120 00:07:46,260 –> 00:07:47,940 What movements and trends 121 00:07:47,940 –> 00:07:51,019 do you see in the Christian world today 122 00:07:51,019 –> 00:07:54,079 that you think diminish the gospel of Jesus Christ? 123 00:07:55,700 –> 00:07:56,540 In other words, 124 00:07:56,540 –> 00:08:00,980 what teachings are out there that you disagree with? 125 00:08:03,260 –> 00:08:06,899 Because if a man can’t identify error, 126 00:08:08,399 –> 00:08:10,940 how in all the world can he guard the truth? 127 00:08:13,579 –> 00:08:15,940 Truth matters. 128 00:08:16,000 –> 00:08:17,320 It matters in your life, 129 00:08:17,320 –> 00:08:18,980 and it matters in the church. 130 00:08:18,980 –> 00:08:20,980 Getting the gospel right matters. 131 00:08:20,980 –> 00:08:24,260 The centrality of Jesus Christ matters. 132 00:08:24,260 –> 00:08:26,459 And at the end of this great letter, 133 00:08:26,459 –> 00:08:28,119 Peter, the great apostle, 134 00:08:28,119 –> 00:08:31,880 in his last letter to the church says, guard it. 135 00:08:31,880 –> 00:08:35,359 Because there will always be people who wanna distort it. 136 00:08:35,359 –> 00:08:37,840 And since you already know this, 137 00:08:39,299 –> 00:08:40,320 be on your guard. 138 00:08:41,539 –> 00:08:43,960 Because nothing is more destructive to a person’s life 139 00:08:44,000 –> 00:08:46,820 or to the church of God than distortions of the gospel 140 00:08:46,820 –> 00:08:48,640 that diminish Jesus Christ. 141 00:08:48,640 –> 00:08:49,799 Have you ever thought about this? 142 00:08:49,799 –> 00:08:52,520 That large part of the New Testament 143 00:08:53,440 –> 00:08:56,119 addresses precisely this issue 144 00:08:56,119 –> 00:08:58,880 of guarding against distortions of the gospel 145 00:08:58,880 –> 00:09:01,159 that diminish our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 146 00:09:01,159 –> 00:09:02,619 Think about it big picture. 147 00:09:03,580 –> 00:09:07,119 The Book of Galatians, what’s it about? 148 00:09:07,119 –> 00:09:08,159 Why was it written? 149 00:09:08,619 –> 00:09:12,059 The gospel was being distorted 150 00:09:12,059 –> 00:09:16,780 among the churches in Galatia by a list of rules. 151 00:09:16,780 –> 00:09:17,799 That was what was happening. 152 00:09:17,799 –> 00:09:20,179 Christ was being diminished by people 153 00:09:20,179 –> 00:09:22,520 who wanted to turn the liberty of the gospel 154 00:09:22,520 –> 00:09:24,840 into you must do this, and you can’t do that, 155 00:09:24,840 –> 00:09:26,320 and it just became a list of rules. 156 00:09:26,320 –> 00:09:28,919 Peter said, no, that diminishes Christ, 157 00:09:28,919 –> 00:09:31,000 and we must guard against it. 158 00:09:31,000 –> 00:09:34,080 That’s what the Letter of Galatians is all about. 159 00:09:35,000 –> 00:09:37,919 Think about Corinthians where there were so many issues. 160 00:09:38,919 –> 00:09:40,679 Surely one of them was that the gospel 161 00:09:40,679 –> 00:09:44,880 was distorted by magnetic personalities. 162 00:09:46,159 –> 00:09:48,140 I am of Paul. 163 00:09:48,140 –> 00:09:50,479 I am of Apollos. 164 00:09:50,479 –> 00:09:54,080 I am a fan of Peter, is my paraphrase. 165 00:09:55,320 –> 00:10:00,320 Magnetic leadership personalities will attract people, 166 00:10:00,320 –> 00:10:05,320 but they cannot give you what you need for life, 167 00:10:06,500 –> 00:10:09,059 and they cannot give your kids what they need for life 168 00:10:09,059 –> 00:10:12,880 because what we and our children, 169 00:10:12,880 –> 00:10:14,179 and our children’s children, 170 00:10:14,179 –> 00:10:19,179 and their children need for life is found in Christ. 171 00:10:21,119 –> 00:10:24,099 So Christ-centered ministry across the board in the church 172 00:10:24,099 –> 00:10:25,840 is the thing that really matters. 173 00:10:25,840 –> 00:10:27,799 And, we must guard it, Peter says. 174 00:10:28,559 –> 00:10:32,479 Because your spiritual life and health, 175 00:10:32,479 –> 00:10:34,640 and the spiritual life and health of the church 176 00:10:34,640 –> 00:10:37,739 hangs on this, 177 00:10:39,559 –> 00:10:44,239 Colossians, the gospel in that letter 178 00:10:44,239 –> 00:10:45,400 was written, in large part, 179 00:10:45,400 –> 00:10:49,659 because the gospel was being distorted by human traditions 180 00:10:49,659 –> 00:10:51,940 and the basic principles of this world. 181 00:10:51,940 –> 00:10:55,000 You find these phrases in Colossians 2, in verse eight, 182 00:10:55,219 –> 00:10:57,419 and Paul writes to the churches in Colossians, 183 00:10:57,419 –> 00:10:59,340 he says, don’t become a church 184 00:10:59,340 –> 00:11:01,219 that just runs on tradition, 185 00:11:01,219 –> 00:11:03,979 and don’t become a church that just runs 186 00:11:03,979 –> 00:11:06,900 on the way that the world runs, 187 00:11:06,900 –> 00:11:08,739 because if you buy into running the church 188 00:11:08,739 –> 00:11:09,739 like a business, 189 00:11:09,739 –> 00:11:12,179 you’ll lose the centrality of Jesus Christ, 190 00:11:12,179 –> 00:11:13,539 and you’ll lose the gospel. 191 00:11:15,219 –> 00:11:17,099 The whole swathe of the New Testament 192 00:11:17,099 –> 00:11:19,239 is precisely about this. 193 00:11:20,299 –> 00:11:22,559 Because it really, really, really matters. 194 00:11:23,320 –> 00:11:25,140 And as we come to the end of second Peter, 195 00:11:25,140 –> 00:11:26,619 we’re right in the same place. 196 00:11:26,619 –> 00:11:29,479 Be on your guard against men 197 00:11:29,479 –> 00:11:32,559 who distort the gospel. 198 00:11:32,559 –> 00:11:34,500 If God has given us everything we need 199 00:11:34,500 –> 00:11:36,219 for life in knowing Christ, 200 00:11:37,239 –> 00:11:39,659 then knowing Christ matters more than anything else 201 00:11:39,659 –> 00:11:44,000 in your life or in the church. 202 00:11:45,340 –> 00:11:47,479 Now notice what he says one more time please 203 00:11:47,479 –> 00:11:49,880 in verse 17 here. 204 00:11:49,880 –> 00:11:51,320 Be on your guard. 205 00:11:52,000 –> 00:11:54,239 So that you may not be carried away 206 00:11:54,239 –> 00:11:56,219 by the error of lawless men 207 00:11:57,359 –> 00:12:02,159 and fall from your secure position. 208 00:12:03,679 –> 00:12:06,059 Fall from your secure position? 209 00:12:07,500 –> 00:12:09,239 Oh that sounds scary, doesn’t it? 210 00:12:10,840 –> 00:12:13,140 Does this mean that I am not secure? 211 00:12:15,520 –> 00:12:16,599 No, look at what it says, 212 00:12:16,599 –> 00:12:18,000 Peter says you are secure, 213 00:12:18,000 –> 00:12:19,679 you’re in a secure position. 214 00:12:20,119 –> 00:12:23,380 You are secure as a believer in Christ, 215 00:12:23,380 –> 00:12:24,799 that’s what he says. 216 00:12:24,799 –> 00:12:28,479 But remember, your security is in Christ. 217 00:12:28,479 –> 00:12:31,659 That’s the whole point of the danger 218 00:12:31,659 –> 00:12:33,900 of the church, moving away from Christ 219 00:12:33,900 –> 00:12:36,419 or of any person moving away from Christ. 220 00:12:36,419 –> 00:12:38,559 Which is what the book of Hebrews is all about. 221 00:12:38,559 –> 00:12:40,239 Your security is in Christ, 222 00:12:40,239 –> 00:12:42,539 therefore you hold to Him 223 00:12:42,539 –> 00:12:44,599 and do not move away from Him. 224 00:12:44,599 –> 00:12:47,140 And you guard against anything 225 00:12:47,479 –> 00:12:50,000 that would diminish the centrality of Jesus Christ 226 00:12:50,000 –> 00:12:53,520 in life or in the church. 227 00:12:55,799 –> 00:12:58,280 No security outside of Christ, 228 00:12:58,280 –> 00:13:00,719 which of course is why Paul says to the Corinthians, 229 00:13:00,719 –> 00:13:02,760 you remember in chapter 15, 230 00:13:02,760 –> 00:13:05,719 brothers I want to remind you of the gospel 231 00:13:05,719 –> 00:13:07,719 that I preached to you, 232 00:13:07,719 –> 00:13:10,039 the gospel on which you’ve taken your stand, 233 00:13:10,039 –> 00:13:12,359 by which you are saved, 234 00:13:12,359 –> 00:13:16,320 if you hold firmly to the word I preach to you. 235 00:13:16,320 –> 00:13:18,580 Paul says, otherwise you’ve believed in vain. 236 00:13:20,159 –> 00:13:22,700 Do you not know people who once professed faith in Christ 237 00:13:22,700 –> 00:13:24,320 but now have abandoned him, 238 00:13:24,320 –> 00:13:26,599 they were like the seed that sprung up quickly 239 00:13:26,599 –> 00:13:27,679 and then withered? 240 00:13:30,119 –> 00:13:31,280 Be on your guard, 241 00:13:33,280 –> 00:13:35,239 you cling to the Lord Jesus Christ 242 00:13:35,239 –> 00:13:37,520 and you will find him clinging to you 243 00:13:38,359 –> 00:13:41,320 from here to eternity. 244 00:13:42,239 –> 00:13:43,599 But you see, 245 00:13:43,599 –> 00:13:46,679 if we place our confidence in rules 246 00:13:47,979 –> 00:13:51,479 or in personalities 247 00:13:52,960 –> 00:13:56,559 or in traditions or the way that this world does things, 248 00:13:58,200 –> 00:13:59,419 then what Peter is saying is, 249 00:13:59,419 –> 00:14:00,859 we will not stand 250 00:14:03,099 –> 00:14:05,320 and our fruit will not last 251 00:14:06,080 –> 00:14:11,080 because our life is in Christ. 252 00:14:14,359 –> 00:14:16,159 Just being very practical, you see, 253 00:14:16,159 –> 00:14:18,119 as to how this works out for a local church, 254 00:14:18,119 –> 00:14:21,039 when we say in our mission statement 255 00:14:21,039 –> 00:14:23,739 that all of us of course know completely by heart 256 00:14:25,359 –> 00:14:28,059 that we want to, join with me if you’d like to, 257 00:14:28,059 –> 00:14:31,380 to glorify God by multiplying God-centered, 258 00:14:31,380 –> 00:14:34,419 Christ-exalting, world-transforming believers 259 00:14:34,440 –> 00:14:37,400 in the greater Chicago area and around the world, 260 00:14:38,520 –> 00:14:42,340 what we’re saying in that very intentional mission statement 261 00:14:43,159 –> 00:14:44,859 is that we are on our guard 262 00:14:44,859 –> 00:14:46,979 against becoming self-centered believers. 263 00:14:46,979 –> 00:14:49,080 That’s why the word God-centered is there. 264 00:14:50,340 –> 00:14:52,340 We are on our guard against 265 00:14:52,340 –> 00:14:54,960 becoming the kind of church where comfort matters 266 00:14:54,960 –> 00:14:56,460 more than the advance of the gospel. 267 00:14:56,460 –> 00:14:57,539 We’re guarding against that. 268 00:14:57,539 –> 00:14:59,200 We don’t want to let that happen. 269 00:15:01,099 –> 00:15:03,380 We’re saying secondly, we are on our guard 270 00:15:03,380 –> 00:15:06,080 against becoming self-exalting believers. 271 00:15:06,080 –> 00:15:08,500 That’s why the word Christ-exalting is in there. 272 00:15:09,739 –> 00:15:12,119 The kind of church that’s all about personalities 273 00:15:12,119 –> 00:15:13,919 and everyone getting their own way. 274 00:15:16,460 –> 00:15:18,400 We’re saying in our very mission statement 275 00:15:18,400 –> 00:15:19,859 that we are on our guard 276 00:15:19,859 –> 00:15:23,940 against becoming self-absorbed believers. 277 00:15:23,940 –> 00:15:27,320 That’s why the word world transforming is in there. 278 00:15:27,320 –> 00:15:29,659 We’re on our guard against becoming the kind of people 279 00:15:29,659 –> 00:15:31,559 who are just interested in our own personal, 280 00:15:31,559 –> 00:15:33,719 spiritual growth, but really don’t care 281 00:15:33,719 –> 00:15:35,599 about the lost in the community out there 282 00:15:35,599 –> 00:15:38,000 and don’t care about the lost around the world. 283 00:15:39,479 –> 00:15:40,840 And we’re on our guard. 284 00:15:40,840 –> 00:15:42,159 That’s why you have a mission statement 285 00:15:42,159 –> 00:15:44,719 to say what we are doing and what we’re not doing. 286 00:15:46,320 –> 00:15:48,320 Now, you say whose job is it to guard the church 287 00:15:48,320 –> 00:15:50,440 against distortions of the gospel 288 00:15:51,419 –> 00:15:54,059 that diminish our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? 289 00:15:55,739 –> 00:15:57,260 Is it the pastor’s job? 290 00:15:58,320 –> 00:15:59,159 Yes. 291 00:15:59,880 –> 00:16:01,900 Is it the elder’s job? 292 00:16:02,840 –> 00:16:03,659 Yes. 293 00:16:05,200 –> 00:16:06,700 Is it the member’s job? 294 00:16:07,640 –> 00:16:08,479 Yes. 295 00:16:09,520 –> 00:16:11,179 Is it the volunteer’s job? 296 00:16:12,559 –> 00:16:14,239 Yes. 297 00:16:14,239 –> 00:16:16,760 Is it the newest Christian’s job? 298 00:16:16,760 –> 00:16:19,559 Yes, all of the above. 299 00:16:21,380 –> 00:16:22,859 Now at this point, 300 00:16:23,719 –> 00:16:24,539 you may be wondering, 301 00:16:24,539 –> 00:16:26,640 how in all the world can I do this? 302 00:16:27,619 –> 00:16:29,460 I mean, you’re an ordinary Christian. 303 00:16:30,640 –> 00:16:32,619 You’ve never been to seminary. 304 00:16:33,960 –> 00:16:37,960 So how can you discern error 305 00:16:38,840 –> 00:16:40,479 and guard the truth? 306 00:16:40,479 –> 00:16:42,619 How can you do that in your own life? 307 00:16:43,599 –> 00:16:45,479 How can you do that as part 308 00:16:45,479 –> 00:16:47,799 of the body of Christ in the church? 309 00:16:48,840 –> 00:16:49,679 Well, let me try and give you 310 00:16:49,679 –> 00:16:51,840 just some practical help here on this point, 311 00:16:51,840 –> 00:16:53,559 because it’s very important. 312 00:16:54,479 –> 00:16:58,640 I think there are two ways in which we can discern error. 313 00:16:58,640 –> 00:17:01,599 One is by zooming in, 314 00:17:01,599 –> 00:17:04,540 and the other is by zooming out. 315 00:17:05,459 –> 00:17:08,079 Zooming in is quite demanding. 316 00:17:08,079 –> 00:17:10,280 Zooming out is incredibly easy, 317 00:17:10,280 –> 00:17:12,160 and anybody can do it. 318 00:17:12,160 –> 00:17:14,119 Let me explain these two to you. 319 00:17:15,339 –> 00:17:18,560 Zooming in involves developing 320 00:17:18,560 –> 00:17:21,400 a careful understanding of what is being said 321 00:17:21,760 –> 00:17:24,359 by leaders and movements in our time. 322 00:17:25,400 –> 00:17:27,699 Now, frankly, that is especially a job 323 00:17:27,699 –> 00:17:31,439 and a responsibility for pastors and elders. 324 00:17:31,439 –> 00:17:33,020 The Bible makes that clear. 325 00:17:33,839 –> 00:17:37,599 Paul said to Timothy, who was a pastor 326 00:17:37,599 –> 00:17:40,280 to a local congregation in Ephesus, 327 00:17:40,280 –> 00:17:42,180 Paul said to Timothy as the pastor, 328 00:17:42,180 –> 00:17:44,199 guard the gospel. 329 00:17:44,199 –> 00:17:46,500 That’s 2 Timothy 1 verse 14. 330 00:17:46,500 –> 00:17:48,239 Then he said in the first letter, 331 00:17:48,619 –> 00:17:50,099 And he would command certain people 332 00:17:50,099 –> 00:17:52,680 not to teach false doctrines 333 00:17:52,680 –> 00:17:54,959 nor to devote themselves to myths. 334 00:17:54,959 –> 00:17:56,540 In other words, Paul says to Timothy, 335 00:17:56,540 –> 00:17:57,619 you’re a pastor. 336 00:17:57,619 –> 00:18:01,000 It is your job to know what is going on, 337 00:18:01,000 –> 00:18:02,300 to know what is going on 338 00:18:02,300 –> 00:18:05,640 in a particular degree 339 00:18:05,640 –> 00:18:07,599 and to be able to address that 340 00:18:07,599 –> 00:18:09,119 and to take responsibility 341 00:18:09,119 –> 00:18:11,780 for guarding the church against that. 342 00:18:11,780 –> 00:18:13,339 So let me make this application. 343 00:18:13,339 –> 00:18:18,339 Will you thank God for pastors and elders 344 00:18:19,020 –> 00:18:22,140 who are determined to guard the gospel 345 00:18:22,140 –> 00:18:24,380 by keeping it at the center of the church? 346 00:18:24,380 –> 00:18:29,380 And will you pray for us in that great responsibility? 347 00:18:31,319 –> 00:18:32,420 Because it’s never easy, 348 00:18:32,420 –> 00:18:34,140 never has been, 349 00:18:34,140 –> 00:18:35,239 and it never will be. 350 00:18:37,339 –> 00:18:38,439 That’s zooming in. 351 00:18:40,680 –> 00:18:41,920 Here’s zooming out. 352 00:18:42,900 –> 00:18:45,479 Zooming out, which is much simpler, 353 00:18:45,479 –> 00:18:46,859 and every Christian can do this. 354 00:18:46,859 –> 00:18:48,540 And by the way, this is how, 355 00:18:50,300 –> 00:18:53,699 ordinary believers can check the pastors, 356 00:18:53,699 –> 00:18:56,380 which is a very important thing to be able to do. 357 00:18:56,380 –> 00:18:57,219 How do you do it? 358 00:18:58,859 –> 00:18:59,959 Well, let me put it this way, 359 00:18:59,959 –> 00:19:02,839 zooming out, when you listen to Christian teaching, 360 00:19:04,119 –> 00:19:06,339 when you’re trying to get a handle on a new movement 361 00:19:06,339 –> 00:19:08,640 or a discussion in Christian magazines or whatever it is, 362 00:19:08,640 –> 00:19:09,780 when you’re trying to evaluate 363 00:19:09,780 –> 00:19:11,380 simply another person’s ideas, 364 00:19:11,459 –> 00:19:14,160 they’re talking about this or that in relation to the faith. 365 00:19:14,160 –> 00:19:15,739 When you go into the Christian bookshop 366 00:19:15,739 –> 00:19:17,219 and you’re browsers around 367 00:19:17,219 –> 00:19:21,099 and there are a thousand options as to what you could read 368 00:19:21,099 –> 00:19:24,020 and you have that long to look at 10 titles 369 00:19:24,020 –> 00:19:24,880 and you’re trying to decide, 370 00:19:24,880 –> 00:19:27,140 should I buy this one or should I buy that one? 371 00:19:27,959 –> 00:19:29,819 We all have to make these kind of decisions 372 00:19:29,819 –> 00:19:33,380 that shape what comes into us all the time. 373 00:19:34,859 –> 00:19:37,560 Ask this single question, 374 00:19:38,520 –> 00:19:43,020 does this, this teaching, this book, this trend, 375 00:19:44,959 –> 00:19:49,959 does this make more of me or more of Jesus? 376 00:19:50,400 –> 00:19:51,719 It’s a great question! 377 00:19:53,280 –> 00:19:55,199 Ask it all the time. 378 00:19:55,199 –> 00:19:58,199 Does this make more of me 379 00:19:59,479 –> 00:20:01,599 or more of Jesus? 380 00:20:03,040 –> 00:20:05,040 And I found that a helpful question for some time 381 00:20:05,040 –> 00:20:07,160 but just because I wanted to be up to date, 382 00:20:07,540 –> 00:20:09,020 I Googled yesterday, 383 00:20:09,920 –> 00:20:13,280 I just did bestselling Christian books. 384 00:20:13,280 –> 00:20:14,719 And of course, because there’s 385 00:20:14,719 –> 00:20:15,839 so many different distributors, 386 00:20:15,839 –> 00:20:20,000 I got any number of different lists of Christian books 387 00:20:20,000 –> 00:20:21,979 and I just picked one at random 388 00:20:21,979 –> 00:20:23,719 and looked at a top 10, 389 00:20:23,719 –> 00:20:25,199 and I just applied that question 390 00:20:25,199 –> 00:20:27,760 and immediately one thing was very obvious. 391 00:20:28,739 –> 00:20:32,560 I found two books out of the 10 392 00:20:32,560 –> 00:20:35,099 that apparently just from looking 393 00:20:35,099 –> 00:20:36,339 at the title were going to be more 394 00:20:36,339 –> 00:20:38,219 about Jesus than they are about me. 395 00:20:39,699 –> 00:20:41,839 The other eight looked interesting 396 00:20:41,839 –> 00:20:43,540 and perhaps helpful. 397 00:20:45,219 –> 00:20:47,319 But at least just from an initial glance, 398 00:20:47,319 –> 00:20:48,939 and frankly that’s all that any of us have 399 00:20:48,939 –> 00:20:50,599 when we’re making a lot of these choices, 400 00:20:50,599 –> 00:20:52,099 it was pretty evident that they were 401 00:20:52,099 –> 00:20:54,319 more about me than they were about Jesus. 402 00:20:56,219 –> 00:20:58,599 They covered issues like the purpose of my life, 403 00:20:58,599 –> 00:21:00,060 the future of my country, 404 00:21:00,060 –> 00:21:02,180 dealing with difficulties with my children, 405 00:21:02,380 –> 00:21:04,180 improving my diet, 406 00:21:04,180 –> 00:21:06,560 finding passion in my work, 407 00:21:06,560 –> 00:21:08,760 and developing my leadership skills. 408 00:21:12,219 –> 00:21:13,579 Now I will read some of these books, 409 00:21:13,579 –> 00:21:14,859 but I need to remember this. 410 00:21:14,859 –> 00:21:16,199 They make much of me. 411 00:21:18,260 –> 00:21:19,680 They are pitched to the idea 412 00:21:19,680 –> 00:21:21,579 that I’m the most important person in the world, 413 00:21:21,579 –> 00:21:23,219 which is how the world sells. 414 00:21:25,579 –> 00:21:30,099 And if Christ is simply there to serve me, 415 00:21:30,479 –> 00:21:33,219 to serve my country, my children, my life, my diet, 416 00:21:33,219 –> 00:21:35,140 my leadership skills or my fulfillment 417 00:21:35,140 –> 00:21:36,420 and satisfaction at work, 418 00:21:36,420 –> 00:21:38,500 then Jesus Christ is diminished 419 00:21:38,500 –> 00:21:40,619 because He is a means to an end, isn’t He? 420 00:21:42,540 –> 00:21:45,060 I found that a very, very helpful grid 421 00:21:46,280 –> 00:21:51,939 to evaluate what’s actually gonna help 422 00:21:51,939 –> 00:21:52,959 my spiritual life and what’s really gonna have Jesus 423 00:21:52,959 –> 00:21:53,979 at the margins. 424 00:21:56,180 –> 00:21:58,859 And you can apply that in all kinds of spheres. 425 00:22:01,020 –> 00:22:02,579 And may it be for the glory of God 426 00:22:02,579 –> 00:22:04,339 until Jesus Christ returns, 427 00:22:04,339 –> 00:22:07,459 that Jesus Christ, His person, His work and His glory 428 00:22:07,459 –> 00:22:10,140 will always be at the center of this pulpit 429 00:22:10,140 –> 00:22:12,939 of this church and of every ministry of this church 430 00:22:14,640 –> 00:22:17,099 until He shall come. 431 00:22:17,099 –> 00:22:19,020 Guard it, guard it. 432 00:22:20,780 –> 00:22:22,959 You know, I was talking with someone just the other day 433 00:22:22,959 –> 00:22:23,800 and he said to me, you know, 434 00:22:23,800 –> 00:22:25,739 I’m really trying to get on a diet 435 00:22:25,739 –> 00:22:27,859 and I’ve actually been making some progress. 436 00:22:27,859 –> 00:22:29,160 You know that discussion? 437 00:22:29,859 –> 00:22:32,520 And he said, you know, there’s one thing someone said to me 438 00:22:32,520 –> 00:22:34,040 that has really helped me in a diet. 439 00:22:34,040 –> 00:22:34,880 Now here we are. 440 00:22:34,880 –> 00:22:35,819 You see, I’ve just mentioned diet 441 00:22:35,819 –> 00:22:37,400 so I’m pitching in on that now. 442 00:22:39,719 –> 00:22:40,579 He said someone said to me, 443 00:22:40,579 –> 00:22:43,000 remember your body isn’t a trash can. 444 00:22:44,959 –> 00:22:46,000 That is helpful, isn’t it? 445 00:22:46,000 –> 00:22:48,500 You think about all that goes in there? 446 00:22:48,500 –> 00:22:51,119 You know, I’ll just have an extra piece of that, whatever. 447 00:22:51,119 –> 00:22:53,319 Your body isn’t a trash can. 448 00:22:53,319 –> 00:22:54,140 He says, it’s really helped me. 449 00:22:54,140 –> 00:22:56,699 I’ve lost some weight since I’ve been thinking about that. 450 00:22:59,300 –> 00:23:03,339 Your soul isn’t a trash can. 451 00:23:05,839 –> 00:23:09,359 Your soul doesn’t exist for the inflation of your own ego. 452 00:23:12,439 –> 00:23:14,739 Your soul will not grow in grace 453 00:23:14,739 –> 00:23:16,099 if you’re constantly told 454 00:23:16,099 –> 00:23:19,000 that you’re the most important person in all of the world. 455 00:23:22,439 –> 00:23:24,760 When you think about your spiritual diet, 456 00:23:24,760 –> 00:23:29,760 full your soul with a diet that will make much of Christ 457 00:23:31,099 –> 00:23:33,000 if you want to grow in grace. 458 00:23:34,560 –> 00:23:36,660 And treat the stuff that’s mainly about you 459 00:23:36,660 –> 00:23:38,060 as you do fast food. 460 00:23:39,020 –> 00:23:40,500 It’s okay once in a while. 461 00:23:41,500 –> 00:23:46,520 But it’s deadly if it becomes your regular staple diet. 462 00:23:47,319 –> 00:23:48,319 Hope that’s helpful. 463 00:23:49,560 –> 00:23:51,819 But you see, what we take in shapes who we are 464 00:23:51,819 –> 00:23:53,699 and it shapes what the church is. 465 00:23:54,900 –> 00:23:58,520 And we gotta guard the gospel. 466 00:24:00,599 –> 00:24:03,959 Grow in discernment by zooming out 467 00:24:03,959 –> 00:24:07,020 and you will make better choices about what you’re taking in. 468 00:24:09,319 –> 00:24:10,520 Will it make more of me? 469 00:24:11,579 –> 00:24:13,459 Or will it make more of Jesus? 470 00:24:16,199 –> 00:24:17,959 I said that there were three things 471 00:24:17,959 –> 00:24:20,000 and we were gonna be way longest on the first 472 00:24:20,000 –> 00:24:22,760 and we have been much more briefly the second two. 473 00:24:22,859 –> 00:24:24,699 We’re to guard. 474 00:24:24,699 –> 00:24:27,060 We’re to guard against any distortion of the Gospel 475 00:24:27,060 –> 00:24:28,380 that diminishes Jesus Christ 476 00:24:28,380 –> 00:24:31,260 and all distortions of the Gospel diminish Jesus Christ. 477 00:24:31,260 –> 00:24:32,920 Second, we’re to grow, verse 18, 478 00:24:34,119 –> 00:24:37,000 we’re to grow in the grace and knowledge 479 00:24:37,000 –> 00:24:40,500 of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 480 00:24:40,500 –> 00:24:42,699 Now of course, the best way to make sure 481 00:24:42,699 –> 00:24:45,459 that we do not diminish Christ 482 00:24:45,459 –> 00:24:49,020 is that we vigorously pursue Christ. 483 00:24:49,020 –> 00:24:51,699 Personally, together as a congregation, 484 00:24:51,800 –> 00:24:56,199 that knowing Christ is our one holy passion. 485 00:24:56,199 –> 00:24:58,160 Finding everything that we need for life 486 00:24:58,160 –> 00:25:00,880 and for ministry in Him, 487 00:25:00,880 –> 00:25:04,680 and then sharing Him with the world. 488 00:25:06,099 –> 00:25:08,819 Paul was surely the greatest Christian of his time, 489 00:25:08,819 –> 00:25:10,719 a wonderfully mature believer, 490 00:25:10,719 –> 00:25:11,939 and yet what do you find him saying 491 00:25:11,939 –> 00:25:13,280 towards the end of his life? 492 00:25:13,280 –> 00:25:15,079 In Philippians in chapter three, 493 00:25:15,079 –> 00:25:17,479 I want to know Christ, 494 00:25:18,339 –> 00:25:20,319 and I want to know the power 495 00:25:20,599 –> 00:25:22,619 of Jesus’ resurrection more and more in my life 496 00:25:22,619 –> 00:25:25,780 and even the fellowship of sharing in his soufflings. 497 00:25:25,780 –> 00:25:28,339 See, when you come to know Christ, 498 00:25:28,339 –> 00:25:30,699 it is like buying a field 499 00:25:30,699 –> 00:25:33,319 that is full of buried treasure, 500 00:25:35,979 –> 00:25:38,380 and it’s a wonderful thing when you come to know Christ 501 00:25:38,380 –> 00:25:40,500 to do a little bit of digging 502 00:25:40,500 –> 00:25:42,319 and you find some treasure, 503 00:25:42,319 –> 00:25:44,219 and you say, look at this I’ve discovered 504 00:25:44,219 –> 00:25:45,459 about Jesus Christ, 505 00:25:45,459 –> 00:25:47,339 and you have some glimpse of his greatness, 506 00:25:47,339 –> 00:25:48,540 and you’re thrilled with it, 507 00:25:48,540 –> 00:25:50,699 but oh, if 10 years’ time 508 00:25:50,699 –> 00:25:53,140 you’re still holding that one little bit of treasure 509 00:25:53,140 –> 00:25:55,040 and you’ve got one little hole in the ground 510 00:25:55,040 –> 00:25:58,619 when the whole field is full of buried treasure, 511 00:25:59,780 –> 00:26:00,920 that’s a tragedy. 512 00:26:02,660 –> 00:26:07,099 You’ve missed the greatest gift and privilege of life! 513 00:26:08,900 –> 00:26:13,000 No, keep digging, dig all the time, 514 00:26:13,000 –> 00:26:14,900 because as Paul was expressing when he says 515 00:26:14,900 –> 00:26:15,819 I want to know Christ, 516 00:26:15,819 –> 00:26:19,459 you never come to the end of seeing his greatness 517 00:26:19,459 –> 00:26:22,099 and his glory and the wonder of his gospel 518 00:26:22,099 –> 00:26:24,459 which is the breath of fresh air 519 00:26:24,459 –> 00:26:27,420 that runs through the Christian’s life. 520 00:26:27,420 –> 00:26:29,540 It’s the joy of our worship. 521 00:26:29,540 –> 00:26:31,420 We never tire of Jesus 522 00:26:31,420 –> 00:26:35,599 because we never exhaust the greatness of his glory. 523 00:26:35,599 –> 00:26:39,020 Grow, grow in the grace and the knowledge 524 00:26:39,020 –> 00:26:41,900 of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. 525 00:26:41,900 –> 00:26:44,780 And notice how grace and knowledge go together. 526 00:26:46,579 –> 00:26:49,560 That the suresign that you know Jesus 527 00:26:50,500 –> 00:26:52,900 is that you are growing in grace. 528 00:26:54,699 –> 00:26:59,699 John says in his gospel that Christ came from the Father 529 00:26:59,819 –> 00:27:03,500 and he was full of grace and truth. 530 00:27:04,699 –> 00:27:06,420 And so the more that we come to know him 531 00:27:06,420 –> 00:27:07,939 individually and together, 532 00:27:07,939 –> 00:27:10,260 the evidence of that is going to be 533 00:27:10,260 –> 00:27:12,660 the centrality of truth 534 00:27:13,619 –> 00:27:15,760 in relation to the one who is the truth 535 00:27:16,800 –> 00:27:20,280 and the evidence of grace, 536 00:27:20,280 –> 00:27:21,760 in our words, 537 00:27:22,640 –> 00:27:23,859 in our character, 538 00:27:25,260 –> 00:27:26,619 in our disposition. 539 00:27:28,819 –> 00:27:30,800 You’re making progress in knowing Christ 540 00:27:30,800 –> 00:27:32,439 or let me put it another way, 541 00:27:33,339 –> 00:27:35,180 are you growing in grace? 542 00:27:36,880 –> 00:27:39,140 Are you more patient with your kids? 543 00:27:40,260 –> 00:27:42,619 With those who work with you 544 00:27:42,640 –> 00:27:44,780 than yo were five years ago? 545 00:27:46,739 –> 00:27:48,979 Or are you becoming a sort of angry Christian? 546 00:27:51,800 –> 00:27:53,540 Do you know, there is all the difference 547 00:27:53,540 –> 00:27:56,300 in the world between religion 548 00:27:56,300 –> 00:27:57,579 and Christ. 549 00:27:58,839 –> 00:28:00,760 There are different trees 550 00:28:01,660 –> 00:28:03,780 and they produce different fruit 551 00:28:03,780 –> 00:28:05,979 and you see this in the world. 552 00:28:05,979 –> 00:28:09,619 Religion makes a person hard. 553 00:28:10,199 –> 00:28:14,400 Christ makes a person tender. 554 00:28:16,500 –> 00:28:18,959 Religion makes a person proud. 555 00:28:20,099 –> 00:28:21,280 Opinionated. 556 00:28:23,119 –> 00:28:27,199 Christ makes a person humble, teachable. 557 00:28:29,099 –> 00:28:31,380 Religion makes a person angry. 558 00:28:31,380 –> 00:28:33,459 Don’t we see that all around the world? 559 00:28:33,459 –> 00:28:35,459 Religious people are angry about this 560 00:28:35,459 –> 00:28:37,300 and that and the other. 561 00:28:37,300 –> 00:28:38,119 Uptight. 562 00:28:40,459 –> 00:28:42,239 Religion makes people angry. 563 00:28:42,239 –> 00:28:45,439 Christ brings a person to love. 564 00:28:45,439 –> 00:28:47,199 These are different trees. 565 00:28:48,420 –> 00:28:50,760 They produce different kind of fruit 566 00:28:51,939 –> 00:28:54,099 and the kind of fruit you bear 567 00:28:55,180 –> 00:28:58,020 shows the kind of person you are. 568 00:28:59,900 –> 00:29:01,160 You come here this morning 569 00:29:01,160 –> 00:29:03,540 and you are angry and you are impatient 570 00:29:03,540 –> 00:29:05,040 and you are opinionated. 571 00:29:06,660 –> 00:29:08,380 I want to invite you around the Lord’s table 572 00:29:08,380 –> 00:29:09,219 to come with me 573 00:29:09,300 –> 00:29:10,400 and with all of us and to say, 574 00:29:10,400 –> 00:29:14,140 Lord Jesus Christ, meet me and change me 575 00:29:14,140 –> 00:29:18,239 because the wrong fruit is coming out of this life. 576 00:29:19,680 –> 00:29:21,140 This is not a small thing. 577 00:29:23,300 –> 00:29:28,219 Grow in the grace and knowledge 578 00:29:29,219 –> 00:29:32,400 of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ 579 00:29:32,400 –> 00:29:36,160 and we grow like Him as we walk with Him. 580 00:29:37,119 –> 00:29:39,339 And then here’s the very last thing, 581 00:29:39,339 –> 00:29:41,800 we’re to guard, we’re to grow. 582 00:29:41,800 –> 00:29:43,780 We’re to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, 583 00:29:43,780 –> 00:29:46,780 verse 18 now and forever. 584 00:29:46,780 –> 00:29:48,579 Grow in the grace and knowledge 585 00:29:48,579 –> 00:29:50,699 of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, 586 00:29:50,699 –> 00:29:55,699 to Him be the glory, both now and forever. 587 00:29:59,060 –> 00:30:01,060 Boy, put these three things together, 588 00:30:01,060 –> 00:30:03,099 these three calls to action and don’t you 589 00:30:03,339 –> 00:30:06,920 have the most marvelous vision to pursue? 590 00:30:07,739 –> 00:30:12,359 To be a truth-embracing, grace-displaying, 591 00:30:13,780 –> 00:30:18,459 Christ-exalting believer, church. 592 00:30:18,459 –> 00:30:20,880 That’s what Peter wants for the church. 593 00:30:22,400 –> 00:30:25,479 That’s my prayer for us, make it your prayer today, 594 00:30:27,640 –> 00:30:31,619 and the more we see the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, 595 00:30:31,660 –> 00:30:34,180 who loved us and gave himself for us, 596 00:30:34,180 –> 00:30:36,780 the more you’re gonna find yourself saying, 597 00:30:36,780 –> 00:30:39,180 you know, I really see it now, Lord, 598 00:30:39,180 –> 00:30:43,380 knowing you is the greatest treasure of my life, 599 00:30:44,579 –> 00:30:46,939 and for all you grace and for all your love 600 00:30:46,939 –> 00:30:48,780 and for all your patience to me, 601 00:30:48,780 –> 00:30:53,780 not just in the past, but now, I say to your name, 602 00:30:54,900 –> 00:30:56,760 be all the praise and all the glory 603 00:30:56,760 –> 00:30:59,180 both now and forever in my life, 604 00:30:59,180 –> 00:31:02,900 and in the church until Christ shall come, 605 00:31:02,900 –> 00:31:05,020 and then for all eternity, 606 00:31:05,979 –> 00:31:07,479 and to the message of second Peter, 607 00:31:07,479 –> 00:31:10,239 all the people of God say, amen. 608 00:31:11,260 –> 00:31:14,199 Father, seal your word in our hearts, 609 00:31:14,199 –> 00:31:17,140 help us to respond around your table. 610 00:31:17,140 –> 00:31:20,920 For the sake of the Lord Jesus, we ask it, amen.