Everything You Need for Action

2 Peter 3:14-18
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Pastor Colin’s sermon focuses on 2 Peter 3:17-18, where Peter calls Christians to action. He emphasizes the need to guard against distortions of the gospel that diminish Jesus Christ, grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus, and glorify Jesus both now and forever.

He explains that Jesus Christ is sufficient for all life’s needs and that knowing Him provides strength in all circumstances. The sermon underscores the importance of keeping Christ at the center of our lives and ministry, warning against teachings and distortions that move the focus away from Him.

Pastor Colin advises that guarding the gospel requires vigilance from everyone in the church, from pastors to new believers. He suggests two practical methods for discerning error: zooming in, which involves a careful examination of teachings, and zooming out, which asks whether the teaching makes more of Jesus or more of oneself.

The sermon further explores how true growth in faith manifests as growth in grace, leading to a more patient, humble, and loving character. Pastor Colin concludes by calling Christians to glorify Jesus Christ in everything, highlighting that our greatest treasure is knowing Him.

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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.

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Colin Smith

Trustee / Founder and Teaching Pastor

Colin Smith is the Senior Pastor of The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. He has authored a number of books, including Heaven, How I Got Here and Heaven, So Near – So Far. Colin is the Founder and Teaching Pastor for Open the Bible. Follow him on X formerly Twitter.

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