The Epistles & The Practical Christian Life Class 5 The General Epistles © John Stevenson, 2008

The Second Epistle of Peter Prophets True & False

Past Chapter 1 PresentFuture Chapter 2Chapter 3 Holy Living False Teachers First Coming of the Lord Second Coming of the Lord Holy Living

1 st Peter External enemies 2 nd Peter Internal enemies PersecutionFalse Prophecy

Grace and peace be multiplied to you 2 Peter 1:2-3 in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. epignosij “Over-Knowledge”

For by these 2 Peter 1:4 of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises

For by these 2 Peter 1:4 He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

Therefore I shall always be ready to remind you of these things even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present with you. And I consider it right knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder, 2 Peter 1:12-14

For we did not follow cleverly devised tales 2 Peter 1:16-18 when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, "This is My beloved Son with whom I am well- pleased "-- and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.

And so we have the prophetic word made more sure 2 Peter 1:19-21 to which But know this first of all you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

Past Chapter 1 PresentFuture Chapter 2Chapter 3 Holy Living False Teachers First Coming of the Lord

But know this first of all that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. 2 Peter 1:20 – 2:1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you…

will secretly introduce destructive heresies 2 Peter 2:1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you… who even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.

if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly thereafter… did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment; 2 Peter 2:4-6 and

the Lord knows how if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men 2 Peter 2:7-9 and (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day with their lawless deeds), then to rescue the godly from temptation to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment, and

the Lord knows how then to rescue the godly from temptation to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment, and 2 Peter 2:9-11 especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority. and Daring, self-willed, they do not tremble when they revile angelic majesties, 11 whereas angels who are greater in might and power do not bring a reviling judgment against them before the Lord.

For if 2 Peter 2:20-21 after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ they are again entangled in them and are overcome the last state has become worse for them than the first. then For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment delivered to them.

2 Peter 2:22 It has happened to them according to the true proverb and "A sow, after washing, "A dog returns to its own vomit," returns to wallowing in the mire."

How should we handle false teaching in the church today?

Past Chapter 1 PresentFuture Chapter 2Chapter 3 Holy Living False Teachers First Coming of the Lord Second Coming of the Lord Holy Living

2 Peter 3:1-2 This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles. the holy prophets and

2 Peter 3:3-4 Know this first of all that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, 4 and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation."

2 Peter 3:8-9 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is … not slow about His promise, as some count slowness is patient toward you not wishing for any to perish for all to come to repentance. but

2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief the earth and its works will be burned up. in which the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, the heavens will pass away with a roar and

2 Peter 3:11-12 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God on account of which in holy conduct and godliness, the heavens will be destroyed by burning and the elements will melt with intense heat!

2 Peter 3:14-16 Therefore, beloved and since you look for these things, regard the patience of our Lord to be salvation be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.

2 Peter 3:17-18 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand be on your guard lest being carried away by the error of unprincipled men, you fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

The First Epistle of John Walking in the Light

The is a Book of Contrasts Light versus Darkness Truth versus Error Love versus Hatred Christians versus the World

The Rise of Gnosticism From the Greek word gnosis (“knowledge”). It would arise in the 2 nd century, but its seeds were already evident. The physical is bad; the spirit is good. Views of Jesus. –Docetism: Christ only seemed to be human. –Cerenthianism: The Divine Christ entered Jesus at His baptism and departed prior to His death. Salvation through knowledge.

Your walk in the light will be evidenced… In how you walk and in what you say In how you obey In how you live In how you love In how you believe 1 st JOHN WALKING IN THE LIGHT Chapter 1Chpt 2Chpt 3Chpt 4Chpt 5

The Second Epistle of John Truth Versus Error

2 nd John Truth Vs. Error Introduction 1:1-31:4-61:7-111:12-13 The Elder To the chosen lady and her children Whom I love in truth; and not only I, but also all who know the truth, 2 for the sake of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever

2 nd John Truth Vs. Error IntroductionWalk in Truth 1:1-31:4-61:7-111:12-13 I was glad to find some of your children walking in the truth Just as we have received the commandment that we had from the beginning That we love one another

2 nd John Truth Vs. Error IntroductionWalk in Truth Warning against Error 1:1-31:4-61:7-111:12-13 Many deceivers Antichrist Abide in the teaching Don’t receive those who do not hold to this teaching

2 nd John Truth Vs. Error IntroductionWalk in Truth Warning against Error Conclusion 1:1-31:4-61:7-111:12-13

The Third Epistle of John Walking in Truth

3 rd John Walking in Truth Commendation for Walking in the truth 1:1-81:9-111:13-141:12 The Elder To the beloved Gaius The brethren came and bore witness to your truth They bear witness to your love before the church

3 rd John Walking in Truth Commendation for Walking in the truth Negative example of Diotrephes 1:1-81:9-111:13-141:12 He loves to be the first He does not accept what we say He does not receive the brethren

3 rd John Walking in Truth Commendation for Walking in the truth Negative example of Diotrephes 1:1-81:9-111:13-14 Positive example of Demetrius 1:12 He received a good testimony from… Everyone The truth itself

3 rd John Walking in Truth Commendation for Walking in the truth Negative example of Diotrephes Conclusion 1:1-81:9-111:13-14 Positive example of Demetrius 1:12

The Epistle of Jude The Danger of Deception

Jude The Danger of Deception Occasion for Writing Judgment of the Ungodly Closing Doxology 1:1-41:5-191:24-25 Exhortation to the Godly 1:20-23 To you who are kept in Christ Past Present Future To Him who is able to keep you

Excel Instructor & Course Evaluation Course: Epistles & Practical Christian Life Instructor: Dr. John Stevenson