“REMEMBRANCE” 2 PETER 1:12-21

Introduction: We have, in the past few weeks, looked in the early part of this chapter at some things to add to our faith. Peter mentioned that if we would be obedient to what God said to do, that we would be blessed; but if we refused, we would fall under the judgment of God.

Peter in our verses for tonight gives us a very good reminder - the importance of a reminder! Many people are very forgetful, as we get caught up in our routines, how easily we forget what we are doing and why we are doing it! Peter, realizing this danger, said that he was going to give all the reminders necessary to the people of God to keep them in line with the Word of God!

We all need to be reminded of what the Bible has said, so that we can find our way into God’s Way with consistency!

If you notice the end of the chapter, great emphasis is placed upon the Word of God. I want to deal tonight with the reminder of the Word of God!

1. MEN MAY DIE, BUT THE WORD OF GOD REMAINS!vs 12-15

In Peter’s day, there were men who boldly proclaimed the Word of God before many peoples! It was through their preaching and life experiences that the Word of God was actually written. They laid for us a foundation, a true and living way!

Then men came after them and preached what they preached, and then those men died! And on it has come throughout these many years, and we still preach the same things that Peter and Paul preached. But one day we as well will be silenced! Then God will faithfully raise up a generation to proclaim His Word again!

But Peter’s death did not silence the Word of God! Nor will my death put an end to the preaching of the Word of God! It is not my job to attempt to preserve the Word of God, only to place God’s people into remembrance of it!

A. We should be placed in remembrance of Christ!

Luke 22:19 - “And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.”

God forbid that we forget about Christ, but I am afraid that so often Who He was and what He did is forgotten!

This is why we observe the Lord’s Supper, to bring back again into remembrance things we should remember  How much more do we sometimes forget what Jesus did for us, but how refreshing it is when something comes along and reminds us of His greatness!

B. We should be reminded of the way of Christ through this world!

1 Corinthians 4:17 - “For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.”

John 14:6 - “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

The only way to follow through this life is the way of Christ, but if we don’t stick to the roadmap, we will get lost!

C. Remembrance of each other.

Philippians 1:3 - “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.”

We should be in remembrance of each other, as the children of God. So many times we come to Church and leave, come to Church and leave, never thinking of the fact that we will spend eternity together, and we should remember each other, especially in prayer!

D. Remembrance of the things of God.

1 Timothy 4:6 - “If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou has attained.”

The Word of God is tried and true. I often claim to “preach a good Book”, and so I do! I need to stir up the people of God to Godly things - there is enough in the world that does contrary!

E. Stir up our purity in our minds.

2 Peter 3:1 - “This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance.”

Our minds so often are filled with corruption, it is good sometimes when someone says something to us that stirs up good thoughts in our minds!

We usually start the day off right, but then we falter toward the middle of the day and never recover!

Wouldn’t it be great if we could try to maintain the purity of our minds!

I have talked tonight about putting some thins in remembrance. I have by no means exhausted the list, but definitely a great start! Let’s keep some things in remembrance as we go through life!