Keeping Sight of Christ (Part B)

The truth is not contrary to fate, but it is contrary to false faith. And this is why persecution exists against Christian salvation love religion. Julie's not be based on truth, or feelings on the feelings I just feel like it so you just stepped out of what Jesus said, those who worship God must worship him in spirit and in truth they go together. You cannot have one part of the woman. The spirit brother you we would also be an intruder is not the right spirit.

This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of second Peter, please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching keeping site of Christ is the title of today's message is Pastor Rick teaches through second Peter chapter 1 for so an interest will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

You're the assurance of the believer is saying if you go to be shortsighted and blind.

You lose your grip is supposed to enter in entrance has been supplied to you abundantly. The everlasting kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, the assurance of the believer. It is magnificent. I will be in heaven. I guarantee you that because of Jesus Christ. That's why that's how the writers of the New Testament wrote and spoke about their own salvation.

There was this not well I hope I get there. There was this assurance that they had. I will be there because of Jesus Christ number one. And because of surrendering to him. Number two it takes to is not going to force me into heaven. John's gospel chapter 1 but as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in his name.

I have received, it is plain speak.

When God says you shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. He did not say, by every Greek word, but every Hebrew word he does not say it that you have to be a scholar. He has the masses in view just live by the word of God.

Just know you'll be in heaven that your sins can't keep you out of heaven, so long as you cling to Christ and that's why he alone is worthy because only he could pull this off with us. John's gospel chapter 1 John the Baptist answered them, saying, I baptize with water, there stands one among you, whom you do not know is he who coming after me is preferred before me who sandal strap. I am not worthy to loose. This is the Christ, we have this is the one that brings us an invincible salvation so long as you want him I'm emphasizing that because that's what love is about love is an act of the will. Agape love.

Find Leo and stroke a love's family loves these are acts of emotions ask of you and all of the things playing on what agape love is an act of my will I choose to do this. I choose to love.

Regardless of what the other one is doing on the spiritual plane. Otherwise, we could not pray for our enemies and only Christ like.

We meet in the Gospels can so be this way and John knew it. He says I'm not worthy to untie his sandals. This is how great he is, but a powerful verse maybe sometime this week is you going about your activities, pause and think about that. Who sandal strap. I'm not worthy to loose to keep the proper perspective healthy insured because they were losing sight of this their identity was fading away. Some of them in the false teachers weren't helping. The persecution was not helping. So they had to look for help in a different place that would be heaven. Verse 12 for this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always.

Of these things will you know and are established in the present truth. For this reason this reason of salvation. Because of this concern for those losing sight of salvation.

Those who might later lose sight of it is our salvation supported by his divine power as we covered in verse three. This reminds me when he says, for this reason I will not be negligent. Remind you always. Of these things remind us of Samuel when people said Samuel euro judge.

We want to King want to King like the other nations at the end of it. Samuel says he's one of those great large figures of Scripture. Moreover, as for me, Samuel says, far be it for me that I should sin against Yahweh and ceasing to pray for you, but I would teach you the good in the right way. They had given up on Samuel, but Samuel would not give up on them. That's agape love agape love not begin in the New Testament it comes from God. It's always been like fire there, but it must be discovered. Philippians chapter 3 verse one Paul said for me to write the same things to use not tedious for you it is safe. I know you've heard this before and that's what Peter say I know you heard me say this before but I'm not to stop saying it because it's that important. And if I stop saying it, you might lose sight of it and then every trouble. Pastor Chuck Chuck Smith told the last 10 years or so of his life. Big pastors conferences. I think it every single one. He would say this, having begun in the spirit not seek to be made perfect in the flesh, and he was constantly reminding the pastors to stick to the word to the basics of Scripture to the basics of the faith don't depart from this stuff don't go learn something no new. Don't try to create.

You know, make it exciting. You can't paint gold and expected to still be this valuable thing you just ruin it that way, say over and over and over and over. I never got tired of it I love it. Scripture but I have watched so many men who were part of that assembly lose sight of it. It happens and therefore we should be on guard rather than arguing things that really have nothing to do with anything. Repetition is one of the ways we learn how to you.

How else do you get the multiplication table for example, through repetition, think about troops marching you know there's a discipline that is created that I don't think I would've ever gotten hold of. Had it not been for those long hours on the parade deck out in the sun being yelled at being forced over and over and over to do the same thing. He created a discipline and the Scripture says to us you know this is a fact of life.

Stop pretending reality does not exist for you.

So Paul says it's it's not tedious for me to tell you and should be tedious for you to receive it. Truth. Truth establishes faith or what else does lies falsity's that that would be paganism that would be idolatry that would be false belief that would be the cults truth establishes our faith and belief.

Again, John's gospel Jesus said God is spirit, those who worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Should we worship him and with falsities in spirit, not with idols but also in truth with deeds with actions.

Matthew 16 Simon Peter answered and said you are the Christ, the son of the living God, for God it you the Christ will go to backdating the God of the understudy connected everything. Anyone want to stumble shortly after what a lesson for us all to have God as Jesus said to Peter, flesh and blood didn't reveal this to you Peter but my father in heaven to have God reveal something to us and then to puff up after is not the pattern given in Scripture.

Humility is something we are to put on like a garment. John's gospel chapter 9 verse 38 then he said, Lord, I believe, and he worshiped him. Jesus gave us height. Jesus said that he was the Christ. He said I believe it. The truth belongs to faith. Otherwise, what you left with knowing the condemnation. Scripture lays on falsehood. We must remain intolerant of lies. When I say intolerant of lies. I don't mean necessarily of the people that are caught up in them with the lie itself, knowing that the deadly philosophies of men creep into churches and wipe them out while retaining the main church is sorta like putting a Red Cross sign communal the hospital sign outside on the tent but inside are the very things that kill and destroy. People come looking for for medical attention and they are destroyed. That's what happens with apostasy with apostate churches. They retain the name church but inside their killers of souls. They build these bastions of falsity. Don't you dare come against them because they're the learned ones departed from the faith.

There is one side to truth concerning God and it is found in Christ and faith is not contrary to truth and truth is not contrary to fate, but it is contrary to false faith. And this is why persecution exists against Christians, salvation, love, religion should is not be based on truth, or feelings only feelings I just feel like it so you just stepped out of what Jesus said, those who worship God must worship him in spirit and in truth they go together. You cannot have one part of the cleverness of your brother you we would also be an intruder is not the right spirit.

Charles burdens that I preach God's truth and Spurgeon was hounded Charles Spurgeon one of the great preachers of the 1800s. 3500 of his sermons still exist. You do well to read as many as you can.

I think I'm up to about 300 but he was hated by so many of the established church members. The newspapers went after him drawing pictures of him like a monkey because he would not submit to letting Darwinism we know is evolution in our evolution of the species, he would not stand for that creeping into the church is no place is not true.

It's a lie hated him and he writes I have preached God's truth so far as I know it and I've not been ashamed of its curial verities that I might not stultifying my testimony ruin his testimony. I have cut myself clear of those who era from the faith, and even from those who associate with them is as if there into lying about God. I'm not into them. If there into tolerating those who will lying about God.

I'm not tolerating. I think this is the New Testament Way certainly is the Old Testament Way. I think this is right because what happens is when we begin to get get too chummy with those who harbor heresies, they begin to nibble on us until we begin to not be disturbed by the heresy and then the next thing you know where embracing the heresy and then we are espousing it. That process that Satan is counting on because it works but it doesn't have to work verse 13 so Peter says. Knowing these things he says yes I think it is right. As long as I am in this tent to stir you up by reminding you three times in this one paragraph he says remind you remind you remind you this persecution and the false teachers they might cause the believers to trade safety and acceptance for truth.

While I don't want to be crucified or burned at the stake or or killed with the sword so they might think about going back on their confession or they might feel it.

Well I gotta be accepted by those who say that that the smart guys. I want them to do except me and say recognize me say I'm smart to because I agree with them but are they calling me also to of names because I will line up with what they believe may belt I want to change sides appears warning them against this Jesus told his disciples that the Holy Spirit would bring all things to their remembrance.

The Holy Spirit would do this. This is how we have the New Testament. It is a spiritual deal. His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life. I believe in his divine power, which is why sometimes I get frustrated God, you got the power. Why don't we do XYZ. My plan is good but not good enough because Christ is called me to be crucified with him my ambitions. My insight my way of doing things nailed to the cross, he must increase, I must decrease is nothing complicated about that. John's gospel chapter 14, Jesus said, but the helper, that is the Paraclete in the Greek, the comforter, the one who comes beside us, but the Paraclete the help of the Holy Spirit. He says that to the case and I getting on the father will send in my name, he would teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I've said to you. We need to be stirred need to be inspired so looking at this verse last night out and around 8 o'clock I come down and get some cookies and milk because it makes us like you know spinach for Popeye and I'm them saying you know it just does nothing here in a scene. Now that is not there. I just can't find it is. I'm not inspired and know this is now supposed to be. This is how you bring out the pickax and begin chipping away for God's has their and I got to thinking about Peter he knows he's going to die soon, and he's fully inspired is not moved by and no qualms about being crucified. He is focused on what he is supposed to be doing that to me is inspiring because there are so many things trying to pull me away from being inspired from seeing the value of me being committed to what I believe in John chapter 14 verse 17 spirit of truth in the world cannot receive one another. They don't want him, but as many as received them. He gives the right to be children of God, you who were once in the world you received him, you no longer part of that group the world by definition metaphorically in Scripture are those who've not received him, who are rejecting him, he says, because it neither sees him, he personifies it nor knows him will you know him where he dwells with you and will be in you don't sell short the Holy Spirit in your own life you have to speak in tongues you do not have to do miracles have to believe if the know Christ have to agree with him, you have to cooperate, at least mentally with everything he says if he says those who worship me in spirit and truth.

That's how that has to happen if you say no notice. Another way then you're not cooperating but you say I receive it. He said it. I believe spirit of truth John 1526, who proceeds from the father. He will testify of me and magnifies Christ, the Holy Spirit is not if I can say it this way in our eyes. The Holy Spirit is not self-centered. He is Christ centered. He points us to Jesus. That is his role. He magnifies the Lord and we see this happening in the book of acts that Christ is magnified. The church is multiplied is the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers. Verse 14. Knowing that shortly.

I must put off my tent just as our Lord Jesus showed me right on the horizon. He could see his death approaching that word for shortly. In other words, it won't be long now. I must put off my tent. That's a metaphor for his physical body. Believers believe believers believe that no other book has access to the mysteries beyond the grave except the Scripture except the Bible what happens to me when I die, I am not going to look at the Koran for that answer. I'm not going to look at the books of the Mormons or anything. The Jehovah's Witnesses have the say, or any other religion out there. I'm going to Christ and his word when Jesus said, he who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live, shall never die. I believe that because he backs it up so many other things he says I must put off my tent.

He knows where he's going, just as the Lord Jesus showed me he believed what Christ told him peters. The only person in the Bible promise to not be rapture because he was told he was going to be martyred. He was destined to die.

He knew it and it had no worries about it. He did ministry the way it always done ministry. He brings it up to them. The early church should've known. They may have many summed it that there be no rapture so long as Peter was around with both Peter and Paul. While life was in them.

They constantly warned the church about the false teachers coming in for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers. They will heap them up. I don't like what you're teaching all go to another church and all support that church in rhyme of the Bible says I will like what's being taught. If I don't like it. I'm going to vote against it with my feet.

I'm going to leave and not come back.

False churches are supported by false believers. Verse 15.

Moreover, I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease read the three verses keep saying my reading the same verse as you keep saying this reminder thing to me. Moreover, I will be careful to assure that you always have reminder done check that off your list Peter because were reading this reminder this morning, always mindful of future generations.

Acts chapter 2, verse 38 Peter said to them, repent, let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit the promises to you and to your children and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call. So he's always looking down the road. He sees his ministry as something that is going to continue after his death, and it has. He says of these things after my decease.

These things of the virtues that avoid shipwrecked the word he uses for decease there in the Greek is Exodus is the same word used when on the Mount of Transfiguration when Peter James and John were there with watching Moses and Elijah speak to Jesus about his departure. Luke writes well that Greek word is the same is Exodus signifying the death and so Peter is not saying all of these things after my death, he saying of my Exodus of my departure because when Jesus said he believes in me shall never die.

Peter happen to be one of those that believed him. Luke chapter 9 verse 31. Speaking of disappearance, who appeared in glory and spoke of his deceased that's that word same word which was about to be accomplished at Jerusalem, so Elijah and Moses on the Mount of Transfiguration speaking with Jesus about the crucifixion his departure from this life and I just saw a thing you know this is how the world likes to undermine faith, did Jesus really die on the cross will why would I even entertain such a stuff like saying into the sun really come up yesterday.

Why would I even entertain what why would you even ask such a question. We could you rephrase if you wanted people to watch what you had, could you not a phrase it in the context of truth instead of doubt. Then another one about the apostles things about the apostles, you never knew what was you because I know them there written down and I just watch the first three seconds and that is it down next because it did, they just start injecting these falsities and people gobble them up because they're not schooled in the Scripture. They don't care what the Scripture has to say. It appears well anyway, after Peter slow martyred them.

The saints would read this as he went up, encourage, to serve as Lord, and there probably little brokenhearted over this.

I remember when he wrote that after you know getting news that Peter had been killed for the gospel. Paul had a similar experience when he was going to Jerusalem and they said don't do it. The prophet stepped forward and said man wears his belt will be arrested. Don't go to Jerusalem is not good for you and they were weeping over the Paul's determination.

Paul answered we told acts 21. What you mean by weeping and breaking my heart.

I love you breaking my heart. I watch your cry over me secondary.

It is good have a cry because I'm going to Jerusalem is a says what you mean by weeping and breaking my heart, for I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus and if I could just have a symbol's worth of this courage of his energy to not only die for Christ, but to live for Christ that in death.

Whatever mode it may be I will glorify God. But what about in life and in life, whatever its course may be, will I glorify Christ. Sounds nice doesn't but doesn't come easily if the work for. Peter reminded them of their duty to themselves and to Christ they received and how we know how do we know that as Peter wrote these things. As Paul wrote these things in John and Jude. We know the Christians receive because they kept their words and circulation. That's how we know we have reserved but hard work of men in the spirit of God moved. That's all we have time for.

On today's edition of cross reference radio you've been listening to Pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville in Virginia as he teaches through the book of second Peter if you'd like to listen to more messages from this series or if you'd like more information about this program please visit our website cross reference radio.com.

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