2-Peter

Ask Anything

“Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it” John 14:13-14

These verses have been abused by some with the result that they have been led to believe that Christianity doesn’t work. When we read them it is important to read them in their context but also to read every word. There is a qualifier and the desired outcome given so that we might not misunderstand the limitations that apply to the invitation to come to the Father with our requests that carry a guaranteed positive response.

We are invited to pray always and in all situations and for everything but we are not given blanket assurance of a positive response.

The qualifier is “in my name.” After all, I am a child of God. No father who loves his child would give his child everything that they ask because some of their requests might result in harm.

Some years ago I was employed by a company that gave me the right to sign cheques up to a certain value without a second signature. However, there were limitations given not only in value but also the need to comply with procedures and instructions. It was not my money and it was not my name on the cheque. I was under delegated authority and I was required to act within the authority given.

In a similar way, when Jesus says “ask anything in My name”, He is saying that we must have authority from Him for the specific request, and we must abide by the limitations He has imposed if we are to have assurance of a positive outcome. When we fulfil the requirements He will do it. The outcome will be that “the Father [is] glorified in the Son.”

We see an example of this kind of delegated authority in 1 Samuel 25 when David sent men to the foolish Nabal. “David sent ten young men; and David said to the young men, ‘Go up to Carmel, go to Nabal, and greet him in my name’” (v 5). “So when David’s young men came, they spoke to Nabal according to all these words in the name of David, and waited” (v 9).

The young men only had authority to speak the words that David had given them. They were acting in his name under his authority.

While we readily see that there are limitations, we can also see that there is a huge scope for prayer. The scope is revealed in the Bible – we need to read and soak it up in order to know the multitude of things for which we may ask that are according to the will of God and therefore have an assurance of a positive response.

We could pray in accord with 2 Peter 3:9 or with the prayer of Paul in Ephesians 1:15-23 and many other prayers and invitations to pray. If it is in the revealed will of God we may ask with confidence of receiving that for which we ask (1 John 5:16).

By all means, pray with regard to everything – and in everything give thanks – because God wants to commune with us and He does answer prayer. In God’s grace he has revealed some matters for which we may pray and have an assurance of His positive response. That will encourage us to pray such prayers.

Covenanting with God

“They entered a covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul” 2 Chronicles 15:12

We don’t hear very often of people, either individually or corporately, entering into a covenant with the Lord. God has revealed Himself as one who makes and keeps covenants so we would expect that His people would do likewise. Fear of failure or an unwillingness to commit may be major reasons we don’t covenant with the Lord. King Asa failed later in life and is an example from which we may learn.

King Asa started out well by doing what was right and good in the eyes of the Lord. In the early years of his reign over the Southern Kingdom the Ethiopian Zerah came against him with an army more than twice the number of his army. Asa cried out to the Lord and the Lord routed the Ethiopians apparently without any effort on the part of Asa’s army. It was at this time that Asa and the people entered a covenant with the Lord. The Lord gave King Asa “rest” from war until his 36th year as king. Then King Baasha of the Northern Kingdom came against him with an army.

Instead of turning to the Lord for counsel and deliverance King Asa turned to the king of Syria for help. The prophet Hanani was sent by the Lord to make him aware of the change in his relationship with the Lord but King Asa refused to repent. Instead, he became angry at Hanani for exposing his sin and had him imprisoned.

What happened in the 35 years of “rest” from war that allowed king Asa to have such a change of heart? There are several observations we can make:

  1. The miracle of the Lord destroying the Ethiopian force did not guarantee Asa’s continued loyalty and reliance on the Lord
  2. A long period of time of prosperity and things going well with the people did not guarantee loyalty and reliance on the Lord
  3. In reality it would appear that the miracle and the extended period of peace and prosperity led to complacency and/or presumption with the result that the King no longer turned to or relied on the Lord

Peace and prosperity do not provoke reliance on and loyalty to the Lord. However, they do not of themselves provoke disloyalty. When things are going well we need to pay double attention to maintaining intimacy with the Lord. The history of God’s people in the Bible, in church history and in living memory of many of us, teaches us that miracles, peace and prosperity do not close the door of disloyalty and unfaithfulness.

Peter wrote, “Brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things (mentioned in the preceding verses) you will never stumble” (2 Peter 1:10).

When we make a covenant with the Lord it needs to be on the basis of the cross and God’s, gracious enablement and faithfulness otherwise we might follow Asa’s example in which pride welled up within him so that he no longer relied on the Lord.

A Tormented Soul

“For that righteous man [Lot], dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds” (2 Peter 2:8)

It would appear that Lot was not wise in a number of his decisions, especially concerning where to live. Unlike Lot most of us have little choice about the kind of society we live in. However, we can learn a little from Lot’s experience that may help us to live righteously in our lawless society.

I have no reservations in characterising our society as lawless. Yes, we have more laws than ever before, and new ones being added regularly – but having laws does not make us lawful people. Quite the contrary, it points out that we are not lawful by nature.

It seems that the only law people attempt to keep is, “Thou shalt not get caught” – but this is not one of the Ten Commandments.

Just one example of our lawless society: A neighbour asked if we minded if he let off fireworks on Australia Day. This was surprising since he was often critical of young people who disregarded laws, made a nuisance of themselves and damaged property in the street while passing through. There were a number of laws broken with regard to the fireworks and he expected his neighbours to condone that lawlessness. Our neighbour did not see the irony in celebrating Australia Day by deliberately and knowingly acting contrary to the laws of Australia – something all new Australians vow on Australia Day that they will observe.

We may not have chosen to live in this society as Lot did his, but we are in it. Jesus wants us to be in it, but not as a sponge; rather, as light and salt. We are not to be influenced by it, but to influence it for Him.

Lot’s “righteous soul” was “tormented” day by day because of the lawlessness of his society. It is reasonable to expect that our souls will likewise be tormented day by day. The problem can be that we get so used to the wickedness and lawlessness that we don’t even notice it. That would be an indication of spiritual insensitivity or spiritual death.

If we are spiritual at all and allowing Jesus Christ to live out His righteousness in us, we will feel tormented day by day. Paul puts it this way, “we also who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body” (Romans 8:23).

No one will inherit the kingdom of God by keeping laws – only by faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. However, the one who has been made righteous by Jesus Christ will feel his righteous soul being tormented day by day.

The Last Word

“Surely I am coming quickly” Revelation 22:20

The last words of a dear friend departing our company are usually important. When the parting is expected to be for a lengthy period something will be said regarding the manner and timing of reunion. Jesus’ last words to His people and to the world should therefore be given attention. They bring joy to the heart of the one who longs for Him.

The last invitation by Jesus is to come to him. “And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely” (22:17). Jesus excludes no one. All may come. The invitation is to even the most evil and wicked; it is to sinners. He commands all and everyone to come. Anyone who goes to hell does so against His will (2 Peter 3:9) and against His command (1 John 3:23). There is no sin too great except that of rejecting His gracious remedy for sin.

Jesus’ last warning is for people who would tamper with His word. “If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the Book of Life” (22:18-19). This is not just about adding or deleting text. It is also about distorting or misrepresenting the meaning of the text such that it prevents people knowing the truth and thereby miss the opportunity to be saved. Satan has always attempted to distort and discredit the word of God and he still finds willing partners today.

The last words of Jesus are an affirmation that He will return. “Surely I am coming quickly” (22:20). Jesus affirmed to His disciples that He would come again to take them with Him (John 14:3). Here He affirms that He will come for all His people and take them to be with Him forever. This is the kind of parting words that friends make. They must part for a time but the glorious hope is reunion, never to be parted again. When Jesus comes, it will be sudden and swift. This is also a warning for us to be ready – for at any time He may come for us.

In addition to Jesus’ last words, John records what our response will be in the last prayer in the Bible. “Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (22:20). Is this your response to Jesus last words? When a loved one leaves us for a time and we long for their return, this is what our response will be. If we really love Jesus we will long for His coming for us so that where He is, we shall be also.

Since the Creation of the World

“Since the Creation of the world the invisible attributes [of God] are clearly seen” Romans 1:20

It never ceases to amaze me what extraordinary things people will believe but anything discovered to be in the Bible as truth will often be automatically called “religious” and be rejected as truth. This is what Paul meant when he wrote, “Therefore God also gave them up … who exchanged the truth of God for the lie” (Romans 1:24, 25). Even the laws of our nation that once reflected to some degree the truths revealed by God in His word are being changed to express the opposite. In verse 22 Paul writes, “Professing to be wise, they became fools.”

Only a foolish person believes that which is untrue especially when that lie has no tangible evidence for it and the truth has no tangible evidence against it. It isn’t that mankind did not know the truth or that the truth is hidden or disguised from those who really want to know it. Peter writes, “For this they willfully forget” (2 Peter 3:5) and Paul writes, “Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God” (Romans 1:21). In other words, in spite of the clear observable evidence for God people deliberately choose to remove Him from their minds.

In the process people have also suppressed or rejected the evidence of conscience. Even without the revelation of the Bible people have knowledge of what is right and what is wrong. The conscience reacts to wrong behaviour, words and thoughts but that reaction can be overridden by the will. Eventually the conscience may become insensitive and may even die such that there is no longer any inward restraint on behaviour and will. This is when a nation finds it desirable to remove righteous laws and replace them with laws that encourage wickedness and evil.

When people reject the one true God of Creation they will substitute Him with something or someone else as Paul writes, “and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man – and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things” (v 23). This is what we observe in our world today. Men have created gods of many kinds often in the likeness of man but also often in the likeness of other created objects. Instead of honouring the Creator people give unmerited honour to the creation, especially to mankind.

The truth is that God created man in His image but many people have chosen to create a god in the image of men. That way they make the rules so they can do whatever they like. As with many board or card games we change the rules as we go to fit what we want.

The rejection of God’s revelation in the world around us and of the conscience within man will be revealed for the lie that it is in God’s time. As Peter writes, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). Today, there is an opportunity to have a change of heart toward God but that opportunity will not be available forever.

True to Kind

“This is a faithful saying … If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself”  2 Timothy 2:11, 13

Paul encourages Timothy and all of us to “be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (v 1) through faith in who Jesus is. There will be reward for remaining faithful. Paul gives the examples of a soldier, an athlete and a farmer to show that God is faithful. But even if we are not faithful God remains faithful. Why is this? It is because God and all His creatures are true to kind. God cannot act contrary to who He is and that is a foundation stone of true Christian faith.

The Bible reveals two things that God cannot do: God cannot lie (Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18) and God cannot act contrary to His Divine Nature (2 Timothy 2:13).

In an attempt to reduce penalty or even avoid penalty the defence of an accused may call witnesses to demonstrate that the actions of the accused were “out of character”. This is wholly untrue. All of God’s creatures act absolutely according to what they are. We all act exactly according to what we are. The natural person is always in rebellion against God and can do nothing but sin. The problem is not what we do but what we are. What we do is the outworking of what we are. A person may be able to suppress behaviour but they cannot change what they are. “There is none righteous, no not one” (Romans 3:10).

Sinful thoughts, words and deeds are the symptoms of what we are. As in the case of one before a judge we may try to escape penalty by claiming otherwise but God will not be deceived. We are sinners and there is no remedy until we admit that we are sinners by nature. We cannot change what we are. At best we may be able to change some aspects of our behaviour but that will never make us compatible with God.

God is holy; God is undefiled; God is without sin; God is love; God is righteous and just; God cannot deny who He is and if we are to come into His presence and have communion with Him then what we are must be changed. We cannot change what we are. This is why Jesus makes the emphatic statement that “you must be born again” (John 3:3). This is not a command but a statement of fact. To have communion with God we must have the same nature. This is only possible by way of a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 6:15) through which we are made “partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4).

When Jesus died on the cross He took our sin nature to death as well as the penalty for sin acts. In His resurrection He opened the door for a new life (Ephesians 2:10). The Gospel of Christ reveals God’s remedy for the “wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23) but also the remedy for what we are. Jesus’ resurrection necessitated His death on the cross; for us to live the resurrection life we must die to self.

God cannot change who and what He is. He is holy and without sin. If anyone is to come into His presence it is they who must be changed. Only Jesus Christ is able to do that for He alone bore our sin and rose again.

An Unpalatable Sandwich

“In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in their own eyes.” Judges 17:6 & 21:25

Twice this statement is made in the book of Judges. We might think it is for emphasis but that is not the main reason for the repetition. The two statements are like the two slices of bread of a sandwich and we should have a closer inspection of what lies between.

In between are two examples of the consequences of not having a faithful spiritual leadership and departing from the Word of God. Since Cain killed Abel men have been creating gods from their imagination. Not surprisingly this is one of the main teachings Jesus Christ and the New Testament writers address. Jesus Christ alone is the way to the Father. He said, “No one comes to the Father but by Me.” Every person must make a choice whether to believe Jesus or not. The default position is that of not believing.

Micah (not the prophet) had a shrine in his home in which he placed an idol that he had made himself from his own imagination. This doesn’t seem much in all Israel but it led to the whole tribe of Dan following after the imaginary god behind the idol. Some consider that this is the reason why the tribe of Dan is not included among the twelve tribes that will evangelise the world during the seven year Tribulation to come (Revelation 7:5-­8). In the place of Dan, Joseph receives the double portion through Ephraim and Manasseh. This appears to be what Jacob meant when he said “And now your two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh … are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine” (Genesis 48:5).

Secondly, the city of Gibeah had turned the way of Sodom. God had utterly destroyed Sodom and its surrounds because of their wickedness (Genesis 18 & 19). Gibeah was a city of the tribe of Benjamin. The circumstances surrounding this revelation in the Bible reveal that there was no godliness in Gibeah. So what? That is just one city. However the whole tribe of Benjamin supported Gibeah against the rest of Israel who had come to cleanse the nation by destroying the wickedness in Gibeah. As a result of this support almost the whole tribe of Benjamin was wiped out. The lesson to us is that we must not identify with or support ungodly groups even if they have close family ties. If we do we can expect to share in God’s enmity with them.

In the prophetical Scriptures we discover that this is a pattern that will continue until Jesus Christ returns to the earth to rule. Our world is like Israel was in those days. Indeed, everyone is doing what seems right to them, “what is right in their own eyes.”

Unless God is our King mankind will go the way of Sodom, Dan and Gibeah. This we can easily observe today “but God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). God’s actions against ungodly people are not His final judgment but a call to repentance.

Power to Overcome

“… God and Saviour who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4)

For an aeroplane to fly there are a number of laws that are taken into consideration and are either utilised or need to be overcome. The laws that most readily come to mind are the law of aerodynamics and the law of gravity. The law of gravity will not go away and neither does the law of aerodynamics cease to exist even if nothing is utilising it. They always remain. We cannot simply turn them off as we do a light in our home.

The law of aerodynamics requires motion to be effective and energy is needed to effect that motion. In gliders that energy comes from the sun but most aeroplanes depend on engines to give them the required motion to bring the law of aerodynamics into effect.

In the verse quoted above Paul writes to Timothy clearly stating that God’s will is that every person should be saved. Peter and the writer of Hebrews write the same thing (2 Peter 3:9; Hebrews 10:10; cf Romans 6:10). Equally clear in the Bible is that few will be saved (Matthew 7:13-15).

There are two laws in the Gospel of Christ that act in relation to each other much like the laws of gravity and aerodynamics. If the law of aerodynamics is not utilised an object will inevitably succumb to the law of gravity. For an aeroplane and its passengers that can be catastrophic. In like manner if the law of grace in Christ Jesus is not utilised a person succumbs to the law of God’s holiness and that is also catastrophic. For a plane to overcome gravity it requires energy. For a person to escape the law of sin and death he/she requires the grace of God through Jesus Christ (vs 5, 6).

Whether an aeroplane in the air or a sinner before our Holy God, whatever happens the laws are fulfilled. If an aeroplane crashes all the laws pertaining to it are fulfilled. It crashed because it did not have the power to bring the law of aerodynamics into effect. When a person is not saved all the laws of God are fulfilled. If a person is not saved it is because he/she had no power to bring the law of grace and forgiveness into effect.

It is God’s will that all be saved but it is only those who receive the grace of God in Jesus Christ who will be saved from sin and death. The reason for this is that He alone took away mankind’s sin and therefore He alone is the Mediator between God and men (v 5). Jesus Christ alone has the power to deal with man’s sinfulness. As Luke writes, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). It was His blood alone that was shed on the cross at Calvary.

We who have received the grace of God in Jesus Christ now have the privilege and responsibility to tell others so that they may come to the knowledge of the truth and receive the gift of God’s grace in Jesus Christ, just as we have been so graced.

Prepare for His Coming

“You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.” (James 5:8)

All of the New Testament writers make mention of the Lord Jesus’ return. The reasons for their reference may vary a little but by their mention of Jesus’ return they reveal that it is not just a theological or doctrinal concept but a very real and personal expectation even in the face of mocking and criticism.

That Jesus would come on two occasions is camouflaged in the Old Testament but is made clear by Jesus Himself. In John 14:3 Jesus is emphatic that He will both leave His disciples for a time and will come again to receive them at a later time.

On several occasions the Apostle Paul mentions the second coming of the Lord Jesus for His church. In 1 Corinthians 15 he comments that in an instant all living believers will be changed from this corrupted humanity to a body without corruption and from mortality to immortality (vv 51-54). In this wonderful chapter on the assurance of resurrection for believers Paul associates our bodily resurrection with Jesus’ coming again (v 22).

The second coming of Jesus was a source of comfort and joy for Paul in regard to his love for believers (1 Thessalonians 2:19). He reveals that Jesus’ coming for believers is before the outpouring of God’s wrath on an unbelieving world (1:10; 5:9). It is also motivation for fervent prayer for believers (3:13) and comfort concerning believers who have died prior to His second coming (4:16; 5:11). This letter appears to be preoccupied with the return of the Lord Jesus Christ and what that means for Christians. Indeed, he too is emphatic regarding the return of the Lord Jesus (5:24).

James mentions the return of the Lord Jesus with regard to our manner of life while waiting (5:7, 8). Waiting as a farmer waits for the rain suggests that we should be using the waiting time to prepare for His coming. John affirms this as a right response to the revelation of His imminent return (2:28).

Peter also affirms the second coming of Jesus as faithful teaching (2 Peter 1:16) and that the scoffers that arise through the years before the event will be thoroughly discredited when He does appear (3:1-13). Peter is not referring to Jesus coming for the church but to Israel to establish His earthly kingdom. The two are linked as the Day of the Lord but occur a little more than seven years apart.

Peter tells us that the world will scoff at the notion of Jesus coming again inferring that He is a liar, impotent or unfaithful to His promises. Their argument is based on wishful thinking and the apparent delay in His coming. Peter reminds such thinkers that the delay is to give people, including the scoffers, opportunity to have a change of mind and heart and not for any lack in Jesus. “The Day of the Lord will come,” writes Peter, and when Jesus comes nothing will impede Him in the slightest.

As James encourages, let us prepare ourselves for Jesus’ coming without regard to the scoffers. Each day brings us inexorably a day closer to His coming when we shall see Him face to face. Surely this is joy and comfort to all who Know Jesus Christ.

A Lost Opportunity

“Now they are hidden from their eyes.” Luke 19:42

As an elderly lady with vision strived to get on the bus another passenger nearby exclaimed, “To be blind must be the worst thing.” Some may consider that to be debatable but no one would say that blindness did not greatly impair a person’s world view in a visionary sense. No one would choose to be blind.

In relation to God people do choose to be blind (2 Peter 3:5). In this passage in Luke’s Gospel people become blind because they reject the light. In effect they have chosen to close their eyes.

Israel was blind to Jesus being their Messiah. The leaders did not want Him to be Messiah and had ruled that out. This effectively made them blind to that possibility just like so many today have ruled Jesus out as being the Saviour from sin, death and God’s wrath.

As Jesus looked upon the city from Mount Olivet He began to weep. His weeping was not for what He would soon endure but for what He knew the city would endure in the future because the people rejected Him (Luke 19:43, 44). He had presented Himself to Israel as their promised Messiah, fulfilling all the Scriptures that spoke of Him, yet they did not recognise Him.

Jerusalem is special to the Lord because it is the city in which has been, and will, be the greatest revelation of the Person and glory of God. In Jerusalem He would endure the cross taking upon Himself the sin of the whole world (John 1:29) and will later rule and reign over the whole world when He comes in all His glory when Israel finally will receive Him.

The reality concerning Jesus Christ was hidden from the people of Jerusalem of that day because they chose to close their eyes to the truth and the opportunity was lost forever. One can only imagine their grief and sorrow when they discovered after bodily death that they had rejected the only One who could save them!

The reason they missed their opportunity and did not recognise Him as the promised Messiah, Jesus says, is because they did not know and understand the Scriptures (v 44). It is the Scriptures that describe both His activities and what He would teach. This included His suffering, death and resurrection.

As we share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with people our hearts are grieved at those who choose to be blind to the truth. Just as Jesus wept over Jerusalem because He saw the suffering the city would endure for its wilful blindness so we weep over souls who wilfully reject Jesus Christ because we know what awaits them in eternity.

Physical blindness is a severe impairment but nothing compared to wilful blindness in relation to the Bible and Jesus Christ. Jesus healed many physically blind people to demonstrate that He could also heal the spiritually blind – if they want to be healed!