Grace Community Church Ramona Podcast

Like a root, bitterness puts off poison fruit like slander, lying, malice, hatred, anxiety, division.

Manipulation comes in many forms, but in all its various forms it is always a matter of control and it always plays on the desires of the other person. The manipulator plays on the other person’s desire for love and acceptance. Manipulation plays on the other person’s desire for safety and security for themselves and for others they love.

The delay of Jesus’ second coming is not evidence of a failed prophecy, but the manifestation of God’s loving patience. The delay has and is giving opportunity for people from every tribe, tongue and nation to be reconciled to God. God wants a big family with Him in the New Heaven and the New Earth (3:13)! It is our privilege to serve God’s patient purpose by sharing the way of salvation with those not yet reconciled.

Contrary to the contention that everything has continued the same since God created all things by His Word, Peter points out that God destroyed all things by His Word and with water through the Flood. Though the false teachers deliberately leave out the Flood, Peter makes clear a cataclysmic event of judgment happened in the past and that another is promised for the future, only this one will be through fire.

False teachers are doomed for destruction. As they introduce destructive heresies, they are “bringing upon themselves swift destruction.” (2:1). Their judgment is certain: “Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.” (2:3).

In verse 10, Peter calls these false teachers bold and willful. Together, these words describe people who are recklessly and ruthlessly determined to have their own way. Their arrogance is driven by claims to have received direct revelation from God by means of dreams. Jude notes that "relying on their dreams" these false teachers will blaspheme/slander spirit beings (Jude 8).

The Flood and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah are historical examples of how God, on one hand, punished the unrighteous, and on the other, rescued the godly from temptation.

These false teachers will secretly bring in what Peter calls "destructive heresies". Originally heresy meant "to make a choice", but over time and usage it came to mean "a sect, or party". The false teachers will be divisive because their teachings will cause division and schism within the church family instead of unity (Eph. 4:1-6).

Special Christmas Message 2024

The Old Testament prophecies of the second coming of Jesus are so reliable, Peter encourages his readers to give constant attention to them. They are like lanterns of truth and hope guiding believers through the dark journey of this life. The lanterns will no longer be needed when the light of day dawns, when Jesus comes. And Jesus’ coming means a new life for believers has begun like the morning star signals the beginning of a new day.

How you live your life now will determine your service, your authority and the honor you receive in the Kingdom. Now is the time to learn and take on the kingdom virtues of agape love, brotherly affection, service, humility, grace, forgiveness, faithfulness, diligence, integrity, wisdom, righteousness. Jesus will exalt believers who seek to partake of the divine nature. But He will rebuke those who continue in the old nature of self-centeredness.

We believe in a promise that Jesus is literally, physically coming a second time to this earth. Is this promise of such a nature that it warrants such a belief? The answer to this question is based on the premise that a promise is only as good as the one who makes it. This is the issue of our study this morning.

Missions Update, Samaritan Aviation Matt & Jeannine Condon

Disciple making incorporates the entirety of the Christian life, and it is one of the clearest ways that we can show love towards our family and the world. Now that we are clear on what it means to be/make a disciple of Jesus, let's turn our attention to the brief but helpful pattern that Peter gives to us.

In our study today, the Apostle Peter uses clear and powerful language to describe two very different roads a believer could choose to follow.

2 Peter 1:3-8 reveals that Jesus has granted us everything needed to become like Him in character, values, attitudes and actions.  But to what end? For what purpose? We have also discovered that becoming partakers of the divine nature; of possessing the character, values, attitudes and actions of Jesus Himself, requires effort on our part.

As followers of Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are able to become like Christ in character, values, attitudes and actions. This transformation starts with a growing knowledge of Jesus and His promises. Then we are to make every effort to supplement, or add to, our faith with the qualities found in 2 Peter 1:5-7.

Self-control is the war between impulsivity and doing what's right or beneficial. It's the ability to control emotions, impulses or behaviors to achieve a greater goal.

Jesus has granted us everything needed to become like Him, but we must put effort into the process of transformation as well.  The very first principle we see in this passage is that: Becoming partakers of the divine nature; of possessing the character, values, attitudes and actions of Jesus Himself, requires serious effort on our part.

The goal of God’s salvation plan for you wasn’t completed the moment you trusted in Jesus as your Savior; that was just the beginning. God wants to reform you into the character, values, attitudes and actions of Jesus Himself. This is the message of 2 Peter.