"THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD."
I. HOW CAN WE KNOW GOD?
A. We can create our own ideas.
1. This is what many people do.
a. Their gods are projections of themselves.
1. If I were God.
2. I can't understand why God allowed this.
2. Result is confusion for we have an many gods as we do people.
B. We can listen to what other men tell us of God.
1. How can they know anymore about Him th...
"THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIM."
Intro: Man is becoming more knowledgeable about the universe every day, yet he remains so ignorant of the Creator. Which is more important to know - creation or the Creator?
I. THE BENEFITS OF KNOWING GOD.
A. Grace and peace be multiplied.
1. Grace is God's undeserved and unearned blessings.
a. Salvation "by grace are ye saved..."
b. Love.
c. The gift ...
"THE MORE SURE WORD."
Intro: You must decide concerning Jesus Christ, is He the Son of God or a shrewd charlatan? As a judge you should carefully weigh all the evidence.
I. EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS.
A. This always forms the strongest evidence in a case.
1. Those that were with Him and watched Him wrote their depositions.
a. They witnessed of His healing power.
b. They witnessed of ...
"EXCEEDING RICH AND PRECIOUS PROMISES"
I. GOD'S DESIRES FOR US.
A. That we might live a life of godliness.
1. He wants to be as He is.
a. "Be ye holy, for I am holy." I Peter 1:16
b. Jesus said, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect."
c. John wrote, "He that has this hope in Him, purifieth himself even as He is pure."
d. John also declared, "As He...
I. EARLY CHURCH HERESIES.
A. Gnosticism.
1. All material is evil.
a. Thus, God could not have created the material world.
2. Jesus dwelling as He did in a human body could not be God.
a. Some forms of this error taught divinity came upon Him at baptism, left before crucifixion.
3. The Gnostics were known to deliberately alter the scriptures to meet their views.
B. Irenaeus sa...
I. WHOSE DAMNATION SLUMBERETH NOT.
A. Atheist who asked God to strike him dead.
B. Minister who smokes cigarette while preaching.
C. People who mock, ridicule and curse God.
II. GOD TOO GOOD TO PUNISH ANYONE, ESPECIALLY ME.
A. Angels.
B. Old world (saved Noah).
C. Sodom & Gomorrha.
1. God hates your sin just as violently!
2. People suffering in hell, now God is less angry w...
"SLAVES OF CORRUPTION"
Intro. In chapter 2 Peter is warning about the false teachers.
I. "WHEN THEY SPEAK GREAT SWELLING WORDS OF EMPTINESS."
A. What a descriptive phrase. It is high sounding verbosity without substance.
B. They seek to impress people with their eloquence.
1. You may be impressed, but when it is over you often ask yourself, "What did he say?"
2. Do you remembe...
I. ATOMIC REACTION.
A. Nucleus of atom bombarded with slow-moving neutrons.
1. Structure disturbed and changed.
B. Properties of atomic fission.
1. Produces tremendous heat and energy.
a. Desert turned to glass for 800 yards.
2. A deafening explosion.
a. 1 stick of dynamite.
b. Uranium size of dime = 22,000 tons of dynamite.
3. Elements dissolve and change properties comple...
I. THE LORD IS NOT SLACK CONCERNING HIS PROMISE.
A. Promise of eternal life.
B. Promise of His coming.
C. Promise of judgment. "Hath He not spoken and shall He not do?"
II. LONGSUFFERING TO US WARD.
A. God's judgments would have failed long ago.
B. God's grace has kept door open.
1. Not that God isn't angry.
2. Not that God has softened.
3. Not that God has changed.
"IF SO WHAT THEN?"
I. "BUT THE DAY OF THE LORD WILL COME."
A. Despite the scoffers (vs. 4).
B. Despite the seeming delay.
1. The reason for the delay.
a. vs. 9.
b. vs. 15.
2. God reckons time in a different manner.
II. THE EVENTS OF THE DAY.
A. "Heavens pass away, great noise."
B. "Elements shall be dissolved with fervent heat."
C. "Earth and works burned up."
1. What ar...
"HOW SHOULD WE THEN LIVE?"
I. PETER TELLS US OF A MAJOR EVENT THAT IS COMING. HE CALLS IT THE DAY OF THE LORD.
A. There are many passages of scripture that speak of the day of the Lord.
1. From the scriptures it seems to refer to a period of time that will begin when Jesus comes for His church, and will continue with His judgment upon this Christ rejecting world, commonly known a...