• connection between 2 Peter and Jude (2 Pet. 3:1-3)
• the faith “once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3)
• Knowing that you are kept by God permanently, keep yourself in the love of God presently.

• words having been spoken beforehand
• scoffers in the last time
• following ungodly passions, causing divisions, not having the Holy Spirit

• building on your holy faith
• praying in the Holy Spirit
• waiting for Christ’s mercy

• the doubting, the dangling and the defiled

• awareness of protective custody and ascription of ceaseless honor

• “Admonition is love’s authentic expression in time of danger.” (MacGorman)
• The foundation for finishing well is a riveted focus on the faithful love of God.
• “Since from His bounty I receive such proofs of love divine, had I a thousand hearts to give, Lord, they would all be Thine.” (S. Stennett, “Majestic Sweetness Sits Enthroned”)

• inspired insights for believers living amid persecution and cultural confusion
• foundation for Christian living: God’s power and promises (3-4)
• Sustained by the Lord’s power and promises, passionately pursue conformity to Christ.

• practicing biblical “choreography”
• power of favor that precedes labor
• sevenfold application of faith
• possession and progression
• production and perspective

• confirmation of calling and election
• no falling beyond recovery
• no hindered entrance
• confirmation by continuation

• Remember: “Grace is opposed to earning, not to effort.” (D. Willard)
• Affirm divine sovereignty and human responsibility.
• Assess life biblically: “Three things are called precious in the Scripture: the blood of Christ is called ‘precious blood,’ 1 Peter 1:19; and faith is called ‘precious faith,’ 2 Peter 1:1; and the promises are called ‘precious promises,’ 2 Peter 1:4.” (T. Brooks)

• context of suffering (4:12-19)
• continuance of subjection concept (5:1-5a)
• Secure under God’s mighty hand, cultivate humility and transfer anxieties.

• Humble Yourself (5b-7) (Prov.3:34, Psa. 55:22)
• Stay Alert (8)
• Resist Satan (9)

• sustaining grace (10)
• sovereign superintendence (11)

• Don’t miss the contrast: set face and lavished grace.
• See the connection between clothing and casting.
• “If dependence is the objective, weakness is an advantage.” (Begg)
• “The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose, I will not, I will not desert to its foes; that soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake, I’ll never, no, never, no, never forsake.” (Keen, “How Firm a Foundation”)

• addressing doubters, deniers and disputers
• specific connection to 20-25 and 42-49
• Assured of future transformation, focus on present continuation.

• fundamental inability (50)
• the mystery (51)
• moment, twinkling and trumpet (52)
• absolute necessity (53)
• the engulfer engulfed (54-56) (Isa. 25:8, Hos. 13:14)
• victory through Christ (57) (Gen. 3:19)

• greatly loved
• steadfast/immovable
• abounding and knowing

• Look and live! (Num. 21:4-9, John 3:14)
• “Soar we now where Christ has led, alleluia! Following our exalted Head, alleluia! Made like Him, like Him we rise, alleluia! Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, alleluia!” (C. Wesley, “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today”)
• Keep on!

• expansion of 3:18-22
• Because of Christ’s suffering, arm yourself with an intent to suffer.

• military orientation
• connection between suffering and cessation
• the purpose, process and perspective

• fulfilling God’s will rather than man’s lust

• list of vices
• response of unbelievers

• accountability for unbelievers
• destiny of believers

• “Let us stand fast for what is right and prepare our souls for trial. Let us neither be dogs that do not bark or silent onlookers, nor paid servants who run away before the wolf. Instead, where the battle rages, let us find ourselves. Run towards the roar of the battle! That is where Christ’s most glorious victories shall be won.” (Boniface)
• “He reigns! Ye saints, exalt your strains; your God is King, your Father reigns; and He is at the Father’s side, the Man of Love, the Crucified.” (J. Conder, “The Lord is King”)
• You don’t need the last word. God has it.
• being mindful of ultimate accountability
• “Jesus is all the world to me and true to Him I’ll be. O how could I this Friend deny when He’s so true to me?” (W. Thompson, “Jesus Is All the World to Me”)

• between two “calls” to suffer
• Considering Christ’s substitutionary death and triumphant resurrection, magnify His worth when you suffer.
• two key commands: Don’t Fear and Do Honor

• once for sins, for the unrighteous, to bring us to God

• proclamation to spirits
• days of Noah

• correspondence to baptism

• current location
• comprehensive submission

• “No wound? No scar? Yet as the Master shall the servant be, and pierced are the feet that follow Me. But thine are whole. Can he have followed far who hast no wound or scar?” (A. Carmichael, “Hast Thou No Scar?”)
• Expect and embrace suffering.
• “Worthy of Worship” (T. York)

• submission and substitution (2:13-25)
• this morning: specific applications and summary regarding submission
• Considering your identity and destiny, honor the Lord presently.

• being subject: the humble recognition of the divine ordering of society
• prioritizing inward character over outward cosmetics
• confident expectation enables courageous compliance

• active sensitivity
• assigning specific honor
• acknowledging spiritual consequences

• displaying the character of Jesus
• being mindful of ultimate accountability
• “Jesus is all the world to me and true to Him I’ll be. O how could I this Friend deny when He’s so true to me?” (W. Thompson, “Jesus Is All the World to Me”)

• the matter of identity (2:1-12)
• this morning: submission in a secular culture and its scriptural support

• the meaning and the reason (13)
• the scope (14)
• the divine strategy: doing good, using freedom, showing respect (15-17)

• counter-cultural inclusion (18)
• gracious enduring (19-20)

• example to trace: refusal and reliance (21-23)
• ultimate and unique submission through substitution (24) (Lev. 16)
• sustaining Shepherd (25) (Isa. 53:6)

• Because Jesus is your ultimate standard and only substitute, live in glad submission to Him.
• It takes a divine methodology to achieve a divine agenda.
• “Why did they nail Him to Calvary’s tree? Why, tell me, why was He there? Jesus the helper, the healer, the friend, why, tell me, why was He there? All my iniquities on Him were laid; He nailed them all to the tree. Jesus the debt of my sin fully paid; He paid the ransom for me.” (J. Moore, “Why?”)

• a living hope and a guaranteed inheritance (1:3-9)
• the message of salvation (1:10-12)
• checklist for exiles (1:13-25)
• Because Jesus is the foundation and focus of your identity, live a life marked by His power and praise.

• prerequisite (1)
• passion (2a)
• purpose (2b)
• progression (3-5) (Psa. 34:8)
• permanence (6-8) (Isa. 28:16, Psa. 118:22)
• perspective (9-10)

• sinful desires that strategize against the soul (11)
• keeping conduct honorable so that God is honored (12)

• Remember that what God says about you is truer than what anyone else, including yourself, says.
• Grasp the options: enjoy deliverance or experience downfall.
• Plan to proclaim His excellencies this week!
• “A tent or a cottage, why should I care? They’re building a palace for me over there; Though exiled from home, yet still I may sing: All glory to God, I’m a child of the King.” (H. Buell, “A Child of the King”)

• a living hope and a guaranteed inheritance (1:3-9)
• the message of salvation (1:10-12)
• Considering God’s saving work through Jesus, pursue His agenda for your life.

• preparing your minds
• being sober-minded
• not being conformed

• since it is written (Lev. 19:2)

• if you call on Him as Father
• throughout the time of your exile
• knowing that you were ransomed
• a responsibility to relish (Luke 12:4-7, Isa. 66:2, Prov. 9:10)

• having purified your souls
• since you have been born again
• through the living and abiding word of God (Isa. 40:6-8)

• not retreating or assimilating, but blessing
• “Sweetly echo the gospel call, wonderful words of life; offer pardon and peace to all, wonderful words of life; Jesus, only Savior, sanctify forever…” (Bliss, “Wonderful Words of Life”)