REPETITION
New Year’s Special - a Recap of January 2014, Part 3.

The word of God is alive and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and spirit,

and of the joints and the marrow, and is a critic of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

all scripture is God-breathed and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

so that the man or woman of God may become mature, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Turn in the word of truth this MORNING to Acts 11.

On Wednesday evening, when we had our New Years evening not with the spirits of the cosmic system but with the real Spirit, God the Holy Spirit, we recalled how last year beginning in January 2014, we noted some very interesting doctrines.

And after talking to some of our internet students or disciples I had prayed about something and believe that God has given me the answer.

First of all, you must remember that there are certain mechanics when it comes to the will of God.

In fact Acts 11 reveals these mechanics in a special and unique way.


1. First of all there is Guidance through prayer, in Acts 11:5.

In ACT 11:5, Peter says "I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, a certain object coming down like a great sheet lowered by four corners from the sky; and it came right down to me,

2. Secondly, there is Guidance through objective thinking of Bible doctrine, verse 6.

ACT 11:6 and when I had fixed my gaze upon it and was observing it I saw the four footed animals of the earth and the wild beasts and the crawling creatures and the birds of the air.

3. Next, there is Guidance through perception and recall of doctrine, verses 7 10.

ACT 11:7 "And I also heard a voice saying to me, 'Arise, Peter; kill and eat.'

ACT 11:8 "But I said, 'By no means, Lord, for nothing unholy or unclean has ever entered my mouth.'

ACT 11:9 "But a voice from heaven answered a second time, 'What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.'

ACT 11:10 "And this happened three times, and everything was drawn back up into the sky.


4. Number 4, There is guidance through providential circumstances, e.g. the people we meet, verse 11.

ACT 11:11 "And behold, at that moment three men appeared before the house in which we were staying, having been sent to me from Caesarea.


5. Guidance through filling of the Holy Spirit and humility, verse 12.

ACT 11:12 "And the Spirit told me to go with them without misgivings. And these six brethren also went with me, and we entered the man's house.

6. Guidance through fellowship and comparison of spiritual data, verses 13 14.

ACT 11:13 "And he reported to us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and saying, 'Send to Joppa, and have Simon, who is also called Peter, brought here;

ACT 11:14 and he shall speak words to you by which you will be saved, you and all your household. '

7. Guidance through recalling of doctrine, verse 16.

ACT 11:16 "And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, 'John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'

8. Guidance through disaster.

It's very interesting that I received the guidance from God the Holy Spirit from what I am about to do from the first 7 points, only number 8 was missing.

And that is to emphasize the main message that was given in every month of the year 2014.

We already noted the month of January on Wednesday evening, which had to deal with the subject of the sword of the Spirit in the life our Lord emphasizing how gnosis is converted into epignosis.

And so today we are going to review in one message the month of FEBURARY, 2014.






MARCH

We studied the Lamb of God Who took away the sins of the world.

APRIL - We focused the life of Jesus Christ by the washing the feet of His disciples.

MAY = a new Commandment the Lord gives which is impersonal unconditional love.

JUNE

June began with the doctrine of the substitutionary spiritual death of our Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross.

JULY the Substitutionary Spiritual Death of our Lord.

Deacon Rick Bettez dealt with how
Science catches up to the Bible.

While Rick Kabrick dealt with the Feasts of the Lord.

AUGUST

We noted the Divine descriptions of Hades or Hell.

SEPTEMBER

September began with the doctrine of Election.
And we noted the three basic elections:

1. TLJC
2. Israel and the Jew
3. The election of the church.

OCTOBER

October began with the Doctrine of Election and the difference between: Cosmic one and Cosmic two.

NOVEMBER dealt with the hypocrisy of religion noting especially the Roman Catholic Church and its false doctrines.

DECEMBER

Then in December, we entered into our present study The Doctrine of Heaven.
And now, here we are, in the year of our Lord, 2015.

JOH 14:26 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things,
and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

"will bring to your remembrance" is a futactind, hupomnesei which is a compound verb which means to remember, to remind, to suggest, to mention.

Menesko means to remember,
Hupo means under the authority of someone.

In JOH 14:26 we have our Mentor, God the Holy Spirit mentioned once again "But the Helper [parakletos], the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name,

Parakletos means primarily a helper, a counselor, someone who can instill wisdom into your soul.

JOH 14:26 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things,

"will teach" is a futactind, the verb is didaxei
meaning to teach, to train, to educate, to impart information.

The Holy Spirit teaches the mystery doctrine to the believers of the Church-age, Joh 16:12-15, 1Co 2:9-14, 1Jo 2:27.

and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

"will bring to your remembrance" is a futactind, hupomnesei which is a compound verb which means to remember, to remind, to suggest, to mention.

Menesko means to remember,
Hupo means under the authority of someone.

Many times even though you've learned something once, you have to learn it again and again and again until you cannot forget it!

As Paul said to the Philippians in PHI 3:1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you.

The word "safeguard" describes the importance of repetition!

It is the Greek word "asphales" which means that which produces security and firmness.

This is why the alert pastor repeats doctrine.

Repetition is important!


You do not learn because you hear it once.....you learn because you hear it again and again and again.
And no matter how bored the congregation gets....
No matter how resentful someone might be....
No matter how anti-repetition some are....
a pastor who truly loves TLJC will go against the grain and will repeat, repeat, and repeat!

This is how inculcation takes place.

Inculcation means to press upon the mind through frequent repetition.

It means to indoctrinate or to ingrain!

It also means to drill it in to someone or hammer it in!

Now why is repetition so important?

(1) Repetition of doctrine is important for application of doctrine.

(2) Repetition of doctrine is important for appreciation of who and what TLJC is.

(3) Repetition of doctrine is the only way of teaching an entire congregation of believers who are at different levels of spiritual growth.

(4) Repetition of doctrine is necessary for converting gnosis into epignosis.

Prin-All believers in a congregation must be constantly reminded of doctrinal principles even though they have heard them before!

Inculcation is defined by teaching by frequent repetition and admonition.

And no believer can advance to spiritual maturity apart from doctrinal teaching.

You do not apply what you learn...you only apply what you cannot forget...and that's why repetition is so important!

And the pastor's job is to repeat, repeat, repeat!

And the pastor who doesn't repeat is arrogant!

He wants to be loved by everyone....
or he wants everyone to speak well of him....
or he doesn't want to bore anyone.....
he wants to hear how great his message is!

Repetition may drive people away but repetition is the means of tapping into the greatest resources that have ever existed for mankind.

Repetition produces inculcation!

And when you get bored and say I've heard that before or I have that down in one of my notebooks...you have lost out on the true purpose of repetition.

It is the tremendous concentration on repetition that makes a difference between winners and losers.

Repetition is the key to almost anything in life!

A well taught congregation is one that has been repeated to over and over again.

Repetition never bothers the believer who has PVTD.

Repetition is only resented by the arrogant!

Everyone resents at some time hearing something that they've heard before....and this is all a part of your test.

It's a part of indoctrination or doctrine becoming ingrained into the believer!

When you like something repetition doesn't mean a thing, whether it's your favorite food or beverage or sport or whatever.

As long as you have PVTD, it shouldn't make a difference how many times you hear it!

And if you listen carefully and concentrate under the ministry of God the Holy Spirit, something new always breaks through.

But the arrogant person says I've heard that before.

As if hearing something before matters!

What matters is the inculcation of Bible doctrine.

JOH 14:26 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

"I said" is an aoractind, eipon which refers to what the Lord taught them for the last three years!

Now, in 2Pe chapter 2, Peter mentions the importance of repetition.

2Pe 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you by means of the epignosis knowledge or through the instrument of metabolized doctrine of God and of Jesus our Lord;


2Pe 1:3 Seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge or epignosis knowledge [metabolized doctrine] of him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

2Pe 1:4 For by these he has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers or partners of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

2Pe 1:5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence or making every effort, with your doctrine supply moral excellence or virtue, and in your moral virtue, knowledge; or gnosis which is academic information

2Pe 1:6 And in your knowledge, self control, and in your self control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness;

2Pe 1:7 And in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, virtue-love.



2Pe 1:8 For if these qualities are yours and keep on increasing, they render you or prevent you from being neither useless [ineffective] nor unfruitful [unproductive] in the true knowledge or the epignosis knowledge [M.D.] of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2Pe 1:9 For he who lacks or does not have these qualities is blind or short sighted, [blind in the sense of blindness in the soul or blackout of the soul] having forgotten his purification or being cleansed from his former sins.

2Pe 1:10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent [perceiving doctrine and seeking those things above] to make certain about His calling and electing you; for as long as you practice these things [the execution of the PPOG], you will never stumble; [i.e., become a loser in cosmic system].

2Pe 1:11 For in this way [executing the PPOG] the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.[conveyance of eternal believer's inheritance blessings to winners]."

In verses 12-15, we see the means by which these blessings are transferred!

2Pe 1:12 is where we see the importance of doctrinal inculcation.

Nothing is more important in our lives than Bible doctrine, since Bible doctrine reveals the invisible assets and how to glorify God and receive our fantastic inheritance from God.


2Pe 1:12 Therefore, I shall always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present with you.

Again the "alert" pastor repeats doctrine!

Therefore is the conjunction "dio" which indicates that Peter is now reaching a conclusion!

Having understood election and our inheritance,
having understood God's plan and purpose for sustaining us....

We can begin to see the means by which of all these fantastic blessings are conveyed to us!

2Pe 1:12 Therefore, I shall always be ready

This is peter's advice in the last days of his life.

He understood the doctrine of election!

He understood why he was still alive and why God had sustained him!

He understood his invisible assets and the fantastic inheritance God had for him!

He is now 75 years old, giving us this advice, and he's about to die!

So, Peter says in the last days of his life, age 75, the year 67 ad.... Shortly before his death he says...."I shall always be ready"

prin-Peter was a prepared pastor and God uses prepared men!

So Peter says in verse 12, "Therefore, I shall always be ready"

Ready for what?

Next we have the phrase, to remind you, the presactinf of hupominnesko which is hupomimneskein which means to remind you, to bring to your remembrance, to teach you something you've already learned and therefore to repeat!

And in the present tense it means to keep reminding you or to keep on repeating!
2Pe chapter 2 is a fantastic passage that deals with the importance of repetition and how the Holy Spirit is able to bring things to our remembrance.

In our main passage the Lord said in JOH 14:26, "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.


Peter not only mentions the importance of repetition but also the type of things that should be repeated.

For example, in 2PE 1:1 Simon Peter, a bond servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:

"have received" is an aoractpart of lagchano which is lachousin which means to receive, to obtain, to attain.

Literally it says "to those who have received a faith equal to ours or of the same kind"

prin-Every believer starts out with the same amount of faith but none of us end up that way!

Everyone has the same chance from the start of salvation.
We all start out with an equal amount of faith, equal privilege and equal opportunity.

In eternity past the sovereignty of God elected us to privilege but.....we have the freedom to accept or reject His way of doing things!

God has only ONE will for all of us and that is He wills the highest and best for each one of us.

So He starts us all out with equal faith!

If He had His way we'd all be advanced, living in spiritual maturity.

But, in contrast, some fail, some succeed, some are winners, some are losers, some are under discipline, some are being blessed, and some are even under the sin unto death!

So Peter says 2PE 1:1 Simon Peter, a bond servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:

"by the righteousness of God" is the prepositional phrase "en plus the instrumental of means, dikaiosune" which refers to the righteousness and integrity of God and should be translated "by means of the righteousness of God".

This virtue, this integrity is related to our Lord Jesus Christ.

So this verse literally says "to those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours or from the instrument of our Lord's character and integrity"


And it is through the righteousness and virtue and integrity of our God and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ that we attain everything!

Now the divine policy and the divine purpose is stated in verse 2.

2Pe 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you not in the knowledge but [by means of the epignosis knowledge or through the instrument of metabolized doctrine] of God and of Jesus our Lord;

"in knowledge" is the prepositional phrase "en plus the instrumental noun epignosei" which should be translated
"by means of the epignosis knowledge or through the instrument of metabolized doctrine of God and of Jesus our Lord"

Notice that grace and peace or prosperity is multiplied to you by means of metabolized doctrine.

The greatest thing that you can do to attain prosperity is to learn Bible doctrine!

2Pe 1:3 Seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through what?

through the true knowledge or epignosis knowledge [metabolized doctrine] of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

Now notice the phrase "through the true knowledge", it is the prepositional phrase "dia" plus the definite article "tes"
and then once again the ablative of means of epignosis which is epignoseos which should be translated "through the means of epignosis doctrine or metabolized doctrine".

So again we see that everything we need pertaining to life or spirituality comes from metabolized doctrine!

2Pe 1:4 For by these [metabolized doctrine, God's own glory in vs 3 and God's moral excellence or virtue] He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them [the promises of God] you might become partakers or partners of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

2Pe 1:5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence or making every effort, with your doctrine

"with your faith" is the prepositional phrase "en te pistei" which should be translated "with your doctrine".

2Pe 1:5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence or making every effort, with your doctrine supply moral excellence or virtue, and in your moral virtue, knowledge; or gnosis which is academic information.


2Pe 1:6 And in your knowledge, self control, and in your self control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness or spiritual living;

2Pe 1:7 And in your spiritual living, brotherly kindness [the royal family honor code],

"brotherly kindness" is the noun philadelphia which refers to the Royal Family Honor Code.

and in your brotherly kindness, virtue-love.

2Pe 1:8 For if these qualities are yours and keep on increasing, they render you or prevent you from being neither useless [meaning ineffective] nor unfruitful [or unproductive] in what?

Here we are again, "in the true knowledge or the epignosis knowledge [M.D.] of our Lord Jesus Christ"

"in the true knowledge" is the prepositional phrase "eis plus epignosin" which is translated "in the metabolized doctrine of our Lord Jesus Christ".

Please notice again that everything depends on metabolized doctrine!

2Pe 1:9 For he who lacks or does not have these qualities [in context the qualities are found in verses 5-7]



2Pe 1:5, doctrine, virtue, knowledge,
2Pe 1:6, self control, perseverance, and spiritual living,
2Pe 1:7, brotherly kindness [the royal family honor code],
and virtue-love.

2Pe 1:9 For he who lacks or does not have these qualities is blind or short sighted, [blind in the sense of blindness in the soul or blackout of the soul] having forgotten his purification or being cleansed from his former sins.

2Pe 1:10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent [perceiving doctrine and seeking those things above] to make certain about His calling and electing you; for as long as you practice these things [the execution of the PPOG], you will never stumble; [i.e., become a loser in cosmic system].

2Pe 1:11 For in this way [executing the PPOG] the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.[conveyance of eternal believer's inheritance blessings to winners]."


Now with all of that in mind, in verses 12-15, we see once again the means by which all of these things take place!

2Pe 1:12 is where we see the importance of doctrinal inculcation.

Nothing is more important in our lives than Bible doctrine, since Bible doctrine reveals the invisible assets and how to glorify God and receive our fantastic inheritance from God.

2Pe 1:12 Therefore, I shall always be ready to remind you of these things,

What things?

That back in 2PE 1:1, we have all start out with an equal amount of faith, equal privilege and equal opportunity, but none of us end up that way!

And in 2Pe 1:1, it is through the righteousness and virtue and integrity of our God and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ that we attain everything!

In 2Pe 1:2, Grace and prosperity are multiplied to you by means of epignosis knowledge or through the instrument of metabolized doctrine.

The greatest thing that you can do to attain prosperity is to learn Bible doctrine!

In 2Pe 1:3, His divine power has graciously given to us everything pertaining to life and spirituality through epignosis knowledge or metabolized doctrine.

In 2Pe 1:4, we are to become partakers or partners of the divine nature.

In 2Pe 1:5, we are to make every effort and with our doctrine supply virtue, and in our virtue, more knowledge or gnosis which is academic information.


In 2Pe 1:6, in your knowledge, supply self control, and in your self control, supply perseverance, and in your perseverance, supply spiritual living;

And in 2Pe 1:7 in your spiritual living, brotherly kindness or the Royal Family Honor Code], and with the Royal Family Honor Code, supply, virtue-love.

And then in 2Pe 1:8, make sure "these qualities keep on increasing so that they will prevent you from being neither ineffective] nor unproductive] in the epignosis knowledge [M.D.] of our Lord Jesus Christ"


And then in 2Pe 1:10, "be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and electing you"

So that in 2Pe 1:11 "the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.[conveyance of eternal believer's inheritance blessings to winners]."

So with all of that in mind, Peter says 2Pe 1:12 Therefore, I shall always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present with you.

to remind you, the presactinf of hupominnesko which is hupomimneskein which means to remind you, to bring to your remembrance, to teach you something you've already learned and therefore to repeat!

And in the present tense it means to keep reminding you or to keep on repeating!
*******************
prin-The purpose of repetition is to fulfill a deliberate objective which is to inculcate Bible doctrine in the believer's soul so that the believer will remain in the PPOG.

2Pe 1:12 Therefore, I shall always be ready to remind you of these things [the inheritance of the believer, the invisible assets, and the believer's election and predestination],

and then notice what he says next even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present with you.

"know" is the peractpart of oida which is eidotas
and in the perfect tense it recognizes the completed action of knowing, which reveals that this was a "well taught congregation"!

Peter is talking to a well taught congregation.

They had a tremendous amount of doctrine.

prin-A well taught congregation is one that has been repeated to over and over again.




Now, this means at some point the first time you hear a doctrine you may resist it....
maybe it's too technical...
or it doesn't apply to your personal life....
you may resist it the second time,
the third time,
the fourth time,

but....if you hear it enough times and finally understand it in relationship to it's context, you will accept it and therefore it becomes metabolized doctrine!

and then you will probably come up to me and say, "you've taught that so many times before, but this time you do a good job...."

and I'll just look at you and say thank you and not even try to explain that perhaps you weren't listening the first twelve times!

2Pe 1:12 Therefore, i shall always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present with you.

established is the perpasspart of sterizo which is esterigmenous meaning to be supported, sustained, and firmly established.

The perfect tense recognizes the results of completed action.

Peter is communicating to a mature congregation.

The perfect tense means the congregation has been taught in the past through repetition!

And the result of repetition is the congregation is filled with stabilized believers!

The passive voice, the believers who had positive volition toward doctrine received the action of the verb i.e. doctrinal inculcation.

The participle recognizes the purpose of repeating doctrinal teaching to the congregation.

They were well taught and repeated to.

2Pe 1:12 Therefore, i shall always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present with you.

There are 2 principles that you should never forget which are brought out in this passage;

1. In eternity past the blessings placed in your inheritance were made contingent upon the future performance of each believer.

And your advance to spiritual maturity is the contingent on which the blessings are transferred




2. Spiritual maturity is the result of doctrines being repeated over and over again to the congregation, and spiritual maturity is the place that the believer graduates from.

And this is when the believer will be qualified to be rewarded from heaven!

Heaven will reward soul winners, Dan 12:3.
Heaven will reward humble servants, Mat 10:42.
Heaven will reward faithful stewards, Mat 25:23
Heaven will reward those who give, Luk 6:35

Heaven will reward those who produce divine good, Rom 2:10.

Heaven will reward those who are persecuted,
Mat 5:11-12.

Heaven will reward those who suffer un-deservingly,
2Ti 2:12.

Heaven will reward those who master the O.S.N., 1Co 9:25.

Heaven will reward those who love His appearing, 2Ti 4:8.

Heaven will reward those who endure temptations, Jam 1:12.

Heaven will reward the faithful pastor teacher, 1Pe 5:4.

This is why spiritual failure is brought in the scriptures such as in Mat 7:27, building upon the wrong foundation!

Mat 7:26 "And everyone who hears these words or doctrines of mine, and does not act upon them, will be like a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand.

Mat 7:27 "And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and it fell, and great was its fall."

Or spiritual failure is brought in Mat 17:16 as not being able to perform that which God has given the opportunity to perform (equal privilege, equal opportunity).

Or in Luk 14:30, spiritual failure is revealed by starting but not being able to finish.

Or in Heb 4:6, refusing to enter into God's rest.

Now, what causes spiritual loss on the part of the believer?

The main cause for spiritual loss is ignorance, 2Pe 1:8.


2Pe 1:8 For if these qualities are yours and keep on increasing, they render you or prevent you from being neither useless [ineffective] nor unfruitful [unproductive] in the true knowledge or the epignosis knowledge [M.D.] of our Lord Jesus Christ.
***************************
2Pe 1:8 For if these qualities are yours and keep on increasing, they render you or prevent you from being neither useless [meaning ineffective] nor unfruitful [or unproductive] in what?

2Pe 1:9 For he who lacks or does not have these qualities is blind or short sighted, [blind in the sense of blindness in the soul or blackout of the soul] having forgotten his purification or being cleansed from his former sins.

2Pe 1:10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent [perceiving doctrine and seeking those things above] to make certain about His calling and electing you; for as long as you practice these things [the execution of the PPOG], you will never stumble; [i.e., become a loser in cosmic system].

2Pe 1:11 For in this way [executing the PPOG] the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.[conveyance of eternal believer's inheritance blessings to winners]."

So with all of that in mind, Peter says 2Pe 1:12 Therefore, I shall always be ready to remind you of these things or repeat these doctrines, even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present with you.

There are 2 principles that you should never forget which are brought out in this passage;

1. In eternity past the blessings placed in your inheritance were made contingent upon the future performance of each believer.

And your advance to spiritual maturity is the contingent on which the blessings are transferred

2. Spiritual maturity is the result of doctrines being repeated over and over again to the congregation, and spiritual maturity is the place that the believer graduates from.

And this is when the believer will be qualified to be rewarded from heaven!

We are warned throughout the Scriptures on a consistent basis to beware of spiritual failure.

Spiritual failure is brought out in such passages as Mat 7:27, by building upon the wrong foundation!

Or spiritual failure is brought in Mat 17:16 as not being able to perform that which God has given the opportunity to perform (equal privilege, equal opportunity).

Or in Luk 14:30, spiritual failure is revealed by starting but not being able to finish.

In Heb 4:6, spiritual failure is said to come from refusing to enter into God's rest.

Now, what causes spiritual loss on the part of the believer?

The main cause for spiritual loss is ignorance of Bible doctrine, 2Pe 1:8.
********************
The causes of spiritual loss are also said to be sin, Jer 5:25, "your iniquities have turned these away, and your sins have withheld good from you"

In Mat 25:27, spiritual loss results from not using your spiritual gift or talent!

In Mar 8:36 spiritual loss results from worldliness, "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul"?

So having doctrine repeated to you over again is the only way you'll ever become a winner and not suffer spiritual loss.

And this is why some believers have the most fantastic blessings in time while other believers are discontent, filled with self-pity, filled with self-induced misery, and constantly off balanced from divine discipline.

This is also the reason why some believers enter the eternal state very rich at the Bema seat and others, at the bema seat, very poor!

Being poor in eternity means having a resurrected body in eternity, and that's all!

All believers enter eternity in a resurrected body but escrow blessings and their distribution are for winners only.

So we have the concept then of the spiritually rich and the spiritually poor in eternity, just as we have the concept of winners and losers in time!

The spiritually rich are those believers who receive the distribution of their fantastic inheritance for time and eternity.

The spiritually poor are those believers who, as losers in the "world system", do not receive their blessings from their inheritance, why?

They used their volition to go negative!
They were negative toward doctrine!

They were negative toward God's plan!
They were negative toward God's way!

They were negative through ignorance or even worse, negative through cognisance!

But, whether negative through ignorance or negative through cognisance it all adds up to the same thing....a loser in time and a loser in eternity.

2Pe 1:10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent [perceiving doctrine and seeking those things above] to make certain about His calling and electing you; for as long as you practice these things [execution of the PPOG], you will never stumble; [i.e., become a loser in cosmic system].

2Pe 1:11 For in this way [executing the PPOG] the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you. [conveyance of eternal believer's inheritance blessings to winners]."

prin-The carnal believer is a double-loser, first, a loser in time.

In "time" he had equal privilege and equal opportunity with all other believers at the point of salvation.

And even though they had equal privilege and equal opportunity, they failed the plan of God!

So their inheritance remains on deposit forever as a memorial to the justice of God.

And they are double-losers because in the eternal state their eternal rewards, decorations, and special privileges are denied them.



This is the meaning behind such passages as 2Ti 2:11 It is a trustworthy statement or literally faithful is the word: for if we died with Him [and we have, retroactive positional truth], we shall also live with Him; [current positional
truth]

2Ti 2:12 If we endure [endure the different stages of spiritual growth with suffering for blessing], we shall also reign [rule] with Him [passing undeserved suffering is a guarantee of reward in eternity];

if we deny Him [reject His plan for our life], He also will deny us; [reward at the Bema-seat judgment].


2Ti 2:13 if we are faithless [totally unfaithful], He remains faithful [salvation is secure]; for He cannot deny Himself [He indwells and He will not deny Himself].

2Ti 2:14 Remind them of these things [repeat the doctrines to them], and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words or dispute over nonessential matters], which is useless, and leads to the ruin of the hearers.

2Ti 2:15 Be diligent or study to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.

2Pe 1:13 And I consider it right, as long as i am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder,

in verse 13, we see the duty of doctrinal repetition!

It is the duty and the responsibility of the pastor to repeat.

Now how does the pastor repeat?

Well, by teaching expository teaching, which is verse by verse you suddenly discover that the apostle Paul, Peter, John, James, the human writers of the N.T., all under the ministry of God the Holy Spirit repeated doctrines.

And therefore, as these doctrines come up in context they are repeated!

So in 2Pe 1:13 And I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder,

A good pastor stirs up his congregation!

A good pastor forces his congregation to think!

He forces them to get mad!

He gets them face to face and nose to nose with the doctrinal principles of the word of God!

A pastor is not a little panty politician always smiling and drooling over people!

A pastor has to lay it on the line to friends and enemies, alike!

2Pe 1:13 And I consider it right or my solemn duty, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder,

Peter considers it his solemn duty to repeat, repeat, repeat, to the royal family of God.

And as long as he is alive he is going to continue his solemn duty......

And it has nothing to do with counseling, visitations, or being a politician and buttering up people....

It has nothing to do with personality, or sweetness, or any of the other stupid things that people expect from pastors.

2Pe 1:13 And I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling human body, to stir you up by way of reminder,

Peter is saying that as long as God sustains me to remain in this earthly tent I have the responsibility to teach repetitiously!

Why? Rev 4:11 "Worthy art Thou, our Lord and our God, to receive glory"

prin-The teaching of Bible doctrine repetitiously brings glory to Christ not to the communicator!

In fact, the solemn duty of repeating doctrine separates the true student from the arrogant one!

Repetition irritates those who are negative toward doctrine!

Repetition irritates the arrogant!

2Pe 1:13 And I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder,

"to stir you up" is the presactinf of diegeiro which is diegeirein meaning to wake up, to arouse you, to stir up.

This is a progressive present tense which signifies action in a state of progress or persistence.

And of course, from time to time everyone gets stirred up in one way or another.

Everyone resents at some time hearing something that they've heard a hundred times before!

And this is a part of the test, it's a part of indoctrination or doctrine becoming ingrained into the believer!

This is one of the things that the apostle Paul had in mind Eph 4:1 when he said, "I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,

Eph 4:2 With all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love,

Remember that when you hear something that there may be others in the audience who never heard before, so you operate with the type of love....."showing forbearance to one another in love",


When you like something repetition doesn't mean a thing, whether it's your favorite food or beverage or sport or whatever.

And, as long as your positive toward doctrine it shouldn't make a difference how many times you hear it!

And if you listen carefully and concentrate under the ministry of the Spirit something new always breaks through!

But the arrogant person says "I've heard it all before!"

So Peter says "And I consider it my duty, as long as I am in this earthly body to stir you up"

The active voice of "stir you up", Peter produces the action of the verb through repetition!

The repetition of Bible doctrine will stir you up.

The infinitive is an infinitive of purpose, it is the purpose of the repetition of Bible doctrine to stir you up!

Now how will he stir them up?

The next phrase tells us how!

2Pe 1:13......by way of reminder,

"en plus the instrumental singular noun,
hupomnesei which means by reminding or repeating.

Believers often forget doctrine and have to be reminded again and again.

So in verse 14 we see the dying words of the apostle Peter.

2Pe 1:14 knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.

Peter knows he's about to die!

He is 75 years old and still filled with energy, and yet he knows that very shortly he is going to die!

And knowing he is going to die makes the words of Peter even more significant!

2Pe 1:14 knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.

2Pe 1:15 And I will also be diligent that at any time after my departure you may be able to call these things to mind.


Peter is about to die, and inasmuch as he is about to die, he will leave behind a legacy which is the greatest of all...the legacy of Bible doctrine!

This also dramatizes the fact that death cannot hinder or destroy the communication of Bible doctrine and the declaration of spiritual truth!

No one is indispensable as Peter recognizes, though he's about to die, Bible doctrine still goes on!

2Pe 1:15 And I will also be diligent

We have the futactind of spoudaso which means to be diligent, to make an effort, and to study, (2ti 2:15).

The future tense is for a statement of fact or performance which may be expected under the circumstances of his approaching death.

The active voice, Peter produces the action of the verb.....he knows that he is about to die so he's making "every effort".

The indicative mood says this is a reality that Peter is working hard to get this message across before his death.

2Pe 1:15 And I will also be diligent or make every effort that at any time after my departure you may be able to call these things to mind.

prin-Doctrine is always available in every generation!

Second prin-The only thing that keeps a believer from doctrine is his own negative volition and his "erroneous priorities".

Peter is not making a big thing out of the fact that he's going to die, however, his departure is not going to make one bit of difference!

He's done a good job,
he's a great Bible teacher,
but his departure is not going to make one bit of difference.

He is going to emphasize the fact that it is not the "man" but the "message"!

And, no one is indispensable in the plan of God but the members of the Godhead!

And again in verse 15 Peter is emphasizing the importance of "remembering"

prin-Apostles, pastors, good Bible teachers die, but Bible doctrine is permanent.


Bible doctrine continues no matter what!

So it is inevitable that all those who teach doctrine die, but the doctrine that they teach goes on.

Bible doctrine is permanent and eternal!

local assemblies are not!
Gifts of the spirit are not!
but.....only doctrine!

Therefore, it is obvious that it is not the man but the message of doctrine that counts!

Believers must not lean on the man but on the doctrine of the word of God.

Your local assembly should depend upon the doctrine being taught, nothing else.

Men come and go....,
ministries come and go....,
but the word of God abides forever!

Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words shall not pass away

PE 1:25 But the word of the Lord abides forever. "And this is the word which was preached to you.

prin-Every pastor who is faithful in teaching Bible doctrine will build something permanent.

Something which will live beyond his own lifetime.

In other words, the pastor's memory is the doctrine resident in the soul of his own congregation.

So Peter says, 2Pe 1:15 And I will also be diligent or make every effort that at any time after my departure you may be able to call these things to mind.

In JOH 14:24, our Lord continues His final message to the disciples by stating "He who does not love Me does not guard My doctrines; and the doctrine which you hear is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me.

JOH 14:25 "These things I have spoken to you, while abiding with you.

JOH 14:26 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.


And there are two important principles concerning verse 26.

First of all, you don't have to struggle to memorize scripture, God the Holy Spirit will bring things to your remembrance as they are needed.

Now, you might say then, "why can't I remember things when I'm talking to some people."

The answer to that is found in MAT 7:6 "Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.


There are some people who will mock and ridicule what you believe and what you're saying, therefore, God the Holy Spirit is not going to bring things to your remembrance so that you can have what is precious to you mocked and ridiculed!

The second principle is that you have to be taught doctrine in order for God the Holy Spirit to bring things to your remembrance, "He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you."

There's this pentecostal thing which they take out of context in PSA 81:10 which says "Open your mouth wide and I will fill it."

And they say you don't have to learn doctrine just open your mouth and the Lord will fill it with words.....and it's all a bunch of nonsense!