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"Beware lest you also fall"

Text: 2 Peter 3:17

KIND WORDS IN CONCLUSION

Peter concluded his second epistle with very kind and encouraging words.

“You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand,
beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness,
being led away with the error of the wicked.”
2 Peter 3:17

1. “You therefore, beloved”

a) Peter distinguished the brethren from the false teachers.

b) The true believers are described as “brethren”.

c) They are truly “beloved”.

2. “Since you know this beforehand”

a) All the things that Peter had written were in fact, not new to the brethren.

b) The things they knew beforehand:

i) The doctrine of the Second Coming of Christ.

ii) The faith that Peter had written about.

iii) The danger from false teachers.

These were lessons that Peter had taught them! What he had written was just a reminder.

3. “Beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness”

a) What is needed:

i) To be aware.

ii) To be watchful.

iii) To be careful.

b) A danger highlighted:

i) The possibility of “falling”.

ii) There was steadfastness in the past.

iii) There must be constant diligence exercised.

iv) To fall from steadfastness is a grim possibility.

4. “Being led away with the error of the wicked”

a) The danger is being led away

i) Through deception.

ii) Through false arguments.

b) The error of the wicked:

i)The wicked will continue to spread error.

ii) They cannot distinguish between truth and error.

iii) What they believe to be truth is in fact error.

Every precaution must be taken against falling from steadfastness!