St. Peter: Christ’s True Pastor

2 Peter 1:12-15
P. G. Mathew | Sunday, July 22, 2018
Copyright © 2018, P. G. Mathew

Introduction

In 2 Peter 1:12-15, the apostle Peter speaks of the importance of the Holy Scriptures. Without the Holy Scriptures, there would be no knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Westminster Confession of Faith, chapter 1, does not start with “Of God and the Holy Trinity.” It starts with “Of the Holy Scripture.” The word of God is the primary means of grace. No word of God means no salvation of God. The church that will not preach the word of God is of the devil; it is a synagogue of Satan.

St. Peter: Called, Sinned, and Restored

The Second Epistle of Peter is the last portion of Scripture from Pastor St. Peter. Jesus called him to the gospel ministry early on (Mark 1:16–18). But Peter denied his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, three times before Jesus was crucified for our salvation as our atonement (Matt. 26:69–75).

Yet Jesus prayed for Peter. He said, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31-32).  Jesus’ prayer is always effectual. He is praying for us right now in heaven (Rom. 8:34; Heb. 7:25), and the Holy Spirit is praying for us here (Rom. 8:26–27).

After his resurrection, Jesus restored Peter, especially to the pastoral ministry. He began by asking him a question that he asks all of us, for he demands that we love God with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind:

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep [in the Greek it is “Pastor my sheep”].”

The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!” (John 21:15–19)

Peter received Christ’s charge to be a pastor. Much later he wrote, “To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care. . . .  And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away” (1 Pet. 5:1–2, 4).

What about you? Do you love Jesus more than your own life? Jesus asked Peter three times, “Do you love me more than these?” In other words, did Peter love Christ more than his own life? And, eventually, Peter proved that he did. Before Jesus’ death, Peter had denied Jesus because he loved his life more than Jesus. He did not fully understand the cost of discipleship. Later, though, he did, and was crucified because he followed Christ.

This country is full of false shepherds who do not preach the cost of discipleship. But Jesus clearly said, “Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matt. 10:37–39).

Peter the Pastor

Peter answered the question of Jesus, “Do you love me more than these?” in the affirmative three times. So then Jesus gave him the charge, repeating it three times: “Feed my lambs”; “Pastor my sheep”—meaning sheep belonging to Jesus Christ, who is the Great Shepherd, the Good Shepherd, the Chief Shepherd of the sheep—and “feed my sheep.”

Friends, we are Christ’s sheep. Jesus loved us and died in our place for our sins to make us sinners saints of God. Now we are sons and daughters of God. Jesus gave himself for us, as we read, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless” (Eph. 5:25–27).

Peter was commissioned by the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ, to be a good pastor. He was to feed Christ’s sheep with the bread of the word of God before he departed to paradise by way of crucifixion. So the Second Epistle of Peter is his last word to the church, especially 2 Peter 1:12–15. We are to feed Christ’s sheep with the word of God. Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty” (John 6:35). J. Hudson Taylor read that verse and went to China as a missionary, believing the truth of that verse.

The Last Words of Moses

We must listen to the last words of the saints. For example, we find Moses’ last words in Deuteronomy 32: “When Moses finished reciting all these words to all Israel, he said to them, ‘Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess’” (Deut. 32:45–47).

Notice, Moses was not telling us to beg, but to command. God commanded Moses, and Moses commanded the people. Jesus himself said that his disciples should teach others “to obey whatsoever things I have commanded you.” A true pastor will not beg; he will command. Parents, do you command your children to obey Jesus Christ? When we do so, those who are the elect of God will hear the word, believe the word, obey the word, and be blessed by the word.

The Last Words of Joshua

Consider also the last words of Joshua: “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord” (Josh. 24:14).

The Last Words of Jesus

In Matthew 28, we find the last words of Jesus: “Then Jesus came to [his disciples] and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age’” (Matt. 28:18–20).

The Last Words of Paul

What about the last words of Paul? He wrote, “For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Tim. 4:6–8).

Reminding Us of the Gospel

In his last epistle, Peter is reminding us of the gospel. He says, “So I will always remind you of these things” (v. 12). That is what we do. We do not preach empty myths, fake gospels, or psychology. We preach the Bible and command people to hear, obey, and be blessed.

“These things” stands for the full knowledge of the gospel, revealed in the Old and New Testaments. It stands for the inspired words of the holy prophets and apostles, whose words reveal the way of salvation through faith in the person and work of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The word of God is the primary means of grace.

Peter also writes, “Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking.” How is your thinking? Do you think biblically? God knows our imaginations and thoughts. Peter continues, “I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles” (2 Pet. 3:1–2). “These things” is the word of God.

Peter began this epistle saying, “Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God [epignôsis] and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (2 Pet. 1:2–3).

We do not preach for money nor do we beg for money. We preach the gospel and trust in Jesus Christ, who said, “Jehovah Jireh,” meaning, “the Lord sees and provides.’’

Peter writes, “For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 1:8). And in the last verse of this last epistle, he exhorts, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen” (2 Pet. 3:18).

Most churches in the world do not preach the unadulterated word. They add to the Scriptures, subtract from the Scriptures, and, above all, they misinterpret the Scriptures, giving rise to many heresies. Chapter 2 of Second Peter speaks about those who teach heresies. People from the church went away, abandoning the gospel. So we read, “But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping” (2 Pet. 2:1–3).

God has a word for false pastors who went and were not sent, who preach the gospel only for making money. Paul warns, “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!” (Gal. 1:8–9). In other words, “Let them go to hell forever!” I believe in hell and heaven, and both are eternal.

Paul speaks again about such greedy, false pastors: “For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough. . . . For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve” (2 Cor. 11:4, 13–15).

Through the preaching of the pure gospel, we trust in Jesus and are saved. Then we are to add to our faith moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love in increasing measure. We are to make our calling and election sure, that we may receive a rich welcome to paradise at death.

As a true pastor, Peter was counseling the church to live in obedience to the gospel. Peter’s flock heard the gospel preached. They trusted in Jesus. They knew the truth. They were firmly established in the truth, that is, they are being made strong by the gospel. Peter was obedient to the charge he had received from his Lord. What was the charge? To strengthen his brothers (Luke 22:31–32). He did so by preaching the gospel.

By preaching and teaching the word, and through biblical counseling, a true pastor, appointed by the Holy Spirit and sent by Christ with the word, discharges his holy duty. This is true of all Christ-sent pastors. Paul writes, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’”  (Rom. 10:14–15). Elsewhere we read, “It was [Christ Jesus] who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers” (Eph. 4:11). And to the Ephesian elders, Paul said, “For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. . . . Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified” (Acts 20:27–28, 32). (PGM) As we respect Christ-sent pastors and respond to the word of God in faith, we will receive a blessing.

Scripture Is Inspired

Peter is saying that he will always remind us of these things, “even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have” (v. 12). The Scripture alone is the very word of God. It is inspired. Scripture is the word of God; therefore, it is the word of eternal life.

Peter will later write, “For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pet. 1:21). Paul wrote the same thing: “From infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:15–17). And Jesus himself said, “I am the bread of life. . . . The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life” (John 6:35, 63).

We Tend to Forget the Word

Why was Pastor Peter preaching the word? He says, “I will always remind you of these things. . . . I think it is right to refresh your memory. . . . And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things” (vv. 12–13, 15). Peter was always reminding his flock of the truth of the gospel because as God’s people, sinners saved by grace, we tend to forget.

Moses often reminded the people from God’s word. He said, “Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. . . . Be careful not to forget the covenant of the Lord your God that he made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the Lord your God has forbidden” (Deut. 4:9, 23).

We must not forget what God has done for us. The psalmist says, “Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (Ps. 103:2–5).

Paul also reminds us from the Scripture. So he says, “I have written you quite boldly on some points, as if to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me” (Rom. 15:15). He also writes, “Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand” (1 Cor. 15:1). He told Timothy, “Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen” (2 Tim. 2:14).

John also reminds us: “I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth” (1 John 2:21).

One of the functions of the Holy Spirit is to help us remember. Jesus said, “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26).

All the Apostles Preached the Gospel

What was it Peter wanted to remind us of? The gospel. Peter, and all the other apostles, preached the gospel. They did not preach psychology, mythology, or other lies. Of the early church we read, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42). The apostles themselves said, “Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word’ (Acts 6:3–4). The ministry of the word is serious business.

Paul writes,

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. (2 Tim. 4:1–5)

This is what all true pastors will do.

Peter’s Imminent Death

When Pastor Peter wrote his epistle, he knew that he did not have much time left in this world. He knew he must die soon, departing from this world to paradise via crucifixion. Before that he must complete the task of feeding the lambs and the sheep belonging to Christ with the word of God. So he is writing his last epistle of the word of God. He says, “I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things” (v. 15). In the same epistle he writes, “Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking” (2 Pet. 3:1).

Peter refers to his death four times in our text (once each in verses 13 and 15, and twice in verse 14). He calls his body a tent, meaning that life in this fallen world is temporary even for believers in Jesus Christ. Paul used the same metaphor while speaking of death. He wrote, “Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands” (2 Cor. 5:1).

Peter calls his death a departure (the Greek word is exodus); he was going to paradise. The second book of the Pentateuch is called Exodus, speaking about a departure of God’s people from Egypt to Canaan. Exodus means we are going somewhere. I am going to paradise. What about you? I hope you follow me to paradise, to the presence of God in heaven. And on the Mount of Transfiguration, Moses and Elijah discussed with Jesus his departure, his exodus (Luke 9:30–31), which included his death on the cross that accomplished our redemption.

Let me ask you a question: Do you want to die a good death? If you do, then you must live a good life in obedience to the will of God as found in the word of God. The first question in the Westminster Shorter Catechism is: “What is the chief end of man?” The answer is: “To glorify God and to enjoy him forever.”

Our purpose in life is to glorify God. Paul writes, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31). He also says, “So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it” (2 Cor. 5:9). Peter writes, “If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen” (1 Pet. 4:11). Finally, Paul says, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore [glorify] God with your body” (1 Cor. 6:19–20).

Holy Spirit Power

Peter says, “I will make every effort to see that . . . you remember these things” (v. 15).  Peter could make every effort because he served God in the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised his disciples, “Ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth” (Acts 1:8, KJV). We need Holy Spirit power.

In Matthew 25:1–13, Jesus spoke about the parable of the ten virgins. In that parable, oil stands for the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit regenerates us, dwells in us, guides us always, empowers us, and enlightens the Scripture to us. The Holy Spirit never leaves us when we face troubles, even death. And the Holy Spirit will take us to heaven through death, which Paul says is gain and far better (Phil. 1:21, 23).

What else do we know about this Holy Spirit power? Paul writes, “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe” (Eph. 1:18–19). There is God’s incomparably great power for us who believe, so that we may live that life which God demands of us. It is the power of the Holy Spirit, the power that raised Jesus from the dead. Paul also says, “[He] is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Eph. 3:20). He also writes, “To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me” (Col. 1:29).

We do not have to be weak, miserable, and wretched. As we ask the Holy Spirit to come upon us, we will be strengthened by God’s power continually. Paul says, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (Phil. 4:13).

Jesus lived his life by the power of the Holy Spirit (see Matt. 4:1-11). He also died on the cross by the power of the Holy Spirit, as we read in Hebrews 9: “How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!” (Heb. 9:14).

Yes, Peter was facing death as he wrote this epistle. But we must keep in mind that death is not punishment for the elect. Why? Jesus took the punishment for our sins upon himself. Paul writes, “Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God” (Rom. 5:1), and, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1).

At death, God’s people go to paradise. To the thief who trusted in him, Jesus spoke from the cross, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” Jesus died first, and then waited in paradise for the thief to arrive (see Luke 23:39–43). If we have trusted in Christ, we also will go to paradise when we die. Jesus destroyed our fear of death by defeating the devil and the power of death (Heb. 2:14–15).

Nothing Can Separate Us

As we read this epistle, we see that Pastor St. Peter was not fearing his impending death. If we are believers, we also can have great confidence that nothing—not even death—can separate us from God’s eternal love for us. Whether you are rich or poor, it makes no difference: God loves you. So Paul writes,

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: ‘For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom. 8:35–39)

If you are a sinner who has not trusted in Christ, you will die in your sins. Jesus himself said, “I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am [the one I claim to be], you will indeed die in your sins” (John 8:24). But if you believe in Christ, death is gain, death is better by far, death is precious in God’s sight. Those who die in Christ are blessed by God; the Bible says, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord” (Rev. 14:13). And at death our spirits will enter heaven without sin to enjoy God’s presence forever and ever (Heb. 12:23).

As he wrote this last epistle, Peter was facing imminent death by crucifixion, yet he was focusing on his pastoral ministry of feeding the flock God gave him. To him and to his flock, the Christian life is joy unspeakable and full of glory (1 Pet. 1:8).

Peter had shown similar trust earlier in his life. In Acts 12, we read that he was arrested and scheduled to be beheaded in the morning. But the night before that was to occur, we read that he was asleep, chained between two guards. How could he sleep in the face of death? Peter was trusting in Jesus Christ. In fact, an angel came and had to hit him hard to wake him from his sleep, because the peace of God that transcends all understanding was guarding his heart and mind in Christ Jesus (Acts 12:6–7). As believers, we need not fear anything. If God is for us, who can be against us?

Application

In this church, the pastors, as Christ’s under-shepherds, are charged to feed the lambs, pastor the sheep, and feed the sheep, just as Peter was. They do so by preaching the word, teaching the word, and counseling by the word. They bring the word of God to the people by preaching and teaching four times a week. The leaders get together for edification three times a week. They teach theology once a week. They baptize believers as required and celebrate holy communion at least once a week. There is a prayer meeting once a week. They exercise biblical discipline as required. The whole church gathers for fellowship frequently to pray for, help, comfort, and strengthen one another. The whole church evangelizes daily. There is worldwide gospel ministry going on all the time. Grace Academy is a top school. Many books have been written and are being published by Grace and Glory publishing.

In this church, we read three to five chapters of the scriptures daily so that in one year we read through the Old Testament once and the New Testament twice. This helps us to remind ourselves daily of the word of God that gives us life. This church, Grace Valley Christian Center, is a Scripture-centered church that loves God’s holy people everywhere. We know the Scriptures and are firmly established and strengthened in the Scriptures. We are daily reminded of the Scriptures. As a result, our members fulfill Peter’s last words as they grow “in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen” (2 Pet. 3:18).

May God help us to do his work in this world. And when death comes, may he help us to arrive without fear through death in paradise to enjoy God’s presence forever and ever.