Don’t Forget: 2 Peter 1:12-15
From 1880-1885, the German psychologist, Hermann Ebbinghaus, tested his memory over various periods of time, from 20 minutes to 31 days, and came up with what is known as the “forgetting curve.” After extensive testing, Ebbinghaus learned that within 24 hours he forgot 50% of what he had learned. After two days, 70% was gone. By the end of the week, he had forgotten 90% of the information he had learned during the testing period. Even though it has been almost 150 years since Ebbinghaus’ discovery, the “forgetting curve” continues to be accurate. Many educators use the “forgetting curve” to teach key principles in learning theory today.
To combat the “forgetting curve” and improve his memory skills, Ebbinghaus came up with the idea of “spaced retention.” “Spaced retention” is a process of revisiting the information, at spaced intervals. This enabled Ebbinghaus to retain the information that was most important to him at a higher retention rate. To hold on to that which we value we must relearn it again and again.
In 2023, Drs. Elizabeth Kensinger and Andrew Budson, released their book, “Why We Forget and How to Remember Better.” Both doctors are Harvard trained neuroscientists who have studied memory from every angle. Dr. Kensinger said,
At the most basic level, we want to think about memory as having three different phases that must happen for us to have access to past content. The first is to get the information into memory, a process that is referred to as encoding. Then, you must keep that information around, and this is called storage or consolidation. It’s akin to pressing the save button on the document that you’ve just created on your computer, but unlike that analogy with a computer, you must continually re-store that content in the brain. And then finally, you must be able to bring that information to mind in the moment that you need it. Memory failures can reflect errors at any of those different stages. One of the most common times when errors arise is in that initial encoding phase, where often what happens is that we’re just not devoting enough effort or paying enough attention. (Dr. Elizabeth Kensinger)
I’m certain that all of us know what it is to forget. We forget important dates, where we left our keys, information we need for work, parent/teacher meetings, doctor’s appointments, life experiences we said we would never forget, and the list goes on and on. There is no end to the list of things that slip from our memory. The problem of forgetting was just as widespread in the first century, when Peter wrote his letter to the followers of Jesus living in the Roman Empire. He knew they were prone to forget and that is why he was intentional about reminding them of some things that were too valuable to forget. In our Scripture for today, found in 2 Peter 1:12-15, Peter reminds the followers of Jesus again and again.
12 So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. 13 I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, 14 because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things. (2 Peter 1:12-15 NIV)
Three times in these four verses, Peter says his intent is to remind them. In verse 12, “So I will always remind you of these things…” Then, in verse 13, Peter writes, “I think it is right to refresh your memory…” Last of all, in verse 15, Peter writes, “And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.” I think it is really interesting that Peter is so consumed with reminding them of what he says they already know and are “firmly established in the truth you now have.” They already knew what Peter was intent on reminding of over and over again.
What is it that is so important that Peter feels such a strong need to remind the followers of Jesus? We can find the answer in verse 12 where Peter said he would always remind them “of these things.” But what “things” was Peter referring to? The answer to that question is found in verses 1-11, all that we have been studying during the last six weeks of our study. Let’s take just a minute to retrace what we have learned. Three important truths, never to be forgotten, are found in verses 1-4.
To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours: (2 Peter 1:1 NIV)
His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. (2 Peter 1:3 NIV)
Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. (2 Peter 1:4 NIV)
Because of God’s graciousness, displayed in the offering of Jesus’ sinless life as a sacrifice for sinners, sinners who could never do anything to bring about their own reconciliation with God, we have been given the gift of forgiveness, faith, and security. If that were not enough, God, through His divine power, has given to every follower of Jesus everything we need to equip us to live a godly life that will honor Him. And, last of all, through His many promises, promises found in His Word, we can escape the corruption that is so evident in this world and participate in His divine nature. In other words, to live in such a way that reflects God’s holy character.
“These things,” are the things pointed out by Peter in the first four verses. In verses 5-7, Peter had other things which were vitally important for them to remember. As we consider what God has done on our behalf, we must also consider what He has called us to do, and that, according to Peter, is to add to the faith God has so freely given us, seven Christlike qualities: Goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, and love.
In verse 8, we learned that we are to continually grow in these Christlike qualities throughout our lives so that we will not be “ineffective” and “unproductive” in our pursuit of an ever-increasing knowledge of Jesus. Peter also warned the brothers and sisters in Christ in verse 9. Those who are not increasing in these Christlike qualities are those who are “nearsighted” and blind.” What Peter means is really two things. First, to be “nearsighted” spiritually is to be focused on this life and all this world has to offer instead of setting our sights on the true treasure of eternity. Secondly, those who are “blind,” Peter says, are those who have forgotten the wondrous work of God in cleansing them from their past sins. All gratitude for what God has done has fallen by the wayside and they have gone back to living however they want to live. What a tragedy!
This past week, as I was studying our Scripture for this morning, I wondered, “How many of Jesus’ followers today know these important truths, these critically important truths that are found in the first 10 verses of Peter’s letter?” Then another thought came to my mind, a much more personal and troubling thought. “How many of the followers of Jesus at Britton Christian Church know these important truths and are living them out in their daily lives?” Have I, as your pastor for the past 35 years, been diligent in reminding our people, those of you who call BCC your church home, of these great, foundational truths and the need to not only know them, but to live them? Knowing them is not simply to have them stored away in a file in your brain, but it is to live them out throughout the day, each and every day. Douglas Moo writes,
The biblical authors are clearly concerned that Christians might ‘forget’ even the most basic truths of the gospel–not in a mental sense, but in a volitive and practical sense. I may mentally remember that Christ died for my sins, but I may not make that truth a vital part of my person and behavior and instead become consumed with guilt and dread. I may mentally remember that God calls me to lead a holy life and warns me of the consequences if I do not, but I may still fail to be concerned about leading a holy life. (Moo, Douglas. The NIV Application Commentary: 2 Peter and Jude. pg. 66)
I don’t know how many of you know and live out these important truths, but I do know that those of us who are leaders here at Britton Christian Church cannot remind you enough of the importance of knowing and living out these truths.
I want to focus the rest of our time on two important things that have really caught my attention this past week. First of all, Peter understands that his life is nearly over and yet his focus is not on himself, but it is on reminding those who will remain about what is most important in life. Let me show you what I am talking about. Turn to 2 Peter 1:13-14 with me.
13 I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, 14 because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. (2 Peter 1:13-14 NIV)
Peter will soon see his last day. He said the Lord had made this clear to him. We don’t know if something recently happened where Jesus made this clear to Peter. That is certainly a possibility. What we do know is that years earlier, Jesus made it perfectly clear to Peter how his life would end and it would be by crucifixion. There was a conversation that took place after Jesus’ resurrection, but before His ascension to heaven, which is found in John 21:18-19. Let’s read it together.
18 Very truly I tell you, 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." 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!" (John 21:18-19 NIV)
At least 30 years had passed. Peter was now an old man relative to the life expectancy of a person living in the first century in the Roman Empire. There was something else happening as Peter sat down to write his second letter. Emperor Nero unleashed a horrific and brutal persecution on the Christians in 64 A.D., following the great fire in Rome which Nero blamed on the Christians. Most Bible teachers believe Peter was living in Rome at the time he wrote this letter. Most also believe Peter wrote his first letter between 62-64 A.D. This letter, his last, was written after 64, just before he was crucified by Nero. I want us to notice the lack of concern for his own life and the urgency of concern he demonstrates for those who will remain after he is gone. This was not the first time Peter had faced the prospect of the end of his life.
In Acts 12, we read that King Herod Agrippa had been arresting the followers of Jesus and persecuting them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death by the sword before he also had Peter arrested and put into prison. Now, I don’t know about you, but if I would have been Peter and I had seen one of my fellow disciples executed in cold blood just before they arrested me and had me put into prison, I might be more than a little worried about my future. Let’s pick up the story in verse 4.
4 After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover. 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. 6 The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. (Acts 12:4-6 NIV)
How crazy is that? Peter was fast asleep. I know what I would have been doing. I would have been busy scratching the mortar out between the cinder blocks trying to escape that prison cell! Peter was asleep while he was chained to two soldiers. What a comfort it is to know the Sovereignty of God, the God who is in control over every aspect of His people’s lives! I’m sharing this story with you because I want to encourage you. Peter had grown. He was no longer the Peter we saw back around the fire pit who denied that he even knew Jesus while Jesus was on trial. He had grown, his faith had grown, his reliance on the Lord had grown, his grip on this world and even his own life had loosened, and therefore his focus on what mattered most in life, for those he was charged to feed and care for, was focused and strong.
There is no doubt that Peter’s denial of Jesus was an experience that he would have liked to have forgotten, but which he would never be able to erase from his memory. After Peter’s humiliating denial, there was another experience which would mark Peter for the rest of his life. After Jesus’ resurrection He sought out Peter to reassure Him of His love and to set his life on a different course. It happened in John 21:15-17. Read it with me.
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." 16 Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep." 17 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. (John 21:15-17 NIV)
“Feed my lambs. “Take care of my sheep.” “Feed my sheep.” And Peter took Jesus’ words to heart as he fed God’s people and cared for them until his dying day. Nothing else was of greater importance. His own welfare paled in comparison to being faithful to God’s call upon his life.
We have experienced a radical shift in focus in the church in our day. The typical follower of Jesus is ultimately concerned with his or her own life and not the call to feed Jesus’ sheep or to care for His sheep. These are calls to be “other oriented” and not self-absorbed. It is my belief that this is one of the main causes as to why the modern-day church in America is so impotent and dismissed by our society. Who could resist becoming part of a group of people who genuinely care for others? Who would not want to be a part of a group of people whose love is irresistible? Who could resist the opportunity to grow and learn in an environment where life’s big questions were addressed not with arrogance, but with humility and grace? And this is the call of our Lord and Savior for us, right here in Oklahoma City. We are to let His love radiate through our lives as we interact with others. We are to care for them in the same way that He cares for us and never be satisfied with anything less. We are to always be prepared to let others know that our hope and strength comes from Jesus alone, but we are to do this with great humility and respect. Do you remember what Peter told the church in his first letter? Turn with me to 1 Peter 3:14-16.
14 But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don't worry or be afraid of their threats. 15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. 16 But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. (1 Peter 3:14-16 NLT)
Oh, what a powerful testimony we would give to an unbelieving world if we would only embrace these important truths and seek to live them out each and every day of our lives! I’m going to keep reminding us of this as long as I am here.
That leads to me the last thing I want us to focus on this morning. I want to urge you not to become distracted by what is new, novel, exciting, and relevant, but to focus on what is true and biblical. This past week I was thinking about all of the new and fresh expressions of faith and church life that I have experienced during the past 40 years of working as a youth pastor and then as a pastor. Through the years I’ve heard about various churches that were growing and doing exciting things. Before you know it they released a book, planned conferences to teach others how to replicate what they have done, and churches all over the country follow their blueprint. Before you know it, another idea comes along that promises even greater results, and church leaders suddenly feel led to change course.
What is true of churches is also true of individuals. It seems to me that many church folks are constantly on the prowl for the next thing. What is the next thing? Well, in Peter’s day it was the promises made by the false teachers we will learn about in chapter 2. People could have a fresh experience of God, one different from what Peter, Paul, and the other followers of Jesus were teaching. Today, take your pick. There are so many options out there that I’ve lost count, but they promise to take you places spiritually you’ve never gone before. Try them and you will find them to be unfamiliar at first, it will be new and exciting at first, but as time progresses you will find that they are nothing more than empty wells that will never be able to quench your thirst.
Forty-five years ago, in 1980, Eugene Peterson, released a book, “A Long Obedience in the Same Direction.” Eugene wrote more than 30 books before he went home to be with the Lord in 2018. He is probably best known for “The Message,” a paraphrase of the Bible from the Greek and Hebrew. He wrote, “A Long Obedience in the Same Direction” because he feared that the members of his church, which he pastored for 29 years, had become too settled into the world. The world full of shortcuts, sound bites, and an unrelenting drive for success at any cost had led his people to become too easily distracted from the things of God. He wrote,
It is not difficult in such a world to get a person interested in the message of the gospel; it is terrifically difficult to sustain the interest. Millions of people in our culture make decisions for Christ, but there is a dreadful attrition rate. Many claim to have been born again, but the evidence for mature Christian discipleship is slim. In our kind of culture anything, even news about God, can be sold if it is packaged freshly; but when it loses its novelty, it goes on the garbage heap. There is a great market for religious experience in our world; there is little enthusiasm for the patient acquisition of virtue, little inclination to sign up for a long apprenticeship in what earlier generations of Christians called holiness. (Peterson, Eugene. A Long Obedience in the Same Direction)
What caused such concern for Pastor Peterson 45 years ago, causes me an even greater concern today. The members of the church at Christ Our King Presbyterian Church in Bel Air, Maryland didn’t have some of the distractions that the members of Britton Christian Church have to deal with today. You and I are bombarded by information, most of which is trivial, irrelevant, but attractive and consuming…if we allow it. Don’t allow it.
I want to give you a very practical tool that has helped me to keep God’s truth before me and to help me stay away from that which is irrelevant. In Deuteronomy, as God’s people were getting ready to move into the Promised Land, God was concerned that they would forget all that He had done and commanded, so he told Moses to speak to the people.
5 And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. 6 And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. 7 Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. 8 Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. 9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:5-9 NLT)
Basically, God is telling His people to keep His commands before them day and night. God sounds like Dr. Elizabeth Kensinger when He says, “Repeat them again and again to your children.” We must learn and relearn. The best, most helpful way I have found to do this is to memorize Scripture, or as the Psalmist says, “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11 NLT) Pastor Chuck Swindoll writes,
I know of no other single practice in the Christian life more rewarding, practically speaking, than memorizing Scripture. . . . No other single exercise pays greater spiritual dividends! Your prayer life will be strengthened. Your witnessing will be sharper and much more effective. Your attitudes and outlook will begin to change. Your mind will become alert and observant. Your confidence and assurance will be enhanced. Your faith will be solidified. (Swindoll, Charles. Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life, pg. 61).
If I had a week’s time I could not begin to tell you how the Holy Spirit has used God’s Word, hidden away in my heart, to encourage me, correct me, embolden me, redirect me, and remind me of what Jesus has taught me through time spent in His Word. I want to encourage you to begin to hide God’s Word in your heart this week. For those of you who are not followers of Jesus, I would recommend your first memory Scripture to be 2 Corinthians 5:17– “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” Today can be your first day of your new life in Christ. Won’t you invite Him in?
Mike Hays
March 9, 2025
