North Valley Baptist Church

In chapter 2 of 2 Peter, the Apostle warns about the false teachers who are in the church. He tells of their immorality, motives of greed, and destruction. He also makes it clear that their fate is shared by those who would follow their teaching. From the context of 2 Peter it would appear that their teaching included a denial of Christ's return and final judgment. This leads them to living a life...

False teachers had risen up in the church denying the return of Christ, prompting Peter to write his second letter to the churches. In 1:16-21 Peter addresses the fact that Christ is indeed returning, and he basis this on two things: His experience on the Mount of Transfiguration, when he saw a glimpse of the coming majesty of Christ, and on the Old Testament prophecies about Christ. Of these two...

As we've been seeing the last few weeks, Peter has pressed the readers of his letter to have, in their lives, and increase in the character qualities of the Christian life. He has urged them to show these qualities present in their lives, and by doing so they confirm their salvation. As we continue on in the text, we see Peter makes it clear that he intends this letter to be a constant reminder of...

As false teachers rose up in the church (or churches) to whom the Apostle Peter was writing his second letter, Peter addressed the necessity of holy living. Since, from the content of 2 Peter, it would seem that false teachers who were denying certain aspects of end-times theology, including the return of Christ and final judgment, were also promoting licentious living. In addressing the need for...

This sermon begins the second part in North Valley's sermon series, "Stand Firm', as we begin 2 Peter. In this, the second letter by the Apostle Peter, he address the rising up of false teachers in the church. From the content of this letter it would seem that those teachers were denying the return of Christ and final judgment, which then lead to the teaching of licentious living. Therefore, as we...

The Bible is clear about the fact that a human life, made in the image of God, resides in the womb. Therefore, to take that life violates God's law as an act of murder. Though there are many arguments, as to why abortion must be supported, all of those arguments come down to this one issue. A human life is what is in the womb. There is no other place for a follower of Jesus Christ to stand, but on...

As we look at the final section of 1 Peter, we see the Apostle shifts from addressing the elders in the churches to addressing everyone in the churches for his final instructions. Here we see Peter call for submission to the elders, and he calls for the whole church to show humility towards one another, and then also, humility towards God. Humility towards God is seen in trusting Him with our care...

As we have been going through 1 Peter, we have seen Peter call the churches he was writing too, in Asia Minor, to stand firm and be holy even through the persecutions and trials they were facing. In 4:12-19 we saw Peter call his readers to respond properly to persecution; not to be surprised by it but to rejoice in the midst of it. There, Peter identified persecution as God's judgment that was beg...

In 1 Peter 4:12-19, the Apostle Peter explains to his readers, in the churches in Asia Minor, how they were to respond to their suffering for Christ. They should not be surprised at such suffering, but instead, should rejoice when they suffer on account of Christ. They should keep rejoicing so that they would also rejoice, exceedingly, when Christ's glory is revealed to the world, at His return. T...

After the Apostle Peter explains a believer's willingness to suffer, knowing that their suffering will give way to victory and that God will right every wrong in the coming judgment, Peter then calls his readers to live in light of that coming day. Since "the end of all things is at hand" Peter calls his readers to be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of their prayers, and to maintain...

In 1 Peter 4:1-6 we read how since the suffering of those who follow Christ will give way to glory, they should be wiling to suffer. Therefore, Peter tells his readers to ready themselves with the same attitude that was in Christ when He suffered. So, the Christians is to be ready to suffer with the attitude that is determined to do the will of God no matter the cost, even if that means suffering...

In 1 Peter 3:13-17 we see the response Christians should have when they suffer for righteousness, keeping in view that they will be blessed. That response is to honor Christ the Lord, in their hearts, as holy, "always being prepared to make a defends to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.". And then Peter goes on to tell them how they are to do that. Then, we see in 3:18-...

What really makes a good Christian witness? Is it being nice? Being attractive? Is it avoiding controversial teaching in the Bible, or offensive teachings? Or is it proclaiming the truth and living out that truth through a holy life? Clearly, what is necessary for our Christian witness is a holy life. As has been discussed, as we work through Peter's letter, is that Peter called his readers to sta...

After the Apostle Peter finishes addressing the church in how they are to relate to the authorities over them, being subject to all human institutions. Peter specifically addresses the need to submit to governing authorities. And he addresses the household slaves in the church and how they were to submit to their masters, and that wives were to submit to their husbands. Then, we saw Peter specific...

The Good News of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is such an AMAZING message, how can those who believe this Gospel not be change? How can those who have been saved by the work of Christ, who has been raised from the dead, remain the same? As we look at Colossians 3:1-11, we see the Biblical conclusion is that one cannot be unchanged, because those who have been saved by the work...

This Good Friday message looks to the Gospel of Mark, chapter 15 and verses 16 through 32. There we see Jesus beaten, mocked and humiliated by the soldiers, the crowd, the religious leaders and even those who were crucified with Him. Jesus was mocked for the charges brought against Him, claiming to be the King of the Jews. He was mocked for saving other but seemingly not being able to save Himself...

As Peter is calling his readers to live like aliens and strangers in a hostile world, keeping their conduct before unbelievers as honorable, so that when unbelievers speak against them as evildoers, unbelievers may see their good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation (2:12), when our coming salvation is revealed (1:5). In unfolding what this looks like, Peter addresses three areas where b...

As Peter is calling his readers to live like aliens and strangers in a hostile world, keeping their conduct before unbelievers as honorable, so that when unbelievers speak against them as evildoers, unbelievers may see their good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation, when our coming salvation is revealed (1:5). In unfolding what this looks like, Peter addresses three areas where believer...

The Apostle Peter calls for the churches in Asia Minor to live as strangers in a world that is hostile against them. As strangers he calls for them to abstain from the fleshy passions that war against their souls and live in such a way that is honorable, or attractive, before a watching, unbelieving, world. This is so, even though unbelievers may slander Christians as evildoers, God may use the li...

So much of modern Christianity emphasized the individual Christian life, but what we read in the Bible is that we are not saved to be a solo Christian, but we were saved into a body of believers who make up the church. The Christian life is to be lived in community with that body. In God's design for the church He has great purpose in us gathering together as God's people, that we should make the...

In the last section of 1 Peter, the Apostle Peter has commanded his readers to be holy as God is holy. Along with that Peter then called his readers to live in the fear of our Heavenly Father, and one of the reasons he gave for that is that these believers new the price that was side for their redemption, namely, the sacrifice of Christ. As we come to the next section not only are believers to pur...

Sometimes we can be tempted to allow our circumstances causes us to be tempted to indulge our flesh, and be sinful. But our circumstances, even our pain, is never an excuse to disobey God. In 1 Peter the Apostle Peter is writing to Christians, scattered throughout Asia Minor, who were facing persecution and various trials. As Peter has been pointing them to their living hope, the great salvation p...

The living hope of our great salvation, that Peter began pointing his readers to in 1 Peter 1:3-9, is a hope that is established by the truth of God's Word. The coming of saving grace was something that was foretold by the Old Testament Prophets when they told of the Messiah's suffering and glorification. Then when Christ came and completed the work of salvation, having suffered, died, risen and a...

In this sermon, through 1 Peter 1:3-9, Peter gets into the body of his letter, addressing churches scattered throughout Asia Minor who were facing persecution and various kinds of trials. As he writes this letter to encourage these Christians to stand firm, in these verses he lays a foundation by which they may stand by pointing them to the great salvation purchased by Christ, their secure inherit...

In a world that is growing in hostility against God and His Word, in a culture that has thrown off the fetters of God's authority over them, and while false teaching continues to creep its way into the church, the Bible, and specifically 1st and 2nd Peter, calls us to stand firm. The time is now to recognize the world's opposition to Christ's church and even if we are not suffering persecution now...