How Christian Amnesia Leads to Christian Apathy (Part 1 of 2)

2 Peter 1:12-15

Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.

The Need for Reminder

The content in 2 Peter chapter 1 is for those who have already heard these truths and are established in them. The initial benefit comes to those who hear them for the first time, but everyone needs to continue in these things and be reminded of them.

This evening's focus is the essential nature of being reminded of these truths—how important it is, how it benefits and blesses our Christianity. Spiritual amnesia leads to spiritual apathy, hindering our assurance and godliness.

Three Key Principles

Chapter 1 establishes three big principles:

1. Grace and Peace Multiplied

Peter's goal is that grace and peace may be multiplied to us through knowledge. Grace is God's beneficial involvement in our lives, unmerited. Peace is our satisfaction and contentment with God. Peter wants these multiplied in your life.

2. Effective and Fruitful

If these qualities are ours and increasing, they make us effective and fruitful in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Why do some with knowledge of God remain ineffective? It's spiritual apathy—not increasing in these truths.

3. Confirming Your Calling and Election

God has granted all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Practicing and increasing in these qualities confirms your calling and election. This assumes you are already called and elected, but reminders strengthen assurance amid trials or weakness.

Spiritual Amnesia and Its Consequences

Forgetting these concepts—spiritual amnesia—leads to apathy, hindering assurance and godliness. Those who do not possess or increase in these qualities have forgotten they were cleansed from their former sins.

We hear the gospel in church, remember our forgiveness, but go away and forget—like the hearer in James who looks in the mirror and immediately forgets what he looks like. The Word reflects our sin and need for the gospel, but without keeping it before our eyes, we forget.

Forgetting cleansing from sin blinds us, making us near-sighted. We can't discern temptations, our need for growth, or our Christian duties. This hinders godliness and assurance of salvation.

Peter's Intention to Remind

Peter says, "Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth." Even if you know and are rooted in these truths, reminders are necessary.

Moral excellence supplements faith—behavior that stands out, praiseworthy, real about sin yet dealing with it diligently. In a world that thinks being a "good person" suffices, true moral excellence acknowledges sinfulness and pursues sanctification.

Being "above reproach" means being real about sin, trusting Christ's work at the cross, suppressing sin through sanctification. Those who acknowledge sin and actively address it—through discipleship, counseling, Scripture study—are exemplary.

Peter's purpose is always to remind, because reminders lead to effectiveness and fruitfulness in every area: sanctification, marriage, work, relationships, entertainment—all for God's glory.

Peter's Effort for Our Recall

Peter has departed, but he made every effort so that after his departure, we may recall these things at any time. Scripture records these principles for constant access.

Recall goes beyond reading or routine memorization—it treasures God's Word as precious, hiding it in the heart to avoid sin. Value these principles, take them seriously, put them into action.

Make every effort—pour sweat into receiving and increasing in these qualities. Discipline yourself, labor effectively, even when difficult. The same Greek word in verse 15 matches verse 5: "make every effort."

Peter's Effort to Stir Remembrance

These things were so important to the Apostle Peter that he put forth the very effort he described in verse 5—to enable you to recall these truths at any time. Whenever we come together for corporate worship, fellowship, Bible study, or any activity where the Word of God is preached, read, or discussed, we can be reminded of these qualities. Scripture itself, including Peter's and Paul's writings, is where we find them in perfect harmony.

Yet the effort required goes far beyond sitting in a service or raising hands in worship. It extends into our private lives, where only God sees. We can maintain a facade in church, but if we're not increasing in these qualities privately and regularly, we won't yield the results promised in 2 Peter 1.

The Necessity of Practice: Lessons from Music

Years ago, my parents enrolled me in music lessons—violin, voice, and piano. My piano teacher, Charles McDaniel, a dear brother in Christ, taught in a way that I could instantly play what he demonstrated, from "Hot Cross Buns" to "Für Elise." The same happened with guitar lessons from another godly man.

But if I didn't practice immediately after the lesson—choosing Nintendo 64 instead—the next week was embarrassing. I'd pretend I had practiced, but it was obvious I hadn't. My teacher always asked, "Did you practice?" It wasn't the teacher's fault or the music's; it was my failure to apply what was taught.

No passage of Scripture, sermon, discipleship, or counsel will be effective without practice. When I neglect to apply what's preached or read, I miss the principles, blessings, and results. But when I do practice biblical truths, life change happens.

This past week, Jerry Bridges went to be with the Lord. Reading Pursuit of Holiness was engaging, but it became revolutionary only when I applied its principles. Our godliness and growth are directly measured by our effort, even as we recognize God's sovereignty.

God's Sovereignty Motivates Diligence

God sovereignly chooses, draws, regenerates, saves, and works in us to will and to do for His good pleasure. If that's real, it should demonstrate in our lives—motivating us to make every effort, as Peter says, to supplement our faith.

⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, ⁶ and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, ⁷ and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. ⁸ For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. ¹⁰ Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. ¹¹ For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:5-11, ESV)

Add to your faith moral excellence, to moral excellence knowledge, to knowledge self-control—a fruit of the Spirit in every aspect of life. To self-control, add perseverance (from the same Greek word group as "remember," meaning to endure in your mind). It's not set-it-and-forget-it; be consistent. Add to perseverance godliness—a reverence and devotion to God. To godliness, brotherly love—fellowship with brothers and sisters. Finally, add agape love: selfless, esteeming others above yourself.

If these qualities are yours and increasing, they keep you effective and fruitful in knowing Christ. Lacking them makes you nearsighted and blind, forgetting your cleansing from sins. Be diligent to confirm your calling and election; practicing these ensures you never fall and provides a rich entrance into the eternal kingdom.

Source, Response, and Result

The source of our diligence is the Word of God—through preaching, discipleship, or personal study. The response is diligence and hard work in practice. The result is consistency, being reminded and applying more and more until it consumes everything. This renders us effective, fruitful, multiplies grace and peace, and confirms our calling and election as real.