“For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth”
and are established
“Established” means to fix, make fast, to set. “Established” means to put or place something firmly in a location – to cause to be fixed, to establish in a place. The idea is stabilizing someone in truth.
The Lord called upon Peter to stabilize his brethren (Luke 22:32). Paul wanted to visit Rome to establish them (Romans 1:11) and Timothy at Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians 3:2). It is the work of God to stabilize the saints (1 Thessalonians 3:13; 2 Thessalonians 2:17). We are to stabilize our own hearts (James 5:8).
“Established” carries the idea of strengthening, to cause someone to become stronger or more firm and unchanging in attitude or belief. Asia Minor saints became stabilized in the truth and were being set fast in truth. Peter’s purpose is to set cardinal truth of their faith in their thinking.
“But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren” (Luke 22:32).
“Strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith” (Acts 14:22).
“So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily” (Acts 16:5).
We gain stability by knowing. We first gain knowledge-then stability. We cannot reverse this process. Stability does not precede knowledge.
We do not gain stability by reading “How to Win Friends and Influence People” or “How to Succeed in Selling?”
Principle:
If the believer needs stability.
Application:
A shock absorber on a car gives stability to the car. Likewise, if we cannot take the shocks of life, we will lack stability in life. All Christians need equilibrium. What gives us equilibrium in our lives? Truth, God’s truth. Equilibrium is a state of balance produced by two or more forces. There needs to be a balance between what we believe and what God says in His Word.
“But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 5:10).
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