“I have not written to you because you don’t know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie comes from the truth.” ‭‭1 John‬ ‭2:21‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

John is not writing to teach but to remind them. They know the truth and the truth is operating in their church. So many times we learn and learn until we have forgotten the basics. 

When I taught the teen class at our church the typical answer to a question would be, “Jesus, pray and read your Bible, fellowship and worship.” While this is the answer to many Bible questions I would often throw a curveball at them it see if they were paying attention.

“Therefore I will always remind you about these things, even though you know them and are established in the truth you have. I consider it right, as long as I am in this bodily tent, to wake you up with a reminder, knowing that I will soon lay aside my tent, as our Lord Jesus Christ has also shown me. And I will also make every effort that you may be able to recall these things at any time after my departure.”

‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭1:12-15‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

https://www.bible.com/72/2pe.1.12-15.hcsb

What things did Peter want to remind them?

“His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. By these He has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. The person who lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten the cleansing from his past sins. Therefore, brothers, make every effort to confirm your calling and election, because if you do these things you will never stumble. For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly supplied to you.”

‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭1:3-11‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

https://www.bible.com/72/2pe.1.3-11.hcsb

Jesus, obedience, and love.

What are the things I want to remind people of?

Jesus: Galatians 2:20, 2 Corinthians 5:17

Obedience: John 14:21, Romans 12:1

Prayer: John 15:7,  Philippians 4:6-7

Bible: 2 Timothy 3:16, Joshua 1:8

Fellowship: Matthew 18:20, Hebrews 10:24-25

Witnessing: Matthew 4:19, Romans 1:16

Discipleship: Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8

The top six are what is called the wheel illustration form the navigators (https://www.navigators.org/resource/the-wheel-illustration). For anyone who has heard me or my wife teach we don’t travel too far from this for we feel it is the foundation of the Christian life. If we were to forget everything in the Christian life we would want to hang on to these six principles.

Just as the teens had their answer I want to challenge us to be able to answer Jesus to every problem in our lives. I want prayer and reading our Bibles to the key motives to relate to God. Fellowship, witnessing, and discipleship are our key motives in relating to people. 

“Therefore I will always remind you about these things, even though you know them and are established in the truth you have.”

‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭1:12‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

https://www.bible.com/72/2pe.1.12.hcsb