<p>1:12 <i>Wherefore I shall be ready always to put you in remembrance of these things, though you know them and are established in the truth which is with you</i>- One of the themes in Peter&rsquo;s second letter, written as it was at the very end of his life (2 Pet. 1:14), was that of the need to &ldquo;remember&rdquo; the words of the Lord Jesus (2 Pet. 1:12,13,15; 2:3; 3:1). This was with evident allusion (the same word is used) to the way that on his shameful night, Peter had remembered the word of Christ, and wept those bitter tears of ineffable regret (Lk. 22:61). Peter knew some of his sheep were weary with the way, and needed a like repentance and subsequent energizing which he had known. He was wishing all his readers (and that includes us) a path of growth that followed his. He had always <i>known</i> the words of Christ; indeed, he had loved them. He shows himself an enthusiast for Bible study and reflection on the Lord&rsquo;s words. But he didn&rsquo;t remember them in that they weren&rsquo;t living as a compelling force within his conscience. After his first denial and the cock crowing, surely he &lsquo;remembered&rsquo; the Lord&rsquo;s words: that before the cock crowed twice, he would deny Him thrice. He must have shrugged off that first cock crowing as coincidence, sure he wouldn&rsquo;t deny again. And then the second denial- well, there was no cock crow, so, don&rsquo;t worry&hellip; But he wasn&rsquo;t aware enough of his own liability to failure to have the Lord&rsquo;s warning words in the forefront of his mind. He didn&rsquo;t pause to reflect that the cock would soon crow again, and therefore he would be sorely tempted to make the third denial. He knew the word of the Lord, but failed to remember it. And this he now realized. And he urges his readers to learn more quickly and less painfully what he had to be forced to learn. &nbsp;</p><p>Now Peter was converted, he was strengthening his brethren (Lk. 22:32). This theme of strengthening was evident in Peter&rsquo;s letters (s.w. 1 Pet. 5:10; 2 Pet. 1:12; 3:17). Some of his last written words were that &ldquo;You... are <i>established </i>in the present truth&rdquo; (2 Pet. 1:12 AV); he uses the same Greek word which the Lord used when He asked Peter so <i>strengthen</i> his brethren (Lk. 22:32). Peter at the very end knew that he had made it. His awareness of his own failures was at the root of his appreciation of his Lord&rsquo;s grace, and this was the motive power behind all his pastoral work. But &quot;truth&quot; often refers to the sure reality that we shall be saved; the hope, the confidence, that if we die now or the Lord returns, we shall definitely be in the Kingdom. This is as the AV puts it &quot;the present truth&quot;. This doesn't mean that truth varies and is true only at any given moment for that time. The idea is not of 'truth' as in intellectual purity, but &quot;truth&quot; as in assurance of the highest and most ultimate truth- that at this present moment, I shall be saved. That is the basis for a sure hope, and of all joy and peace through believing. We may fall away tomorrow; but we can rejoice in the &quot;present truth&quot;, what is true at this present moment.</p>