Peter returns to an earlier idea (2 Pet 1:12-15). His ministry wasn’t teaching new doctrines to itchy-eared audiences, but to remind saints of settled, established truth they’d already been taught so they would grow in sanctification (2 Pet 1:12-15; Jude 1:3). This was the ministry of the apostles, and then of pastors (Eph 4:11-16).
We need to be reminded of the simplest Christian truths because Satan is ready to devour us (1 Peter 5:8), we become spiritually dull of hearing (Heb 5:11-6:1), and false teachers are eager to draw people away from Jesus, exploit them, steal their joy and freedom in Christ, and harm our walk and growth in the Saviour (Acts 20:30; 2 Pet 2:1-3). You may think you know and remember what the gospel is about, but there are others sitting next to you who may have forgotten or never heard it.

I. Needing to be Stirred (1 Cor 11:24-26). When believers in the local assembly celebrate the Lord’s Supper, we proclaim to the world the good news of Christ’s death, resurrection, and return. While individual believers are tasked with sharing the gospel to the unsaved through ordinary daily means (Mt 28:19), the church corporately evangelizes through the symbols of the Lord’s Supper. Communion is a remembrance to believers of Christ and His redemptive work.
New believers must be taught basic Christian doctrine right away or they become easy prey to false teaching. New members in a congregation also need to be doctrinally tested so they don’t corrupt the body with false teaching. Believers need their minds stirred out of spiritual weariness, apathy, or slumber. Reminders are needed for even the most spiritually healthy believer because it is easy to forget what’s important. We get busy with our works, involved in our routines, and grow weary by our trials. Anyone not securely founded in Biblical truth can fall prey to false teaching, if even for a time.

II. Stirring by Reminder (2 Pet 3:1). Religion stirs the emotions and feelings of the flesh through rituals and rules. False teaching contaminates the mind with false promises and ungodly hopes. Peter insists we need our minds stirred up - fully awakened - by the truth in God’s Word we might already know, believe, love, and obey concerning Jesus.
The mind (dianoia) is the seat of our understanding, emotion, and desires; it’s what we’d call the heart (Mt 22:37; Mk 12:30; 10.27" class="scriptRef">Lk 10:27; Col 1:21). Peter is writing about the pure mind that’s been regenerated in the new birth, reconciled to God, and renewed by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God (Rom 12:1-2; 1 Cor 2:16; Col 3:2, 10; Phil 2:5; 4:8; 1 Pet 2:2).
Pure (elekrine) literally means to judge by sunlight. In ancient times, clay pots were used for cooking and storing food and drink. Cracks in the clay were hidden and sealed with wax by corrupt sellers. When the pot was heated in the fire, the wax would melt and the contents spilled. When buying a new pot, a wise customer held the pot up to the sun to reveal any wax-sealed cracks.
Desiring to be honorable, sincere vessels in His service (2 Tim 2:20-21), we daily feed on Scripture (Ps 119:9-11) so as to be shaped through it by the Holy Spirit (2 Tim 3:16-17; Heb 4:12; 5:14).

III. Remembering the Scriptures (2 Pet 3:2). We need to be mindful of the words … of the holy prophets and the commandment of ... the apostles. The Bible is the foundation of truth upon which Jesus is building His Church (Acts 2:42; Eph 2:20; 5" class="scriptRef">3:5; 2 Thess 2:2, 5; 2 Pet 1:19-21; 17" class="scriptRef">Jude 17). The prophets and apostle were men inspired by the Holy Spirit, as opposed to the false teachers inspired by their own sinful minds and demons (Jer 17:9; Ezek 13:2-3, 17; Mt 15:19-20; 1 Cor 12:2; 1 Tim 4:1).
The Scriptures anchor our faith steadfastly in Jesus (19" class="scriptRef">Heb 6:19), and grow us deep in Christlikeness and the knowledge of Jesus (Eph 3:17; Col 2:7; 2 Pet 1:3-4; 3:18). Scripture is more sure than fables and experiences (2 Pet 1:16, 19), false teachings (2 Pet 2:1), and exploitative practices (2 Pet 2:3). Only the Bible keeps us from being shaken by false teachers, for the Bible reveals Jesus (Ps 40:7; Lk 24:13-27, 32, 44-48; Heb 10:7).