In the previous chapter, Peter briefly
described the false teachers of that time.
The same principle exists in the present
era. We are constantly warned about being led astray.
In this chapter of Peter’s letter, he
points out the urgency and the importance of the truth that secures our
Christian salvation doctrine and protects us from falling foul with false teachers.
It is more difficult to deal with false doctrine within than outside of
the church.
Acts 20:28 Keep watch over yourselves and
all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of
the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. 29 I know that after I
leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30
Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw
away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three
years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. 32
"Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you
up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified
2Pet 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of
Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Saviour
Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours: 2 Grace and peace be yours in abundance
through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
3 His
divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our
knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
4 Through
these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through
them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the
world caused by evil desires.
The only way we can recognise the cleverly
disguised and camouflaged spiritual poison of the modern false teachers is when
we respond to God’s offer of everything we need for life and godliness.
8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing
measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your
knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Author of Peter’s Letter.
2Pet 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,. . . .
Peter identifies himself so that his
readers will be confident of the origin and authenticity of the Word being what
God had inspired him to write.
Peter was deeply concerned for the maturity
of the flock of God.
Maturity is spiritual adulthood; the
ability to use self-control concerning obedience to the leading by the Word of
God.
Heb 5:11 We have much to say about this, but
it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this
time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary
truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who
lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about
righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have
trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. 6:1 Therefore let us leave
the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again
the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God,
2 Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and
of Jesus our Lord.
A Precious
Faith
..
. . .To those who through the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ have received a faith as
precious as ours:
What Is Your Excuse For Lack Of Growth Into
Maturity?
3 His divine power has given us everything we need
for
life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory
and goodness.
4 Through these he has given us his very great and
precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine
nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
Jesus, in His Gethsemane prayer, referred
to the fact that we are in the world but we don’t have to be part of the
world. Paul wrote in Rom 12:1,2 that we must not conform to the world but be
transformed by the renewing of the mind.
He went on to say, “THEN you will know what is the will of God.”
We have heard how much God loves us and the
gifts He still wants us to have.
However, in order to be capable of receiving all that God wants to
impart, we have to prepare ourselves according to what God told Peter to write.
God Has
Provided
Through these = everything we need
that He has potentially given us.
What is God’s expectation of His creation?
(this is one of the many questions that we
deal with in the “POWER Hours”)
Whatever we need, to live up to the
expectations of our Holy, Awesome Creator, is provided by the grace of God.
5. For this very reason, make every effort to add
to your faith
These seven virtues to be added to our faith is the responsibility of
the Child of God, It is not a once-off experience, but a skilful constant cultivation,
on a daily basis. These qualities are
essential components to our very salvation.
Virtues Of The Highest Value (Note the Seven in number).
God will do nothing for you that you can do
yourself. But whatever you cannot do God will do for you. Growth in grace is
our personal responsibility.
1. GOODNESS;
Doing to others what you would have them do to you. Only, you do it
better!
Being available to help others, especially your own spiritual brothers
and sisters. Also defined as moral integrity.
Aim at righteousness (obedience leads to righteousness Rom 6:15)
Matt
6:1 "Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be
seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
…and to goodness,
2. KNOWLEDGE;
Get to know God as much as you can through the study of the Bible.
Develop your ability in spiritual and practical discernment and
sensitivity.
. . .and to knowledge,
3. SELF-CONTROL;
This component is featured in Gal 5;23 as part of the Fruit Of The
Spirit.
The control of spirit over body. It amounts to personal disciplines to
concentrate on that which is good and beneficial against self-gratification and
evil desires.
. . . and to self-control,
4. PERSEVERANCE;
The brave and courageous acceptance of everything that life can do to
us, and the transmitting of even the worst event into another step on the upward
way (Barclay)
. . . and to perseverance,
5.GODLINESS;
Piety and devotion to be whatever God wants us to be. To visibly
reflect the beauty of Jesus.
. . .v 7 and to godliness,
6. BROTHERLY KINDNESS;
Brothers and sisters will always look after each other even though they
may differ on certain issues.
. . .and to brotherly kindness,
7. LOVE.
This kind of love is what Jesus mentioned when He said, you must love
your enemies, etc
Do you know someone whom you don’t like; someone who has hurt your feelings;
someone who owes you something or other?
That’s the person who will test your spiritual strength. Can you love
someone you don’t like?
8 For if you possess these
qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and
unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But if anyone does not have them, he is
nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his
past sins.
10
Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election
sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall,
11 and you
will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ.
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