January 1, 2012
Morning Service

II Peter 1

 

Intro:

            We have just finished I Peter, and will now begin with II Peter.  We started this study on Peter by looking at how the Lord had called, and used him in the plan of salvation. 

• The Lord called Peter, and Andrew his brother as the first of His disciples.
• Upon Peter confessing that Jesus was the Christ the Son of God, Jesus gave him the keys to the Kingdom.  These keys were the authority to open the doors to salvation to all mankind.  Salvation from Jehovah God would no longer be just for the Jews, but for everyone.
• Peter used these keys for the Jews on the day of Pentecost just after the Lord had been resurrected.
• He used the keys to open the door for all mankind in Acts chapter 10 at the household of Cornelius the Centurion, a gentile.

This letter has been one of the most discussed letters in the Bible for authenticity.  It has however, been accepted as written by Peter since the late third century.

 

It was written by Peter shortly before his martyrdom around the year 64 AD.  It was written as a follow up letter to the first in which it was written to those Christians in the Country which we now call Turkey.

 

The first letter dealt with problems from the outside, this second letter deals with problems from the inside.

 

Peter again challenges Christians to be steadfast, unmovable, always living our best for the Lord.  He urges us on like a good coach would his players, always going that extra mile to be that good, and faithful servant of the Lord.

 

Let’s begin II Peter chapter one:

 

SALUTATION:

2Pe 1:1-21 KJVR  Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ:  (2)  Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 

GROWTH IN CHRIST:

(3)  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 

• This is none other than the Word of God.  Our Bible.  The infallible Word of God.  Jesus said the Words that I speak unto you are Spirit, and life.  The Bible is the Living Word of God.
• Concerning the divine power;  Paul said, Rom 1:16 KJVR  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
• And the gospel which means good news, is found in our Holy Bible, the teachings of Jesus, and His Apostles.
• Peter says this divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life, and Godliness, and this is certainly where these things are found.  God has protected His Word from the destructive hands of mankind all through the ages.  Men have tried to destroy it, and to make it void, but It still is the power of God unto salvation, and gives us all things that pertain to life, and Godliness.  It is our road map to Heaven, and instruction manual for living our lives until Jesus returns.

NOTICE WHAT ELSE THIS DIVINE BOOK TELLS US ABOUT:

(4)  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 

• Great, and precious promises, and that by accepting, and living for Jesus you will be partakers of the divine nature. 
• How?  By escaping the corruption that is in the world through lust.
• Do you see how Peter challenges us to turn our backs on the worldly things that will destroy us. 
• This is one of the things he fights against throughout this letter, worldly evolvement.

NOW NOTICE THE COACH:

(5)  And beside this, giving all diligence,

• add to your faith virtue; Faith is:  Heb 11:1 KJVR  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

So Peter is encouraging us to add to our faith, virtue:  Virtue is:  A particular moral excellence; as the virtue of temperance, of chastity, of charity.

• and to virtue knowledge;  Learning; illumination of mind.  Also; Information; power of knowing.
• (6)  And to knowledge temperance;  Temperance simply means ( self control ).  In every aspect of our lives we need self control.
• and to temperance patience; Patience means;  Patience” implies suffering, enduring or waiting, as a determination of the will
• and to patience godliness;  Godliness, as denoting character and conduct determined by the principle of love or fear of God in the heart, is the summing up of genuine religion.
• (7)  And to godliness brotherly kindness;  Love the brethren with a pure heart.
• and to brotherly kindness charity.  Charity means to love all mankind with the love of God, from the heart.

 

Hopefully we can see how these attributes would make us different from the world.  The world is full of greed, selfishness, and hate, we are instructed not to be like the world.  Paul said in one place we are in the world, but not of the world.  Which means we are in this world to work, and live, but we are not to have their traits.

 

(8)  For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  (9)  But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.  (10)  Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:  (11)  For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

• Peter says you do these things that I am teaching you, and you will be victorious.  I can see such clear coaching techniques.  Do this, and this and you will win.

 

AND AGAIN LIKE A GOOD COACH, REPETITION:

(12)  Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.  (13)  Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;  (14)  Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath showed me.

• We will go over and over these things until they are like second nature to you, and I won’t quit until you have it down pat.
• It also won’t be long until I am out of this ole world, just like the Lord told me.

EXPERIENCE OF THE TRANSFIGURATION:

(15)  Moreover I will endeavor that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.  (16)  For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.  (17)  For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.  (18)  And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

·     God is the one that saw to it that we would have Peter’s teachings after he was gone, in the Bible.

·     And rest assured that the things I tell you are true, and factual.  We saw these things with our own eyes.  And I am willing to die for this faith in Jesus Christ.

CERTAINTY OF THE SCRIPTURES:

(19)  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:  (20)  Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation.  (21)  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

 

AND THESE ARE THE TEACHINGS THAT BUILD OUR FAITH THAT THE WORD GOD IS TRUE, AND ARE DIRECTLY FROM ALMIGHTY GOD.  THANK YOU LORD FOR YOUR WORD, AND THESE WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT FROM PETER.  AMEN.