Lesson 2
Prayer:
2 Peter 1: 1-21, salutation, Peter’s impending martyrdom, scripture is God’s inspired Words.
V 1, Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:
In the opening salutation, Peter, the author of 2 Peter, identified himself as Simon Peter. His original name was Simon son of Jonah, John 21:15, but Christ gave him the name Peter. He spelled out his credentials, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ. His audience was the faithful followers of the apostles through the righteousness of God and Christ.
John 21:15, So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”
VV 2-4, 2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Peter pronounced a blessing of overflowing grace and peace to his audience in the knowledge of God and Christ, who divinely called them to participate in His divine nature with precious promises. Salvation by grace through faith in Christ precedes peace and reconciliation with God. Grace was a common Greek greeting and peace was a common Hebrew greeting.
VV 5-11, 5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
We should add to our faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness, love. These virtues enabled Christians to live a fruitful life of growth in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. These virtues enabled Christians to enter into salvation without stumbling. The absence of these virtues results in shortsightedness, blindness, and sinfulness.
VV 12-15, 12 For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. 13 Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, 14 knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. 15 Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease.
Peter was aware of his impending martyrdom through a revelation of Christ. Peter referred to his body as a tent, a temporary dwelling place, until he received his permanent resurrected body during Christ’s second coming. He encouraged his audience to carry on the work of the ministry after his death.
VV 16-18, 16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to 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 such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” 18 And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.
Peter attested to the truth of his writings. Scriptures are not man-made fables or not fabricated stories. Peter was an eyewitness, one among the 12 apostles, and one among the three inner circles, Peter, James, and John. He saw the transfiguration of Christ with Moses, and Elijah and heard the voice of God, the Father speaking from heaven in an audible voice, Matthew 17:5.
Matthew 17:5, While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love, with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
VV 19-20, 19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
The Old Testament prophesies were as light shining out from darkness until the coming of the Lord. We should not interpret scripture according to our whims and fancies because this is God’s inspired Word. The Holy Spirit inspired holy men of God to write holy scriptures according to His script, 2 Timothy 3:16.
2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness”.
Application:
Salvation by grace through faith in Christ precedes peace and reconciliation with God. Justification results in peace with God, access to God, and the promise of heaven, Romans 5:1-2.
Romans 5:1-2, Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Scripture is the inerrant, infallible, and inspired Word of God, not man-made fables or fabricated stories. We should have a high view of scripture.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, help us to add to our faith, virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brother kindness, and to brotherly kindness, love. Help us be fruitful in kingdom service and give us the fruit of the Holy Spirit, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
