2 Peter 1:3-11 (verse-by-verse)

Passage: 2 Peter 1:3-11

Title: Know Your Salvation

Summary: Spiritual life either grows or dies. Believers should not be content to hold their “faith” but should “add” to it with wholehearted “diligence”. In our study today, Peter will cover seven supplements needed to round out and grow the believer’s faith. Two affect the believer’s relationship to God (knowledge, godliness) and five affect his relationship to other people (virtue, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, love).

2 Peter 1:1–11 (NKJV) 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: 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. 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.

Written to

People with like precious faith. These people as we know from the first epistle were scattered from their homes because of the persecution that was upon them, everything they knew as familiar was gone, and they are living in areas foreign to them. But this book is timeless, as it is written to each of you who have that same precious faith that Peter and these people did:

(2 Peter 1:1 NKJV) 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:

Written Peter / 66AD / Dies 67AD / From Prison

Written by Peter around 66AD, it has been about 30 years now since Jesus had ascended into heaven; and in less than a year (According to church tradition/early writings) that Peter will be crucified (67AD). Because of such a late writing, many deduce that Peter is writing this letter from a prison cell in Rome (and according to the writings of the early church fathers).

Peter’s Knew Time Near / Just as Jesus Said – John 21 / Hands Spread

Peter clearly knew that his time was near:

(2 Peter 1:14 NKJV) knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me.

Just as the Lord had shown him:

(John 21:18 NKJV) "Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish."

(John 21:19 NKJV) This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me."

Your hands will be spread Peter and you will have no control over where they take you. Church tradition says that Peter was crucified, but Peter did not feel worthy to die in the same manner of his Lord, so he asked to be crucified upside down.

Time Near – Must Write / Outward Pressures – Inward Pressures / False Teachers – Mocking 2nd

Peter knows that his death is near and writes to the church. In his first letter he had turned his attention outward pressures that were coming upon the church such as the attacks of Nero, and the pressures of the world. But in this second letter he writes concerning pressures within the church such as false teachers, and people mocking the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. You know false teachers are not just these guys with funny hair trying to fleece people of their money; but they are people who diminish the power of Christ in people’s life. They water down the Word, they wink at sin, they twist the Scriptures and say this is ok, and that no longer applies. I believe the church is seeing more false teachers than any other time in the history of the church.

Why he Writes - Stirs Us Up

Peter tells us in this Second Epistle why he writes to them (and us), to stir us up, to remind us, that we hang on to the things we have been taught in the Old Testament, the Epistles of the Apostles, and the teachings in the Gospels. He says remember these things, hold on to them, no matter how hard life may get.

(2 Peter 3:1 NKJV) Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder),

(2 Peter 3:2 NKJV) that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior,

Peter’s Heart / 30 yrs Later

Peters heart really comes across to us here, we see the heart of the Shepherd caring for his flock, and we see him 30 years later doing what Jesus told him to do, what a good shepherd is supposed to do, feed the flock:

(John 21:15 NKJV) 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."

(John 21:16 NKJV) He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My sheep."

(John 21:17 NKJV) He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep.

Peter Feeds / Wants them to Know / 16X / Peter’s Solution – Through His Divine Power

Peter feeds the flock, and we see this as the theme of this epistle. He wants them to “Know”. The word knowledge appears in some form 16 times in these 3 short chapters. It is not too much to say that Peter's primary solution to false teaching is knowledge of true doctrine, the solution against misunderstanding the “end times” is knowledge of true doctrine. But this knowledge is also the solution to every problem and situation in your life. Whatever problem or situation is going on in your life, God has a promise or example in His Word to meet us where we are at. And, it is through the knowledge of Him, that we tap into His divine power, and it is through that power that we have all we need to live this life.

Theme

This knowledge, will give us power. The theme of this book is given to us in chapter 1:

(2 Peter 1:2 NKJV) Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,

(2 Peter 1:3 NKJV) 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,

Outline of 2 Peter

Introduction - (1:1-3) Know Your Salvation - (1:3-11) Know Your Scripture - (1:12-21) Know Your Adversaries - (2:1-22) Know Your Prophecy - (3:1-18)

More than Birth / Growth & Development / Can’t Live Godly Life

The Christian life is more than just a birth, it is also a growth and development. It is only through the knowledge of Christ that you can live down here and grow to be a more godly person. Everything that you need to live a life of godliness is provided for us by God. We cannot live that life in and of ourselves. We don’t have the capacity. I can’t say, Well I’m going to live like God. And by my resolve, do it. But God has given to us all that is necessary to live that life of godliness. It’s imparted to us, that is, through the Word of God.

Don’t Need Further Revelation – New Truth / New Experiences of Old Truths / Form their God

We do not need further revelation. We need not be interested in new truth. We just need to lay hold of the truths already revealed to us here in the Word. It’s all there! I am not interested in these religious systems that want to peddle their formulas for the church. Or the Cults like The Latter-Day Saints with their special revelations, the Holy Laughter movement, etc. Don’t need it. All that is necessary to live the life of godliness has been provided for us, and we don’t need further revelations. That also applies to each individual; those who they form in their mind who they think God is, but that is incorrect, it is only though His Word can we know who He is.

Today’s Study

Spiritual life either grows or dies. Believers should not be content to hold their “faith” (pistei, belief, assurance, persuasion, as in verse 1) but should “add” (epichorēgēsate, amply furnish, contribute nourishment) to it with wholehearted “diligence” (spoudēn, carefulness, intense effort). Peter listed seven supplements needed to round out the believer’s faith. Two affect the believer’s relationship to God (knowledge, godliness) and five affect his relationship to other people (virtue, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, love).

Outline of Know Your Salvation - (1:3-11)

Power Given - (1:3-4) Power Added - (1:5-7) Power Produced - (1:8-11)

Prayer

The Word of God is Living and Powerful, and is ready, and will do a mighty work in our lives.

Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV) 12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

In Every Study

· Who Is God? (How Great is He?)

· What Does He Think of Me? (How Wonderful Are His Thoughts Towards Me?)

· What Does He Want Me to Do?

· What Can I Boldly Request of Him?

· What Do I Need to Be on Guard of When I Leave Here Today?

Boldly come to the throne of grace, ask God to reveal Himself in a mighty way to you, and to do I might work in you, and through you.

Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV) 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need

(2 Peter 1:1 NKJV) 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:

(2 Peter 1:2 NKJV) Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,

More Knowledge – More Grace / Peter Lopping Off Ears – To Grace

The more knowledge, the more understanding of the Lord you have, the more you will understand His grace, and the more peace you will have in your life. Look at Peter, he goes from lopping off ears to writing an epistle with the theme of grace and peace. There is freedom in grace, and the grace brings an abundance of peace in our life

Power Given - (1:3)

(2 Peter 1:3 NKJV) 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,

Divine Power

Verse 3 – as His divine power has been given – We live a supernatural life (divine power has been given), but it is a choice of how much we want as we will study and see in our passage today. So the question as we start today? How much of this lie and godliness do we want? Let’s ask Him for abundance!

Past Tense / Now Apply It

Notice the past tense used here, has given to us? Everything pertaining to life and godliness has been given to us. Past tense, all we have to do is apply it, we do that through the knowledge of Him, that is why we dig into this Word.

Sounds Simple / Early Life / New Revelation – Conference – Man – Altar Calls – Tongues Trip

It sounds simple, but I spent so much of my early Christian years looking for some new revelation, some magical moment with the Lord that would change my life forever, or I thought I would go to some conference and some new insight would be given to me, or maybe I would meet some great godly man who would speak something mighty to me, prophecy over me. I remember those few times going forward as they pastor called people forward for the laying on of hands, and of course I remember the speaking in tongues trip, if I could just speak in tongues than something mighty was going to happen in my life from that point on. Those early years I so much wanted some special moment that would change me forever, that in a moment I would become super-Christian. But that isn’t what the Word says, it says all (meaning All) we need pertaining to life and godliness has been given to us, through the knowledge of Him.

Grow Fellowship of Word

I, you, we, grow and mature through the knowledge of Him, through our fellowship with the Word:

(Romans 10:17 NKJV) So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

(Philippians 1:5 NKJV) for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now,

(Philippians 1:6 NKJV) being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

There Are Special Moments / Danger w/in Calvary’s

Now, there are those special times you may have with the Lord. And I want to say that because there is a danger within Calvary Chapel fellowships that there is such an emphasis on the knowledge, that people are only operating with their head, and not their heart. God is love, and love is also an emotion. Our relationship with Him is with our hearts and our minds:

(Matthew 22:36 NKJV) "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?"

(Matthew 22:37 NKJV) Jesus said to him, " 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'

(Matthew 22:38 NKJV) "This is the first and great commandment.

(Matthew 22:39 NKJV) "And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'

(Matthew 22:40 NKJV) "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."

My Special Moments / War was On /

So be careful of that, knowledge must make its way to the heart, that is how God intends it to be. As for those “special moments”, that “special touch” they may happen in your life, but those times are not to turn us into “super-Christian” in a blink of an eye. They are what they are, a special time with the Lord. I can remember such a time, it was some 30 years ago. I was a Christian about 6 months, the light had come on, I saw I was a sinner and needed a Savior, and I saw my wonderful Savior Jesus. But, though He was my Savior I thought the words on drunkardness and the clubbing lifestyle were a little much, I really questioned what was wrong with it. So the war was on in members, the spirit versus the flesh, and I had no peace, I couldn’t enjoy anything of the flesh because something was always saying what are you doing, I couldn’t enjoy the things of the spirit because things didn’t seem right. But I did continue in the study of the Word, growing in the knowledge of Him.

That Night – Waves of Love / Next Day

I remember that night laying in my bed in Cocoa Beach Florida; just saying this just isn’t working, I know these things are not right. I said that’s it, doesn’t matter anymore, Lord your ways are my ways, I’m not fighting it anymore. Then it happened, I can’t really describe it, but the best I can describe it as was waves of love started rolling through my body, it was like liquid love, it was a beautiful moment. I felt peace because my rebellion against the Word was over, I could finally rest. However, the next day my flesh was still present, and I still had the battle in my mind to say no against these things.

It was Special / War to Peace – Knowledge of Him / My Surrender

It was a special moment, but what was it that turned that war into peace, it wasn’t that moment, it was the knowledge of Him. It was coming to the place that your Word is true, you are for me, you are not against me, you love me and only want the best for me, your Word is to protect me and keep me from harm, to keep me from making the same mistake over and over again – It was my surrender of my will be done.

All We Need Given – Through Knowledge of Him

All we need for life and godliness is given to us through the knowledge of Him, no special revelations needed, no special moments, just fellowship with Him through the Word and prayer.

Knowledge Never Ceases

This knowledge of Him never ceases:

(Hebrews 4:12 NKJV) For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Study Morning to Morning / Best Thing I can Give You

Take time to study Him, not just Sunday and Wednesday here, but morning to morning. Always, the best thing I could ever give you as my brother and sister in Christ, is this Word, for it is all you need. Notice the end of verse 3 says that He called us by glory. The word for glory here is the Greek word for the Hebrew word “Kabod” which means “weighty, of substance”. Jesus Christ is our solid foundation, our rock on which to stand, everything else in life is just shifting sand. Nothing can move us when we stand with Him – thus we have all things pertaining to life and godliness.

(2 Peter 1:4 NKJV) 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.

Precious Promises / Beyond Calculation / 7474

Verse 4 - have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises: all these promises packed away in this book given to us to enjoy. There is a good reason to dig through this book and hear these precious promises. And again, precious means “beyond calculation of worth”. Someone counted, bless their heart, and they counted 7,474 promises in this book. Some:

(Hebrews 13:5 NKJV) Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

(Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV) For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Which of the 7+ thousand do you need today? Recall it, because it is yours!

Divine Nature / Don’t have to Live in Mud / Slave to Addiction – Lust – Bitterness – Hatred

Verse 4 - that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. - Listen beloved, you do not have to live in the mud, you do not have to be a slave to that addiction, to that sexual lust, to bitterness, hatred, to your depression for we have been given His divine nature. His nature, in us, and it is raised up and released in our lives through the knowledge of Him, and that gives us freedom over these things. Refer back to last study, our identity is in Him, the craziness of the world can be traced directly to lust. Whether regarding money, sex, esteem, or approval, lust simply says, “I’ve got to have more.” And it is from such a mind-set that we have been delivered.

In giving believers “all things” (verse 3), the Lord has granted them “promises” (epangelmata, pledge, self-committal, assurance) that are very valuable and exceedingly great. If believers will claim these precious promises they may, even now, be “partakers” (koinōnoi, sharer, partner) in Christ’s “nature” (phuseōs, genus, lineal descent, native disposition, constitution). Peter was speaking hereof regeneration, as in 1 Peter 1:3. This divine nature implanted within the believer by the new birth becomes the source of his new lifestyle. The new lifestyle does not come automatically; the believer must make an effort. He must flee away from “lust” (epithumia, passionate desire, strong craving—usually for what is forbidden) or he will experience “corruption” (phthoras, decay, ruin). “Having escaped” (apophugontes) means “escape by flight.” God helps those who flee the old life to develop the new life if they cooperate with Him.

Harris, R. W., ed. (1989). Hebrews–Jude (p. 323). World Library Press.

Power Added - (1:5-7)

Live to the Max

Now Peter is going on to say, do you want to experience life to the max, then add to your faith, these things:

(2 Peter 1:5 NKJV) But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,

Partakers

Verse 4 – You may be partakers of the divine nature– As I did some inventory on these seven attributes of His Divine nature, I came to see how far short I fall in them. I had to ask myself ho much am I lacking today regarding having all the “great and precious promises” because of not adding of those things. The Christian life is one of adding or subtracting (verse 5 says), so I stop here and say Lord I want to add to my life these 7-theings, so I can receive all your precious (beyond calculation worth) promises.

Spiritual Life – Either Grows or Die

Spiritual life either grows or dies. Believers should not be content to hold their “faith” (pistei, belief, assurance, persuasion, as in verse 1) but should “add” (epichorēgēsate, amply furnish, contribute nourishment) to it with wholehearted “diligence” (spoudēn, carefulness, intense effort). Peter listed seven supplements needed to round out the believer’s faith. Two affect the believer’s relationship to God (knowledge, godliness) and five affect his relationship to other people (virtue, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, love).

Harris, R. W., ed. (1989). Hebrews–Jude (p. 323). World Library Press.

So Simple – 3 Verses – 7 things / No Tapes / Faith – Nourish it

God makes it so simple for us, just 3 verses. We don’t need the 25-tape set sold on PBS, no Tony Evans Seminar, just 3 verses. We don’t need special revelation, just 3 verses. Notice these things are added to your faith. You don’t add faith because it is already a gift from God. So you don’t add to faith, but you can strengthen faith for this word add means to furnish and nourish. So you do so by these 7 things:

The Chorus Dance

Add to your faith: Literally in the ancient Greek, “Lead up hand in hand; alluding, as most think, to the chorus in the Grecian dance, who danced with joined hands.” (Clarke)

Virtue / Moral Excellence – Junk of World

Add Virtue -So faith, you are born-again, now add virtue. Virtue is “moral excellence”, the putting away of the junk of the world. I like this phrase, moral excellence, it eliminates that wishy-washy Christianity, it lays it out – moral excellence, no room for anything less than excellence.

Knowledge / Second? / Are you Hungering?

Add Knowledge -To Virtue (moral excellence) add knowledge. Now this seems confusing based on the theme and context of this epistle. Shouldn’t knowledge be second? You see, if your mind is cluttered up with the junk of the world, you will not be able to study the Word and gain the knowledge of Him. I really don’t feel like hitting the treadmill after eating at McDonalds or after downing a bag of Doritos. Christian, if you are not hungering for the Word, then maybe it is because you are feasting on junk food.

(2 Peter 1:6 NKJV) to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness,

Self Control / Not Letting In

Add Self Control- Now as you gain knowledge, increasing your understanding of the Lord, you will have more and more self-control, you will be saying negative no way, I am not entering into that. Hey just a word for prayer and consideration; sometimes our self, doesn’t control, and we say something or do something that now brings us into a place of pride, and rather than repent, or come lowly, or ask for forgiveness, we just continue to live it, defend it, justify it….. and thus we dig a hole we can never get out of because we just keep digging it deeper and deeper. Just stop digging, and start filling the hole back in by asking for forgiveness and begin to make a mends with whoever we offended.

Perseverance / Selling Short / Marriage / Everything Else

Add Perseverance– which is patience. Self-control will lead us to wait, to wait for what is best. Too many Christians are selling themselves short because of their lack of patience. That is what sex before marriage does, it sells a person short. A person has no self-control therefore they won’t be patient and wait for the person that will grow them deeper in Christ. They get married based on the emotion and then a few years after the pop, comes the fizzle, and they spend the rest of their life in a flat relationship. That is why we need knowledge, so we can have self-control, so we will be patient, and that applies to anything and everything in our lives. Kids getting to you, that boss, how about that so called Christian brother?

(2 Peter 1:7 NKJV) to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.

Godliness / Attributes of God / Gracious – Merciful / Knowledge we become more like Him

Add Godliness– Patience produces the attributes of godliness, the likeness of God. We will be gracious, because God is gracious and we are growing in His knowledge and that is making us more like Him. We will be more merciful towards others because God is merciful and we are growing in His knowledge and that is making us more like Him.

Brotherly Kindness - Love

Add Brotherly Kindness and Love – we will be these things because God is love. As we grow in His knowledge we become more like Him, and the inward work will naturally flow out of us.

(1 John 4:8 NKJV) He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

1 Corinthians

We see 1 Corinthians 13 here in 2 Peter:

(1 Corinthians 13:4 NKJV) Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;

(1 Corinthians 13:5 NKJV) does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;

(1 Corinthians 13:6 NKJV) does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;

(1 Corinthians 13:7 NKJV) bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

(1 Corinthians 13:8 NKJV) Love never fails. …….

The Fruits of Spirit

We also see the fruits of the Spirit here in this list:

(Galatians 5:22 NKJV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

(Galatians 5:23 NKJV) gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

These are Things of Salvation

These are the things of salvation, these are all things we can be and abound more in. What beautiful words.

Power Produced - (1:8-11)

(2 Peter 1:8 NKJV) For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ever Feel Dry / Add These things / Pray them – Seek them / Checklist

Ever feel dry, ever feel barren? Then add these things, start working on these things, add them to your life and you won’t be dry or barren. Take these words and pray them, seek them. This is a wonderful practical checklist for us.

Waiting for Ministry / Bearing Fruit / That is What Ministry Is – Being Picked

Many times people say they want to be in the ministry (like they are waiting for some type of opening). It says here that if you do these things then you will be fruitful (opposite of unfruitful). Fruitfulness, that is what the ministry is; the ministry is allowing yourself to be picked and enjoyed by others, nourishing them and refreshing them.

Who Can Be All These / Jesus Modeled Them / Abide In Him

You may say who can be all these things, who can attain such things. There is one man, the God man who has all these. He modeled all these attributes when He walked this earth, and as we hang out with Him, gaining knowledge of Him, as we abide in Him, then these things will naturally start working themselves out in our lives, without even having to strive:

(John 15:4 NKJV) "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

(John 15:5 NKJV) "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

Resultant Ministry / In Home – Schools – Work - Community

And the resultant will be ministry, in our homes, in our schools, in our community, workplace, because we will be producing fruit for others to pick, eat of, enjoy, and be nourished by so that they too may be strengthened.

In the Book of Acts, they did not go into the ministry, the ministry went into them!

It is a Cycle / Every Time

What we have here is a cycle; a little virtue will produce knowledge, the knowledge will produce self-control, that self-control will produce patience, that patience will produce godliness, and that godliness will produce brotherly kindness and unto love. Every time you grow in the Knowledge of Him, you will grow in these things. That fact should wake us in the morning to seek Him.

(2 Peter 1:9 NKJV) For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

Know Your Salvation / Don’t Be Blind

Know your salvation, don’t be blinded, don’t just settle on being saved, grow in the knowledge of Him.

Don’t Forget Where Came From / You won’t be These / Saved by Grace – Will Diligently Seek Him

The epistle starts with Simon Peter, Simon was Peter’s name before He met the Lord. When you forget where you came from, you will do none of these things. You will have no self-control, patience, godliness. When you remember that you were saved by grace, you were destined for hell, then you will diligently seek these things because you will want to know more about this awesome God who became man to save you.

Never Consider Evolution / Who Could Love

You know I never even considered that evolution was a possible creation for man until I got saved. It was after I got saved that I started to examine the Evolution Theory, not because I thought it had any scientific merit, because it really does stretch the Laws of Science, actually it defies the Law’s of Science. I struggled with it because I struggled that there could be such a person that could love, as the Lord loves. I questioned His existence because I couldn’t grasp the magnitude of His love. But I continue diligently seeking these things, and my faith was added unto, strengthened, He spoke His Words of love to me every time I opened this Word.

(2 Peter 1:10 NKJV) Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;

Not Works for Salvation

This is not a call to works for salvation, for we are saved by grace through faith.

Ephesians 2:8–9 (NKJV) 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Do Them – Never Stumble / One of the 7474 Promises

Do the things we just studied and you will never stumble. This is a promise from God, one of those 7474 precious promises. God bless you today for being here to study His Word and grow in your knowledge of Him.

(2 Peter 1:11 NKJV) for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Do them – Be Fruitful / Eternal Reward

Do these things and you will be fruitful, your life will be the abundant life that Christ promised us. Christians who say their life is boring have totally missed it, there is no life more excited than a life that is set apart for the Lord. And, at the end of this exciting life, will be the eternal reward, and you will be glad that you did what you did.

Sentence Structure / You Add – God Adds / Mansion - Abide

Notice the sentence structure here in verses 10 and 11, if you add, then God will add. Interestingly Jesus says I will go prepare a place for you, but then He says while I am gone prepare a place for me and the Father to dwell in your heart:

(John 14:2 NKJV) "In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

(John 14:23 NKJV) Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.

It is the same Greek word used for mansion in verse 2 as it is for home in verse 23.

So Simple – 3 Verses

God makes it so simple, 3 verses, 7 things. You want to make your call and election sure, do these 7 things.

(2 Peter 1:12 NKJV) 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.

(2 Peter 1:13 NKJV) Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you,

(2 Peter 1:14 NKJV) knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me.

(2 Peter 1:15 NKJV) Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease.

This is Ministry - Remember

This is the ministry, putting people in remembrance of these things. Sometimes I struggle because I think I need to bring some new truth, some deeper truth that nobody has ever seen. But this is ministry Sunday School teacher, Bible Study Leader, Youth Group Worker, remind people of the things they already know, to remind them to do the things they know they are to do, and we will all live that Victorious Christian Life. That is why verse-by-verse is so wonderful, it always brings us back to remembrance of the word, because we are reading it line upon line.

Outline of Know Your Salvation - (1:3-11)

Power Given - (1:3-4) Power Added - (1:5-7) Power Produced - (1:8-11)

Prayer

The Word of God is Living and Powerful, and is ready, and will do a mighty work in our lives.

Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV) 12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

In Every Study

· Who Is God? (How Great is He?)

· What Does He Think of Me? (How Wonderful Are His Thoughts Towards Me?)

· What Does He Want Me to Do?

· What Can I Boldly Request of Him?

· What Do I Need to Be on Guard of When I Leave Here Today?

Boldly come to the throne of grace, ask God to reveal Himself in a mighty way to you, and to do I might work in you, and through you.

Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV) 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need