2 Peter:

Background

1 Peter - How to live as exiles in Babylon. Submit, take evil and trade for goodness, hope in the day that is coming

2 Peter - A message for inside the church

2 Peter is written to Christians, and he’s speaking to them as equals

2 Peter 1:1 “1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:” Other translations: NASB “to those who’ve obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Peter feels like you’re speaking to someone who’s mastered an idea. He’s using terms and thoughts without explaining them, like it’s second nature. 1: A good and godly life is available to you, but you have to build on your faith 2: Freedom from sin is a responsibility, don’t listen to idiots who read our writings and twist them

3: God is being patient with the world. Use this time for good.

A good and blameless life is available to you, but you have to build on your faith

2 Peter 1:3–10 (NIV)

3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life 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, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith (Faith given by the righteousness of Jesus, now you add. Are you saying I sanctify myself? Stop being stupid) goodness; (doing acts of good to other people) and to goodness, knowledge; (of Jesus, his divine nature, faith, and our response) 6 and to knowledge, self-control; (acknowledging and moving in freedom from - urges, society, etc.) and to self-control, perseverance (Keep being good, keep growing in knowledge, keep acknowledging your responsibility EVEN WHEN IT HURTS) ; and to perseverance, godliness (Be like Christ) ; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection (Unity, foster relationships) ; and to mutual affection, love. (The binding agent of unity) 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, (This is the good/blameless/godly/mature life we’re after) they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. 10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble,

2 Peter 3:14 “14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.” When you pray do you feel peace or shame?

Don’t listen to idiots, your freedom is a responsibility

Every blessing is a responsibility

Like Jude, focusing on their actions, but he points out the theological error they make as well 2 Peter 2:1–3 “1 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.” 2 Peter 2:4 “4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment;” (God destroyed the earth with a flood and saved Noah, God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah but saved Lot.)(God has always held mankind responsible for what they were given, what makes you different?)

2 Peter 2:12 “12 But these people blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like unreasoning animals, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like animals they too will perish.” 2 Peter 2:22 “22 Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.”” 2 Peter 3:15–16 just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. 16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.”

(This is not ok)

God is being patience with the world, use this time for good

2 Peter 3:8–9 “8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

Application

Are we supposed to use 2 Peter to judge others? Judge ourselves and worry about losing our salvation? Condemn ourselves so that we feel less than? See a mark for us to hit so that God will bless, except, or welcome us into His kingdom? NO 2 Peter 3:1–2 “1 Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking.

The purpose of 2nd Peter is encouragement

Example

I’m never going to get over this sin

No one has a mutually loving relationship with God in this life

The closer I get to got the more I can see my sin

I won’t be complete until I get to heaven

I’ve come as far as I can in this lifetime

God always looks at me as the one who killed His son

What I do doesn’t matter because God doesn’t hold me responsible

I have no agency because I’m an observer not a participator

I wish I had the great faith of the apostles. If I can be more like Jesus I’ll have greater faith

Vision

This is the abundant vision Jesus promised you. It was a life abundant with goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, affection, and love. Through His righteousness He’s given you the faith that it takes to live this life not only abundantly today, but more abundantly every day forever. This is our gift and also our responsibility.