2 Peter 1:1-15

Who wrote 2 Peter?

Who did he write it too?

When did he write it? (towards the end of his life)

2 Peter 1:1–15 ESV

1 Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: 2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 12 Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. 13 I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, 14 since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.

How was Peter viewed in the early church?

How does Peter introduce himself in this book?

2 Peter 1:1 “1 Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:”

What is significant about the second part of verse 2?

Peter is writing to men and woman Jews and Gentiles and he calls them all of equal standing.

What does equal standing mean?

There are no second class citizens in heaven. We are all of equal standing before God.

Why is this the case why are we all of equal standing before God? (by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ)

2 Peter 1:2 “2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.”

What does Peter mean when he says, “may grace and peace be multiplied to you?”

How is this grace and peace multiplied to them according to this verse?

2 Peter 1:3–4 “3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.”

One of the classic verses in the bible

What makes verses 3 in particular so important?

We are constantly looking for something new to solve our problems. Hoping some new technique will help us grow or change. But Peter makes very clear….

Whose power has granted us these things?

How does this power grant us these things? Through what?

Don’t miss this. The answer to the most important things in your life come from God’s Word. It might not be able to answer your algebra questions. But everything that to pertains to a Godly life is found in God’s Word.

This may or may not be a temptation for you yet. But there will come a time when you are tempted to look else where for answers to life.

Colossians 2:6–8 “6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”

I have personally watched people pulled away by human tradition and philosophy because they no longer believed that through the knowledge of God which is found in his word was enough.

4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature

What in the world does this mean?

We have been given the opportunity to leave as God has intended.

Galatians 5:1 “1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”

What does it mean that we have been freed?

Does the Christian life normally feel like freedom?

We are free to do what we were created to do. We are free to do what is absolutely best for us.

Before someone is saved they may feel like they can do whatever they want but in reality they are enslaved to their sin and not free to do what is best for them.

It might feel like freedom to do whatever we want….

by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.”

God has given us everything we could need to be free from our sin and to partake in the divnine nature. To live as God has intended us to live.

2 Peter 1:5 “5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,”

How are we supposed to grow in our faith? What are we supposed to do?

1 Timothy 4:7–8 “7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.”

We must train ourselves to become godly. His divine power has given us all things to pertain to life and godliness including the ability to work hard to become godly.

What does it look like to make every effort or to train yourself to godliness?

2 Peter 1:5–7 “5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.”

Peter is calling us to supplement our faith with this list of things.

virtue - A human disposition toward good or moral excellence

knowledge - Knowledge of God

self-control - ability to control oneself

steadfastness - ability to endure

godliness - devote practice of righteouesness

brotherly love

love - agape

2 Peter 1:8 “8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

These are the kinds of things Peter is encouraging us to be working on. Work hard at becoming more steadfast practice your ability to endure suffering for others. Work on being more self-controlled. Try hard to love others.

And if these qualities are in your life and they are increasing Peter ensures that you will be fruitful for Jesus.

But Peter says, 2 Peter 1:9 “9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.”

What does Peter mean in these verses?

There is a place Peter suggests that the Christian can get that it’s almost as if he is as blind as he was before he was saved. Our selfishness and pride can cause us to be so near sighted that we might as well be blind.

Be careful this can happen to you.

Remember the Israelites after being freed from Egypt.

That can be you. The Christian life is a fight. It’s a battle. There is no such thing as standing still.

Imagine an escalator.

But look at verses 12-13

2 Peter 1:12–13 “12 Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. 13 I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder,”

What does Peter desire to do for his readers?

This is what we must be doing for each other.

Surround yourself with people who will stir you up to do good.

Hebrews 10:24–25 “24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”