2 Peter 1

Scripture: Dave L

Intro

The author is clearly identified in  as Simon Peter, one of the 12 apostles chosen by Jesus.1:1

However, two things should be noted.

First, its style differs markedly from 1 Peter.

Second, because 2 Peter is obviously a later work and incorporates Jude in abstract, it is possible that a trusted co-worker (e.g., John Mark) put together Peter’s final concerns along with an abstract of Jude after Peter’s death.

Tradition holds that Peter was martyred about ad 64 in Rome.

Legend has it that he was crucified like Jesus but insisted to be hung upside down because he wasn’t worthy to die like Christ.

This work was probably written in Rome before ad 60 and after ad 70 

Furthermore, it was written after Jude, for  incorporates a shortened form of Jude.2

The theme of this letter is to remind the church to be righteous and to warn against false teaching

It is written to the church in Asia minor

Churches like Galatia, Capadocia, and others

What’s interesting about that is there is no record of Peter ever visiting those areas, they were churches planted by Paul

Yet he heard of their struggles and too enough interest in them to write letters to them

Today we see him implore the church to grow in their faith

He doesn’t want them remain at salvation but to grow

Right Priorities vs. 1-2

If we are going to grow in our faith we need to have the right priorities

Peter is at the end of his life and he has his priorities straight

How we do know?

Servant then Apostle

He calls himself a servant first and then an Apostle

It might seem like a subtle shift but for someone who thought he was going to be the rock and Jesus’ right hand man when Jesus defeated the Romans this is huge

He finally sees himself as Jesus saw himself… a servant

He was an Apostle and leader of the church… yet he preferred servant

He has endured the attacks and fought the battles for the church and survived and saw the way to victory was as a servant

The key to growing in your faith is to see yourself as a servant

To lower yourself and offer yourself as a servant to the Lord is an exercise in humbling yourself

I think that was one of the fundamentals that we talked about last week

Putting into action the attitude of a servant is another thing

It’s honorable to serve the Lord but it is humbling to serve others

Peter had learned that in serving he was to extend grace

Be Effective & Fruitful vs. 3-11

A Person with growing faith is being effective and fruitful

Peter didn’t want the church to stop at salvation

So many Christians get saved, have their sins forgiven, live with the assurance that they’re going to heaven and then stop

They go back to their old life and habits

Peter tells us to keep growing

But this isn’t a be better do better message

He shows us three things that bring this growth

Divine Power Granted Life

The first tool that brings growth is Divine Power

We have been granted the Divine Power from God to live the godly life

He is called the Holy Spirit

So as we grow in faith (trust) and knowledge the power becomes more apparent

Men’s Breakfast

I was teaching the guys the story of the demon possessed man from Gadarenes in Mark 5

When Jesus encounters the demon he doesn’t judge the man but attacks the spirit

The demons submit and he casts them out

When Jesus leaves the guy wants to go with Jesus he is told to go and tell everyone the great thing the Lord has done and how he has compassion on you

God does a great thing in us thru salvation

He showed compassion on us while we were lost in sin

We are called to his own glory

1 Peter 1:5 ESV

who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

You are equipped with everything to grow in your faith

The only things that are preventing us are our own sin and plans

Supplement Your Life vs.

The second tool that grows our faith are spiritual supplements

My social feeds have filled with every miracle elixir to be a better person

If I just drink this drink, rub this cream, or take these vitamins I will be transformed in 30 days

There are some spiritual supplements that will revolutionize your life

The first is virtue

Man, has this word been taken out of context

People like to virtue signal, or show others how god they are

Like the people who still wear masks

Virtue used to mean Good and Godly attributes

This word virtue, as used in, is going to surprise you

Virtue: Being pleasing to God or the superiority of God revealed thru the work of Salvation

It’s moral excellence

This means you’re growing in your goodness and it showing

This comes from obedience and resisting temptation

But it also means that Spirit is producing fruit in your life

Knowledge

The next supplement is Knowledge

Self-control

The Greeks used this word to describe someone who wasn’t ruled by the desire for sex

Steadfastness

Prevent Ineffectiveness vs. 9-11

2 Corinthians 13:5 ESV

Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!

Final Reminder vs. 12-15

Peter give us a final reminder to keep growing in our faith

Stir You up

1 John 2:21 ESV

I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.

Death is Near

2 Corinthians 5:1 ESV

For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.