RUSH ~2 Peter 1:3-4~

EMPHASIZE A TESTIMONY FROM THIS MORNING...

What I have to offer is not “fake,” but real and pertains to all that life has to offer.

These next 3 Sundays we’re gonna focus on “Just Jesus” and what that looks like. Here we go.

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Date: Peter wrote during a time of intense persecution, while he was awaiting execution.

Theme: 2 Peter teaches that the grace of God in Christ truly transforms and empowers Christians to live righteously, even in the face of opposition. is the foundation for this letter.

Purpose: Final reminder, by God’s grace, live a life that is pleasing to God.

Tonight, by God’s grace, are gonna camp out on just two verses. How’s that? Alright…here we go.

2 Peter 1:3–4 ESV

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, 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.

Break this into three sections tonight.

1. His divine power has granted to us all things pertaining to “life” and “godliness.”

There are three words in the original language of the Bible that translate into the english word “life.” The words are Zoe, Bios, Psuche.

Zoe - is where we get the word Zoo.

Bios - is where we get the word Biology.

Psuche - is where we get the word Psyche.

Why?

Now in 2 Peter, the Holy Spirit inspired Peter to use the word Zoe. My question is, why? And how does that make a difference for us tonight?

Good question.

Good question.

Answer?

Let’s get to work.

Zoe?

Shows up 135 times in the New Testament.

Translates into life, living, or lifetime.

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Bios?

Shows up 10 times in the New Testament.

Translates into life, life, property, civilian, and goods.

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Psuche?

Shows up 102 times in the New Testament.

Translates into soul, life, lives, person, mind, will you keep us in suspense, me, heart, heartily, selves, fainthearted, and thing.

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The Difference? Zoe is the only word with “eternal” ever attached to it.

It’s the highest form of life and is the life which Jesus gives to us granted by God through Jesus, and fulfilled by the Holy Spirit.

What we need to understand and apply from verse 3.

Go back to context of the letter...

This power is released to believers “through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”

2. Through the knowledge of Him.

In the midst of persecution, threats, strong disagreement...In other words, there is no excuse for not living a godly life, for believers have already received everything that is necessary to do so.

In other words, there is no excuse for not living a godly life, for believers have already received everything that is necessary to do so.

This power is released to believers “through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”

Peter H. Davids, The Letters of 2 Peter and Jude, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Pub. Co., 2006), 168.

How?

2. Through the knowledge of Him.

Peter H. Davids, The Letters of 2 Peter and Jude, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Pub. Co., 2006), 169.2. Through the knowledge of Him.

Called us to his own glory and excellence. God did this.

He’s granted to us precious and very great promises. We’re accountable for a response.

What we need to understand and apply

Go back to context...

In the midst of persecution, threats, and strong disagreement...

This power is released to believers “through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”

Peter H. Davids, The Letters of 2 Peter and Jude, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Pub. Co., 2006), 169.

What?

3. Through the promises we partake of the divine nature.

Having escaped corruption (ESV) in the world.

Because of sinful desire.

What we need to apply from verse 4.

Go back to the context...

In the midst of persecution, threats, and strong disagreement...

It is not the content of the promises themselves, then, but “through” these promises that the follower of Jesus gains

Peter H. Davids, The Letters of 2 Peter and Jude, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Pub. Co., 2006), 172.

Conclusion

When we go back and think about exactly why this letter was written..heavy, intense persecution was happening. People didn’t like Christians. They were looking for excuses to blame Christians. On the contrary, there were some people, Peter warned about who were also teaching because of sensuality, or as your Bible says - unrestrained ways, who are blaspheming God. They are calling things, situations, or behavior…Godly, and it’s not. That’s blasphemy.

In today’s time…and from that video we watched last week, Christians are judgmental, non-committed to the church, and fake or hypocritical. Satan is still persecuting, threatening, and encouraging unrestrained living among Christians today.

Jesus said...

John 15:18–21 ESV

18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.

John 15:18-