2 Peter 1:8-15 (Be diligent to confirm your calling and election)
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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.
1: The Practice of these things (v. 8 - 11)
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.
2: The Reminder and Recalling of these things (v. 12 - 15)
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.
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.
Outline
Outline
1: The Practice of these things (v. 8 - 11)
2: The Reminder and Recalling of these things (v. 12 - 15)
Prior Verses
The ability to do these things comes from His divine power
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.
Qualities
5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with:
virtue: excellence (virtue) n. — the excellence of a person or thing that enables it to achieve its end or purpose; especially used of moral excellence.
knowledge: cognitive content n. — the sum or range of what has been perceived, discovered, or learned.
cognitive content n. — the sum or range of what has been perceived, discovered, or learned.
self-control: self-control n. — the trait of resolutely controlling one’s own desires (which would produce actions); especially sensual desires.
steadfastness: steadfast endurance n. — the power to withstand hardship or stress; especially the inward fortitude necessary.
godliness: piety n. — the devout practice for, and appropriate beliefs about, God.
brotherly affection: brotherly love n. — the affection naturally befitting the relationship between siblings; especially as the affection of those who are now siblings in God’s family.
love: love (Christian) n. — a strong, non-sexual affection and regard for a person and their good as understood by God’s moral character; especially characterized by a willing forfeiture of rights or privileges in another person’s behalf.
Main Idea
Main Idea
Be diligent to confirm your calling and election.
Be diligent to confirm your calling and election.
Introduction
Introduction
I wanted to explain before we get into our text for today, what we know of the readers of this letter.
The Readers
First, they are generally referred to as Christians (1:1, 4)
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:
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
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.
Secondly, they weren’t recently converted (1:12).
1, 2 Peter: Crossway Classic Commentaries The Readers
The Readers
1. They are generally referred to as Christians (1:1, 4).
2. They are not recent converts (1:12).
3. They evidently know the Old Testament (1:20; 2:4–8, 15). Whether they are Jewish or Gentile Christians, it is impossible to say.
4. They were in danger from false teachers (3:2, 17). The special peril was antinomianism, from men who professed godliness but were in reality reprobate (cf. Titus 1:16; 2 Timothy 3:5, 8).
2. They are not recent converts (1:12).
12 Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have.
Third, they knew the Old Testament.
In , he spoke of prophecy from the Scriptures.
In , he spoke of the ancient world in Noah’s day, Sodom and Gomorrah and how God brought judgement.
In , he spoke of Balaam.
Third, they evidently know the Old Testament (1:20; 2:4–8, 15). Whether they are Jewish or Gentile Christians, it is impossible to say.
20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation.
4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; 5 if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; 6 if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; 7 and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked 8 (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard);
Apparently, he was speaking to believers who knew the Scriptures.
15 Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing,
2 Peter
Lastly, he was speaking to believers who were in danger because of false teachers.
English Standard Version Introduction
Introduction
In this second letter, Peter describes (ch. 2) some twisted versions of Christian truth being taught. Recalling his experience of Christ’s glory at the transfiguration (1:17–18), Peter explains the “more fully confirmed” truth of the gospel as an antidote to heresy. The gospel is like “a lamp shining in a dark place” (1:19). In chapter 3 Peter focuses on those who scoff at the idea of Christ’s triumphant return and the final judgment. Just as God once destroyed the world with water, he will one day bring his fire to it. In light of this, we should live in “holiness and godliness” as we await his return and the salvation he has promised to all believers. Peter probably wrote this letter about A.D. 67–68, shortly before his death.
2 that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles,
17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability.
2 Peter
The special peril was antinomianism, from men who professed godliness but were in reality reprobate (cf. ; , ).
In his second letter, Peter wrote in chapter 2 of some twisted versions of Christian truth being taught.
Peter recalled Christ’s glory at the transfiguration in chapter 1:17–18.
Peter explains the “more fully confirmed” truth of the gospel. The gospel is like “a lamp shining in a dark place” (1:19).
The gospel is like “a lamp shining in a dark place” (1:19). In chapter 3 Peter focuses on those who scoff at the idea of Christ’s triumphant return and the final judgment. Just as God once destroyed the world with water, he will one day bring his fire to it. In light of this, we should live in “holiness and godliness” as we await his return and the salvation he has promised to all believers. Peter probably wrote this letter about A.D. 67–68, shortly before his death.
In chapter 3 Peter focused on those who scoffed at the idea of Christ’s triumphant return.
God had destroyed the world with water as an act of judgement and one day He will bring his judgement again through fire.
Peter’s concern for holiness and godliness was given with the seriousness of God’s judgement in mind.
Which would create an eager and sober expectation in believers as they waited for his return and the salvation promised to all believers.
He wrote in
1 This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 2 that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles,
Peter seemed to be concerned with the practice, the need to be reminded, and the recalling of what believers are to do because of the power granted to us to live godly lives that would display His character and worth.
Outline
Outline
1: The Practice of what supplements our faith (v. 8 - 11)
2: The Reminder and Recalling of what supplements our faith (v. 12 - 15)
Sermon
Sermon
1: The Practice of what supplements our faith (v. 8 - 11)
1: The Practice of what supplements our faith (v. 8 - 11)
Verse 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.
Verse 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.
I think it would be important to explain what I mean by supplementing our faith.
We see this in verse 5 of chapter one.
5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,
5 if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly;
When he speaks of supplement Peter according to the word used here is speaking of:
Provision for your faith or furnishing your faith. Which means to give something useful or necessary to someone; to provide with what is needed.
to provide with what is needed
Peter is saying here to make every effort to furnish your faith.
Example: Think of a house. Furnishing a house means to supply a house or a room with furniture, carpets, appliances, etc.
Notice that this does not mean to supply a house but to supply the house. In other words, decorating the house with what it needs.
This is what supplement means. Peter is calling believers to decorate their faith with the qualities he mentions afterwards.
And when speaking of faith we mean:
Trust. A strong confidence in, and reliance upon, someone or something; often with the object of trust understood.
So, to supplement our faith means to furnish/decorate our confidence and reliance upon God.
He is saying that since we have faith we should furnish our faith with these things.
Before we get into verse 8 we must remember what he said in the beginning of verse 5.
Before we get into verse 8 we must remember how what he said in the beginning of verse 5.
5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,
He said “for this very reason.”
Peter is speaking of what he wrote before.
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.
2 Peter
Supplementing our faith is only possible with God’s divine power. Which has been granted to us.
Before I explain briefly each quality, its important to know where our strength comes from when speaking of increasing in these things.
We see 7 things that Peter lists as things that supplement our faith.
Verse 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with:
Virtue: excellence — the excellence of a person or thing that enables it to achieve its end or purpose; especially used of moral excellence.
Knowledge: cognitive content — the sum or range of what has been perceived, discovered, or learned.
Self-control: self-control — the trait of resolutely controlling one’s own desires; especially sensual desires.
Steadfastness: steadfast endurance — the power to withstand hardship or stress; especially the inward fortitude necessary.
Godliness: piety — the devout practice for, and appropriate beliefs about, God.
Brotherly affection: brotherly love — the affection naturally befitting the relationship between siblings; especially as the affection of those who are now siblings in God’s family.
Love: love (Christian) — a strong, non-sexual affection and regard for a person and their good as understood by God’s moral character; especially characterized by a willing forfeiture of rights or privileges in another person’s behalf.
Peter speaks of these things to his readers as theirs. Meaning that they are in possession of them. And that they should be increasing in them.
And that they should be increasing in them.
He gives the reason as to why.
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.
1: They keep us from being ineffective in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
When speaking of increasing Peter is speaking of a greater amount of.
If we are increasing in virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection and love, we will be kept from being ineffective in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Which means that a believer can become ineffective.
Ineffective meaning lacking action or lacking work. It means that someone has become useless and inactive.
So not growing in these areas inevitably leads to becoming useless in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Simply put, faith without works is dead.
It’s important to note that this is not a call to action without divine aid.
It is a reminder to us that God has given us everything we need for life and godliness in order to become useful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
idle adj. — not in action or at work.
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.
The Holy Bible: English Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .
they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This is a call to increase, to grow or mature, in virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection and love.
Not doing so will inevitably leave us useless and inactive while having the precious knowledge of Jesus Christ.
2: They keep us from being unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
To be unfruitful means to:
To be unproductive — not producing desired or intended results.
Peter is calling believers to increase in producing what faith produces. Which is a fruit bearing life.
So if these qualities, which we should be growing in, are practiced we will be guarded from becoming useless and unproductive in our knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
This is indispensable to the Christian life!
A knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ demands evidence! It demands fruit which is shown by our obedience.
This is not talking about working for faith but working because of faith.
The Scriptures are full of calls to keep God’s commandments.
23 Jesus answered 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.
10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.
Jesus replied, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make Our home with him. If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and remain in His love. By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome, And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the very commandment you have heard from the beginning, that you must walk in love.
3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.
6 And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.
If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and remain in His love. By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome, And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the very commandment you have heard from the beginning, that you must walk in love.
Since we have been given God’s divine power to live out what he has commanded then let’s live out what He has given to us!
Practice them! Increase in them!
Increase in them!
Not for a right standing in God for salvation but because of a right standing of God through the saving work of Jesus Christ!
Not practicing or growing in these things proves disobedience and the after effects of it.
Verse 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.
Verse 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.
An example of this can be found in 1 John 2:9-11.
9 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. 11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
It is possible to be a Christian and be blind, useless and unproductive.
Peter calls this being nearsighted.
To be nearsighted means the inability to see distant objects clearly. Which makes sense because of Peter’s call to look forward to the coming of Jesus Christ.
to be nearsighted v. — to be unable to see distant objects clearly.
Lacking in these qualities proves that you cannot see clearly what is distant. And not being able to this, Peter calls that person blind.
Lacking in these qualities proves that one has forgotten that they were cleansed from their former sins.
we will be kept from being ineffective in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So, lacking in virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection and love comes from forgetting that we have been cleansed from our former sins!
You are living as if your sins have not been cleansed.
The MacArthur Study Bible Chapter 1
1:10 make your call and election sure. This expresses the bull’s-eye Peter has been shooting at in vv. 5–9. Though God is “sure” who His elect are and has given them an eternally secure salvation (see notes on 1 Pet. 1:1–5; cf. Rom. 8:31–39), the Christian might not always have assurance of his salvation. Security is the Holy Spirit revealed fact that salvation is forever. Assurance is one’s confidence that he possesses that eternal salvation. In other words, the believer who pursues the spiritual qualities mentioned above guarantees to himself by spiritual fruit that he was called (cf. v. 3; Rom. 8:30; 1 Pet. 2:21) and chosen (cf. 1 Pet. 1:2) by God to salvation. never stumble. As the Christian pursues the qualities enumerated by Peter (vv. 5–7) and sees that his life is useful and fruitful (v. 8), he will not stumble into doubt, despair, fear, or questioning, but enjoy assurance that he is saved.
When one forgets that they have been cleansed from their former sins they:
Lack in moral excellence. Personal holiness is not a concern.
Lack in learning. Knowledge of things go to waist because of no concern with eternity.
Lack in controlling their own desires. They fall into sensual desires.
Lack in withstanding hardships or stress with no inward fortitude.
Lack in a devout practice and disregard an appropriate belief about God.
Lack showing affection. Especially to the family of God.
Lack in love in having a regard for a person and their good as understood by God’s moral character. There is no forfeiting of rights or privileges.
Being lazy about growing in these areas guarantees an ineffectiveness and a knowledge of Christ that is useless.
I can hear Paul when speaking to the church at Corinth saying:
1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
That is why we need to be diligent to practice these things!
Verse 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.
Verse 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.
Peter calls for diligence which means to have an intense desire to confirm our calling and election.
to be eager v. — to have or show keen interest, intense desire, or impatient expectancy.
John MacArthur’s commentary helps with this.
“This expresses the bull’s-eye Peter has been shooting at in vv. 5–9. Though God is “sure” who His elect are and has given them an eternally secure salvation, the Christian might not always have assurance of his salvation. Security is the Holy Spirit revealed fact that salvation is forever. Assurance is one’s confidence that he possesses that eternal salvation. In other words, the believer who pursues the spiritual qualities mentioned above guarantees to himself by spiritual fruit that he was called and chosen by God to salvation. As the Christian pursues the qualities enumerated by Peter and sees that his life is useful and fruitful, he will not stumble into doubt, despair, fear, or questioning, but enjoy assurance that he is saved.”
As the Christian pursues the qualities enumerated by Peter and sees that his life is useful and fruitful, he will not stumble into doubt, despair, fear, or questioning, but enjoy assurance that he is saved.
The MacArthur Study Bible Chapter 1
1:10 make your call and election sure. This expresses the bull’s-eye Peter has been shooting at in vv. 5–9. Though God is “sure” who His elect are and has given them an eternally secure salvation (see notes on 1 Pet. 1:1–5; cf. Rom. 8:31–39), the Christian might not always have assurance of his salvation. Security is the Holy Spirit revealed fact that salvation is forever. Assurance is one’s confidence that he possesses that eternal salvation. In other words, the believer who pursues the spiritual qualities mentioned above guarantees to himself by spiritual fruit that he was called (cf. v. 3; Rom. 8:30; 1 Pet. 2:21) and chosen (cf. 1 Pet. 1:2) by God to salvation. never stumble. As the Christian pursues the qualities enumerated by Peter (vv. 5–7) and sees that his life is useful and fruitful (v. 8), he will not stumble into doubt, despair, fear, or questioning, but enjoy assurance that he is saved.
With God’s divine power at work in us, let us be eager to confirm our calling (meaning our being summoned by God) and our election (meaning our being chosen by God).
This is a call to find assurance as we practice these things!
Laziness in these things produces a nearsighted Christian.
Diligence in these things produces confirmation of our calling and election.
Again, this is not speaking of security in the faith. It is speaking of assurance. Confirmation of our faith.
The practice of these things do not make way for us into the kingdom of God.
What Peter is saying here is that one who lives practicing these things will be given entrance because of God’s divine power working through them.
Which he speaks of in verse 11.
Verse 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.
Verse 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.
The way of salvation comes from God’s divine work which was done completely and only through Jesus Christ.
Evidence of this work is shown by our practice which comes from God’s divine work in us!
You have faith already as a believer. Now furnish your faith with these things!
And because of God’s divine power at work there will be provided for you entrance into the eternal kingdom of Jesus Christ.
Which is the purpose of our practice of these things.
This serves as a reminder for the Christian so that we can continue to be diligent in these things.
2: The reminder and recalling of what supplements our faith (v. 12 - 15)
2: The reminder and recalling of what supplements our faith (v. 12 - 15)
Note section
Prior Verses
The ability to do these things comes from His divine power
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: excellence (virtue) n. — the excellence of a person or thing that enables it to achieve its end or purpose; especially used of moral excellence.
knowledge: cognitive content n. — the sum or range of what has been perceived, discovered, or learned.
self-control: self-control n. — the trait of resolutely controlling one’s own desires (which would produce actions); especially sensual desires.
steadfastness: steadfast endurance n. — the power to withstand hardship or stress; especially the inward fortitude necessary.
godliness: piety n. — the devout practice for, and appropriate beliefs about, God.
brotherly affection: brotherly love n. — the affection naturally befitting the relationship between siblings; especially as the affection of those who are now siblings in God’s family.
love: love (Christian) n. — a strong, non-sexual affection and regard for a person and their good as understood by God’s moral character; especially characterized by a willing forfeiture of rights or privileges in another person’s behalf.
1: The Practice of these things (v. 8 - 11)
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.
2: The Reminder and Recalling of these things (v. 12 - 15)
Verse 12 Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have.
Verse 12 Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have.
Reminding believers of these qualities and practicing them is not works righteousness.
This is proven when he continued to say to them that they knew them and were established in the truth.
But Peter shows a deep concern for them to be reminded.
Probably because he knew that though one can be genuinely saved and set to be with Christ, one can still be nearsighted and blind. One can be lazy with the things of God.
One can settle
It shows that a believer can settle with minimal effort and diligence in the practice of these things.
So, He is reminding them to stir them up to good works!
Verses 13 - 14 I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me.
Verses 13 - 14 I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me.
14 since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me.
He is stirring them to action. This term in a sense speaks of waking someone up from their sleep!
He does this so that they do not forget. So that they can be diligent.
The urgency comes from what Jesus told him would come. Which is his death.
Which is his death.
Peter knew his time was coming. And his desire was to see the people of God diligent in practicing the qualities given to them, recalling the empowerment granted to them by God through Christ.
Verse 15 And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.
Verse 15 And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.
Remind: to remind v. — to put in the mind of someone.
Recall: recollecting n. — the act of putting something in the mind for attention or consideration.