2nd Peter

Christ Followers and the Word of God

2 Peter 1:1–2 ESV

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: May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

Introduction to 2 Peter, Peter recalls his experience of Christ’s glory at the transfiguration and Peter explains the gospel is like a lamp shining in a dark place.

2 Peter 1:3–11 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. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 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. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

He talks about certain qualities in this scripture

He talks about supplementing your faith.

Supplement - something that completes or enhances something else when added to it.

Supplement = Vitamins

It is something that enhances your immune system or your work out or your strength.

Let’s take this in our Faith.

These qualities supplement our walk.

Virtue - a quality considered morally good or desirable in a person.

But how do we know its morally good - with our knowledge

Knowledge -facts, information, and skills acquired by a person through experience or education

With knowledge comes self-control

Self-control - the ability to control oneself, in particular one's emotions and desires or the expression of them in one's behavior

Self-Control is one of the hardest qualities. Let’s give an example. Road Rage, knowledge of the truth and someone arguing with you about it.

Steadfastness - resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering

If you are telling the truth and listening to God, our faith will never waver

Godliness - the quality of being devoutly religious

Brotherly Affection

Proverbs 17:17 ESV

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

This is my favorite verse.

Brothers fight, brothers disagrees. But we love each other Christians brothers and sisters.

Love

So Peter states in here If you have these qualities and they are increasing, we will never fail.

If we have these qualities, why is it so hard to share the love of Jesus Christ with your friends, with your neighbors, here’s the hard one, with your family?

Supplement our faith:

Virtue

Knowledge

Self Control

Steadfastness

Godliness

Brotherly Affection

Love

But if you lack these qualities, we are blind. We have forgotten the reason why we are saved.

2 Peter 1:12–15 ESV

Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. 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. And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.

Our bodies will rot and die. But what lives on is our legacy, what lives on is who we were.

Have you ever noticed at Funerals you dont hear anything bad about the person, you hear all the good? Does it mean the person was only good and never messed up? Absolutely not, but the qualities of this person is remembered. Why do you want to remember the bad times.

Who remembers this slogan:

Remember the Bad Times

No one does right.

Remember the good times.

Fiction vs Non-Fiction

"Fiction" refers to literature created from the imagination.

"Nonfiction" refers to literature based in fact.

The Bible, the Word of God

2 Peter 1:16–21 ESV

For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Bible Pledge

I pledge allegiance to the Bible, God's holy word, I will make it a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path and will hide its words in my heart so I might not sin against God.

2 Peter 1:19 ESV

And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,

Pay Attention

Pay Attention

Pay Attention to what is to come.

We talked last week about God’s Plan and He has a plan for each and every one of us. Nothing will stop the plan of God.

The Word of God tells us of His plan that he had with the people we read about. Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Moses, Lot and his wife, Sodom and Gomorrah, Joseph, Joshua and the walls of Jericho, Ruth, Samson, David and Goliath, Davide and Bathsheba, Solomon, Job, Elijah, Elisha, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Peter, Judas, Mary and Joseph, John the Bapist, Revelation, The End Times, Lucifer, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, God the Father.

2 Peter 1:20 ESV

knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation.

2 Peter 1:21 ESV

For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

It is important that we read the Word of God, not for a fun read, but to Study, to remind us of why we were called to be Followers of Christ, why Christ was sent on this earth.

Peter says it in vs 12. I intend to ALWAYS remind you of these qualities.

God reminds what is to come. The hard times, the good times, the VICTORY.