2 Peter 1

Notes
Transcript
The Second Letter of Peter was written to believers in modern day Turkey with the purpose of exposing the invasion of false teachers within the church. His intent is to instruct Christians in how to defend themselves against these false teachers and their deceptive lies.
While this letter was written shortly before his death, it is still relevant given the proliferation of false teachers invading the church today. Peter does not identify some specific false doctrine, but is more general in characterizing false teachers.
These teachers, even today, deny Christ and twist the scriptures to fit their own narrative, They bring true faith into disrepute, They doubt the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior.
Peter describes their immoral character more than their false doctrine. Wickedness is not part of sound doctrine, but of “destructive heresies” (2:1)
This morning we are going to look at chapter one, which focuses on encouraging the believers and supporting the source of the faith.
Next Sunday we will examine these false teachers and see how we can identify the false teachers today.
Then we will conclude this series on the 15th by delving into Prophecy and the assurance in the Day of the Lord.
2 Peter 1:1 NASB95
1 Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:
Peter introduces himself as a bond-servant and Apostle of Jesus Christ.
A bond-servant by choice and an Apostle by divine appointment.
He uses a humble title, noting his servanthood, equal to you and I, and as an Apostle, he was an eyewitness to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
He writes to “those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours”.
These are people who, like Peter, were saved by the grace of God and enjoy the same acceptance before the Throne.
We all received, as a free gift, salvation in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. There is no distinction between Christians. We are all equal in the sight of God.

Knowing Christ

2 Peter 1:2–3 NASB95
2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; 3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
Peter extends “Grace and Peace…in the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.” From the very beginning of this letter, Peter is affirming the Deity of Jesus.
As believers, we are to develop a relationship with Him. We are to know Him. More importantly, Jesus is Lord!
Many Christians wish to accept the Salvation promised to those who believe that He rose from the dead, but they do not want to accept His Lordship.
Paul writes in Romans 10
Romans 10:9 NASB95
9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
Jesus is our Lord because He alone is sovereign. He created all things and He owns all things. He provides everything we need to live a fruitful life.
When we confess Jesus as Lord, we are committing our lives to following Him alone, bowing to Him alone, doing the will of Him alone.
It is not easy, it is hard!!!
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German theologian and member of the German resistance during WW2. He was arrested by the Gestapo in April 1943 and executed in 1945 for collusion in the plot to assassinate Adolph Hitler.
His seminal work is called The Cost of Discipleship. (1937) In this work Bonhoeffer lays our what exactly he means by “cheap grace”
Discipleship Chapter One: Costly Grace

Cheap grace is preaching forgiveness without repentance; it is baptism without the discipline of community; it is the Lord’s Supper without confession of sin; it is absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without the living, incarnate Jesus Christ.

and “Costly Grace”
Discipleship Chapter One: Costly Grace

Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which has to be asked for, the door at which one has to knock.[9]

It is costly, because it calls to discipleship; it is grace, because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly, because it costs people their lives; it is grace, because it thereby makes them live. It is costly, because it condemns sin; it is grace, because it justifies the sinner. Above all, grace is costly, because it was costly to God, because it costs God the life of God’s Son—“you were bought with a price”[10]—and because nothing can be cheap to us which is costly to God. Above all, it is grace because the life of God’s Son was not too costly for God to give in order to make us live. God did, indeed, give him up for us. Costly grace is the incarnation of God.

Bonhoeffer also refers to Peter as an example.
Discipleship Chapter One: Costly Grace

Grace visited Peter three times along his life’s path. It was the one grace, but proclaimed differently three times. Thus, it was Christ’s own grace, and surely not grace which the disciple conferred on himself. It was the same grace of Christ which won Peter over to leave everything[15] to follow him, which brought about Peter’s confession which had to seem like blasphemy to all the world, and which called the unfaithful Peter into the ultimate community of martyrdom and, in doing so, forgave him all his sins. In Peter’s life, grace and discipleship belong inseparably together. He received costly grace.

Peter’s Confession
Matthew 16:13–17 NASB95
13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
Indeed, Peter reflects on his coming martyrdom in verses 14 and 15:
2 Peter 1:14 NASB95
14 knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.
His martyrdom had been foretold by Jesus after His resurrection;
John 21:18–19 NASB95
18 “Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.” 19 Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me!”
Jesus commands us to “Follow Him”, no matter the cost. Peter knew that cost.
2 Peter 1:15 NASB95
15 And I will also be diligent that at any time after my departure you will be able to call these things to mind.
In v15 he prays that the Christians will continue to remember all that Christ did for us, even when the eyewitnesses were gone. He wrote this letter so they would have a remembrance.

Living Faith

This then is Living Faith. Faith that results in action. It is going forth and living a life that shows we are followers of Jesus Christ and He is indeed the Lord of our Lives.
It is easy to stand up at an alter call and proclaim Jesus as Savior. It is hard to proclaim He is Lord … and live a life that demonstrates it.
You are the only Gospel many people will ever see. Are you living your life in a manner that glorifies God and Jesus Christ? Are people looking at you and seeing the risen Lord?
God wants to shape you into the image of His Son.
Let us return to 2 Peter.

Growing in Christ

2 Peter 1:5–7 NASB95
5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, 7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.
This is the basics of our growing in Christ plan. Even though God has poured His Holy Spirit into each of us, we must make every disciplined effort along side what He has done. Paul writes to the church in Philippi
Philippians 2:12–13 NASB95
12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
We are told “in your faith supply” - to give lavishly - of ourselves. God lavished His grace upon us and we are to give likewise. What do we supply?
Moral excellence - personal righteousness - the quality of living that makes you stands out among the world. It is excellence demonstrated in life.
Knowledge - truth properly comprehended and applied. This involves diligent study of the Word of God.
Self-control - controlling the flesh, the passions, and the bodily desires rather than allowing them to control you.
Moral Excellence, guided by knowledge, provides the self discipline of your desires, making them the slave and not the master of your life.
Perseverance - patient endurance in doing what is right. It is spiritual staying power that never yields.
Godliness - living reverently and loyally obedient to God. Again - Lordship!
Brotherly Kindness - mutual sacrifice for one another
Love - I refer you to 1 Corinthians 13.
2 Peter 1:8 NASB95
8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
These qualities, increasing within you, lead to a fruitful life.
Galatians 5:22–23 NASB95
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
I believe that I see a relationship between the qualities of a Living Faith and the Fruits of the Spirit. I challenge you to take your note page and draw lines between the two lists. There are some that are identical (Love, Self Control), some are close (patience and perseverance) and growing some of the former enables the latter.
The Fruits of the Spirit is what the Spirit produces through us. It is that which compels others to ask how we are able to weather the storms of life. We can then answer with conviction the Hope that we have.
2 Peter 1:10–11 NASB95
10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; 11 for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.
We are secure in Christ. We can walk this life without stumbling.
It is not our profession of faith that gives us the assurance of salvation. It is growing in Christ that gives us that assurance.
Many people wonder if they are truly saved. I wonder at times. I’m certain that many of you have these same questions.
But, by growing in Christ, allowing Him to be the Sovereign Lord of our life, allowing Him control of shaping our character and our conduct do we rest in the assurance of eternal life.
The true Christian who is certain of his calling and choosing will never stumble but will prove by a consistent life that he is a true child of God. They will not always be on a mountain top, but will be climbing upward. There may be storms in this life, but we can endure these storms through His power.
Living this spirit filled will yield an “abundant entrance” into heaven. The greeks used this word to describe the accolades given to Olympic winners when they returned home.
Every believer will enter heaven, but some will arrive as if tested by fire.
1 Corinthians 3:11–15 NASB95
11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. 14 If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
The Christian life begins with faith, but that faith must lead to spiritual growth. Faith leads to growth and growth leads to practical results in life and service.
People who have this kind of Christian experience are not likely to fall prey to the false teachers we will speak about next week.

Eyewitnesses

Peter finishes this section by reminding his readers that he was a witness of the majesty of Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:16–18 NASB95
16 For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased”— 18 and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.
He is referring to the Transfiguration of Christ as we read in Matthew 17
Matthew 17:1–5 NASB95
1 Six days later Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. 2 And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. 4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, I will make three tabernacles here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!”
There are many false teachers that twist the Word of God, much like Satan twisted it in the garden of eden.
But Peter is speaking from personal experience and can be trusted. He has earned this trust by the life he has led since he came in contact with the Living Savior. A life that was transformed from an uneducated fisherman to a leading disciple and Apostle of Jesus Christ.
The transfiguration was preceded by this statement of Christ:
Matthew 16:28 NASB95
28 “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”
He saw Christ inHis glory. And he heard the voice of the Father.
The false teachers try to say that Christ has already returned, or that He will not come again. Or that only some will be saved.
But Peter knows differently!
He has suffered much during his life. He was soon to be executed by Nero for his faith. And still, he is writing and encouraging the Christian believers.
This is faith tested and found true.

Prophesy

2 Peter 1:19–21 NASB95
19 So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. 20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
Peter and the other disciples knew the world would grow darker. They knew that false teachers would invade the Church to pull believers away from the truth.
That is why he writes that we can trust scripture. The prophecies are true. They did not come from man but are the inspired word of God.
As believers we must heed this word and govern our lives by what it says.
To the unbeliever the night is setting in. Things will get darker and darker, until they end in eternal darkness.
As believers we are looking for the return of Jesus Christ and the dawning of the new age of glory.
Men die, but the Word lives on.
Experience fades but the Word remains.
The world darkens but the prophetic light shines brighter still.
Before that day of the Lord comes, we must be sure that the love of His coming shines brightly in our hearts and through our lives.
Lives that acknowledge the Lordship of Christ,
Lives that are shaped by Him alone.
Lives transformed by knowing Him.
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