December 11, 2016
Morning Service

II Peter 1:1-11

            Introduction from Easton commentary:  The question of the authenticity of this epistle has been much discussed, but the weight of evidence is wholly in favour of its claim to be the production of the apostle whose name it bears. It appears to have been written shortly before the apostle's death in 68AD (2Pe_1:14). This epistle contains eleven references to the Old Testament. It also contains (2Pe_3:15, 2Pe_3:16) a remarkable reference to Paul's epistles. Some think this reference is to 1 Thess. 4:13-5:11.  Most of Paul’s writings were in the late 50’s or early 60’s.

An interesting note:

A few years ago, among other documents, a parchment fragment, called the “Gospel of Peter,” was discovered in a Christian tomb at Akhmim in Upper Egypt. Origen (obiit A.D. 254), Eusebius (obiit 340), and Jerome (obiit 420) refer to such a work, and hence it has been concluded that it was probably written about the middle of the second century. It professes to give a history of our Lord's resurrection and ascension. While differing in not a few particulars from the canonical Gospels, the writer shows plainly that he was acquainted both with the synoptics and with the Gospel of John. Though apocryphal, it is of considerable value as showing that the main facts of the history of our Lord were then widely known.

 

            Now as we will see, Peter knows his time is short.  In his first letter he had instructions for people in all walks of life, and as we will see in this letter, he thinks it is important to remind people of these things he has told them in the past.  And that is why we continue to go through our Bibles, in study.  It is important, and it builds our faith, without which, no one can please God.     NOW LET’S BEGIN:

 

2Pe 1:1-11  Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: 

·         So we see Peter is writing to these people that have accepted Jesus of Nazareth, as their God, and Savior.  Christians.  Scattered throughout Turkey.  In which his first letter was delivered to them by Silas.  The same Silas that went on Missionary work with Paul.

(2)  Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,  (3)  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 

·         Paul said it like this; Rom 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

·         Our Bible, which contains the knowledge of Who Jesus of Nazareth is, contains all things pertaining to life, and Godliness.  God’s divine power has seen to it that this Bible has been preserved down through some very difficult times.  But yet it has remained available for all ages, and has been made available for people of every nation.

·         And we have been called to glory, and virtue.  A life that brings glory and honor to God.

(4)  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 

·         All the wonderful promises of God are to, and for all who shall call on the name of the Lord for salvation.  We are all in the family of God, and joint heirs with Jesus Christ.

·         And that we might be partakers of the divine nature.  Can we grasp how blessed, and important this is.  Phil. 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me.”  We need to recognize that we are to have a divine nature. 

·         Listen to John:  1Jn 4:4  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

1Jn 4:13  Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

1Jn 4:15  Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

·         If the scriptures say that God dwells in us, then we should be showing forth His divine nature. 

·         It is His Spirit that is within us that allows us to love, and get victory over the world.

(5)  And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;  (6)  And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;  (7)  And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 

·         Diligence = working extremely hard.

·         Add = meaning something we have to do.  Working hard to add these virtues to our lives.

·         Virtue = moral goodness.

·         Knowledge = A clear and certain perception of that which exists, or of truth and fact;

·         Temperance = Moderation; particularly, habitual moderation in regard to the indulgence of the natural appetites and passions; restrained or moderate indulgence; as temperance in eating and drinking; temperance in the indulgence of joy or mirth. Temperance in eating and drinking is opposed to gluttony and drunkenness, and in other indulgences, to excess.

·         Patience = The suffering of afflictions, pain, toil, calamity, provocation or other evil, with a calm, unruffled temper; endurance without murmuring or fretfulness. Patience may spring from constitutional fortitude, from a kind of heroic pride, or from Christian submission to the divine will.

·         Godliness = Godliness, as denoting character and conduct determined by the principle of love or fear of God in the heart, is the summing up of genuine religion. There can be no true religion without it: only a dead “form” (2Ti_3:5). The term is a favorite one in the Pastoral Epistles. The incarnation is “the mystery of godliness” (1Ti_3:16).

·         Brotherly kindness = Proceeding from tenderness or goodness of heart, toward our brothers.

Paul said it like this;  Eph 4:32  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

·         Charity = Means love.  So much in our scriptures concerning love.  Jesus taught so much on love.  Joh 13:35  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

These words of encouragement from Peter is his way of saying what Paul said, when Paul used ( put on, and put off ).  All have the same meaning, of living the Christian life.

AND THE REWARDS FOR OVERCOMING:

(8)  For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  (9)  But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.  (10)  Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:  (11)  For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

·         We want to work diligently at getting these things in our life, so that we will bear fruits pleasing to god.  We want that entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  So we need to work hard, or give diligence, for the right results.

 

ALMIGHTY GOD, AS WE LOOK TO YOU AS OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, HELP US TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR DIVINE NATURE BY THE LIFE WE LIVE.  AMEN.