[Linux4christians] 2 Peter 1 (Thursday)

[Pastor David]

*2 Peter 1 (Thursday)*

*‭Commentary*

1:1 From Simeon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ, 
to those who through the righteousness of our God and 
Savior, Jesus Christ, have been granted a faith just as 
precious as ours. 1:2 May grace and peace be lavished on you 
as you grow in the rich knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord!

1:3 I can pray this because his divine power has bestowed on 
us everything necessary for life and godliness through the 
rich knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and 
excellence.

1:4 Through these things he has bestowed on us his precious 
and most magnificent promises, so that by means of what was 
promised you may become partakers of the divine nature, 
after escaping the worldly corruption that is produced by 
evil desire.

1:5a For this very reason, make every effort to add to your 
faith excellence,

1:5b to excellence, knowledge;
1:6a to knowledge, self-control;
1:6b to self-control, perseverance;
1:6c to perseverance, godliness;
1:7a to godliness, brotherly affection;
1:7b to brotherly affection, unselfish love.

1:8 For if these things are really yours and are continually 
increasing, they will keep you from becoming ineffective and 
unproductive in your pursuit of knowing our Lord Jesus 
Christ more intimately.

1:9 But concerning the one who lacks such things – he is 
blind. That is to say, he is nearsighted, since he has 
forgotten about the cleansing of his past sins.

[Note:  Peter is describing "ultrafidian" faith, the 
enhancements that follow saving faith, in 1:5-7.  The 
absence of these things impede discipleship-to-maturity.]

1:10 Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to 
be sure of your calling and election. For by doing this you 
will never stumble into sin. 1:11 For thus an entrance into 
the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, 
will be richly provided for you.

[Note:  Peter uses an unusual phrase "... make every effort 
to be sure of your calling and election".  If "calling and 
election" were fatalist constructs, as some religious 
philosophers would have it, then there would be no need to 
"be sure of" since those who are called and elected were 
such before they were even born.  A Biblical understanding, 
addressed in a prior study, correctly defines these terms as 
the promised qualification for salvation conditioned upon a 
volitional submission to the Lordship of Christ.  In this 
context it makes good sense to be certain that your heart 
was right with Christ when you believe that you were saved, 
not "magic words" or words said to satisfy the urgings of 
fellow humans, not a mere intellectual affirmation, and not 
an affirmation with any conditions attached - simply an 
unqualified surrender of everything to Christ.  Once certain 
of that one may be led through 1:5-7 by the indwelling Holy 
Spirit.  Absent that one is trying to live Christ-like out 
of ones own strength - which guaranteed to fail.]

1:12 Therefore, I intend to remind you constantly of these 
things even though you know them and are well established in 
the truth that you now have. 1:13 Indeed, as long as I am in 
this tabernacle, I consider it right to stir you up by way 
of a reminder, 1:14 since I know that my tabernacle will 
soon be removed, because our Lord Jesus Christ revealed this 
to me. 1:15 Indeed, I will also make every effort that, 
after my departure, you have a testimony of these things.

[Note:  Peter promises to "nag" the believers to act based 
on their confession of submission to the Lordship of Christ, 
reminds them that he knows his time is short, and commits to 
press for them to be so well discipled that they will 
continue his work.]

1:16 For we did not follow cleverly concocted fables when we 
made known to you the power and return of our Lord Jesus 
Christ; no, we were eyewitnesses of his grandeur.

1:17 For he received honor and glory from God the Father, 
when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory: 
“This is my dear Son, in whom I am delighted.” 1:18 When 
this voice was conveyed from heaven, we ourselves heard it, 
for we were with him on the holy mountain.

1:19 Moreover, we possess the prophetic word as an 
altogether reliable thing. You do well if you pay attention 
to this as you would to a light shining in a murky place, 
until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

1:20 Above all, you do well if you recognize this: No 
prophecy of scripture ever comes about by the prophet’s own 
imagination, 1:21 for no prophecy was ever borne of human 
impulse; rather, men carried along by the Holy Spirit spoke 
from God.

[Note:  The Bible is ultimately authored by God who 
permitted men to pen it, using their "voices" to communicate 
His message/]


*Interaction*

*Consider* the exhortation of Peter that those who read his 
words be certain of their salvation.  If they were not 
experiencing the growth he described in 1:5-7 he suggested 
that they may not truly be saved as such is the inevitable 
result of the working of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

*Discuss* the difference it makes to hear Peter affirm God's 
authorship of the Bible.

*Reflect* upon Peter's assurance that he would "nag" 
believers to be certain that they understood the gospel and 
the elements of 1:5-7 well enough to both live it and share 
it with others.

*Share* an example of 1:5-7 being taught and worked-out in 
your life and in your fellowship.

*Truth in Action*

‭Today I am choosing to review my life for evidence that I 
have learned and am increasingly living the teaching of 
1:5-7.  Where I fall short I will partner with the Holy 
Spirit and the "elders" to reinforce my knowledge of and 
working-out of these vital post-salvation "ultrafidian" 
(beyond faith) evidences of salvation and the indwelling 
presence of the Holy Spirit of God.

*Be Specific*  ___________________________________


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Friday's text will be: ‭2 Peter 2
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Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day!  Pastor David
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Senior Pastor (Interim) Bethel Missionary Baptist
http://bethelstatesboro.org (new site pending)
Bible Commentary & Daily Reflection-Action-Devotional
http://bibleseven.com/b7/b7studies.html
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