2 Peter 1

Peter is writing to fellow Christians in various churches.  He makes his greetings, then starts teaching. He encourages his audience to recognize God’s calling on their lives, through the promises of God; then to build on that original faith, the saving knowledge of Christ,  with practical tools to spread the gospel. 

Vocabulary words:

Supplement=reinforce

Faith=belief and loyalty 

Virtue=moral excellence

Knowledge=the perception of fact or truth 

Self-control=restraint of one’s actions or feelings

Steadfastness=fixed in direction

Peter promises to remind them of these qualities for as long as he has left. 

Peter reminds them of his own eyewitness account, including the transfiguration (changed into something more excellent). Matthew 17:1-7 His  story of Jesus is not influenced or based on the mythology of the day, or by Peter’s own thoughts or imagination, but on a word directly from God.  The whole of the gospel, Jesus with us and for us,  is from God, spoken to men through the Holy Spirit.  (All three persons of the trinity in action! ❤️)

Peter is  encouraging the dispersed church in a second letter, written not long after the first.  Jesus’ power gives us everything we need physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.  We can only receive that power through knowing Him. Jesus has all glory and excellence in His hands, and He shares this precious gift and promise with us.  Since He has been so generous, we should be actively pursuing ways to build on our faith in Him.  Living a life of loyalty, moral excellence, truthfulness, self-control, steadfastness, care and love for others—patterning our lives after Christ Jesus—will lead to an effective, productive life.  The knowledge of The gospel of Christ is what pushes us forward to love; any of these building blocks on their own, without faith, may bring about good works, but we would be ignoring the fact that it’s Jesus Himself who cleansed us from sin in the first place.  These qualities are something to work for everyday, because it’ s what validates our calling and divine choosing by God.  (Not a divine choosing in the way of “I choose you, but not you”; but in a “this is your purpose that God specifically chose for you” ❤️) Be confident in the Word of God; study it, know it, share it.  It isn’t a myth or a legend, it is the living Word straight from God to men through the power of the Holy Spirit.  

This chapter changes me by giving me the tools I need to live an effective life.  Verse 4 reminds me that we are not only saved FROM hell and corruption, but we are saved TO this world.  We’ve  been given the building blocks of practical, every day living. Show moral excellence.  Be trustworthy.  

Know the truth.  Control all things centered on exalting your SELF. Pattern after God’s characteristics.  Care for and love others.  Do this constantly, no day off (or for that matter, off day) when it comes to following Christ.  Peter is living out Hebrew 3:12-14 (don’t you just love when our studies tie together?) While he may not have much longer to live, he promises to use every second he has, as long as he has “today”, to choose the path of Christ for himself, and  to remind them to do the same.  There are times I need a friend like that in my life.  And there are times I need to be that friend. God’s Word, a lamp that shines in the darkest of places, leads me.  (Bible study ❤️). 

It’s hard sometimes, but there are rich rewards.  A life well-lived in God’s eyes, an eternal reward, and a legacy.