Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: (II Peter 1:1)
In his first letter, Peter wrote to encourage Christians in the areas outside of Jerusalem, mainly the Gentile areas, whether Jews or non-Jews, who were enduring intense persecution and to prepare them for the difficult times ahead of them. In this second letter, Peter wrote to non-Jewish believers, Gentiles, who have obtained like precious faith.
In his first letter, Peter wrote to encourage Christians in the areas outside of Jerusalem, mainly the Gentile areas, whether Jews or non-Jews, who were enduring intense persecution and to prepare them for the difficult times ahead of them. In this second letter, Peter wrote to non-Jewish believers, Gentiles, who have obtained like precious faith.
Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (II Peter 1:2-4)
But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. (II Peter 1:5-9)
We've studied in detail in many of our previous lessons that the Gentile believers had a very difficult time overcoming their former lifestyles. Often, Paul would use certain phrases in his letters to explain to believers that they should not live and behave as Gentiles: "It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles..." (I Corinthians 5:1); "But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews?" (Galatians 2:14); "This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk,..." (Ephesians 4:17)
It was not a compliment to be compared to Gentiles, because they were considered the "...common or unclean.” And a voice spoke to him [Peter] again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” (Acts 10:14-15) What we have to learn is the same lesson God taught Peter, that we can not judge people based on their race, where they come from, or their former lifestyles. God created ALL people "in Our image, according to Our likeness [God the Father and Lord God the Son]" (Genesis 1:26; Genesis 2:1-7), through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.
Because He has called us, regardless of who "us" is, we have escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust, we were cleansed from our old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (II Peter 1:19-11)
But we have to be diligent, attentive and persistent in developing the character of Christ, by adding to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. These characteristics don't come naturally to most of us, neither did they to the Gentiles, and truth be told, neither to the Jews, which is why Paul said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews?", when he saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel among the Gentiles... (Galatians 2:14)
When we became a Christian, we didn't change immediately from our old way of thinking and behaving; we were just saved immediately from the penalty of sin, For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23) What God then did for us was sanctify us, set us apart from those who are not saved, by filling us with His Holy Spirit; and His Holy Spirit is who works on changing us from the inside out, for the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (Galantians 5:22-25)
If we allow the Spirit of Christ to grow in us, we will never stumble. We will be able to say as Jesus did, "He must increase, but I must decrease. He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies;... He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true. For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” (John 3:30-36)
Regardless of who we are, we all have access to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of ALL, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (Ephesians 4:4-6) Peter concluded, For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent [flesh/body], to stir you up by reminding you, knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. [John 21:15-19] Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease. (II Peter 2:12-15)
Thank God for His reminder of these things, His Word, the scriptures, which we will study in more detail in the next lesson...
We've studied in detail in many of our previous lessons that the Gentile believers had a very difficult time overcoming their former lifestyles. Often, Paul would use certain phrases in his letters to explain to believers that they should not live and behave as Gentiles: "It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles..." (I Corinthians 5:1); "But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews?" (Galatians 2:14); "This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk,..." (Ephesians 4:17)
It was not a compliment to be compared to Gentiles, because they were considered the "...common or unclean.” And a voice spoke to him [Peter] again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” (Acts 10:14-15) What we have to learn is the same lesson God taught Peter, that we can not judge people based on their race, where they come from, or their former lifestyles. God created ALL people "in Our image, according to Our likeness [God the Father and Lord God the Son]" (Genesis 1:26; Genesis 2:1-7), through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.
Because He has called us, regardless of who "us" is, we have escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust, we were cleansed from our old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (II Peter 1:19-11)
But we have to be diligent, attentive and persistent in developing the character of Christ, by adding to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. These characteristics don't come naturally to most of us, neither did they to the Gentiles, and truth be told, neither to the Jews, which is why Paul said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews?", when he saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel among the Gentiles... (Galatians 2:14)
When we became a Christian, we didn't change immediately from our old way of thinking and behaving; we were just saved immediately from the penalty of sin, For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23) What God then did for us was sanctify us, set us apart from those who are not saved, by filling us with His Holy Spirit; and His Holy Spirit is who works on changing us from the inside out, for the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (Galantians 5:22-25)
If we allow the Spirit of Christ to grow in us, we will never stumble. We will be able to say as Jesus did, "He must increase, but I must decrease. He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies;... He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true. For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” (John 3:30-36)
Regardless of who we are, we all have access to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of ALL, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (Ephesians 4:4-6) Peter concluded, For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent [flesh/body], to stir you up by reminding you, knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. [John 21:15-19] Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease. (II Peter 2:12-15)
Thank God for His reminder of these things, His Word, the scriptures, which we will study in more detail in the next lesson...
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