Please turn in your Bibles this evening to II Peter chapter 1 as we continue our study through the Word of God. Tonight we will begin Peter’s second letter to the churches in Asia Minor. These churches were, “. . . in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia . . .” I Peter 1:1. If you remember from our study of I Peter, Peter admonished them to have a steadfast faith in the midst of the persecution they were facing and to live exemplary lives or holy lives in spite of the persecution they were facing for their faith in Jesus Christ. And this persecution came from Caesar Nero and it was only going to grow more intense until Nero’s death in 68 AD. Thus, Peter’s first letter was written in late 64 or early 65 AD.
Peter was martyred for his faith in 67 or early 68 AD by Nero. That places the writing of this letter in around 67 AD and Peter’s execution may have only been weeks or months away! Thus, with Peter’s death being imminent, as he is sitting on death row in a Roman prison, his last words, the words of a dying man are not going to be fluff. They are going to be meat, they are going to come from his heart, he is going to speak what is truly important. Interestingly enough Peter’s focus is not the external persecution, which would continue to grow. The focus of this letter is internal persecution or the threat of false teachers spewing out their poisonous doctrines. He wants these believers to be on guard, to pay attention so they won’t be overtaken by their lies. What a great and important warning for us today, we need to heed these words of Peter!
Now, how do you expose a lie? By knowing the truth and we are set apart by the truth of God’s Word, God’s Word is the truth that sets us apart from the lies of these false teachers! Someone called this letter “The Believers Conflict in the Latter Days” and how true that is today. The lies being perpetrated by false teachers, the internal persecution is growing and church leaders are buying into these lies. For me, I just scratch my head and wonder how they can fall prey to this stuff when God’s Word is so clear. I guess the reason is simple, they go outside of God’s Word and fall prey to the lies! Folks, just as Peter called these believers to grow in the Lord so they can fight the apostasy that is out there and look forward to the Lord’s return, he is admonishing us to do the same!
Before we get to our text this evening, let me give to you a quick outline of this letter:
1. CULTIVATE CHRISTIAN CHARACTER – II PETER 1
2. CONDEMN FALSE TEACHERS – II PETER 2
3. CONFIDENCE IN CHRIST’S RETURN – II PETER 3
With that said, let’s begin reading in II Peter chapter 1, starting in verse 1 and see what the Lord has for us this evening as we look at how we are to CULTIVATE CHRISTIAN CHARACTER.
VERSE 1
Peter knew his identity, from “shifting sand” or Simon, to the “rock” or Peter. Why did he list both names? Possible because he knew that even though he was saved, that flesh nature often caused him to act like shifting sand. What I want you to also notice is the order of his titles. First he is a bondslave or DOULOS of Jesus Christ. A bondslave was a slave who served his master and when it was time for him to be released, he refused. His love for his master was so great he remains a slave but not out of constraint, but freely he serves his master out of love. Folks, as Peter, we are bondslaves of Christ serving our Master freely!
His second title is that of an apostle or one that was sent by God. He did not exalt himself, call himself the first “Pope” because he wasn’t, he was a servant and God placed him in that position of being an apostle. To often people in ministry like to elevate themselves. For instance, there are those that call themselves or like to be called, “The Most Reverend” so-and-so. That is wrong, we are all bondslaves of Christ first and then whatever position God has placed you in – SERVE! In fact, Peter says that they had “like precious faith” or that we all enjoyed the same salvation experience that is only brought about by Christ and not by our efforts!
One more point before we move on and this is very important. Peter speaks “of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.” Here is another Scripture that links Jesus to being God, not “a god” or a lesser God than the Father. He is the second person of the Holy Trinity who is fully God and became fully man in the Incarnation, but He was also fully God and still is! Wuest tells us: “The expression God and our Saviour is in a construction in the Greek text which demands that we translate, our God and Savior, Jesus Christ, the expression thus showing that Jesus Christ is the Christian’s God.” And Blum said, “The grammar leaves little doubt in these words Peter is calling Jesus Christ both God and Savior.” There is no mistake folks, as Thomas said of Jesus, “. . . ‘My Lord and my God!’” John 20:28.
VERSES 2-4
These three verses are power packed. If we would only read them and apply them to our lives, truly believe them! Today people water down God’s Word or they negate it but look at the importance that Peter applies to it. First Peter tells us that grace and peace are increased or multiplied as we know God. In other words we are more aware of the grace of God and we can enjoy the peace of God. And to know God is not just a casual acquaintance but an intimate knowledge of God, a relationship with Him! The more we spend time in God’s Word, in prayer, with other believers, the more we will understand His grace and His peace for our lives!
What do we need for spiritual life and for that matter, physical life? Folks, we need Jesus. Paul, in II Corinthians 9:8 makes that point as he says, “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.” You see, it is not about how strong we are or the power we have, but it is all about the Lord empowering us for the work He has called us to do. Why do people buy so many self-help books? Because they don’t believe Jesus is sufficient and they need to look elsewhere. How foolish that is when you think about it! Paul said in Colossians 2:8-10, “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.”
We have seen God’s grace extended to us as He empowers us and gives to us all we need to live. Not because we deserve it, but it is a gift of God to us. Now Peter tells us of the peace of God that is found in the precious promises of God to us. First, though, Paul tells us, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:1-2. Once we have made peace WITH God through Jesus Christ, then we enjoy the peace OF God.
Look at the promises that God has given to us in His Word and that knowledge should help us to live godly lives. That is what Paul said in II Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Also, peace through the storms of life can be ours as we rest in His promises. Paul, in Romans 15:4 put it this way, “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” We do have all we need to succeed in this life if we have Jesus! But, if you lack the knowledge of Him, you will be swept away and thus, read His Word and apply it to your life and the pulls of this corrupt world will not have its grips on you!
VERSES 5-7
Peter just talked about escaping the corruption that is in this world through lust and now he tells us that we need to grow, mature in the faith. You see, it does take effort, it does take diligence on our part and as the Holy Spirit controls our lives, as we surrender to Him, He will enable us to escape the corruption that is warring against our souls!
You see, our faith is active and it will grow, it will mature if you care for it just as you need to do with a garden. Peter lists seven virtues or qualities that flow or should flow from our faith because our faith is not dead, it is active, it is living faith. These virtues or qualities are:
A. VIRTUE – This speaks of moral excellence, good character, quality.
B. KNOWLEDGE – This is not just information but the Word of God opened up to our hearts by the power of God’s Spirit. It is not only knowledge by experience but by the Word of God!
C. SELF-CONTROL – This is speaking of controlling our passions, not letting our passions control us!
D. PERSEVERANCE – This is speaking of a steadfast endurance under adverse conditions, when the heat is turned up.
E. GODLINESS – This speaks of holiness, of being set apart for God just as the utensils and implements used in the temple were set apart for God, they were to be holy unto God.
F. BROTHERLY KINDNESS – This is speaking of a brotherly love, that we are to love the family of God.
G. LOVE – This is AGAPE love or unconditional love, sacrificial love. This is a supernatural love not a humanistic or natural love. You see, we can love someone until they wrong us and then we can’t love them, we are mad at them, we take vengeance out upon them! But AGAPE love is a love from God that loves others in spite of what they have done to us!
Let me show you an example of AGAPE love. T. E. McCully was the father of Ed McCully, who was one of the five young missionaries killed by the Auca Indians in Ecuador. One night T. E. McCully prayed, “Lord, let me live long enough to see those fellows saved who killed our boys, that I may throw my arms around them and tell them I love them because they love my Christ.” That is not a natural love, but a supernatural love that comes from God! And here’s the thing. We don’t wake up one day manifesting these virtues or qualities but we are called to give all diligence and walk with God and we will see the fruitful growth of our faith!
VERSES 8-9
Now as Christians we don’t carry signs saying we are mature in the faith. Then what do we do? We grow in the knowledge of God, we allow God to pour Himself into our lives not to be a container to hold God, but a channel from which God can flow through and touch the lives of others. Thus, if you abound in these things people will see the fruit that is born in your life.
But if you don’t grow in the Lord, if you have eye trouble where your focus is on self rather than God, then you will be barren, those virtues will not flow from your life. And by taking your eyes off of God, you lose sight of all He did for you and you will not be diligent to grow, to walk with Him. Once we understand what we are like, wretched sinners, and then who Jesus is, a holy and righteous God who died for us, that should cause us to have a walk that is worthy of the high calling by which we have been called!
VERSES 10-11
First of all the Word of God gives us assurance of our salvation. Jesus said in John 5:24, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” And John tells us in I John 5:13, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”
Not only do we have God’s Word but we can also look at, examine our own lives to see if we are growing for Peter tells us “if you do these things” What things? What he just told us in II Peter 1:5-7, “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.” You see, we should be growing, maturing in the Lord, being conformed to His image as Paul tells us in Romans 8:29, “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” May we walk accordingly and not take our salvation lightly, it cost Christ His life to save us!
VERSE 12
Many of you have been here with me for 11 years and in that time you have heard it all. It is not that I am telling you anything new. Most of you know these things. That is what Peter is saying here and he wants them to know that he will keep reminding them. Why is it that people need to be reminded? Because we forget things! When I read this statistic, this research, it was a little discouraging, but I think that is why I write down so much when I go to retreats or listen to a teaching, so I can remember them. Research shows that within an hour after hearing a message, a teaching, people will forget up to 90% of what they heard! Thus, repetition is important. That is what God was teaching the children of Israel in Deuteronomy 6:4-9, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
But Israel forget the truths of God, they forgot the work of God, their memory was poor and thus, in Isaiah 17:10-11 we are told, “Because you have forgotten the God of your salvation, And have not been mindful of the Rock of your stronghold, Therefore you will plant pleasant plants And set out foreign seedlings; In the day you will make your plant to grow, And in the morning you will make your seed to flourish; But the harvest will be a heap of ruins In the day of grief and desperate sorrow.”
Why is it we can remember a song we heard 20 or 30 years ago and sing the words to them and yet when it comes to the Word of God, our memory of God, the works of God, we can’t remember? I think it has to do with the time we put into it, the effort we put into it. We need to spend time in God’s Word and make those pathways in our brain an easy access to this information and not some off the road deserted area. Think about athletes and the time they put in to perfect their sport. The thousands of golf balls a golfer will hit. The swings a batter will take each day. Some basketball players take 1,000 shots every day to perfect their shot. Our spiritual lives are more important, may we not neglect these things but be diligent to grow in our knowledge of God through His Word!
VERSES 13-14
Why is it right for Peter to remind them of the things of God? Peter knew his life was coming to an end as he sat in prison in Rome. In fact, his martyrdom could have been just weeks to months away and thus, he wanted to pass on to the people the things of God so that they can grow and mature in the faith!
Peter realized some of the believers became complacent in the faith, they were lethargic so he says that he wanted “to stir you up” or DIEGEIRO, (dee-eg-i’-ro) in the Greek and the idea here is “to arouse completely” or “to thoroughly awaken.” Any pastor who loves his people would have a passion like this, to stir his people up, to be spiritually alert. Remember what Peter said in I Peter 5:8-9, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.” And Paul reminds us in Ephesians 5:14-17, “Therefore He says: ‘Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.’ See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Peter is admonishing them to wake up, be spiritually alert and what he warned them back then, we need to take heed today and be alert because the enemy is prowling and the way to resist Him is in the faith!
Peter is telling them that he is going to put off this tent of flesh and enter into a mansion that God has prepared for his Spirit and soul to dwell in. In John 14:1-3 we are told of these mansions or bodies the Lord is preparing for us, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
Also, Peter says that he is going to die just as the Lord showed him. What does Peter mean that the Lord showed him how he was going to die? In John 21:18-19, after the death and resurrection of Jesus, as Jesus restores Peter after Peter denied the Lord three times, we are told, “‘Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.’ This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, ‘Follow Me.’” Peter was going to be crucified and tradition tells us that he refused to be crucified like His Lord, he was not worthy, and thus, they crucified Peter upside down! So Peter knew the time of his departure was soon, but that was not going to distract him from reminding these believers the things of God because he knew to be absent from this body was to be present with the Lord!
VERSE 15
Peter did not leave behind money, a few camels, some jewelry or even his fishing business. Peter left behind the truths of God written down so that others can learn and be reminded. What are you leaving behind? You see, we make out wills to leave behind our physical wealth to those we like, but what are you leaving behind in a spiritual sense because that is what will last? What have you left for your children, your friends, your enemies so they will not forget the Word and works of God? The legacy of seeing your family walk with God, your friends, your enemies, watching them grow in the Lord is more valuable than anything else we can leave behind!
VERSES 16-18
Like back then, people today see the Word of God, the Bible as a bunch of fables or myths. They don’t believe God’s Word is true. Listen to how Hayden V. White describes the Enlightenment or Skepticism that began in 1725 and it continues on today. He wrote:
The Enlightenment attitude of mind was complex and internally varied, but it can be characterized roughly as a dedication of human reason, science, and education as the best means of building a stable society for free men on earth. This meant that the Enlightenment was inherently suspicious of religion, hostile to tradition, and resentful of any authority based on custom or faith alone. Ultimately the Enlightenment was nothing if not secular in its orientation; it offered the first program in the history of mankind for the construction of a human community out of natural materials alone.
- Robert Anchor, The Enlightenment Tradition, p. ix
Also, David Hume of Scotland had one of the greatest adverse effects regarding Biblical authority. Listen to what his views are and compare them to what we hear today from such groups as the Jesus Seminar who deny that Jesus said a majority of what is written in the Gospels, they deny His deity, His resurrection and many follow their flawed and dangerous thinking. We are told of David Hume that:
He rejected the claim that Scripture is inspired or that the Bible is an authoritative revelation of God to humanity. He also denied the deity of Christ and rejected miracles as he sought to make theology the subject of empirical testing.
Norman Geisler and William Nix, A General Introduction to the Bible, p. 140
Now please understand that the Bible has been the most studied and scrutinized book in the world and it still stands as strong as it did almost 2,000 years ago! Now look at the Reformation and those who died trying to get the Bible out to the common people. Those who were martyred because they believed the Scriptures and not the doctrines of man! Bush and Nettles tell us:
The Reformers believed Scripture to be God’s Word written. It was trusted, not doubted. It was studied, not ignored. It was taken as the final authority with regard to those matters on which it spoke or made affirmations. God had not revealed everything. The Bible did not expressly contain all the truth that could be known. But what the Bible did teach was believed to be completely trustworthy. Truth in any other area would not contradict biblical truth. Starting from Scripture, one could find the true knowledge of reality.
- L. Russ Bush and Tom J. Nettles, Baptists and the Bible, p. 175
Folks, how do we know that a certain event happened? By eyewitness accounts, people who saw the event and then testified of it or left a record behind of what they saw. Peter says he, as well as others saw the power and majesty of Jesus! And Peter’s point goes back to the Mount of Transfiguration found in Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:1-9 and Luke 9:28-36. Thus, Peter, James and John were eyewitnesses of this event and of the resurrection of Jesus as well. In fact, the Bible tells us that there were over 500 witnesses of the resurrected Christ. In our court system today you can convict a person with just 1 or 2 witnesses let alone over 500!
If you remember, Peter put Jesus on the same level with Moses and Elijah who appeared with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration. But God the Father said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Now Peter understands and what a memory it was. You see, it is not that Jesus is on the same level as the Law and the Prophets, which Moses and Elijah represented. Nor is He even better but He is the beloved Son and we are to listen to Him. You see, it is like comparing apples and oranges, they don’t compare. Jesus is God!
For many Christians today they run to and fro after signs and wonders because they believe that is where the power is at, that is where they will grow. They are into the experience and yet this experience that Peter saw did not transform his life! It was a passing experience even though he still remembers the glory of the Lord as He shinned that day. Then what is the point here? Let’s read on and see.
VERSE 19
This verse can be better translated, “We also have the more sure prophetic word.” In other words, God’s Word is more sure, it can be trusted more than what Peter saw with his own eyes on Mount Hermon in Caesarea Philippi, the transfiguration! Thus, experiences will come and go but God’s Word will last forever. Experiences may pump us up for a time but God’s Word will transform our lives!
Now, when Peter speaks of the “prophetic word” he is not only speaking of prophecy or foretelling future events. Yes, the Bible is over 25% prophetic in nature and some of these prophecies have already come to pass. No other religious book has prophecies, as does the Bible with 100% accuracy! There are over 300 prophecies of Christ’s first coming that have been fulfilled down to the tiniest detail. The chance of that coming to pass in any one man is beyond any mathematical possibility, it is impossible and yet they were all fulfilled in Christ! And there are over 500 prophecies related to His second coming – I think we can be assured – He is coming back – it is a done deal!
But Peter’s point goes even farther, he is also speaking of forth-telling the things of God and thus, he is speaking of the entire Old Testament at this point. He is saying that the Old Testament is the inspired, infallible Word of God, it is even more sure than what he has seen with his own eyes!
With all the garbage that is out in this world, with all the darkness that seems to permeate this world, God’s Word is a light that shines in our hearts first and then through us to touch the lives of others, to bring light to this dark world. Thus, we need to cling to God’s Word, hold onto it, apply it to our lives until Jesus returns and He will! We will see that as we get to II Peter chapter 3!
VERSES 20-21
It is true that people can take the Scriptures and twist them to say what they want. I’ve used this example before from Leviticus 13:40, which says, “. . . he is bald, but he is clean.” Thus, we need to shave our heads to be clean before God! No, that is not what the text is saying, but again, people can twist the Scriptures to make them say whatever they want and that is wrong. It is not beneficial and it is dangerous. As true as that is, I don’t believe that is Peter’s point here.
In the Greek, the way it is structured, Peter is speaking of the Word of God, of prophecy, that it is not from man’s doing but God speaking through man. In fact, if verse 20 is confusing, verse 21 I believe clears things up for us. That phrase, “as they were moved” in the Greek speaks of being “continually carried” and Luke uses this word to describe how the wind blows a sailing ship across the waters, (Acts 27:15, 17). Thus, as these men of God raised their sails you might say, as they submitted their lives to God, the Holy Spirit carried them along in the direction He wanted. God was the writer and man was the instrument He wrote with. He didn’t change the character or styles of the individuals but just spoke through them.
As I close this evening may you desire to cultivate Christian character – to grow in the Lord! Why do we need to do that? So we know what we believe, so we know our Lord and because false teachers are here and the only way to defend yourself from their lies is to know the truth. That is the only way you will be able to stand against them and we will deal with these false teachers and their destructive doctrines next time!