Lesson 2

Second Peter

Warning against dangers facing the Church

Review:

General uses of Faith in Scripture:

1.  The Faith: as the whole body of truth;  the complete revelation of God  in the Canon of Scripture. 

1 Tim 4:1; Eph. 4:5;  Jude 1:3

 

2.  The Faith: as the content of what is believed;   That portion of the Canon that is personally a part of our own F/O/R.

The principles, promises, the truths of the WOG. 

Eph 3:17; 1 Cor 16:13; 2 Ths 3:2

It is developed and constructed from consistent hearing; Rom 10:17

All the exhortations "let him who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit has to say to the churches."  Rev. 2-3 7 times

 

 

3.  Saving Faith; specific; where the context and emphasis is on the object of faith for salvation, Jesus Christ. 

Christ is the only object  Jn 1:12;  20:31;  John 3:15-18; 36; 5:24; 6:29

 

4.  Blending of an emphasis on Hearing; believing; applying (Heb 4:2;  Gal 3:1-5;  Eph. 1:13

 

5. Misplaced Faith; wrong object!  false criterion;

-  Mt 3:9 Jews believed in heritage from Abraham;  Jn. 8:31-45

-  Jn 5:37-40 Scribes, Pharisees; thought a knowledge scripture was sufficient; rejected the one who the scriptures pointed to.

-  1 Cor. 2:4-5  Not on the wisdom of man; the philosophy of man.

-  2 Ths. 2:11 In the tribulation they will believe the lie,  the msg  of the Anti-Christ.

-  1 John 4:1 test the read out against the std of the WOG before believing what is heard; 

many false teachers spewing forth the doctrine of demons, very persuasive, especially true in last days 1 Tim. 4:1

 

In this last phrase we have the basis for this equally valuable faith, having the same privileges before God.

by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:

- (evn dikaiosu,nh|)  - su,nh indicates that what is in view is a quality or characteristic here of  our God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

 

- righteousness / justice speaks of God's holiness; His integrity and is the basic and foundational attribute of God. 

 

What is the righteousness here? 

 

 

- This then is the righteousness that God provides to each one who believes; Imputed; credited to their account before Him.

 

 

That Christ as Savior is found 5 times in this short epistle:  1:1, 11; 2:20; 3:2, 18.

 

 

1:1 Simon Peter, a bond servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to the ones having obtained an equally valuable faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

Summary

1.  Peter with his opening salutation makes the point that he is a bond slave 1st who is under authority of Christ before reaffirms the fact that he is an apostle with authority.

 

2.  He also makes the point that he is a slave of Christ not the kosmos system as the false teachers that he will be dealing with in this epistle.

 

3.  He addresses this epistle to:  to the ones having obtained an equally valuable faith with us. This tells us that whether Jew or Gentile it is the same faith in Christ that saves and provides their position in Christ.  

 

4.  Peter initially had a hard time adjusting to the reality of the change in the relationship of Jew and Gentile.

- Acts 10 vision, time frame 40-41 AD. 

- see the result in Acts 11:17-18

- 10 years later recounted in the 1st church conference Acts 15:6-11

- Point he was making was that the new relationship and position of Jew and Gentile was not based on human merit or ability but on relationship with God by faith Gal 3:26-29

 

5.  Peter also reminds us here that the object of faith resulting in salvation is Jesus Christ by the last phrase, by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

 

6.  Christ via his death, burial, resurrection, ascension, session secured for the one who believes in Him whether Jew or Gentile this unique position of being "in Christ."

 

7.  This verse does not teach or imply that God have them their faith but that they, as do all, will have the opportunity to respond to God's initiation through the Gospel heard and be saved.

- Calvinism under the principle of irresistible or efficacious grace, that God gives the faith to the ones to be saved, basically enables one to believe.

 

8.  Paul also says that salvation is equally valuable to all in Eph 3:6.

 

9.  Communicators especially P/T's must orient to the source of their authority as a doulos and use it to speak truth.

 

 

1:2 We see Peter's desire for them and for all believers and then the mechanics

Grace and peace be multiplied to you

 

Grace  (ca,rij) since he is addressing believers it refers to f2 and f3 grace all that flows out  f1 grace  as does the next one

 

 

peace  (eivrh,nh) this brings into view the relaxed mental attitude that results from epignosis being applied, that is applying known truth in the various circumstances of life

 

 

- Grace is the fountain from which peace flows.

 

 

- The primary emphasis here is peace of God which is experienced in our life as we live out our lives in Christ.

 

 

Peter's request here is that this grace and peace be multiplied to you.

- plhqu,nw -- Aorist Pass Opt.;  to multiply, to increase, to grow

 

- Optative mood (rare) expresses an obtainable wish or desire, it is his desire that all believers realize this multiplication of grace and peace.  

 

 

- Peter by using the optative mood recognizes a basic reality of life, that most believers won't exploit the grace provision that is theirs in Christ.

 

 

- When divine good is produced God vindicates His Word in you and you will be blessed in time and in eternity.

 

 

Next Peter provides us the mechanics of this multiplication that he has in view.  

 

in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;

Therefore the source or means is the word of God, divine viewpoint, believed which impacts your life as it impacts your thinking and world view.

 

 

 

 

1:2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you all by means of the full knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.