Lesson 9

Second Peter

Warning against dangers facing the Church

 

1:9 For in whom these things (qualities) are not present is blind being shortsighted having received forgetfulness of his purification from past sins. (pre salvation)

Summary:

1. This verse discusses the believer who is deficient in these 7 qualities being so spiritually myopic.

 

2. Being short sighted indicates that often the believer is caught up in the details of life, DOL’s, at the expense of their spiritual life.

 

3. This short sightedness speaks of shutting the eyes of the soul to truth, therefore shutting down one’s capacity for discernment and the ability to handle the CHP’s of life.

 

4. A part of the short sightedness is the neglect of intake of truth which produces spiritual amnesia the forgetfulness of the provisions.

 

5. If this condition is perpetuated the believer will loose their confidence and assurance of their salvation. But not their salvation.

 

6. This believer will have no appreciation of his heritage in Christ or his inheritance.

 

7. If this blindness is perpetuated long enough it will result in a MA, viewpoint of life just like the unbeliever.

 

1:10 The Importance of these virtues being manifest in our lives

Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent 

 

- therefore or because of this, the importance of applying all diligence in the sphere of your faith that results in these 7 virtues being evident in the life

 

- be all the more diligent (had the noun in vs:5 spoude) here we have the aorist imperative (spouda,zw) which reminds us that there is urgency in Peter’s mind that this command be fulfilled (knows it’s in our best interest)

 

- The point is that there must be no compromise of BD in our continual advance if we are not to fall into the situation noted in verse 9, the spiritual blindness and amnesia.

Therefore, brethren be all the more diligent,

 

to make certain about His calling and choosing you;

 

- What we are to do or to make is indicated by the accusative of be,baioj to be firm, secure, steadfast in our position in Christ

 

The choice reminds them that now as believers God has a purpose for them, that is you all,  the plural reflects the corporate aspect to the choosing.

 

Now that we’re in Christ, and God has a plan for us, as we grow in the knowledge of the Word we gain an understanding of what our responsibilities are before Him.

 

for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;

 

 

- If your concentrating on the word and applying it as the situation dictates your life will manifest these 7 qualities.  The degree and extent is dependent on your growth in the Word.

 

- together this double negative plus the subjunctive indicates emphatic negation

 

- Peter’s point here is that the believer who is growing and maturing and demonstrates that reality by exhibiting the virtues in view will not stumble spiritually in life like the ones he’s just talked about who are spiritually myopic having amnesia of the awesome provision they have in Christ.

 

For indeed if you keep doing these things (7 qualities) you will by no means ever stumble (f2)

1:10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make firm the call and choice of you (all) For indeed if you keep doing these things (7 qualities) you will by no means ever stumble (f2)

 

Summary:

1. Diligence toward the sphere of faith and the resulting virtues existing gives us great assurance of not only our salvation but confidence in time as a believers.

 

2. To make firm or steadfast your call and your place in the plan of God implies that epignosis, a knowledge of BD is absolutely critical for this confidence and assurance to be a reality.

- see this emphasis on firm and steadfast in 2 Pet 1:19  where we find that the Word is more sure/firm/steadfast than any experience no matter how valid

 

3. These qualities/virtues being present will provide an inner peace even in a hostile environment.

- because your utilizing the resources provided in Christ

 

4. Stumbling ultimately results from negative volition to BD, to truth.

- no hearing because of a failure to assemble regularly

- reject the truth taught therefore what is heard does not become epignosis.

- no concentration on or application of what you already know

 

5. Diligence in seeking the truth from which these virtues flow will keep your life occupied with Him, the straight and narrow road leading to DGP.

- also peace, contentment assurance and confidence, all by products

 

6. We have a great promise here from God, keep advancing in truth, reflecting these characteristics in your life and you will by not means stumble spiritually.

 

 

1:11 We find another aspect that flows from these characteristics being manifested

for in this way  (being all the more diligent)  the entrance  the entrance, or access;  the access in view here is to f3

 

- into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

 

- Basileia – “kingdom” refers not to a realm, a people, but designates the rule and authority therefore the existence or character of the king.

- Here it refers to Christ’s rule and authority for all eternity ie. f3. 

 

This entrance will be abundantly supplied to you.

 

- Here in vs:11 it refers to what God will supply the one who fulfills the command,  you will be richly or abundantly supplied an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

- The promise here is that the one who manifests these virtues will enter eternity with great reward, so speaks of the heritage or inheritance of the advancing believer.

 

1:11 For in this way  (diligence in manifesting these qualities) the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.

 

Summary:

1. Having a supply of epignosis and living it out, the result of diligence not only leads to assurance of what is ours in our salvation (vs:10) but also Peter says here it leads to an abundant entrance into eternity, great reward.

 

2. The “entrance” always looks at the beginning of something which has been prepared for:

- Acts 13:24 of Jesus entering His public ministry

- 1 Ths 1:9; 2:1 Of Paul’s entrance to the Thessalonians

- Heb 10:19 of Royal priests entering the Holy Place i.e. entering eternity f3

 

3. We are preparing in time, that is in f2, for our abundant entry into f3 via DGP.

- We have  the resources available, but are we willing to use them?

- The spiritual blessings being in Christ, emphasized in Rom 6;

- The ministry of the Holy Spirit we’re seeing brought out in Rom 8. Ensuring that He is not quenched or grieved.

- Are we properly dressed as a Christian soldier so that we’re prepared having the strength for the battle?  Eph 6:10-18

 

4. The overt indication that this preparation for the entrance is on going in the Believer’s life is the presence of these 7 qualities. 

- this is our responsibility, our part, the command is to us to supply these things, and we do so out of the doctrine we know.

 

5. We must be on guard for those who are negative to BD as well as the plethora of false teachers out there today who will attempt to sidetrack you from the simplicity and devotion to Christ, the occupation with Christ.  2 Cor 11:3

- it takes discernment that only comes from epignosis in you to sort out all the distortions of truth out there today

 

6. Ultimately it is our diligence toward the Word of God and developing the relationship with Christ that will secure for each of us this entrance into eternity with abundant rewards.

- all believers will have an entrance into the kingdom of God but its only those who manifest these characteristics, being conformed to the image of the Son that receive the abundant entrance.