The"American
Wisdom Series"
presents
Pamphlet #5115 KC2Peter1
How
can one claim he or she knows the Living Word if he or she doesn't know
the Written Word?
The 2nd Book of Peter was written by the same big old
lovable fisherman, who was no doubt a disciple of John the Baptist (John.
1:35-42), and who Jesus surnamed Cephas, "which is by interpretation ,
a stone (John. 1:42)".
And he certainly was one of those "Lively Stones" which
build up the temple of God that he spoke of in his first letter (1 Pet.
2:5).
Peter wrote this second letter to the very same folks
to whom he wrote his first letter (2 Pet. 3:1), and that is to the "pilgrims",
the "sojourners" of this flesh age, the scattered "strangers", i.e. God's
elect.
And the reason he wrote it is made clear in chapter 3
in verses 1, 17 and 18, which is to stir up the minds of God's elect to
remember what had been taught to them, to which end they might be saved
from the errors and false doctrines now becoming prevalent and that they
might grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
2 Peter
3:1-2
This second
epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure
minds by way of remembrance: [2] That ye may be mindful of the words which
were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the
apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
2 Peter 3:17-18
Ye therefore,
beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being
led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
[18] But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
As we read the books of Peter, we discover that he
has such a marvelous way of giving instruction, warning, and comfort to
Christians.
His writings touch the depths of our Christian experience
and yet he continually points us to the heights of our Christian hope,
which is the glory to come at Christ's revealing.
And so it is in this second epistle.
Following his salutation (1:1-2), Peter earnestly exhorts
us to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (1:3-11),
along with a reminder of the foundation from which this grace and knowledge
is obtained (1:12-21).
Then in chapter 2 the false prophets and false teachers
take a bold and brutal "thumping" from our beloved Mr. Rock.
But when we get to chapter 3 we are treated with a simple,
clear, and essential explanation of the "Three World Ages", which are (1)
"the world that then was (2 Pet. 3:6)", (2) the "world which is now (2
Pet. 3:7)", and (3) the "world which is to come (2 Pet. 3:13)".
Without this knowledge one could easily conclude that
God is unjust and unfair, but with this knowledge the plan of God is magnified
in purpose and splendor.
Finally, Peter explains that "these things", which the
unlearned wrestle with, are also written of by the Apostle Paul in his
epistles, which Peter calls "scriptures" (2 Pet. 3:16).
So study Paul's letters too is the implication in the
exhortation to grow in grace and knowledge!
So with that basic introduction, let's begin.
2 Peter
1:1
Simon Peter,
a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like
precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour
Jesus Christ:
"... to those who through the righteousness of our
God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:"
(NIV)
There is nothing as precious!
2 Peter
1:2
Grace and peace
be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
Wow!
Did you read that?
Grace and peace are multiplied through the knowledge of
God, and of Jesus our Lord!
The Written Word of God contains the knowledge of God
and of our Lord Jesus Christ.
[3]
According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain
unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called
us to glory and virtue:
It is His Word that gives us "all things" that pertain
unto life and godliness.
How can one claim he or she knows the Living Word if he
or she doesn't know the Written Word?
But consider that there are many
busy, active, Christians that do claim to know Him and yet they have no
knowledge of the Written Word, and worse yet, they think they are in His
good graces.
Matthew
7:22
Many will say
to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and
in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
[23] And then
will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work
iniquity.
He never knew them because
they never knew Him!
They only knew of Him, and because
they had no knowledge of the Written Word, they followed the traditions
of men, which will get you nowhere fast!
2 Pet.
1:4
Whereby are
given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might
be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is
in the world through lust.
Where do we find these "exceeding great and precious
promises". In His Word, of course!
Do you know what they are?
The word "corruption" means "perishing", so if you are
a partaker of the "divine nature" then you have the precious promise of
eternal life at His coming, which is the first resurrection, and so the
second death [perishing] has no power over you.
Rev.
20:6
Blessed and
holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second
death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and
shall reign with him a thousand years.
So for this reason, here is what you do:
2 Pet.
1:5
And beside this,
giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
Note that there will be 7 "Ands" in
this Polysyndeton
(see appendix 6 in the Companion Bible). "7"
in Biblical numerics is the number which denotes spiritual perfection or
completeness (see appendix 10 in the Companion Bible). If you don't have
a Companion Bible, consider getting one, for it will help do as Peter says,
"add knowledge".
How serious are you?
So Peter tells us to be diligent and add virtue and knowledge.
How do you gain knowledge?
You work for it!
2 Tim.
2:15
Study to shew
thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly
dividing the word of truth.
And add the following too:
2 Pet.
1:6
And to knowledge
temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
Temperance is "self control", and patience is "stedfastness",
and godliness is the "divine nature".
[7]
And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
"And above all things have fervent charity among
yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins." (1 Peter 4:8)
[8]
For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall
neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The "flip side" of which is: If you are too lazy [barren]
to know the oracles of God, then you shall be unfruitful indeed, for how
could you speak them as Peter instructed in 1 Pet. 4:11?
[9]
But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and
hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
Want to know who the "blind" leading the blind are?
They are those who are barren and unfruitful in the Word,
i.e. are Biblically illiterate.
[10]
Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and
election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
So give diligence to your Christianity.
Study His word and verse 2 shall come to pass and "Grace
and peace [shall] be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God,
and of Jesus our Lord" (2 Pet. 2:1).
You can't lose, Peter says!
It is your "ticket" to the everlasting Kingdom of God!
[11]
For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting
kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Go for it!
To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits;
to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy
Spirit, you accomplish both.
1 Corinthians
10:11 Now all these things happened unto them {the
ancient Israelites} for
ensamples, and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends
of the world are come.
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