“1 Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:
2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,
4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.”
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READ: 2 Peter 1:1-4.
Colour every reference to the letter's AUTHOR and RECIPIENTS in two different colours;
Circle every reference to KNOWLEDGE;
Put a box around the phrase GRANTED TO US.
DEFINITIONS:
KNOWLEDGE - STRONGS 1922 "epignosis" - precise & correct knowledge.
PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE - not becoming little gods but partaking of the divine nature i.e., empowered by the Holy Spirit to live like Christ.
QUESTIONS:
1:1a Who is the author? How does he describe himself?
1:1b What have all believers obtained? How?
1:2 What is Peter's prayer for believers?
1:3-4 What has been granted to us through knowing Jesus who called us to His own glory and excellence? Why?
REFLECTION:
Batteries not included. Three words that remind of how useless and ineffective a device will be without the necessary power to function. However, when it comes to living godly lives, God has not left us on our own. Rather, as those who know God personally through His Son Jesus Christ, called by Christ to His own glory and excellence, we have been given everything we need to do so.
And this truth is for all believers, not just the select few. That to each of us who have come to know Christ, and be known by Him, He has given us His precious and magnificent promises through which we become partakers of the divine nature - empowered by the Spirit to live like Christ. That as we remind ourselves and trust in His promises, we grow in our knowledge of Him and experience His grace to live as those called to His own glory and moral excellence.
And once such magnificent promise is the glorious future that awaits us at Christ's return. When He shall come to judge the living and dead, and those who know Him will live with Him forever in the new heavens and earth where righteousness alone dwells. And it us who look forward to such a day, whose hope is in Christ, that are called now to be diligent in living lives that confirm His calling of us, resting in the promise that in Him we have everything we need to do so. To Him be all the glory - now and forever!!
RESPOND:
Read 2 Peter 1:5-11.
As those who have been given everything we need to live godly lives:
What qualities do we have and are to grow in?
What is the promise for those who do?
Reflect on all you have learned from God's Word and write down one key truth. Bring this truth to God in prayer, asking Him to help you live in the light of it.