2 Peter Chapter 1 Pt. 1 Precious Faith, Glorious Grace And Peace

We are turning to the second letter of the apostle Peter that is a general letter to all churches.

As is typical of a second epistle, the Spirit of God guided Peter to include some explicit warnings about the end times and devilish deceptions.

An apostolic eyewitness speaks for our Lord and about His glory and grace. 

2 Peter 1:1-2  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: 2)  Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 

Peter wrote this letter as the day for his martyrdom approached. He had no other agenda, except to make sure that we really grasp this Spirit guided truth from God.

Peter uses his original name, because he intends to warn us against various false teachers that emerged. 

He does so by setting forth the true “knowledge" of Christ from the testimony of the original apostolic eye-witnesses like himself.  

Peter begins by reminding us that he is a bondslave of his Master, Jesus Christ. He was also an apostle, one sent out by Christ to preach the gospel to all the nations.

The words "to them" indicate that Peter is writing to all believers in Jesus Christ. 

He writes to those who obtained the same precious, repentant faith in Christ that regenerates our heart, and imparts spiritual life.

Two gates, two paths and two different eternal destinations. 

Matthew 7:13-14  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14)  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 

True saving faith is a precious grace, and it seems that there is only a small number of true believers among a great multitude of visible professors (See Matthew 22:14). 

Jesus said there is a wide gate that many people enter through and they walk through this life on a broad highway. However, the end of that road is destruction and damnation.

Our Lord commanded that His disciples enter a straight or restrictive gate, which leads us to a narrow path, but this path leads to eternal life. 

True faith is very excellent and of great advantage to those who have it. The just shall live by faith, and this brings us to a truly divine spiritual life. 

Many profess faith in Christ, but the majority walk on the broad highway instead of seeking out the narrow path. 

Listen to Jehovah and live! He will revive us. 

Isaiah 55:1-3  Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2)  Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. 3)  Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. 

Faith provides all necessary support and comfort for us to live an excellent life in Christ. Such faith leads us to Christ, to buy the pure and good wine and milk that He offers. 

Jehovah freely offers His spiritual nourishment, to all who will come to hear and heed His Word. 

He asks all of us an important question, "Why do you spend your time and money for those worldly things which do not satisfy?" 

Only God can satisfy our spiritual needs and He will fill the void or empty space in our heart. Come to Him, and hear what He says. Listen to Jehovah and live. 

Take His spiritual food and you will be satisfied. A soul who is crushed by life's trials and troubles, will be revived. 

A hungry soul shall be fed, the dry, parched and thirsty ones shall have their thirst quenched. 

Jehovah alone offers proper nourishment for our new man in Christ. It consists of pure and nourishing mother's milk along with strong meat (See 2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 Peter 2:2-5).

Faith is alike precious to the lowliest Christian and to the apostle. Faith produces the same precious effects in the one as in the other. 

Faith unites the weakest believer to Christ as it unites the strong one. It purifies the heart of one as well as the heart of another. 

Each sincere believer is justified by his faith in the sight of God, from all sins, (See Acts 13:37-39). 

Faith, in whomever it exists, takes hold of the same precious Saviour, and applies the same precious promises. 

This precious faith is obtained of God. Faith is the gift by the grace of God, wrought by the Spirit, who raised up Jesus Christ from the dead.

This precious faith, is through the righteousness of Christ. The satisfactory, meritorious righteousness and obedience of Jesus Christ gives faith all its value and preciousness. 

Jesus did for us what we could not do. He received the wages of our sins, and by His sinless life and the shedding of His precious blood, He expiated our sins.

Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, that we might be made righteous in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21).

The righteousness of Jesus Christ, imparted to each believe in Christ, is of infinite value to us. 

Peter speaks of the grace of God that brings the good news of salvation to every man who will repent and believe. 

Faith, grace and peace are beautiful gifts from God through Christ. 

Romans 5:1-2  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2)  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 

He speaks of the peace of God in our hearts through the new birth. Paul puts it this way. We are justified by faith because the just shall live by faith. 

This faith in Christ, brings peace with God that we did not have before Jesus saved us. 

The apostle then emphasized the knowledge of our Lord, which is essential to anchor our souls in Christ, and to establish a clear mission and purpose for our lives.  

Psalm 119:165  Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

True peace is found by learning and living by God's Word. Peace is nurtured by reading and heeding the law of God. 

Why seek things that cannot satisfy? Seek the Lord and He will satisfy your soul. 

Psalm 84:4-12  Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah. 5)  Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. 6)  Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools. 7)  They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God. 8)  O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah. 9)  Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed. 10)  For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. 11)  For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. 12)  O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee. 

Our hearts are blessed when we spend time in the house of the LORD. Thus, when we gather together in a church setting, we know we will be blessed. Our heart will be filled with praising and worship for our worthy God. 

We are blessed when the Lord is the source of our strength and when we walk in His ways. 

Jehovah will hear our prayer. He will be our shield and protect us from our enemies. 

One day in the house of God is better than one thousand days doing what we want to do. It is better to be the lowest person in the house of God than to be someone who dwells with wicked people. 

Jehovah will give grace and glory to those who follow Him. He will not withhold any good thing from those who put their trust in Him. 

May these encouraging words from the scriptures bless our hearts and strengthen our faith. May the Lord prepare us to be used for His kingdom purposes. 

May we rest in His peace, marveling at His grace, and giving all glory to Jesus Christ the Lamb, who took away our sins.

Bob