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2Peter 1:1-4 - Great and Exceeding Promises of God
Text: 2Peter 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: In this, his second epistle, Peter is writing to a mixed audience of Jews and gentiles. No doubt the name “Simon” allows him to identify with the Jews and the name Peter reminds us that it was he who had the revelation that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God. Because of his revelation of the Deity of Jesus, Peter was given the keys to the kingdom (Mt. 16:19). Peter first used the keys at Pentecost when he commanded faith, repentance and water baptism in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins, with the promise of the Holy Spirit to all who obeyed (Acts 2:38-40). Peter preached the same message wherever he went i.e. at Samaria (Acts 8:15-17) and to the household of Cornelius (Acts 10:44-48). If we look closely at the writings of the apostle Paul, we see that he emphasized the same things (Acts 19:4-7; Ro. 6:3-5; Col. 2:12-13). Peter stated his apostolic authority, but again like Paul, he calls himself a slave of Christ (Ro. 1:1). What an example for us to follow! Peter leaves no doubt as to the Deity of Jesus whom he calls “Our God and Savior Jesus Christ.” The New Living Translation uses the phrase “of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior.” We together with saints of all ages have obtained a precious faith that was given to us all because of the righteousness of God. When God cursed the human race in the garden of Eden, He immediately made provision for our salvation. He slew an innocent animal to cover the nakedness of Adam and Eve and He promised that the “Seed of the Woman” would come and redeem us from the curse of sin (Gen. 3:15). When the time was right (Gal. 4:4), the Spirit of God moved upon a lowly virgin and caused her to conceive in her womb. The Holy Ghost came upon her, and the power of the Highest overshadowed her and she brought forth the Son of God (Lu. 1:35). Not another God nor a part of God, but simply God manifested in the flesh. It was God who was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory (1 Tim 3:16). Jesus was and is the Living Word of God, the Logos, the mind and consciousness of God, who was in the beginning with God and who was God (Jn.1:1). Although He had the nature of God, He laid aside all the prerogatives of God and came into this world as a humble obedient servant, being made in the likeness of men. The man Christ Jesus (1 Tim. 2:5) did not shy away from death on the cross, but He went there willingly to become the author of our eternal salvation (Heb. 5:9, 12:2). Text: 2Peter 1:2. Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, In verse one Peter called Jesus , “Our God and Savior.” In verse two, he makes a distinction between the manifestations of our eternal God. In His flesh, Jesus was just as human as you and me, but in His Deity He was and is eternal God (1 Tim. 2:5). Oh, if we only could grasp the depths of the grace of God, which is simply His favor. God showed favor to us when He was made flesh, and walked among us as Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus was full of grace and truth. On the mountain of Transfiguration the glory of His Father emanated from His being. Moses had brought forth the law which no one could keep, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ (Jn. 1:14-17). Jesus shed His favor upon us that allows us access to His boundless love and mercy. Text: 2 Peter 1:3 KJV 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: Text: 2 Peter 1:3 NASB seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. The KJV states that God has called us to glory and virtue. Most other translations interpret the Greek text to mean that God has called us by His glory and virtue. Virtue means “moral excellence.” I guess we could say that we were called by God’s glory and moral excellence to become partakers of His glory and moral excellence (2 Cor. 3:18, 4:6, 5:17; Ro. 8:29, 12:2; Eph. 4:24; Col. 3:10; Tit. 3:5). Text: 2Peter 1:4a. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: God’s grace and virtue allow us to be recipients of His many promises. Here are just a few of the promises of God listed in the Thompson Chain Bible. We have the promise of being changed into the image of the Lord (2Cor. 3:18), and of eternal life (1Jn. 2:25). We have the promise of being washed and filled by the Spirit of God (Eze. 36:25-27). God has promised to be our Father (2Cor. 6:18), who would never leave or forsake us (Heb. 13:5). Jesus said He would be with us until the very end of the world (Mt. 28:20). We have been promised that we can become sons of God by believing on the name of Jesus (Jn. 1:12-13). God has promised to write His laws on our hearts (Heb. 8:10). God ha promised to meet our basic necessities, if we place His kingdom first in our lives (Mt. 6:33). We have been promised deliverance from afflictions (Ps. 34:19-20), and to be strengthened when ill (Ps. 41:3). We have the promise that Jesus was wounded for our transgression and that by His stripes we are healed (Isa. 53:5). We have the promise of God’s abiding presence when we are in the waters or passing through the fire (Isa. 43:2). We have the promise that all things work together for our own good (Ro. 8:28; 2 Cor. 4:17), and that God’s grace is sufficient for any situation in which we find ourselves (2 Cor. 12:9). God who is incapable of lying has promised us eternal life (Tit. 1:2). Jesus promised that He would never cast out anyone who came to Him (Jn. 6:37). He promised that if we believe on Him we would have the living waters of His Spirit springing up unto everlasting life (Isa. 12:3 ;Jn. 4:10-11,14, 7:38). Text: 2 Peter 1:4b that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. All the promises of God that we have listed are coupled with a positive reward. His promises cause us to desire to be more like Him. As we grow in Him, we become partakers of His divine nature and further escape the pollution and corruption of this world. However, we should never forget that many of God’s promises are indeed negative. Romans 11:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in [his] goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. 2Corinithians 7:1 ¶ Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 1John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. “When you see a man with a great deal of religion displayed in his shop window, you may depend upon it, he keeps a very small stock of it within” Charles H. Spurgeon Free Ebooks That You Can Download. An Expository Study on the Book of Colossians The I AMs of Jesus Your thoughts and Inquiries Contact@About-Him.Com Subscribe to this devotional? 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