God calls and empowers Christians to overcome.

Today’s lesson is focused on the power of salvation provided by Jesus Christ in which believers in Him are united in God and made able to live holy lives. There is no need for us to look beyond Jesus for additional revelation or provisions. The fact is, everything that is necessary to live the Christian life has already been provided for us. The biggest need we have as Christians is to continue growing in faith by the Word of God through the power of the Holy Spirit. If we remain faithful to Christ, we will not fall and will receive all of the glorious promises of God in Christ. Ultimately, we will see our Savior when he comes to receive his faithful ones to Himself.

Describe how you wait on God’s promises to be fulfilled in your life.

DIVINE POWER

A. The Sufficiency of Christ

2Pe 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:

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

…….How does the grace and peace of God grow in our lives? By getting to know Him more.

2Pe 1:3  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:

…….Through the Spirit we have been provided an internal ever learning power that drives us closer to the Lord. The more we learn about the Lord the better we know Him, and the better we know Him the more we want to be like Him.

2Pe 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.

…….There is a nature that is tagged to every individual at birth and that is sin. But, there is a divine nature that overpowers every curse that sin has brought and that is Christ! The Lord has given every person a promise that by believing in Him unto salvation, He would fill us with His Spirit which gives us the power to overcome the corruption of lust.

B. Growing in the Faith

2Pe 1:5  And beside this, giving all diligence (eagerness), add to your faith virtue (strength, excellence); and to virtue knowledge;

…….Every Christian should be eager for growth in the Lord. One thing any Christian cannot live without is growth. We must continue to allow the Spirit to add spiritual attributes to our Christian walk.

2Pe 1:6  And to knowledge temperance (self control); and to temperance patience (hopeful, cheerful, constancy which is the quality of being faithful and dependable); and to patience godliness;

…….The meaning of godliness in depth is to be reverent in the knowledge of God. In more selective words, to have such a solemn respect for God that it causes others to respect your reverence for God.

2Pe 1:7  And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

…….The meaning of brotherly kindness is fraternal affection: – brotherly love. We are to have such a love for each other that no matter the circumstances that come about, we strive to have an understanding of what all other’s are going through. Those who have true brotherly kindness will also strive be peace keepers within the core of the group to keep everyone connected.

2Pe 1:8  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 meaning of barren here is this: inactive, that is, unemployed; (by implication) lazy, useless: – barren, idle, slow. The scripture implies the opposite that if these things, “the attributes of growing in the Lord” be in us, then we will produce fruit in the knowledge of the lord Jesus Christ! I don’t want to be known as the one who gave up on growing in the Lord, but as one who’s relationship with the Lord caused others to desire a closer wall with Christ!

2Pe 1:9  But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

…….My prayer is that the Lord would show me the things about myself that are hindering and damaging that I cannot see. More importantly, I can never forget where the Lord has brought me from! If we can allow Him to do this with an eagerness to be conformed to godliness, we will forever continue to grow in Him!

DIVINE CALLING

A. Confident in Salvation

2Pe 1:10  Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

…….It is a daily must to start our day off with the Lord! Look at 1 Corinthians 15:31  I protest (appeal) by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. Even the Apostle Paul corrected others for rejoicing in Paul’s direction for the things that Christ had accomplished in his life. He said, I have to destroy this flesh and allow the Spirit to bring in under submission every single day! And that is the loudest secret to growing in the Lord!

2Pe 1:11  For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

……. Peter here used a vivid picture of his imagination to describe our arrival into the kingdom of heaven as being one of a champion returning home after a winning an Olympic event! He would be lavished with rich rewards upon his reunification with his people! In like manner, faithful believers will be welcomed home to an eventful return filled with great joy and celebration!

B. Always Remember

2Pe 1:12  Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

2Pe 1:13  Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;

…….It is important that scripture must be read and understood with repetition. Though at times it’s not easy, we must always be ready with expectation to grow in knowledge and spirit.

2Pe 1:14  Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.

2Pe 1:15  Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.

…….Apostle Peter here, though knowing his death is near continues to encourage others in the faith. His desire is that his impact of Christ is so great that the listeners and readers will always remember his words.

DIVINE REVELATION

A. Experiencing the Word

2Pe 1:16  For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

…….Peter tells his readers here that his preaching and teaching did not come from telling cunning stories or by talking with talent. He was transformed by a transformation!

2Pe 1:17  For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

2Pe 1:18  And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

Mat 17:1  And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,

Mat 17:2  And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

Mat 17:3  And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.

Mat 17:4  Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

…….Though at times it was better to listen than to speak, one thing Peter had was a vision for building. His mind was always turning about what should happen next. Jesus literally told him that His church would be built by him and the gates of hell would not overpower it.

Mat 17:5  While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

…….Even though the focus of transformation here is on Jesus, every man that was in His presence was transformed by it! If we are to be like Christ it would be truthful to say that our affect on others should be transforming also.

B. The Word Gives Hope

2Pe 1:19  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

2Pe 1:20  Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

2Pe 1:21  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

…….One thing I’ve always heard that has proven to be true is this, the Word of God was spiritually written and must be spiritually understood. If it took the Holy Ghost to write it, it’ll take the Holy Ghost to interpret it.

In order to successfully live in this world today as a Christian we must be transformed and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Though there are so many false teachers and crooked church leaders that are only in this for self promotion, the word of God will always stand firm within itself. It’s truths will outlast the current fad of society. May we always remain in what we have learned and continue to seek after knowledge and godliness.