1 Peter - Chapter 1

THE WRITER:

• Peter, the apostle of the Lord, Jesus Christ, with the help of Silas (Silvanus) as noted in 5:12.

THE PEOPLE WHO RECEIVED THE LETTER:

• In verse one Peter mentions the five areas to whom he is addressing his letter. Most of these areas were located in the nation now known as Turkey. Normally the letter would be hand delivered by messenger and would be read aloud in all the churches addressed.

• Do we recall the names of the couple who we have met before in scripture who lived in Pontus?

WHY DID HE WRITE THE LETTER:

• Peter is giving encouragement to Christians who are suffering for Christ. He seeks to remind them that they will not suffer forever and that their real home is not here but awaits them in heaven. As he reminds them of the blessings of faith, he also wants to make sure that having received salvation, they now live as lights for Christ in a dark and sinful world.

1-2:

• Peter announces who he is and to whom his letter is addressed. He reminds the Christians that they are strangers in this world, pilgrims or sojourners, who have a true home above (Phil 3:20).

• He quickly jumps into the serious meat of the letter in verse 2 by reminding them they are the elect, chosen by the Father, sanctified by the Spirit and the obedience of the Son through His blood shed for them.

3:

• Peter praises God and reminds the believers of the great mercy they have found as they have been begotten (born again) into not just hope but into a LIVELY hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Let’s recall the words of Jesus to Nicodemus in John 3. To have lively hope is to trust in the promises of the Lord with the evidence already given as He raised Christ and will keep his promise to believers of eternal life.

4:

• The promise of God is more than just words. It is an inheritance just as the promised land was an inheritance toward the chosen people. This inheritance includes eternal life given at the moment of conversion (John 5:24) and a new & glorified body when Jesus returns (1 Cor 15:25) and rewards in the next life (Matt 5:12) (Rev 22:12). We are not given the details of these rewards to come but we believe they are real because God always keeps His promises.

• This inheritance is not like anything in this world. Peter describes it in three ways:

1. It will never wear out or get old. Nothing can destroy it.

2. It will not spoil or go bad. Sin cannot affect it.

3. It will not lose its beauty. It is not corruptible like gold.

5:

• As believers trust in God, His power brings them strength. Their faith in the promise will bring all things revealed to them in the last time. All who believe must remain steadfast as we await His coming. We cannot be slack in our hope nor can we display lack of patience for we all know the promise is true and will be filled in the Lord’s time, not ours.

6:

• Christians rejoice in the promise but still live in this dark world where temptations abound and are many. Suffering may occur, but if and when it does, it will not be forever. Our eyes must be always looking forward to that great day when all tears are wiped away.

7:

• Christians will always have troubles. Our faith will always be tried. Our faith is much more valuable than gold and we should remain faithful so that our faith will be considered as praise, honor & glory when the Lord returns. We are NOT promised paradise on earth. That promise awaits us in the life eternal.

8:

• Those to whom Peter is writing have not seen Jesus. Having not seen, they believe (just as we do). This belief is manifested in them (and us) as they trust and obey Him. This life of trust and obedience brings joy in their spirits as the Holy Spirit indwells them until mortal death or rapture.

9:

• We understand salvation in three ways:

1. In the past, when we became Christians.

2. In the present, when we learn to trust God each day and receive His help in our daily walk.

3. In the future, when His promises become reality in the next life.

10 – 12:

• Prophets of old brought the message of the Savior to come. Isaiah 53 is an example of prophecy and His suffering. Because these prophets were all proved true, we should take heart and be strong as suffering may occur now in our lives, as surely we know that glory follows suffering by the evidence of scripture.

• Even angels desire to know more about this mystery of faith and salvation.

13:

• Peter wants to be sure that Christians understand that simply knowing the facts of salvation in their minds is not enough. What people believe will affect how they live. How they live their lives must reflect properly on the grace given and the promise to come. Gird up the loins of the mind means go to work and be prepared for diligent labor in the life they lead.

14 – 16:

• Children often look to their parents as to how they behave. Believers are now children of God, who is holy. Being holy means to be set apart from the sin and evil of this world. It also means to belong ONLY to God. This is the command of God, that we should live holy. Even in the OT law, God reminds all who are His of this command five times in Leviticus. (11:44 & 11:45 & 19:2 & 20:7 & 20:26)

17:

• God’s judgment of our lives is based upon how we live for Him. Peter reminds that Christians must respect (fear) God and obey Him. As strangers here, we will one day be at home with Him there.

18 – 19:

• Peter compares the redemption of all Christians to those things those of this world hold dear, silver & gold, and teaches that our redemption is not of corruptible things such as those precious metals but rather springs from the precious blood of Christ who was perfect and without blemish or spot.

• Jesus took the place of the actual spotless animal lamb which had been the sacrifice under the law, and His sacrifice was sufficient for all sin for all time.

20:

• God made the choice at the foundation of the world of Jesus Christ to be our redeemer but He was withheld until these last times. We live in the last times which will end with His return.

21:

• Our sure hope is found in Christ and the evidence was the life, sacrifice, death, and resurrection of our Lord. Let’s be sure to recall that no man comes to the Father except by the Son. There exists no other path to life eternal.

22:

• Every day Christians must obey the truth of the Gospel. The evidence of this obedience is our love of the brethren whom we must love with a pure heart fervently.

23 – 25:

• Flesh of this world will pass away, like grass, but His Word will endure forever. These last two verses come from Isaiah 40:6-8. We must understand that it is the spirit that lives forever through our faith in the Gospel preached to us in which we abide.

1 Peter - Chapter 2

Peter teaches strongly that believers are to lay aside those things that keep them from living in love toward others. He shows the faithful that Christ is the foundation upon which they are built and that they should abstain from worldly lusts, be obedient to leaders and remember the duty of servants.

1:

• Wherefore (because of that which was spoken before), all the evils of behavior to be found in the believer must be cast aside. The character of a believer is seen both in the words they use and the actions of their lives. Jesus himself taught this message in Matthew 12:33-37.

2 – 3:

• Christians should be eager to read and listen to the Word of God, which will help them to mature into a more fruitful life, bearing fruit for the kingdom. We should seek the word as “spiritual milk”, meaning it is to nurture the spirit inside us, not the body.

4 – 10:

• David’s son, Solomon, built the temple about 950 years before the birth of Christ. In approximately 587 BC, the Babylonian army destroyed the temple and some 70 years later it was rebuilt. (1 Kings 6-8)(2 Chron 36:19)(Ezra 3-6).

• When the temple was built there had to be first a clearing of the land and it had to be leveled. Then enormous stones were brought in with the cornerstone being one of the first stones laid to allow all other stones to extend from it to assure they are level & plumb. If done correctly, the strength of the building is mighty and it will stand through any storms.

• Peter now calls Jesus the stone that is living and He is precious, with great honor. Now Peter teaches us that Christians are like living stones, made alive (quickened) and with these spiritual stones the Lord builds a living temple, His true church.

• Believers are holy priests now allowed direct access to God through their faith in Jesus Christ. There is no longer any need for the priests of Levi to make access. The curtain separating the believer from the Lord is now split and the door is forever opened to the throne directly. No man is required to provide a path to the Lord. Christ’s work on the cross has provided it. Spiritual sacrifice is what the faithful now offer to God and these efforts prove the love we have for the Lord. Our love for Him is seen by:

1. We give our whole life to God (Romans 12:1).

2. We praise and thank God (Hebrews 13:15).

3. We do good works and share what we have with others (Hebrews 13:16).

4. We support those who preach and teach the Gospel (Philippians 4:18).

• Verses 6-8 are OT prophecies concerning Jesus. He is the cornerstone and head of the church and is precious both to God the Father and believers.

• Those who say they believe in God but not in this precious cornerstone will “stumble” and will not receive eternal life. None come to the Father except by the Son.

• In Exodus 19:5-6 God taught that those who obeyed would be “royal priests” and form a “holy nation”. Those who are among those chosen should move away from the “darkness” of Satan and accept God’s light. Remember Jesus taught that He was the light of the world (John 8:12).

• In verse 10 Peter compares what people were like before and after they have accepted Christ. These words are directly from Hosea 2:23 and also were explained by Paul in Romans 9:22-26. The promises of the OT have now been given to the church headed by Jesus.

11 – 12:

• Peter now begins the effort to teach believers how to live as faithful followers. He calls them “dear” and urges them (and us) to remember their home is not in this world. Peter wants the evil acts to end and for each one to fight the evil desires which Satan places before us.

• Christians should live their lives as examples of goodness. Others are watching our actions and are quick to see when we yield to temptation and sin. Our behavior should bring honor to God, not dishonor. One measure of our devotion may be how we act when we think we are not being seen.

13 – 17:

• Peter instructs as to how we should respect the authority of leaders and we should obey them as God has placed them in positions of authority. However, we cannot continue to obey when they demand evil action (Acts 4:19).

• Although Christ has freed us from the power of sin by his atoning sacrifice, we are not free to act in a way that is not honorable or proper. Refusing to sin shows our love for our Lord. We should respect our leaders, but never worship them. Worship is reserved for God.

18 – 24:

• As we serve others, we should do so in a way that does not disrespect our faith. Judgment is not ours but belongs to God only.

• There surely may be suffering in our lives and Peter teaches that we should copy the example of Christ who suffered but never deserved the suffering.

• Verses 24-25 are taken from Isaiah 53:5-6 and provide a unique view of the definition of salvation. Our sins were borne by Jesus and we who were dead in sin should live unto His righteousness (justified) for by His stripes were we healed. Let’s never forget Paul’s words to the Ephesians that we were “quickened”, made alive, when we are dead in trespass and sin.

• We were like sheep that had lost their way. Sheep wander around seeking fresh grass to eat. But they must come back to the shepherd for safety from those who seek to take them. Following Christ, our good shepherd, provides that safety and He will never allow one of His sheep to remain lost.

1 Peter - Chapter 3

Marriage is one of the Lord’s most important creations. It was the first thing the Lord arranged with our first parents after preparing the garden itself to receive them. Remember that when Peter wrote this letter, it was usual and customary for husbands and wives to be of the same faith. But Peter had seen some women accept the gospel, and Jesus Christ, but their husbands had not (or at least not yet). Peter finds it necessary to discuss how a Christian wife should behave in that situation.

1 – 2:

• A Christian wife should live a holy life (1 Peter 1:15). She should respect and obey her husband unless he asks her to do something that is sinful. In that case, she must not obey him. A husband will see his wife behaves better that those women not of the faith, and he will one day want to know the Lord also, but this change may take a long time. She should pray for her husband while trusting God to change his heart.

3 – 4:

• While a woman may try to make herself beautiful on the outside, a Christian woman should also be beautiful in spirit as well. She will not manipulate others nor create fighting but rather possess a meek & quiet spirit that brings peace and is of great value to God.

• Outside appearance may be important to man, but it is the loving spirit inside which is important to God.

5 – 6:

• While Abraham and Sarah lived nearly 2000 years before Peter, he reminds us that the lessons of Genesis chapters 11-25 are still true, and now almost 2000 years later, again, these lessons still speak to us.

• Sarah was a holy woman who trusted God and did what was right (almost always) and called her husband “lord” out of respect and love. Peter reminds the women of his time that they are daughters of Sarah, and should trust God as part of the same “spiritual family”.

7:

• Behavior of the husband is also important. He must learn how to care for his wife and not consider her less than him as he protects her in life. God made men and women different with women generally weaker, but only of body, not of spirit. Both will receive an equal inheritance from the Lord (Gal 3:27-29). The term “grace of life” refers to their new spiritual life. A husband should honor and respect his wife, for she is precious to him. A man, who behaves badly toward his wife, disobeys God.

8:

• Even Christian families sometimes disagree. Generally the worst arguments occur from pride or selfishness. Those who believe should be humble and work our differences in love.

9:

• How easy it is to behave well when we are given kindness in word and action toward us. We show true obedience when we return kindness toward those who bring ill will toward us. Our example is surely Jesus who did not return the discord and hate that came His way. Remember he warned that the world hated Him, and they will hate us also. This verse is our instruction as to how we handle the situation when His warning becomes true in our lives.

10 – 12:

• To “love life and have good days” does not mean Christians will not have trouble in our lives. It means that if we live as directed in ways pleasing to Him, he will guide us and provide us care. Christians should not lie or say evil things. Our lives and words should encourage peace.

13 – 14:

• Christians should always do what is right, even if it means they must suffer as they do it. We should remember that nothing here can take away our blessing of life. Sin comes only if we yield and Satan cannot deter us without our willing agreement as we yield.

15:

• Christ is Lord of all things with all authority. People who may do bad things to Christians are not in control. If we trust in Him, others will notice and may ask us about this “hope”. It is this hope that keeps us separate (holy) from others not of faith. Each instance of mistreatment is an opportunity to witness to others of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus and of the inheritance we have in Him through faith into life eternal.

16:

• Obedience to God brings a clear conscience. Christians should not worry when opposition is against us. The day will come when God will give them a guilty conscience for having spoken what is wrong.

17:

• Even good people will suffer but must, even in suffering, continue to trust God. Trusting through suffering is one of the purest forms of faith. It is likely that our understanding in this important area will be renewed by reading the book of Job from time to time. How faithful was this servant who suffered so terribly but after having lost almost all he had, still refused to curse God.

18:

• In this verse, we see a basic lesson taught again. God is holy and sin separates us from God. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Jesus never sinned but removed all our sin by his sacrifice, and even though dead, lived anew by His power to lay down His life and to take it up again. As His believers, we also who were dead in sin and trespass are “quickened”, made alive through Him and His completed work on the cross.

19 – 20:

• In his next letter, we will see that Peter calls Noah “a preacher of right behavior” (2 Peter 2:5), and now we see Peter teaches that the Holy Spirit spoke through Noah. He warned the people of his time to change their wicked ways and they did not do so. As a result, they perished while Noah and his family alone were saved from the flood.

• Christ, put to death in body, but alive again by His power, went and preached unto the spirits in prison.

• There is more than one possible meaning to these verses and they have been among the most debated verses for centuries. In verses that are subject to various interpretations, it is always good to focus upon the actual words and the words before and after. In this case the operative words are “preached unto the spirits in prison”.

• There are several strong scriptural statements about this event concerning the time between the death of Christ and when He arose. It seems that we have good wisdom to support His efforts spiritually during these three days (known as The Harrowing of Hell):

1. Acts 2:27 Peter’s sermon quoting Psalm 16:10

2. Romans 10:6-7 Quoting Deut 30:13 “Who will ascend into heaven or who will descend into the abyss?”

3. Ephesians 4:8-9 “He ascended but He also descended into the lower parts of the earth” and the interesting teaching that “…He led captivity captive”.

• It is generally believed that it was this period that Christ used to visit the portion of hell (not the portion of the damned but rather the portion known as paradise or Abraham’s bosom) and led away those faithful spirits who had been awaiting his work on the cross to mark their change in location. Remember also the teaching that after He arose, certain saints rose from their graves and walked about in Jerusalem (Matt 27:52-53), signifying the mastery Jesus commanded over death itself.

21:

• Baptism is an outward sign of inward change as we accept the gospel and invite Christ into our lives as LORD & MASTER (let us not forget the second one). The baptism water is like the water of the flood that washed away the evil things. As we arise from this baptism water we are a new creation rising from old life into new, as did our Lord.

22:

• Jesus has returned to Heaven, from which he came to arrange our salvation, and He sits at the Father’s right hand, the position of all power and authority. Even powerful authorities and angels are now under His authority.

• Jesus taught us in His earthly ministry that He and the Father are one. Having seen the Son, believers also have seen the Father.

1 Peter - Chapter 4

Good will, even good deeds, is not always enough to gain a neighbor’s respect. Practicing their Christian faith led Peter’s readers into conflict with their neighbors and with the larger society. Although they once followed the customs expected of any citizen in their local community, suddenly they would no longer follow those in the community. As a result of becoming Christian and now following Christ and His teachings, and observing properly the command to be holy, set apart, they were accused of being aloof and worse.

Among the things they would no longer do is participate in the festivals that were a part of the culture of the people of the Roman Empire. A normal part of those festivals included proclaiming faith in the idols and false gods, as well as to the Roman emperor as a god himself. Such activity was considered as idolatry by the Christian community and their refusal cast shadows upon them from the non-Christian members of the local towns.

Such non-participation invited the charge against the Christians that they were not participating because they simply hated everyone. The charge against them was “hatred of the human race”. They were also charged with treason (not respecting the Roman authorities) and of rebellion (not respecting the gods that protected their local area). Such aloofness and supposed treasonous behavior meant that at any time the Christians could become victims to persecutions, physical abuse, and even death. Being a Christian in that time and place was not easy. Think carefully about the devotion and courage of these early brothers and sisters in Christ who gave so much for their faithful obedience. Think about how much we take for granted today.

Yet Christ, their Lord and therefore their example, had also suffered and had triumphed over evil powers that opposed him as we saw in 1st Peter 3:22. That means that those that follow Him will triumph over those same forces that had opposed Christ and now opposed them. It is in that confidence that they can face the suffering visited upon them, confident that they too will triumph at the hands of the God who also raised Jesus Christ to His heavenly throne after mortal death.

1 – 2:

• Christ is our model. He became flesh and dwelt among us to set the example of life and obedience. Christians must follow His lead and do the same, even if they have to suffer for doing so. This means change in the way they think, feel, and live. Romans 6:6 teaches us that when people accept Christ He frees them from the power of sin. It is our responsibility to use this power to live without yielding to the temptations of sin that will be placed in our path as we walk with Him.

3:

• Remember that Peter’s letter was addressed to both Jews and Gentiles who have become Christians. The Gentiles did not know about the only true God or about the OT laws set out by God through Moses. Instead they worshipped many false gods and as a result lived evil lives. It is VERY important that we consider this lesson still today. Idols in our lives are not always carved figures of stone or wood but in our world can be status, money, sex, drugs, possessions, or anything that comes before God in our lives. Let’s never forget that as His followers we are to seek first His kingdom.

4:

• When people become Christians, their lives change. This change comes from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit within us. As our lives change we seek to give up behavior that is evil. In John 3:19-21 Jesus tells us that people who do what is evil hate the light. The light of the Lord is within the followers of Christ. Others may hate and insult followers because of this change. If so, we are to rejoice in this treatment as we are suffering for Him and in obedience of love for Him.

5:

• Peter’s readers knew Christ would return. They actually expected this to happen before they died. (Does this sound familiar?). Please let us not lose sight of the majesty of the Lord’s lessons of His Gospel that it does NOT matter to us whether He returns before our own mortal death. Whether our bodies are dead or alive at His return moment, we shall be like Him and with Him evermore.

6:

• All people go through mortal death because of the sin of our first parents. (Romans 5:12). When Jesus took the cross, He took all sin upon himself. Our sins are taken from us by this act of purchase on His part. We must never forget that we are justified before Holy God ONLY because of this work. No other work ever known allows us to stand before God with sin removed.

7:

• Peter writes, “… the end of all things is at hand…”. He wrote these words almost 2000 years ago. While we still do not know when the end will come, we must be ready always. This means we should constantly think about how we live and always seek to live in His will, following humbly the plan He has set for our lives.

8:

• This kind of deep love is God’s love. It is more than good feelings or momentary warm efforts of kindness. Christians should continue to love one another deeply, even when it is difficult to do so. Proverbs 10:12 teaches that love hides many sins. Christians should not excuse people when sin is evident nor think that sin does not matter. It is in the forgiveness of confessed sin that the deeper love of God is found. We should pray for those who struggle and we should remember that struggle appears in every Christian life.

9:

• One way Christians can show their love is to invite people into their homes. This may be hard work, but we are to do it freely and without complaint. There are no strangers within the family of the Lord. We should remember that Christ has invited each believer into His own home and has prepared it for our arrival.

10 – 11:

• God has provided gifts for each of us. Some people have more than one gift. It is the tapestry woven of all these blessed gifts that brings the beauty to His kingdom. We cannot display selfishness as we are told to help each other. Church leaders cannot be expected to do all the work. Paul was very clear on this point in Romans 12:3-8. Although it is a simple thought, let us remember that the heart of the body cannot be the hand, nor can the ear be the eye. All are necessary for the body to work properly as designed.

• Peter mentions two types of gifts. There are gifts where people speak and there are gifts where people serve in a practical way. Some are able to preach and teach. Some can prophesy. But all words must be about the truth that comes from God. Others who do not speak can still move the kingdom forward and they are given strength to do so. All these gifts should be used humbly, not in pride. As all use the gifts given, the sum total of those gifts then become praise for the Lord.

12:

Believers are beloved to Peter. He loves and cares about those to whom he is writing. He teaches that Christians should not be surprised when painful trials appear. The Greek word here might be translated “burning” and he describes the trials as fiery. Painful troubles are like the fire that tests the gold of faith, purifying it. (1:7). Difficulties are our opportunity to show faith in God, as we know he will never leave or forsake us.

13:

Suffering Christians can have joy, as we know that Jesus suffered for each of us. All suffering will be minor when we later compare it to the glory that awaits the faithful.

14:

God blesses Christians when others curse them. Peter calls the Holy Spirit the “… spirit of glory and of God…”. It is that spirit that remains forever within us.

15:

Christians know that it is wrong to murder or to steal. These are among the 10 commands that God gave to Moses, written in stone by His own finger. It is also wrong to make trouble in the lives of others. Being too interested in the lives of others can be see as being a “busybody” and such behavior does not become a believer.

16:

Not all believers will suffer seriously. Some may suffer more than others. We are not given the wisdom to understand why this may occur.

Remember God’s good man, Job. Suffering should not bring shame, but rather should be used to glorify God.

17 – 18:

God will judge people by His standards, not by ours. Rewards or punishments will be granted by Him, not us. All that happens to us is either by His direct or His permissive will. These issues of life that try us are tests that we should convert to testimonies. They should purify us.

Those who do not accept Christ and therefore show Him no obedience will not be forgiven on that last day. Matthew 18:9 is brutally candid as to their destination.

19:

While Christians do not yet know the WHY of all things it is commanded that we trust in Him as the captain of our salvation. As He created all things, and sustains all things by the power of His Word, we can rest assured that He will never fail us once we are His. None can pluck us from His mighty hand. Eternal life and love awaits us. There is therefore no condemnation of those who rest in Christ Jesus.

PRAISE GOD WITH OUR LIVES. USE WORDS ONLY IF NECESSARY.

1 Peter - Chapter 5

As we finish our study of 1st Peter, we see the disciple is providing exhortations concerning Christian service, conflict and victory, and concluding thoughts. 

It seems important to point out that Peter begins by encouraging the elders among believers. Elder does not necessarily mean older in age. It can describe those of some years in life but it seems likely that it might also be a useful term for those who may be elder in wisdom brought from knowledge. 

Further, we should point out that Peter only claims the title of elder for himself. He professes no other formal position  and claims no unique authority or superiority over others. He is a teacher through this letter and his particular wisdom has come to him because he was a witness to both the majesty of the Lord’s work on earth as well as to the suffering of the Lord in His passion.

1 – 7:

• In his appeal to the elders Peter is appealing to the leaders of the local churches who are much experienced, mature in the faith, and wise in the Word. We have been given specific requirements of the position of elder in Titus 1:5-9 and similar requirements are seen in 1st Timothy 3:1-7 when describing the position of bishop. 

• Peter was a fellow elder. He had experience in all the things he writes about in his letter. What better teacher can there be than one who has already known the matters of the lessons given? We recall that Peter had personally seen the glory of the Lord at His transfiguration and he makes the profound but simple statement that when the glory is shown again, he will take part in it.

• A common theme throughout scripture is that of God as a shepherd. It is likely that one of the lines we all learned as young children is taken from Psalm 23, “The Lord is my shepherd…”.

• This word picture works so well because a shepherd leads and cares for the sheep. The sheep follow him because they have come to trust him. They recognize his voice. The shepherd makes sure they are safe and have good pasture. If one sheep is missing the shepherd will not rest until it is accounted for. He will not forsake one of his flock. The elders are encouraged to act as shepherds. They should lead and protect the flock of believers and feed them on the Word. If one of the flock appears lost, the elder should work to return it to the fold. Elders are also helpful protection against the attacks of Satan. A good elder serves his people and does not consider himself above others. He should wish to serve God and the flock that belongs only to God. We are told in 1st Timothy 5:17-18 that the elders deserve pay for the work done but that they should not do the work only for pay.

• Peter warns that elders should not consider themselves bosses or rule over the people. The example of Jesus is best for them to follow as He taught that He came to serve, not be served. Elders are under His authority and after their work here is done, a crown is ready for them in glory. This crown, unlike crowns on earth, will never lose its beauty.

• Younger believers should respect and obey the elder. Peter teaches that grace comes to those who are humble, not proud. The strong hand of God will lift them up and give them honor.

• Verse 7 is so very simple and straightforward but is so very hard for even the most devout among us to practice. We are to give ALL our worries to God, because He cares for us. How many times do we come to this conclusion far later than we should? Matthew 6:25-34 teaches this lesson from the lips of Christ himself.

8 – 11:

“Be sober, be vigilant…”

• Why? Because there is an adversary and a conflict in the life of each Christian. Just because we have given our worries to the Lord does not mean we can ignore the truth of the evil aspect of Satan toward us. In the days of persecution when Peter lived, Satan was seen as a roaring lion seeking those who he may devour. Remember the lion first seeks the weak but in his hunger will attack the strongest if necessary. In our day he remains this dangerous creature but he also disguises himself as an angel of light.

• How easy and simple have our days of technology made the work of Satan. We provide him the very best tools with which to attack our minds and spirits with his pollution. Each believer must keep in mind that Satan cannot take our body, mind, will, or soul. He operates only under the permissive will of the Lord, and we must give him the key to our hearts as he places his evil temptations in our path. He who is in each of is stronger than he who is prince of this world.

• These attacks are not everlasting. As we resist and are vigilant, grace will carry us to glory that will forever end all suffering that we may endure here. His power is our strength.

12 – 14:

• In the final greetings, Peter tells that this letter was sent by Silvanus. It was the same Silvanus (Silas) who took the stripes and the prison at Phillipi and sang the songs of praise with Paul in the night of suffering. He knew what suffering for Jesus meant. He was a leader in the church at Jerusalem (Acts 15:22).

• Greetings are also sent from others in the city of Babylon. This term was a coded term meaning Rome. 

• Peter also sends greetings from John Mark, whom he describes as his son, meaning his son in the spirit, not his biological son. 

• He also concludes by reminding all believers to greet each other with the kiss of Christian love. This greeting was observed for many centuries among the faithful. We see its reference many times in scripture (Romans 16:16   1 Cor 16:20   2 Cor 13:12   1 Thess 5:26).

Peter closes with words that still comfort us today:

“Peace be with you all in Christ Jesus, Amen”

1 Peter - Jewish Teacher

Early Christian Gospel Leadership / The Two Sided Sword

As we recall, through the majesty and grace of Jesus Christ, Saul became Paul on that road to Damascus. As in the case of Peter, a transformation took place that changed the man from one life into another life quite different from any he had known or might have foreseen.

This is the glory of the call. Perhaps it makes sense to recall the wonderful and powerful words of Paul we have been given in blessing to understand the call. These words are found in Romans 11:9:

“For the gifts and the calling of God are without repentance”.

One cannot turn from these things. The NIV translates that they are irrevocable.

Paul was described by Christ as His chosen vessel to the gentiles, which includes us in this room. Peter, however, was focused upon bringing the gospel to the Jewish people. These two leaders acted in the early days as the two edged sword of Christ. So we need to view the teaching and writing of Peter from this perspective. His burden may well have been heavier as he was dealing with those who already felt chosen and elect. So his writing and teaching leans strongly upon the previous scripture that Jewish people would have known, the OT. 1st Peter abounds in OT language and most of the imagery he used in his first letter is taken from those sources (see below):

1:15 Lev 11:44-45 & 19:2 2:21 Isa 53:9

1:24 Isa 40:6-7 2:24 Isa 53:4-6 & 12

1:25 Isa 40:8-9 2:1 Ps 34:13-17

2:3 Ps 33:9 3:14-15  Isa 8:12-13

2:6 Isa 28:16 4:8. Prov 10:12

2:7 Ps 117:2 4:14 Isa 11:2

2:8 Isa 8:14 4:18 Prov 11:31

2:9 Isa 43:21 5:5 Prov 3:34

2:10 Hos  2:23 5:8 Ps 22:14

2:12 Isa 10:3

Let us keep always in the front of our minds that it is on the rock of this man’s faith, and words spoken to Christ himself by him, that Jesus instructed His church would be built (Matt 16:18). On that foundation of faith it rests still strongly today.

1 Peter - Chapter 1 Summary

Laying the Foundation for Joy

Application: The student will realize the unique source of joy that is available to those who know Jesus Christ as their Savior.

Last week application: The student will determine not to put hope in the world's getting better but in the coming of Jesus Christ.

FROM THE VERY FIRST DAYS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH, CHRISTIANS HAVE FACED DIFFICULTIES.

FROM THE TEMPTATIONS AND SUFFERINGS THAT COME FROM THE WORK OF OUR EVIL ADVERSARY TO THE FALSE TEACHING THAT SEEMS ALWAYS TO BRING CHALLENGES TO EACH GENERATION.

LIFE AS A CHRISTIAN IS HARD AND WAS NEVER PROPOSED IN SCRIPTURE TO BE EASY.

WE NEED TO BE ENCOURAGED TO BE STEADFAST.

THE LETTERS OF PETER DO EXACTLY THAT, ENCOURAGE US.

PETER'S FIRST LETTER SHOWS US THE MEANING OF TRUE GRACE.

HE EXPLAINS THAT MYSTERIOUS UNION OF PRESENT SUFFERING AND THE GLORY TO COME.

HE SHOWS US IN HIS 2ND LETTER HIS STRONG URGING FOR US TO BE FIRMLY ESTABLISHED IN KNOWLEDGE OF GOD THAT COMES AS A RESULT OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM THROUGH SALVATION.

JUDE LATER GIVES THE SAME ENCOURAGEMENT BUT FIRMLY TELLS US TO CONTEND FOR THE FAITH WITHOUT FEAR.

1ST PETER WAS WRITTEN BETWEEN 64 & 67 A.D. AND IS ADDRESSED TO JEWISH CONVERTS IN ASIA MINOR.

IT WAS WRITTEN FROM BABYLON WHICH IS UNDERSTOOD TO MEAN THE CITY OF ROME, THE MYSTICAL BABYLON.

IT WAS A TIME OF MUCH PERSECUTION UNDER NERO WHO HAS ALWAYS BEEN VIEWED AS THE MOST BLOODY ROMAN EMPORER IN HIS TERRIBLE VIOLENCE AGAINST THE FAITHFUL.

HE ILLUMINATED THE ROMAN CITY AT NIGHT BY COVERING CHRISTIANS IN TAR, HANGING THEM FROM POSTS AT THE STREET CORNERS AND SETTING THEM ON FIRE.

PETER AND PAUL WERE BOTH VICTIMS OF THIS MONSTER.

BEFORE WE JOURNEY INTO OUR PASSAGE OF TODAY IN PETER'S FIRST 12 VERSES, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO REMIND OURSELVES OF THE VERY SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP PETER HELD WITH OUR MESSIAH.

LET'S CONSIDER THESE FACTORS AS WE BEGIN:

PETER'S NAME IS MENTIONED IN THE GOSPELS MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE EXCEPT JESUS HIMSELF.

NO ONE SPEAKS MORE IN THE GOSPELS THAN PETER EXCEPT THE LORD.

JESUS SPOKE DIRECTLY TO PETER MORE THAN ANY OTHER INDIVIDUAL.

JESUS REBUKED PETER MORE THAN ANY OTHER DISCIPLE.

PETER WAS THE ONLY DISCIPLE TO REBUKE JESUS.

PETER CONFESSED JESUS MORE BOLDLY THAN ANY OTHER DISCIPLE, AND WITH GREATER ACCURACY.

PETER DENIED JESUS MORE FORCEFULLY AND PUBLICLY THAN ANY OTHER DISCIPLE.

JESUS PRAISED PETER MORE THAN ANY OTHER DISCIPLE.

JESUS ADDRESSED PETER AS SATAN, SOMETHING NOT HEARD
FROM HIS WORDS TO ANY OTHER DISCIPLE.

PETER SHOWED SOME OF THE EARLIEST OBEDIENCE TO THE LORD WHEN HE PUT OUT HIS FISHING NETS AGAIN AT THE COMMAND OF JESUS AFTER HE HAD FISHED ALL NIGHT AND CAUGHT NOTHING.

PETER STEPPED OUT OF THE BOAT IN THE MIDDLE OF A RAGING STORM AND WALKED ON THE WATER TO JESUS.

PETER WAS THE ONE WHO COMFORTED JESUS WITH THE WORDS OF “LORD, WHERE WOULD WE GO FOR YOU HAVE THE WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE”.

PETER, ALONG WITH JAMES & JOHN, SAW THE TRANSFIGURED JESUS.

PETER SOUGHT OUT THE TRUE MEANING OF FORGIVENESS WHEN HE ASKED THE LORD HOW MANY TIMES ONE SHOULD FORGIVE A BROTHER. (7 TIMES? NO, 70 TIMES 7)

PETER TRIED TO COMMAND THE LORD NOT TO WASH HIS FEET, ASKING JESUS TO WASH HIS WHOLE BODY.

PETER HEARD JESUS PREDICT HIS DENIAL 3 TIMES AND ANSWERED “LORD. I WOULD DIE FOR YOU”.

PETER WAS HONORED WITH A PERSONAL MEETING WITH THE RESURRECTED JESUS (LUKE 24:34)

PETER RECEIVED A PUBLIC RESTORATION OF HIS RELATION WITH JESUS IN FRONT OF ALL THE OTHER DISCIPLES (JOHN 21).

SO AS WE BEGIN TO LOOK INTO OUR ASSIGNED PASSAGE, WE SEE THAT PETER INTRODUCES HIMSELF AS AN APOSTLE.

THIS INTRODUCTION IS SO VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THERE IS NO OTHER NEW TESTAMENT OFFICE ATTACHED TO THE PHRASE “OF JESUS CHRIST”.

WE NEVER READ OF TEACHERS OF JESUS CHRIST OR PROPHETS OF JESUS CHRIST. OR EVANGELIST OF JESUS CHRIST.

PETER DOES NOTHING TO TRY TO EXPLAIN OR JUSTIFY HIS POSITION BY ADDING A PHRASE SUCH AS “BY THE WILL OF GOD” AS PAUL DID FROM TIME TO TIME.

UNLIKE PAUL, PETER'S APOSTLE POSITION WAS NEVER CHALLENGED AND THIS BEGINNING PHRASE ESTABLISHES HIS AUTHORITY.

WE SEE HE IS WRITING TO THE STRANGERS IN OTHER LANDS AND HE DEFINES THE LANDS TO WHOM HE ADDRESSES HIS THOUGHTS.

HE CALLS THEM STRANGERS TO REMIND THEM AND US THAT HE IS TEACHING THAT ALL BELIEVERS ARE STRANGERS IN WHATEVER LAND THEY LIVE.

OUR HOME IS NOT HERE AND WE ALL ARE BUT PILGRIMS PASSING THROUGH ON OUR WAY HOME TO ETERNITY WITH THE LORD.

HE IMMEDIATELY TELLS THEM HE IS WELL AWARE THAT THEY HAVE BEEN DISPERSED TO OTHER LANDS BY SAYING THEY ARE SCATTERED.

THESE LANDS PETER MENTIONS ARE ALL OUTPOSTS OF CHRISTIANS AND WE SEE THAT THE LETTER WAS NOT WRITTEN TO ONE CHURCH OR CONGREGATION IN THE LANDS, BUT WAS SENT TO ALL CHRISTIANS.

NOW IN VERSE 2 PETER GRANTS THEM & US HIS DESCRIPTION OF THESE BELIEVERS.

HE IS VERY CAREFUL TO REFER TO ALL CHRISTIANS WHO WILL HEAR HIS LETTER AS ELECT.

THIS MEANS CHOSEN BY GOD IN A PARTICULAR AND UNIQUE SENSE.

NOT CHOSEN NOW, OR RECENTLY, OR AT CONVERSION DAY, BUT PETER SAYS THEY WERE ALL CHOSEN ACCORDING TO THE FOREKNOWLEDGE OF GOD.

IN EPHESIANS 1:4 PAUL IS VERY CLEAR ON THIS SAME TEACHING, SAYING WE ARE CHOSEN BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD.

THIS FOREKNOWLEDGE INCLUDES PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF EVERY BELIEVER'S RESPONSE TO THE GOSPEL BUT IS NOT SOLELY DEPENDENT UPON IT.

GOD MADE IT CLEAR TO MOSES THAT HIS MERCY IS AT HIS PLEASURE ALONE.

NOTICE WE ARE TAKING ACCOUNT OF GOD'S KNOWLEDGE WHICH IS SOVEREIGN OVER ALL THINGS, AS HE POSSESSES FOREKNOWLEDGE, WHILE WE POSSESS ONLY PAST AND PRESENT KNOWLEDGE.

WE KNOW WHAT HAS HAPPENED AND IS NOW HAPPENING BUT GOD KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN.

AN ESSENTIAL RESULT OF ELECTION IS SANCTIFICATION AND OBEDIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BLOOD OF CHRIST SHED TO TAKE AWAY SIN OF THE SAVED.

THIS BLOOD REPLACES THE NEED TO SPRINKLE BLOOD ON SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS FOR THE ATONEMENT OF SIN AS WAS DONE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT.

• EXODUS 24:5-8 THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE OLD COVENANT AT SINAI.

• EXODUS 29:1 AT THE ORDINATION OF AARON AND HIS SONS.

• LEV 14:6-7 AT THE PURIFICATION CEREMONY FOR A LEPER

THE SHED BLOOD OF JESUS ACCOMPLISHES THE SAME THING, AS FIRST HE FORMED A NEW COVENANT AT THE LAST SUPPER AND ALL WHO COME TO BE HIS THROUGH GRACE GIVEN IN FAITH ARE CLEANSED FROM THE CORRUPTION OF SIN.

IN VERSE 3 PETER DEFINES THIS MATTER FURTHER BY MAKING SURE THAT GOD WHO IS THE FATHER OF JESUS HAS BEGOTTEN US AGAIN.

JESUS TAUGHT THIS FIRST IN HIS CONVERSATION WITH NICODEMUS BY SAYING THAT UNLESS A MAN BE BORN AGAIN, HE CANNOT SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

THROUGH VERSE 5 PETER PRAISES AND GIVES THANKS FOR THE LIVING HOPE INTO WHICH ALL BELIEVERS ARE BORN.

THE HOPE LIVES BECAUSE IT IS BASED UPON SOMETHING INCORRUPTIBLE, NEVER TO FADE AWAY, AND RESERVED FOR US IN HEAVEN.

THOSE UNSAVED DO NOT POSSESS THE CAPACITY TO RECEIVE THIS HOPE.

THAT WOULD BE LIKE THINKING A BLIND MAN COULD ENJOY THE BEAUTY OF THE SUNSET OR THE BEAUTY OF PAINTED ART.

HE HAS NO CAPACITY AND THEREFORE CANNOT RECEIVE SUCH BEAUTY.

AFTER SALVATION PETER TEACHES THAT WE ARE KEPT BY THE POWER OF GOD THROUGH FAITH.

THIS KEEPING PROVIDES OUR SECURITY THAT NO MATTER WHAT THE TRIAL OR SPIRITUAL WARFARE OF LIFE BRINGS, WE HAVE NO FEAR OF LOSING OUR HOPE BECAUSE IT IS KEPT FOREVER BY THE GREATEST POWER KNOWN, NOT BY OUR OWN STRENGTH.

SALVATION ACTIVATES THIS PRESERVING POWER FOR US AND WITH THE INDWELLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WE ARE GUIDED THOUGH THIS JOURNEY UNDER THAT POWER.

NOW IN VERSES 6-9 PETER OPENS UP THE DISCUSSION TO THE PURPOSE OF THE TRIAL FOR THOSE WHO ARE SAVED.

WE SEE QUICKLY THAT HE BEGINS WITH A MUCH DIFFERENT TEACHING.

HE SAYS THAT WE WHO ARE SAVED ARE SUBJECT TO MANIFOLD TEMPTATIONS WHICH ARE HEAVY IF NEED BE.

PETER SAYS THAT FOR US TO BE SO GRIEVED IS NECESSARY, AND THAT GOD HAS A PURPOSE FOR THE TRIAL AS WELL AS THE DEGREE OF THE HEAVINESS IT BRINGS.

OUR FAITH IS TESTED BY THE FIRE OF SUCH TIMES.

OUR FAITH IS NOT TESTED BECAUSE GOD DOES NOT YET KNOW THE DEPTH OF OUR FAITH OR HOW MUCH FAITH WE HAVE IN OUR HEARTS AND SPIRITS.

IT IS TESTED BECAUSE WE OURSELVES DO NOT YET KNOW THE DEPTH OF OUR FAITH & DEVOTION AND GOD'S PURPOSE IN SUCH TESTING IS TO DISPLAY IN US THE ENDURANCE OF OUR OWN FAITH.

• FAITH IS TESTED TO SHOW WHETHER IT IS TRUE FAITH AND SINCERE AND SECURED WITHIN US TO FACE THE TRIAL.

• FAITH IS TESTED TO DEMONSTRATE IT'S STRENGTH.

• FAITH IS TESTED, JUST AS PETER SAYS, TO PURIFY IT FURTHER, BY FIRE TO BURN AWAY THE DROSS FROM THE GOLD.

IN THESE MOMENTS IS WHERE WE RELEARN THE GREAT TEACHING THAT THE STRENGTH OF THE FAITH OF THE BELIEVER IS MEASURED ONLY BY THE DEPTH OF OUR SURRENDER.

PETER KNOWS THESE BELIEVERS HAVE NOT SEEN THE LORD, AS HE HAD BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER RESURRECTION, SO HE REMINDS THEM THAT THEY ARE KNOWN TO HAVE GREAT LOVE FOR ONE NOT SEEN.

JESUS WAS NO LESS REAL IN THEIR FAITH BECAUSE THEY HAD NOT SEEN HIM WITH MORTAL EYES.

IN THIS WAY WE ARE ALL TAUGHT THAT JESUS IS THE SAME TO EVERY BELIEVER TODAY AS HE WAS BEFORE HE ASCENDED AS SEEN BY PETER.

WE ALL SHARE THE SAME FAITH, AND NOW PETER SAYS WE ALSO ALL SHARE THE SAME “UNSPEAKABLE JOY”.

THIS PHRASE IS FOUND NO WHERE ELSE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT AND IT EXPRESSES A JOY SO PROFOUND AS TO BE BEYOND THE POWER OF WORDS TO DESCRIBE IT.

NOW IN VERSES 10-12 PETER DISCUSSES THE PRIOR REVELATION OF THE SALVATION KNOWN BY ALL CHRISTIANS.

HE SAYS IT IS SO DEEP AND FILLED WITH THE GOODNESS OF GOD THOUGH HIS GRACE GIVEN BY OUR FAITH THAT PROPHETS HAVE INQUIRED AND SEARCHED CAREFULLY .

PETER IS VERY CLEAR HERE TO ASSURE BELIEVERS THAT THIS SALVATION PREACHED AND OPENED BY TEACHING WAS NOT A NEW OR NOVEL THING.

THE OLD TESTAMENT PROPHETS LONGED TO SEE THE GRACE OF THE NEW COVENANT.

THEY KNEW SOMETHING OF THE COMING LORD AND OF HIS SUFFERINGS FOR HIS PEOPLE (SUCH AS ISAIAH FORETOLD) BUT THEY KNEW FAR LESS THAN THEY WANTED TO KNOW.

WHILE THE PROPHETS KNEW MUCH, THERE WAS ALSO MUCH HIDDEN FROM THEM, INCLUDING THE CHARACTER OF THE CHURCH (EPHESIANS 3:4-6) AND THE VERY ESSENCE OF ETERNAL LIFE & IMMORTALITY (2ND TIMOTHY 1:10).

THESE ARE ALSO THINGS WHICH EVEN ANGELS DESIRE TO LOOK INTO. EPHESIANS 3:10-11 TEACH AGAIN THIS SAME PRINCIPLE SO IT WAS CLEARLY KNOWN BOTH TO PETER AND PAUL.

JESUS ALSO MENTIONS IN LUKE 15 THAT THERE IS JOY IN THE PRESENCE OF ANGELS WHEN ONE SINNER REPENTS.

PETER KNEW WELL THE POWER OF THE LORD AND HIS WORD AND ALTHOUGH HE WAS MARTRYED BEFORE THE POWER OVERWHELMED EVEN THE ROMAN EMPIRE, HIS FAITH WAS CLEAR & STRONG.

IN 303 A.D. THE EMPORER DIOCLETIAN COMMANDED ALL FORMS OF THE SCRIPTURE OF CHRISTIANS BE GATHERED AND BURNED THOUGHOUT THE ENTIRE EMPIRE.

PERSECUTION WAS POWERFUL BUT NOT POWERFUL ENOUGH.

25 YEARS LATER THE EMPORER CONSTANTINE DECREED THAT CHRISTIANITY WAS TO FOREVER BE THE FAITH OF THE ENTIRE ROMAN WORLD.

1 Peter - Chapter 2 Summary

Understanding our Heritage

Application: The student will know and remember the blessings God has given him and that God can keep him stable in difficult times.

ANY REAL CHANGE IN LIFE BEGINS IN OUR SOUL AND THEN THOSE CHANGES WILL BE SEEN FROM THE OUTSIDE AS HAVING AN EFFECT ON OUR PHYSICAL LIVES.

LET'S REMEMBER THAT JESUS MADE A SIMILAR STATEMENT THAT IT IS WHAT COMES FROM WITHIN A MAN THAT DEFILES HIM.

THE SOUL TRANSFORMATION IS AN EXCHANGE PROGRAM, WE EXCHANGE OUR SLAVERY TO SIN AND SERVING SATAN FOR THE POWERFUL GIFT OF GOD'S HOLY SPIRIT WHICH WILL GUIDE US TO SERVE THE LORD.

THERE ARE ONLY TWO POSSIBLE POSITIONS FOR MANKIND, EITHER WE SERVE THE DEVIL WITH OUR LIVES OR WE BECOME CHANGED FOREVER THROUGH GRACE BY FAITH TO SERVE GOD.

THE DWELLING PLACE OF GOD IS NO LONGER IN THE JERUSALEM TEMPLE BUT RATHER EACH BELIEVER HAS BECOME A NEW TEMPLE WHERE GOD RESIDES.

THERE IS NO NEUTRAL OR MIDDLE GROUND.

NEW TESTAMENT CHRISTIANS ARE SEEN BY PETER TO BE THE SUCCESSORS OF THE ORIGINAL CHOSEN PEOPLE GATHERED UNDER THE TWELVE TRIBES.

WE MUST BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN WE DISCUSS THIS AREA IN THAT IT CAN BE SEEN TO SAY THAT THE ISRAELI PEOPLE ARE NO LONGER THE CHOSEN PEOPLE.

NOTHING CAN BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.

THIS IS A HORRIBLE HERESY KNOWN AS SUPER SESSIONISM. 

WHILE WE HAVE COME TO GOD AFTER THE CHOSEN PEOPLE WE ARE NOT A REPLACEMENT FOR THEM.

GOD IS STILL WORKING HIS PLAN FOR THE JEWS AND IT WILL BE FULLY IMPLEMENTED AFTER THE TIME OF THE GENTILES IS FULL.

WE ARE NOW IN THE GAP WEEK OF DANIEL'S PROPHESY, BETWEEN THE 69TH AND 70TH WEEK. 

ANY CHRISTIAN WHO READS AND SEEKS UNDERSTANDING OF THE REVELATION SHOULD GRASP THIS FACT BY THE COMING OF THE 144,000 JEWISH EVANGELISTS WHO ARE CHOSEN & SENT BY GOD TO DO HIS WILL.

PETER OFTEN TEACHES OF NEW TESTAMENT CHRISTIANS IN TERMS OF OLD TESTAMENT IMAGERY AND WE SEE IT CLEARLY IN 1ST PETER CHAPTER TWO VERSES 4-10.

HERE PETER SAYS THAT ALMOST ALL OF GOD'S PROMISES MADE TO ISRAEL HAVE BEEN BESTOWED ON THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST.

THE PRIESTHOOD ABLE TO OFFER ACCEPTABLE SACRIFICES TO GOD IS NO LONGER DESCENDED FROM AARON, AND NO LONGER EVEN IS DESCENDED FROM HIS TRIBE.

CHRISTIANS ARE NOW THE TRUE ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, WITH DIRECT AND BOLD ACCESS TO THE THRONE OF GOD.

GOD'S ELECT  ARE NO LONGER DESCENDED BY BLOOD FROM ABRAHAM JUST AS JOHN'S GOSPEL TEACHES US IN JOHN 1:13,

NO LONGER IS DIRECT BLOOD FAMILY NEEDED TO BE A PART OF THE KINGDOM AS THE BLOOD OF JESUS HAS OVERCOME THAT NEED.

JEWISH CHRISTIANS AND GENTILE CHRISTIANS ARE NOW SEEN AS ONE FAMILY IN THE KINGDOM.

PAUL IS VERY CLEAR ON THIS MATTER IN EPHESIANS 2:14-15 AS JESUS MADE FROM TWAIN ONE NEW MAN, RELATED BY FAITH ONLY.

THE CHURCH IS THE COMMUNITY OF THE KINGDOM BUT IS NOT THE KINGDOM ITSELF.

THE KINGDOM IS THE RULE OF GOD THROUGH HIS LAW, HIS PROPHETS , AND HIS MESSIAH.

THE CHURCH IS A SOCIETY OF MEN & WOMEN.

THE KINGDOM HAS CREATED THE CHURCH TO SERVE THE LORD AND IS AN INSTRUMENT OF HIS POWER.

IT HAS NO POWER ON IT'S OWN. ALL POWER FOUND IN THE CHURCH IS GIVEN FROM ABOVE AND THESE BLESSINGS ARE WHAT PETER IS TRYING TO CONVEY.

NOW IN REVIEW OF OUR VERSES, WE SEE FIRST IN 1-3 THAT PETER IS CHALLENGING US TO GROW SPIRITUALLY.

THE SAVED SHOULD LEARN HOW TO SERVE THE LORD AND THE ONLY WAY TO DO THAT IS TO GROW & MATURE SPIRITUALLY.

PETER USES THE SAME LANGUAGE OF PHYSICAL BIRTH SEEN IN CHAPTER 1 AS THE NEXT STEP AFTER BIRTH IS TO GROW.

IN ORDER TO DO SO, THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS WE MUST LAY ASIDE.

PETER MENTIONS 5 OF THEM IN VERSE 1 :

• MALICE

• GUILE

• HYPOCRISIES 

• ENVIES  &

• EVIL SPEAKINGS

IN THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE THIS COMMAND IS TO PUT AWAY, TO STOP, AND NOT TO RETURN AGAIN TOWARD.

IN VERSE 2 PETER TEACHES OF THE THING TO DESIRE AFTER WE HAVE LAID ASIDE THE NEGATIVE THINGS.

THE SINCERE MILK OF THE WORD.

WE GROW BY FEEDING UPON THE WORD. SPIRITUAL GROWTH DOES NOT HAPPEN BY ACCIDENT.

PETER ALLOWS THAT THE REASON WE ARE TO DESIRE THIS SINCERE MILK IS HAVING TASTED IT, WE KNOW THE LORD IS GRACIOUS.

THOSE ADDRESSED HAD ALREADY LEARNED THIS FACT AT THEIR SALVATION MOMENT AND WE MUST REMEMBER PETER IS WRITING TO SAVED PEOPLE.

IN VERSES 4-5 PETER SAYS WE MUST SACRIFICE ACCEPTABLY.

THIS FACTOR COMES AFTER SALVATION.

• 1ST THEY WERE COMING TO CHRIST IN A LIVING & GROWING

  RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.

• 2ND CHRIST IS THE LIVING STONE  (CORNERSTONE OF FAITH)AND WE MUST NEVER OVERLOOK THAT HE IS ALSO THE LIVINGWATER (JOHN 7:38) & THE LIVING BREAD (JOHN 6:51) AND THE LIVING WAY (HEBREWS 10:20).

• 3RD THIS STONE WAS DISALLOWED OF MEN. THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE MEANS TESTED AND REJECTED. THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS REJECTED HIM AND CAST HIM ASIDE AS A WORTHLESS STONE.

• 4TH JESUS WAS CHOSEN OF GOD. THE ONE REJECTED BY THE PHARISEES WAS THE CHOSEN ONE SENT BY YAHWEH TO SAVE HIS OWN CHOSEN PEOPLE. IN BOTH HIS BAPTISM AND HIS TRANSFIGURATION GOD SPOKE FROM HEAVEN CONFIRMING THIS FACT.

IN VERSE 5 WE SEE THE NATURE OF THESE STONES OF WHICH THOSE SAVED ARE THEMSELVES A PART.

1ST THEY ARE LIVELY. THE SAVED ARE ALIVE SPIRITUALLY AND ARE NO LONGER DEAD STONES. PAUL IS VERY CLEAR TO TEACH US THAT WE ARE QUICKENED (MADE ALIVE).

2ND THEY ARE BUILT UP INTO A SPIRITUAL HOUSE.

3RD THEY ARE A HOLY PRIESTHOOD. BELIEVERS ARE JOINED TOGETHER WITH OTHER BELIEVERS INTO A JOINT COVENANT RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST AND HAVE A PRIESTLY FUNCTION. NO PREACHER OR PRIEST HAS TO INTERCEDE FOR BELIEVERS UNDER THE NEW COVENANT. EACH BELIEVER IS HIS OWN PRIEST.

4TH THEY OFFER UP SPIRITUAL SACRIFICES. THE OLD SYSTEM OF ANIMAL SACRIFICE IS OVER AND IT WAS FINISHED BECAUSE JESUS MADE THE ONCE AND FINAL SACRIFICE. NOW WE ARE LIVING SACRIFICES OF OURSELVES FOR HIM.

5TH PETER SAYS THESE BELIEVERS (AND US) ARE ACCEPTABLE TO GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST. THE ONLY WAY TO THE FATHER IS THROUGH THE SON. THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO THE KINGDOM.

SO BECAUSE OF ALL THOSE THINGS, PETER TEACHES THAT WE ARE TO CHOOSE WISELY IN VERSES 6-8.

THE FATHER'S FOREORDAINING OF THE SON REACHES BACK TO ETERNITY PAST (CHAPTER 1 VERSE 20).

THE STONE LAID IN ZION IS THE CORNERSTONE OF ALL THINGS OF THE SPIRIT AND WAS SO PLANNED BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD.

HERE PETER HARKENS US BACK TO ISAIAH 28:16, SAME TEACHING.

JESUS IS ELECT AND PRECIOUS, MEANING CHOSEN AND BROUGHT TO US TO BE FOREVER PRECIOUS, MEANING AT A HIGH COST.

THE PRICE OF OUR SALVATION IS THE DEATH OF THE SON OF GOD.

IN VERSES 7-8 WE SEE THAT HE IS REJECTED BY THOSE WHO REMAIN IN UNBELIEF.

THESE ARE DISOBEDIENT & STUMBLE AT THE WORD.

WE CANNOT EVER FORGET THAT THIS SIN IS THE ONE SIN THAT JESUS DID NOT COVER IN HIS OWN BLOOD.

ALL OTHER SIN DEBTS ARE PAID BY HIS GLORIOUS SACRIFICE EXCEPT THIS SIN.

NOW IN VERSES 9-10 PETER TURNS HIS TEACHING TO MORE POSITIVE THINGS.

HE REMINDS BELIEVERS OF WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT IS EXPECTED OF THEM.

PETER USES FOUR PHRASES TO REMIND BELIEVERS WHO THEY WERE 

• 1ST THEY WERE A CHOSEN GENERATION. HERE PETER HARKENS BACK TO HIS CHOOSING OF HIS OWN IN DEUT 7:6.

• 2ND THEY WERE A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD. WE SEE THIS TEACHING CONFIRMED IN THE REVELATION (5:10) ASSURING US OF THIS FACT. WE SHOULD REMEMBER THAT UNTIL THIS TEACHING, THE ONLY TWO INDIVIDUALS SO GRANTED THIS PRIVILEGE WERE MELCHIZEDEK & JESUS CHRIST, BOTH PRIESTS & KINGS, NOW WE JOIN THAT VERY EXCUSIVE GROUP FOREVER.

• 3RD THEY WERE A HOLY NATION, SET APART TO BE A LIGHT AND WITNESS TO A WORLD THAT IS DARKENING BY THE REJECTION OF IT'S ONLY MESSIAH (HARKENS BACK TO EX 19:6).

• 4TH THEY WERE A PECULIAR PEOPLE. IN THE GREEK THIS DOES NOT MEAN ODD (ALTHOUGHT AT TIMES WE ARE VERY ODD),  BUT IT MEANS A UNIQUE POSSESSION, UNLIKE & ABOVE OTHERS.

PETER NOW IS VERY SURE TO ASSURE THESE BELIEVERS OF THE THINGS THEY WERE TO DO.

WE ARE TO SHOW FORTH OUR PRAISES OF HIM BY OUR LIVES AND HEARTS WHICH AFTER SALVATION, BELONG TO HIM. NOW IN VERSE 10 PETER ASSURES THEM THAT WHILE THEY HAD BEEN NOT A PEOPLE BUT NOW ARE EXACTLY THAT, A PEOPLE OF GOD.

BEFORE FAITH THEY HAD NOT OBTAINED MERCY BUT NOW ARE A PART OF THE KINGDOM ONLY BECAUSE OF THAT MERCY WHICH COMES BY GRACE ALONE.

HERE PETER REACHES BACK TO THE PROPHET HOSEA IN HOSEA 2:1.

THE PROPHETS 1ST CHILD WAS NAMED LO-RUHAMAH, MEANING NO MERCY.

THE 2ND ONE WAS NAMED RUHAMAH DROPPING THE PREFIX “LO” AND IS TRANSLATED AS MERCY.

HERE PETER IS LIKELY GRANTING HIS UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE WERE TWO PEOPLES SEPARATE BEFORE, JEWS AND GENTILES, AND NOW BOTH ARE ONE BECAUSE THE LORD HAS MADE THEM SO THROUGH HIS PERFECT PLAN OF MERCY FOR ALL WHO BELIEVE.

HOW DID THEY BECOME A HOLY NATION?

IN LUKE 4:5-7 SATAN TOOK JESUS TO A HIGH PLACE AND SHOWED HIM ALL THE KINGDOMS OF THE WORLD AND OFFERED THEM TO JESUS AS A QUICKER WAY TO RULE WITHOUT THE CROSS.

JESUS REJECTED THE OFFER, KNOWING THE PLAN OF GOD AND BEING FAITHFUL TO IT FOR HE WAS PART OF IT.

SATAN IS NOT ALL KNOWING, AND WAS NOT IN FULL KNOWLEDGE OF THE PLAN PUT INTO PLACE BEFORE ALL THINGS.

AFTER REJECTING SATAN, JESUS BEGAN HIS MINISTRY PREACHING THAT TIME HAD NOW BEEN FULFILLED & THE KINGDOM OF GOD WAS AT HAND (MARK 1:15).

NOW WE FAST FORWARD 30 YEARS LATER. ROME WAS THE CENTER OF THE WORLD.

IT WAS SURELY ONE OF THE KINGDOMS SATAN OFFERED TO JESUS.

BUT PETER NOW ASSURES BELIEVERS THEN & NOW THAT WE ARE A HOLY NATION.

WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?

IT CAME FROM CHRIST. EVERY PAGE OF HOLY SCRIPTURE TEACHES THAT THERE IS A NEW NATION, MADE HOLY BY FAITH THROUGH GRACE.

THIS IS A NEW KINGDOM THAT SATAN COULD NOT OFFER FOR IT HAD ITS BEGINNING IN THE GLORY OF ETERNITY, NOT OF THE WORLD WHERE SATAN WORKS.

WHO ARE THE CITIZENS OF THIS HOLY NATION ALL COMING FROM THE MANY KINGDOMS OF DARKNESS INTO THE NEW KINGDOM OF LIGHT?

HOW CAN THEY BE HOLY IF THEY ALL CAME FROM KINGDOMS OF GREAT DARKNESS?

PETER GIVES THE ANSWER HERE IN OUR PASSAGE TODAY.

THEY WERE REDEEMED BY THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF JESUS AND THEREFORE BECAME JUST & HOLY, BUT ONLY WERE MADE SO CLEAN BY THE SACRIFICE OF GOD'S LAMB.

THEY ARE NOT ONLY HOLY (MEANING RIGHTEOUS) IN THEIR POSITION BEFORE THE JUSTICE OF GOD, BUT ARE NOW ALSO TO BE HOLY IN THEIR CONDUCT.

THE INTIMATE RELATION THAT BEGINS WITH SALVATION BRINGS THAT HOLINESS, NOT JUST OF THE SOUL BUT ALSO OF THE HEART, WHICH GUIDES BEHAVIOR.

TO THE GREAT ANGER OF SATAN, JESUS WAS TAKING PEOPLE FROM THE DARK KINGDOMS AND BUILDING THEM INTO HIS OWN KINGDOM OF LIGHT & GOODNESS.

THE LORD HAD DESTROYED THE OLD DARKNESS THAT HAD INVADED HIS OWN CREATION BY SIN AND NOW USES THOSE SAME PEOPLE DRAWN AWAY TO BECOME CITIZENS OF THE NEW KINGDOM, ALL OF WHOM LIVE AS ALIENS AMONG THE KINGDOMS OF THIS WORLD AND BRINGING LIGHT TO DARK PLACES.

PETER IS STRONGLY TEACHING US THAT THOSE WHO HAD BEEN BORN INTO REBELLION AGAINST GOD TO SATAN'S GREAT JOY, WERE NOW SPEAKING HAPPINESS IN BOTH SOUL & HEART ON BEHALF OF GOD'S MERCY AND GRACE.

2 Peter - Intro

Peter’s second letter instructs us on two strong themes:

1. Knowledge of God.

2. False teachers.

Peter urges us to know God intimately and to be firmly established in the knowledge that can only come from a close relationship with Him. He begins his second letter “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord” and he closes with “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior…”. This repetition shows that Peter expects our knowledge is grounded in grace with certainty through the knowledge we gain in Christ. This knowledge holds the letter together. The word “knowledge” or some form of it appears consistently in his second letter:

1:3/5/6/8/12/14/18/20/21 & 3:1-3/17/18

Peter seems to be emphasizing that if we do not live in the light of His imminent return, we become like scoffers who live only for the present and are given to sins of the flesh (we will study in chapter 2).

What is the result of our having this knowledge? Peter hopes that through it we will be grounded or firmly rooted in our faith (1:12). Peter uses his own painful moments in his life to teach us this lesson using the path of falling and then strengthening. Remember the lesson of love’s warning that we viewed in Christ’s talk with Peter in Luke 22:31-32. While it is a simple lesson, we must grasp how profound it truly is for us even today. We gain knowledge through faith in our Lord, Jesus Christ, and through that knowledge we gain strength to face the trials and temptations that surely will come in the life of a believer.

The early Christian writer, Origen, wrote in the 3rd century of the testimony of this letter. It has long been somewhat coupled with the small book of Jude with the question of which came first and who borrowed from whom. This second letter contains both the theme of Peter’s last will & testament as well as exhortations to those who would receive the letter. The last will theme is reflected in 1:3-11 & 2:1-3 & 3:1-4. With the accepted date of Peter’s death at 67-68 AD in Rome in the persecutions by Nero, it seems likely that Peter wrote the letter from Rome and possibly from prison. This small letter calls to us today of the condition of the Christian, the authority of the Christian, the danger to the Christian, the prospects for the Christian, and finally the call for the Christian to remain steadfast in faith.

It is faith that unites the heart of the believer to the Lord. As we are justified before the Father by the atoning work of the Son, we are therefore purified in spirit toward godliness as only the gift of grace can bestow. Peter had been purified and it is his example, among others, that provides us the stepping stones along our path to eternal life.

Now let us step into 2nd Peter and hear him teach us of strength through the knowledge we will gain through study of the Word.

2 Peter - Chapter 1

1 – 2:

As in other epistles of the NT, Peter first identifies himself and sends greetings. He describes himself as a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ. He shows his humility by first stating his servant position as this position requires obedience to one’s master, in this case Christ. We remember that apostle means one who is sent. In this case Peter had been sent by Jesus himself so while humble, Peter was also assuring that his readers understood that he was speaking with authority.

Peter knew that false teachers were trying to change the gospel but he knew the truth as he had walked with Christ and he had been sent exactly like the prophets of the OT had been sent by the Lord:

“… for thou shalt go to all that I shalt send thee, and whatsoever I command thee, thou shalt speak” (Jeremiah 1:7).

The false teachers were denying that Jesus was God. In Matthew’s gospel we see that Jesus was called Emmanuel (God with us) (Matthew 1:23). Peter carefully reminds his readers that Jesus IS God as well as savior.

Peter wanted his readers to have more grace and peace from God. He wants to see these things multiplied within the believer. He had prayed a similar wish in 1st Peter 1:2. Remember Paul, His chosen vessel to us the gentiles, constantly sent such wishes (Romans 1:7, 1 Cor 1:3, Ephesians 1:2). Peace means far more than the absence of war. Here it refers to the quiet spirit that is God’s gift through our loving relationship with Him. It involves every part of the life of a believer. This true peace comes after His grace is given. These gifts come as people come to know the Lord. Knowing here refers not to simply meeting or any surface relation, but rather is meant to mean the close and intimate relationship, which occurs as we trust and obey, putting Him first in our lives.

3:

Showing us by His example what God expects of us, Jesus calls upon us to trust Him and to please God by living a holy life, meaning set apart. False teachers were saying that there are special secrets needed to be saved, secrets known only to a few (generally themselves). Here is one of the fundamental pillars of the gospel as taught by Peter, that Jesus Christ is sufficient. Nothing other than Christ is needed. There is no other who has the words of eternal life.

4:

When Christians accept the Lord and know Jesus personally they receive through the Holy Spirit His nature. Our old nature is gone and we are new creations. Paul taught this in Galatians 2:20, “…now it is not I who lives but Christ who lives in me…”. We are living as new people and have escaped the corruption of the world through faith. The world here is meant to be the human society that opposes God. Once more, the false teachers were teaching that once saved, people could indulge their evil desires but Peter taught that once saved, people must refrain from that life and not return to it. Repentance means a turning from sin and casting it away from our lives as we now follow Him.

5 – 11:

Jesus has given Christians everything that they need but we are responsible to use what He has given us. Our path to right behavior as followers of Jesus will require hard work, much effort, and will take a long time to produce the fruit of life needed to follow His example set so well for each of us. Peter speaks of seven (the holy number) qualities of character. We do not work on one at a time. All are linked and all must be added and increased in ourselves as we develop into Christian maturity.

These are:

• VIRTUE

• KNOWLEDGE

• TEMPERANCE

• PATIENCE

• GODLINESS

• BROTHERLY KINDNESS

• CHARITY (LOVE)

As we develop each of these characteristics, we will come to know Jesus better and each will draw us closer to Him. Notice that in verse 8 Peter uses the full title of “Lord Jesus Christ” to express His supreme authority over all things, including our lives. Verse 9 teaches that those who do not add these things to their lives are blind, spiritually without sight, and have forgotten that God has forgiven their sins.

If these things abound within us, we meet His wishes for us, as these special things will bring our fruit to bear for Him and His kingdom. We should be eager to show these things in our lives. If we do so, we will never fall. Here Peter helps us to avoid that difficult portion of his own life wherein he fell momentarily in his time of fear.

Important Note: Peter is not teaching that one becomes a Christian from hard work or by improved behavior. Peter understood fully that one becomes a Christian first by confession of sin, repentance of sinful ways, accepting Christ as personal savior, and living a life of service to Him by trusting in Him and staying in obedience to His will as knowledge comes through His word. The qualities Peter numbers for us are those that occur as we grow in Him, walk with Him, trusting Him and His Holy Spirit to lead our lives forward.

From all these efforts will come a great welcome for the Christian into the everlasting kingdom as good and faithful servants.

12 – 13:

Peter was not implying his readers were weak, however, he was helping each to recall that since there existed the false teachers spreading false and misleading doctrine, that his desire was to remind the people of the true message of the gospel and to “stir them up” by reminding them of the truth.

Is there a need for Christians of today to be “stirred up”?

14 – 15:

Peter knew he would soon die. He had been given this knowledge by Jesus when Jesus told him he would die by “stretching out his hands’ (John 21:18-19), meaning on the cross.

While Peter was still here, he wanted to help the Christians to

remember what he had taught them.

16 – 18:

Peter now begins teaching of the evidence known from the Apostles. Peter and the others had told the believers about the return of Christ. The same false teachers were saying that Jesus was dead forever and would not return. These false teachers claimed that Peter and others made up these stories about Jesus. But Peter is forceful to point out that he, and others, were eyewitnesses to the majesty of Jesus Christ. Peter had been one of a few to see the Lord in His glorified form at the Transfiguration and he knew that it would be in glory that Jesus would return, as He had promised, and had the angel at the moment Christ ascended. Being an eyewitness to these wonders provided Peter with far higher authority to teach that those who had never seen, never accepted and never known.

19 – 21:

Now Peter concludes his first portion of the 2nd letter (remember there were no verses and chapters then) by reminding the Christians of the evidence from scripture. How firm and direct was this teaching by Peter as he noted that the prophecy of old came not from the will of man but rather was provided through the prophets through the Holy Ghost.

The OT prophets told us that the messiah would come, and He came.

We are reminded that Jeremiah foretold the time of the false teachers of Peter’s time as he wrote:

“the false teachers speak of a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord”. (Jer 23:16)

Peter is clear in his downward view of these false ones as he tells us that no prophecy of the scripture is of private interpretation. Prophecy comes from the mind and spirit from above. The power of the prophets came from above and the small and limited ability of these false teachers came from below as Satan uses all his effort to diminish the Word from reaching the hearts of men.

2 Peter - Chapter 2

Peter teaches of the false teachers and their punishment, both of them and their followers. He also uses this portion of his letter to teach on the deliverance of those who are faithful and godly.

Much of this chapter is similar to the book of Jude (as we discussed briefly in chapter one), with some words showing strong consistency. We do not know if Jude borrowed from Peter or if Peter borrowed from Jude. It also may be that both borrowed from a third source that was lost in the early church days. This puzzling question does not, however, affect the truth of either letter.

Peter intensely disliked the false teachers and wrote severe words against them. He wanted his readers not to be swayed by them and to be strong and mature in their faith. There are not many stronger warnings to the children of God about those who would mislead us than those we study in this section of Peter’s writing.

1:

We see immediately a connection with chapter 1, verses 20-21. There were false prophets in the time of the OT just as there were false teachers in the time of Peter. Jesus himself spoke of this matter in Mark 13:22-23. We have been warned to check all that we hear from those who are teaching suspect doctrine (Acts 17:11). The teaching that scripture provides is true because they are inspired of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

These false ones told the believers that Peter had made up stories about Jesus and that Peter’s teaching of Christ taking the sin of the world upon himself at the cross was not true. The false teachers will be punished as Peter warns. 

Do we see false teaching in our time?

2:

These false teachers told the faithful to be unconcerned about living wickedly as they were saved and it made no difference. This was the way the teachers lived themselves as well as how they preached. Some people were tempted by their words and examples. 

We must not lose sight of the fact that in John 14:6, Jesus taught “… I am the way…”, and in those early days the followers of Jesus were sometimes referred to as “THE WAY”. The example we have that is the true example for our lives is only Christ Jesus.

3:

These false teachers even lied to the faithful to gain their money (showing covetousness) and were dishonest about this effort. We recall that in the OT (Deut 13:1-5) God told his chosen people to kill false prophets so His judgment on these types of matters had been set long ago. We recall also the 400 false prophets of Baal who were destroyed by Elijah (1 Kings 18:27). 

4:

Peter teaches of the punishment God brought against the disobedient angels. He does not specify their wickedness but Jude in verse 6 tells us they left their proper place. Now these wicked ones are held in prison in darkness, when they once lived in light. They are reserved unto judgment perhaps seen in Revelation 20:10.

5:

God has clearly shown His willingness to destroy wickedness on the earth as He had done in the flood. Noah had preached and warned those wicked ones for many years and none listened.  We saw a view of this teaching also earlier in 1st Peter 3:20. 

Interestingly, Peter refers to Noah as the eighth person, and here it means the eighth person saved in the ark (Noah, his wife, his three sons, and their wives). Jude teaches that Enoch was the 7th person, making Noah actually the 10th person from Adam.

As the first prophet, Noah preached righteousness to the unrighteous, and showed them the path to salvation which all rejected to remain in their wickedness, and all but Noah and his family were destroyed by the wrath that followed their rejection.

6 – 9:

Just as in the days of Noah, the Lord’s wrath fell upon the ungodly in the cities of Sodom & Gomorrah. Just as in the days of Noah, the few godly were saved as the angel of the Lord led Lot and his family away before destruction arrived. 

While Lot was a good man, he made the choice to live inside the wickedness of these cities and he saw clearly the depravity of these ungodly people, but he also remained faithful in the face of evil and was saved because of his faithfulness. God does not spare the Christian from difficulties in the Christian life. He provides strength to each to overcome these times that will always be along the path of our walk.

He also will not fail to punish evil and wickedness. Peter assures his readers and us that those who choose the life of darkness will not go unpunished.

10:

Those false teachers who say that the believer may indulge the temptations of the flesh will be surely dealt with as they are arrogant and speak in evil ways about that which is good & dignified. They think they are beyond challenge as they preach this unclean idea of indulgence. Peter says they are presumptuous, meaning filled with themselves. Most importantly to his readers (and us) is the fact that above all, they are wrong!

11 – 12:

Angels are created a little higher than humans (Psalm 8:5) and they have more power and are stronger than the false teachers but angels will not sit in judgment of them or of other angels who have lost their way. While these false ones pretend they know a lot about God, they know little and are not humble before God. These people are to be considered animals, natural brute beasts, which will perish in the corruption they have created.

Angels know that the judgment will come from God, not themselves.

(Jude 8-11 provides extra details on this matter).

13:

The false teachers live in behavior that is not moral or worthwhile. Peter reminds that they eat meals with the faithful which Jude calls ‘feasts of charity (love). They make no effort even to hide their sin, having no conscience. These feasts are not to honor God but rather are to enjoy pleasures not proper or pleasures to excess, such as wine. We see this lesson given by Paul in 1 Cor 11:20-21. This behavior was not proper for a child of God to enter into and these false teachers provided the temptation, which should be refused.

14:

False teachers also practiced adultery as further sin. Peter teaches that those who had unstable souls (weak of character) were beguiled by these false ones. Notice that Peter gives his strongest condemnation in this verse as he teaches that they cannot cease from sin. Does this phrase remind us of those who were wicked in the days of Noah who were in continual thoughts of evil?

15 – 16:

Peter reaches back to the familiar story from the OT for a lesson to illustrate his points (Numbers 22-24). Balak, the king of Moab, wanted Balaam to speak bad things about the Jews. Balak even offered to pay him to do so. At first Balaam refused but then he gave in but God forced him to bless the Jews instead. Like Balaam, these false teachers were anxious to get money (wages of unrighteousness).

Balaam’s donkey could see the angel in his path while he, at first, could not. Balaam beat his donkey for stopping but then the donkey spoke to him in a human voice and the angel spoke to Balaam as well. The donkey was used by God to stop Balaam along his evil path and just as in those days, God will stop these evil ones as well.

17:

Peter uses beautiful word pictures to make his points. These false teachers appear to be what they are not. Wells may look promising on the outside to quench thirst, but if they are dry wells, they offer nothing. These teachers showed a form of godliness, which was indeed corruption. It is the living water of Christ that can quench the spiritual thirst of those who seek the Lord, not these false ones. Peter calls them clouds carried with a tempest, meaning clouds of little substance that can easily be blown away. We can refer to Jude again (verse 12) and see that they are “carried about of winds”.

The mist of darkness is reserved for them, along with the fallen angels cast into darkness (Jude 6). This place is held (reserved) for their arrival.

18:

False teachers lied to those who may have just converted and were not yet well versed in the path of the Lord. These lies demonstrated the vanity of these teachers, and once more Peter impresses upon his readers that iniquity of these teachers by using the term “wantonness” and he was very direct to show that they lived in error.

19:

Jesus had taught that he came to make people free (John 8:32) but these teachers twisted this lesson to say that people can live as they wish after conversion, free from judgment, using their freedom in Christ as an excuse for wicked living. The lesson of this verse is that we are a slave to this world and its evil or we accept that we are slaves in Christ as Paul taught in Romans 6:15. The choice is ours. There is NO middle ground.

20 – 22:

Peter says that these false ones knew the right way to live but left the right path to live in evil ways. It would have been better for them not to have known at all than to know and to then turn away and try to turn others away as well.

Peter returns to vivid word pictures to finalize his condemnation of these awful teachers. He repeats the story of the dog turning again to his own vomit which is taken from Proverbs 26:11. The comparison to dogs and pigs were meant to seriously disparage these men as both animals were considered as unclean creatures to the Jews. Jesus had used the same word picture in Matthew 7:6, teaching that one should give not that which is holy to the dogs (those who reject the Lord through His Son).

We should recall that these teachers were teaching that they were Christian but were adding to the gospel and were lying about the gospel to pervert the Holy word of the Lord. These last sentences by Peter were intended to conclude his anger and disregard for these false teachers by showing that they were like the things most disliked by Jews, vomit, mire, and these word pictures were his most effective attack on these false ones.

2 Peter - Chapter 3

Now we come to the strong meat of Peter’s teaching as he concludes his final epistle to the Christians who are under his teaching. Peter gives his wisdom, gathered from his personal experience with the Lord, of the certainty of Christ’s return, as He will come again in judgment. Peter warns the godly as to the need for their repentance and teaches of the long patience of God. 

Peter brings his strongest teaching yet given to describe the events of those last times for his readers. Surely we should take these words to our hearts just as if he was sitting here with us now. They are just as powerful and just as effective today as they were in his day. This last portion of his writing brings to mind the clear conclusion that Jesus used in The Revelation:

“HE THAT HAS AN EAR, LET HIM HEAR”

1 – 2:

Peter advises that this is his second letter to his Christian friends and he contrasts the impurity of the minds and hearts of the false teachers to the pure minds of his readers. He wants them to remember what he has taught and for the second time uses the word picture of telling them he wishes to “stir up” their minds.

God’s words were true, and he wants these who listen to be sure they remember (were mindful) that the truth was given by the holy prophets of the OT as well as the commands given by Jesus Christ in his earthly ministry, which we can now study in the four gospels. 

How lucky we are to have the Word in its completed book form at our hand for ready reference and study.

3:

While the Lord came to earth incarnated into our flesh over 2000 years ago, we have his promise that He will return and we who are faithful will await his arrival which is gain for each of us whether he comes before our own mortal death or not. If not, he will bring us with him when he comes. But in these last days, there are (and will be) those who will pursue only their own fleshly desires and will challenge whether His promise is true. WE KNOW IT IS TRUE! We also know that those scoffers will be headed for a different destination at that final hour.

4:

These scoffers and false teachers claim that nothing had changed since God had created the world and therefore nothing would change in the future. They claimed that Jesus was NOT God incarnate and had not brought us the truth. Peter answers these false ones in four ways:

1. God’s word (verses 5-7)

2. God’s time (verse 8)

3. God’s patience (verse 9)

4. Peter’s warning (verse 10)

5 – 6:

God’s word had created all we have, earth, sky, water, & heavens. He had commanded these things to appear and they had appeared. Genesis teaches clearly of the evidence of God’s work, which continues to surround us each day we spend on earth.

Note how Peter teaches that these false ones are not simply ill informed; he teaches that they are “willingly ignorant” which means they have chosen their own ignorance. This type of ignorance is especially wicked as the truth is available and evident, and they choose to disbelieve. Peter reminds us that those wicked ones in the days of the flood perished as a result of their wickedness and unbelief.

7:

The method to be used in the next destruction will not be water again, but this time will come the fire of His judgment. Joel 2:30-31 teaches us of the fire and smoke and blood to come and we see its promise in The Revelation of John as well.

8 – 10:

Peter creates a wonderfully different concept of time of man versus time of God. He advises that 1000 years here is equal to one day there in eternity (this concept he borrowed from Psalm 90:4). God rules time, just as He rules and sustains all other matters of life. While people here think that many years have passed with no change, in truth, not long has passed outside of human time. But we who remain faithful do not couple the passage of our time with a thought that God has forgotten His promise. Remember all those we studied in Hebrews 11 who remained in faith even though they died having not received the result of the promise. Because it did not happen in their lifetime here did not mean it was not still to come. Our faith must include things unseen to be faith.

God is neither slow nor slack. His promise is as pure today as it was thousands of years ago. His patience is His kindness to allow more to come to Him as our time passes. But His patience, while long, is NOT everlasting.

He sent our redeemer in the fullness of time. He will send the judgment also in the fullness of time. But we who are faithful and are His children will not be appointed to His wrath.

11 – 14:

Now Peter brings one of his most profound questions of all his teaching to his readers which is:

Now that you know all these things, how should you live?

We have been taught that life is at best a vapor, quickly gone. What should we do with this blessing of life now that we know the truth of His gospel and of His return? 

We should be holy, set apart. We should be godly, seeking always first His kingdom and all other things will come from that effort.

We should be joyful at the promise to come as new heavens and new earth will arrive for His people. Peter borrows from Isaiah 65:17 in these verses to confirm again the promise of the OT. There will be no wickedness there and no false ones. Peter teaches them and us to live lives pleasing to God, without spot or blemish and therefore awaiting in purity the return.

15 – 16:

Peter reminds his readers that Paul also had written of the patience of the Lord perhaps thinking of Paul’s teaching in Romans 2:4 that helps us to recall that it is God’s kindness that leads people to change their behavior.

Paul also taught clearly of the return of Jesus Christ and Peter acknowledges that some of Paul’s works were difficult to understand, particularly for those who are unlearned or unstable or as we saw earlier, choose willing ignorance. Their choice will bring their destruction.

17 – 18:

Christians knew before that false ones would come. Therefore they (and us) must be careful and guarded as the temptations of the false teachings and false doctrine are at time easy to accept. But this easy acceptance actually weakens the faith. The only answer to these issues is for believers to gain in strength and maturity, understanding more deeply the love God holds for His own. Notice how Peter closes his letter with the use of the most reverent title for our Lord:

Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

Peter wishes each believer to grow in grace and to extend all the glory of our lives to Him both now and forever.

He closes with a strong AMEN! This word transforms this letter into a prayer of praise. Remember in those days, as in our day, this word signifies a conclusion, which means, “it is true” & “we agree”.