Growing in Grace-Fuelled Holiness – 2 Peter chapter 1, verses 1 to 4
1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who through the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours: 2 Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
2 Peter 1:1-4
Peter writes to those who had suffered
…urging them them to pursue godliness, not safety and comfort. So many voices, in the world, and even in the church, telling us there is a better way, that the gospel of Jesus is a no-way.
Holiness is Peter’s theme
1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who through the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours: 2 Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
2 Peter 1:1-2
How are we to grow in godliness, in a world of suffering and opposition?
- Not by self effort.
- Not by checklists, rules and laws.
- Not through guilt.
“…to those who through the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:” Not a call to do anything! Grace first, His grace, so we find peace not in what we have done, but on what he had done. This is brought to us through the knowledge of God and Jesus.
Divine Power
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
2 Peter 1:3
… which made the universe, is what enables us to grow. “Has given” – finished. We say “but where is this power?” It comes through “our knowledge of him”. Intimate knowledge of Him, not mere head knowledge.
But how?
4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
2 Peter 1:4
By the “ordinary” means of is grace: hearing preaching, reading, praying, baptism , fellowship, Lord’s supper,etc. Yet not restricted to these, God can do more, but we should not do less. These means are not weak, pointless and ineffective.
He called us
… not we calling him. Therefore there is hope, for he is powerful and his promises are sure.
Do you desire to grow? Then humbly immerse yourself in the gospel.
6 For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:6
