Lesson 9
Second Peter
Warning against dangers
facing the Church
1:9 For in whom these
things (qualities) are not present is blind being shortsighted having received
forgetfulness of his purification from past sins. (pre salvation)
Summary:
1. This verse discusses the believer who is deficient in these 7
qualities being so spiritually myopic.
2. Being short sighted indicates that often the believer is caught up in
the details of life, DOL’s, at the expense of their
spiritual life.
3. This short sightedness speaks of shutting the eyes of the soul to
truth, therefore shutting down one’s capacity for discernment and the ability
to handle the CHP’s of life.
5. If this condition is perpetuated the believer will loose their
confidence and assurance of their salvation. But not their
salvation.
6. This believer will have no appreciation of his heritage in Christ or
his inheritance.
7. If this blindness is perpetuated long enough it will result in a MA,
viewpoint of life just like the unbeliever.
Therefore, brethren, be all the more
diligent
- therefore or
because of this, the importance of applying all diligence in the sphere of your
faith that results in these 7 virtues being evident in the life
- be all the more diligent (had the noun
in vs:5 spoude) here we have
the aorist imperative (spouda,zw) which reminds
us that there is urgency in Peter’s mind that this command be fulfilled (knows
it’s in our best interest)
- The point is that there must be no compromise of BD in our
continual advance if we are not to fall into the situation noted in verse 9,
the spiritual blindness and amnesia.
Therefore, brethren be all the more diligent,
to make certain
about His calling and choosing you;
- What we are to do or to make is
indicated by the accusative of be,baioj to be firm,
secure, steadfast in our position in Christ
The choice reminds them that now as believers God has a purpose for them,
that is you all,
the plural reflects the corporate aspect to the choosing.
Now that we’re in Christ, and God has a plan for
us, as we grow in the knowledge of the Word we gain an understanding of what
our responsibilities are before Him.
for as long as you
practice these things, you will never stumble;
- If your concentrating on the
word and applying it as the situation dictates your life will manifest these 7
qualities. The degree and extent is
dependent on your growth in the Word.
- together
this double negative plus the subjunctive indicates emphatic negation
- Peter’s point here is that the
believer who is growing and maturing and demonstrates that reality by exhibiting
the virtues in view will not stumble spiritually in life like the ones he’s
just talked about who are spiritually myopic having amnesia of the awesome
provision they have in Christ.
For indeed if you keep doing these things (7 qualities)
you will by no means ever stumble (f2)
1:10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make firm the call
and choice of you (all) For indeed if you keep doing these things (7
qualities) you will by no means ever stumble (f2)
Summary:
1. Diligence toward the sphere of faith and the
resulting virtues existing gives us great assurance of not only our salvation
but confidence in time as a believers.
2. To make firm or steadfast your call and your
place in the plan of God implies that epignosis, a knowledge
of BD is absolutely critical for this confidence and assurance to be a reality.
- see this emphasis on firm and
steadfast in 2 Pet 1:19
where we find that the Word is more sure/firm/steadfast than any
experience no matter how valid
3. These qualities/virtues being present will
provide an inner peace even in a hostile environment.
- because your utilizing the resources provided in
Christ
4. Stumbling ultimately results from negative
volition to BD, to truth.
- no hearing because of a failure to assemble
regularly
- reject the truth taught therefore what is heard
does not become epignosis.
- no concentration on or application of what you
already know
5. Diligence in seeking the truth from which these
virtues flow will keep your life occupied with Him, the straight and narrow
road leading to DGP.
- also peace, contentment assurance and
confidence, all by products
6. We have a great promise here from God, keep
advancing in truth, reflecting these characteristics in your life and you will
by not means stumble spiritually.
for in this way (being all the more diligent) the entrance the entrance, or access; the access in view here is to f3
- into
the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
- Basileia –
“kingdom” refers not to a realm, a people, but designates the rule and
authority therefore the existence or character of the king.
- Here it refers to Christ’s rule and
authority for all eternity ie. f3.
This entrance will be abundantly supplied to you.
- Here in vs:11 it refers to what
God will supply the one who fulfills the command, you will be richly or abundantly supplied an
entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
- The promise here is that the one who manifests these
virtues will enter eternity with great reward, so speaks of the heritage or
inheritance of the advancing believer.
Summary:
1. Having a supply of epignosis and living it out, the result of
diligence not only leads to assurance of what is ours in our salvation (vs:10)
but also Peter says here it leads to an abundant entrance into eternity, great
reward.
2. The “entrance” always looks at the beginning of something which has
been prepared for:
- Acts
- 1 Ths 1:9; 2:1 Of Paul’s entrance to the Thessalonians
- Heb
3. We are preparing in time, that is in f2, for our abundant entry into f3 via DGP.
- We have the resources
available, but are we willing to use them?
- The
spiritual blessings being in Christ, emphasized in Rom 6;
- The ministry of the Holy Spirit we’re seeing brought out
in Rom 8. Ensuring that He is not quenched or grieved.
- Are we properly dressed as a Christian soldier so that
we’re prepared having the strength for the battle? Eph 6:10-18
4. The overt indication that this preparation for the entrance is on
going in the Believer’s life is the presence of these 7 qualities.
- this is our responsibility, our
part, the command is to us to supply these things, and we do so out of the
doctrine we know.
5. We must be on guard for those who are negative to BD as well as the
plethora of false teachers out there today who will attempt to sidetrack you
from the simplicity and devotion to Christ, the occupation with Christ. 2 Cor 11:3
- it takes discernment that only
comes from epignosis in you to sort out all the distortions of truth out there
today
6. Ultimately it is our diligence toward the Word of God and developing
the relationship with Christ that will secure for each of us this entrance into
eternity with abundant rewards.
- all believers will have an
entrance into the