HIS GREAT AND PRECIOUS PROMISES

Passage: 2 Peter 1:1-11

Key verse: 4

NIV

1 Simon Peter, a servant(A) and apostle of Jesus Christ,(B)

To those who through the righteousness(C) of our God and Savior Jesus Christ(D) have received a faith as precious as ours:

2 Grace and peace be yours in abundance(E) through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.(F)

Confirming One’s Calling and Election

3 His divine power(G) has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him(H) who called us(I) by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises,(J) so that through them you may participate in the divine nature,(K) having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.(L)

5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;(M) 6 and to knowledge, self-control;(N) and to self-control, perseverance;(O) and to perseverance, godliness;(P) 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.(Q) 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive(R) in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.(S) 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind,(T) forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.(U)

10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters,[a] make every effort to confirm your calling(V) and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble,(W) 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom(X) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.(Y)

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Footnotes
  1. 2 Peter 1:10 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Greeting

1 Simeon[a] Peter, a servant[b] and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who have obtained (A)a faith of equal standing with ours (B)by the righteousness of our (C)God and Savior Jesus Christ:

2 (D)May grace and peace be multiplied to you (E)in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

Confirm Your Calling and Election

3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him (F)who called us to[c] his own glory and excellence,[d] 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become (G)partakers of the divine nature, (H)having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith (I)with virtue,[e] and virtue (J)with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control (K)with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness (L)with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection (M)with love. 8 For if these qualities[f] are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or (N)unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he (O)is blind, having forgotten that he was (P)cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers,[g] be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and (Q)election, for if you practice these qualities (R)you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you (S)an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

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Footnotes
  1. 2 Peter 1:1 Some manuscripts Simon
  2. 2 Peter 1:1 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface
  3. 2 Peter 1:3 Or by
  4. 2 Peter 1:3 Or virtue
  5. 2 Peter 1:5 Or excellence; twice in this verse
  6. 2 Peter 1:8 Greek these things; also verses 9, 10, 12
  7. 2 Peter 1:10 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

INTRODUCTION TO 2 PETER

In 3:1 Peter says, 'This now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking.' Wholesome thinking is disciplined thinking, based on the word of God.

In his first letter, Peter encourages Christians who have been scattered by persecution. In this second letter he writes to give them directions for dealing with enemies within the church. God has given us all we need to live as his people (1:3). He has given us the Bible. We do not need any other authority. In the Bible are God's great and wonderful promises. The believer needs to hold God's promise in his heart, so Peter writes to remind us of God's promises and to remind us of the truth which we already know.

Peter wrote this letter with a sense of urgency, for he wrote just before he died a martyr's death at the hands of Nero. He wanted his sheep to be firmly established in the truth, so that they could stand even after his death. He warns of God's certain judgment on the ungodly, and assures us of the Lord's return. In the light of these things, we must live faithful lives.

1. Believing the promises (1-4)

God is righteous; he makes promises, and he keeps them. Faith is believing God's promises and living by them. God has given us everything we need for life and godliness. His great and precious promises are given so that we may participate in his divine nature and escape the corruption of the world. He promised forgiveness of sins, eternal life and the kingdom of God through faith in Jesus. He promised that Jesus would come again. Through believing these promises we can be united with Christ, and he will enable us to overcome our sinful human desires. God's promises are our true hope.

2. Growing in faith (5-11)

We are called to belong to Jesus, so we must grow in him. The crown of Christian growth is love. If we grow in Jesus, we become loving and fruitful. If we are growing, we have assurance about our calling and election.

Prayer: Lord, I believe your promises. Help me to hold them in my heart and grow in Jesus' love.

One Word: Hold on to God's promises