2 Peter 1

Peter is both a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ. He has the teaching authority of one who has been sent out as an ambassador of the greatest of all kings, but this authority is exercised by a man who knows that he is a servant, and that God opposes the proud. Peter's standing before God is based on the gift of faith, a faith that trusts in someone else. In this way he is like every Christian. He is trusting in the righteousness of another, his God and Savior, Jesus Christ. When he prays that grace and peace would be multiplied to the whole church in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, he is seeking for others what he knows that he needs himself. Our standing is based on the one who came as God our Savior. He has done all things well.

Not only have we been granted faith in this Jesus, if we make progress in that faith or in any other aspect of obedient living, it is because the divine power of Christ has granted to us, not only a beginning in His household, but also growth in His service. Everything related to new life and godliness comes to us through this one Source, which we are able to receive through the mystery of knowing Jesus by the hearing of the Word of God with faith. Through the Word we know who Jesus is and what He has accomplished. Through the Word we know of the existence of a place of the most supreme blessing. God is calling us to that place of His glory and excellence through His Word. By the knowledge of these important spiritual matters, we have been granted precious and very great promises. We live in a world of corruption, and our own souls have been full of sinful desires. But now through the Word we have the presence of God in us, so that we are actually partakers of God's nature, for we are in Christ and Christ is in us forever.

With this confidence that God Himself is at work within us, we are not told to be passive about the life of faith, but active and expectant. We have faith, and there is no reason that we should not move ahead in a life of virtue. Are lazy people just supposed to accept that they are lazy? What about those who struggle with inappropriate affections, greed, or sinful anger? Not at all. They should look for and labor toward true spiritual growth that will lead to definite change in their lives. And why not, since Christ is in us. To this virtue, they should add knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love, which is the fulfillment of the Law. All of these good things are now within the line of vision of the eyes of our souls. We see them, we want them, and we should take pains to get them. This is Peter's instruction, and his confident expectation.

We look not only for some small quantity of these good gifts. We should anticipate and work toward an increasing measure of all the wonders of heavenly living. To have growing self-control or heavenly love is a miracle of the Holy Spirit. How exciting that this life is near to us and in us even today. Like the disciples who were sent out two by two in order to heal and to cast out demons by the power of God, the church has been granted a new capacity and a divine mandate to be agents of Christian growth in our own lives and in the lives of others. These evidences of sanctification are not to be viewed as optional, but as required provisions for effective and fruitful use of the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This is the way that genuine faith is to be lived out. To do less is to hear the good news of the power of the cross, and then to immediately forget the power part. It is true that we are weak, but the cross of Christ is strong. There is resurrection power in a cross that meets all the requirements of God's justice. Do you want to know that you are chosen by God and called to be a citizen of heaven? Then live as a person who hears the Word of God and follows it.

Peter's words about living out the Christian life are as serious as can be. He tells us that he uses every occasion to make this point, and he is writing this all down so that after he is gone, people will still have to respond to this instruction. Devote yourself to real progress in moving from a bare profession of faith to the full perfection of love.

The stories of the coming of Christ, His suffering death, and His resurrection majesty, these are not tales that the apostles invented. The fact of heaven is not some cleverly constructed fable. Peter was on the Mount of Transfiguration. He saw what took place there, and He heard the voice of God from heaven. Jesus is the beloved eternal Son of God. He has pleased the Father in every way.

Yet the eyes of men can deceive them. Peter has something far better than any appearance of God to the faithful. He has the prophetic Word of God, so sure now in the coming of Christ, His suffering, and His glory.

The Hebrew Scriptures of the Old Testament are filled with words, titles, characters, stories, episodes, and prophesies that prepared the Jews for the coming Messiah. Now He has come, making the prophetic Word much clearer in the light of the cross and resurrection of Jesus. Peter insists that this is more certain to Himself and to us than even the Transfiguration experience when Moses and Elijah appeared with a suddenly glorified Jesus.

One day Christ will rise in our hearts at the renewal of all things. Until that day, we are already partakers of the divine nature. We also have a Word from heaven's God that will never fail. Let us add faith to our hearing, and may that faith blossom more and more into glorious Christian love.