2 Peter 1 - A bit of background

Have you been reading? A few people have informed me that they are reading 2 Peter 1 along with me. If you haven't, let me encourage you to do so. Read one chapter, twenty-one verses, for 21 days. Read it once to yourself and once aloud (or have someone read it to you). Stay with us, we're reading 2 Peter 1.

As we encounter in the first verse, the one who is writing this letter is Simon Peter, the impulsive disciple of Christ. As you can probably deduce, this is his second letter. Interestingly, in that letter, he introduces himself as "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ." A bit different from his second letter in which we have been reading, "Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ." 

When you write a very important letter, or give a speech, every word is important. Every word carries meaning. A misplaced adjective, a grey verb, any double meaning, intentional or not, speaks. And so it is with the Word of God - every word is meaningful, every word was placed there intentionally.

Purpose of Writing

In the first century, when this letter was written, the introduction gave a sort of synopsis of the whole thing, hinting at themes and topics that the other would discuss and unpack. In his second letter, Peter is writing knowing that his time is short, he will be dying soon, as Christ predicted (1:13-14; cf. John 21:18-19). And so Peter is reminding the flock (1:12-13) of validity of the Christian faith, which is not based on fairytales (v. 16). 

Greeting

And so, Peter begins this letter, not introducing himself simply as "Peter" but as "Simon Peter" recalling to the minds of his readers that he has been transformed by Christ, who renamed him. 

Who is he writing to? "To those who have received a faith of the same kinds as ours." That is, Peter's faith is not any greater than the faith of the recipients of that letter. We each have equal access to God, all receive complete cleansing at repentance, and why? Because we have "received" this faith - it is not our own to boast of or measure. 

Introduction

So what is it that he says? "His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness"... did you catch that?

EVERYTHING pertaining to life and godliness - EVERYTHING that we need to live this life as God has wanted, in godliness... we already have. How do we have it? "Through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence." We have through God's enablement, not through our own attempts. It is ONLY through the knowledge of Christ and the power of God that we are able to attain godliness - the righteousness we have is that of Christ's (verse 1).

And Peter continues, "For by these" - God's glory and excellence - "[God] has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises" - which, as hinted at in 3:9, 13, is His promise to come back and redeem everything (Heb 9:28; 1 John 3:2; Rev 22:20; et al.). Why?

So that we may grow! Those who have repented and believe have "escaped the corruption that is in the world" as the image of God (the divine nature) is restored in us - the divine nature that we have been given, which enables us to be godly. 

Overview

Simon Peter, completely transformed by Christ, symbolized by his name change, calls the believers to remember the faith that they were given that can change them, too. When life and godliness seem to hard, he reminds them that they already have what it takes to go on. They have it because it has been given to them. It isn't simply Peter who is writing to them, but Simon Peter, the one whom Christ took and turned around.

Has it been given to you? Peter writes these things to encourage those who have the same faith as his. What is his faith? That Christ, the perfect sacrifice because He is God, and the only substitute because He became man, was given in death to purify us. It is only through His perfect righteousness, given to us not because of any merit of our own, but through His grace, that we can be made whole, that we can have communion with God. And this is only given to those who both repent of their sins and believe that God has acted according to His Word.

To those, a godly life is acheivable. A perfect life is beyond our scope on this side of death, but a life of godliness can be had. Because God has granted it. And so we must live not from defeat to defeat, but knowing that victory is within reach because Christ has stretched His arm out for us. Next time trials and temptations come your way, ask yourself: Have I put my complete trust in Christ? If so, Christ can overcome this in me, and I can be victorious. I have received EVERYTHING.