Category: 2 Peter

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Peter gives a three-point sermon in this chapter: I want to stimulate you to wholesome thinking, so recall these points from the Scriptures: Scoffers, The Lord’s Patience, The Motivation To Holy and Godly Lives. What should you apply today?

SJA Notes

* Dear God, thank You for this day, and for Your word given to us today.

“But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”

Here is the big picture for us God’s people!

We don’t just have a little hope, maybe home ownership or a university degree or a successful business.

We have this GREAT and MIGHTY hope, the promise from God Himself, the promise OF God.

The new heavens and a new earth.

Not just made over like what happened in the great flood of Noah’s day. See how Peter clarifies this.

The new creation is COMPLETELY NEW.

God’s promise to us is that this will be where righteousness dwells.

In Revelation 21 we read,

“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.'”

God is righteousness. God will dwell with us!

Hallelujah, what a promise we have!

* Gracious Father,

Thank You for this wonderful, steady, sure, great and mighty hope we have in You.

A new heavens and a new earth.

Please remind us of this Lord God as the day grows long, when the shadows weigh in on us, when life is hard and lonely and we feel lost.

For what a hope it is!

Thank You Lord!

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

False teaching is an ever present danger to the Christian as to our congregation. Notice Peter’s warnings and his guidelines for telling false spiritual guides.

SJA Notes

* Holy God, Your word is faithful and true. Please feed us with the bread of life today.

“They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption.”

There are many who promise freedom in our world, across history and today in our lives right now.

Often those loudest are those who are themselves bound up in chains, where they do not even see the shackles.

We can be promised many things in our lives, from many different avenues.

Only God brings true freedom.

Out of Him is sin – And sin enslaves. It is a terrible master, sinister and death-bringing, the stink of corruption heavy.

Within, inside the fold of God, through the narrow gate that is our King, Christ Jesus – Freedom is found.

Freedom from sin and the penalty for sin, into a new life knowing our Creator God, hearts born anew.

Freedom from the crushing weight of no-hope, instead into a great lasting and solid hope.

False teaching can tickle the ears. May our hearing be turned only to the word of our Lord Jesus.

* Father God,

Thank You for the freedom we have as Your people, that You have saved us from the cords of sin, the shackles of death.

Please mark us as Your people today, may we serve You today!

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Notice how Peter talks about Jesus: our God and Saviour. The righteousness of Jesus is the means of your salvation. With Jesus you have everything you need for life and godliness. Meditate over the connections between the attributes listed in verses 5-8.

SJA Notes

* Holy God, You word teaches us the qualities that matter. Please write Your word on our heart today.

“For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Virtue.

Knowledge.

Self-control.

Steadfastness.

Godliness.

Brotherly affection.

Love.

In his second letter Peter starts with this very clear list. Attributes or qualities of the believer that we are to work to obtain, to strive for, to supplement each with the other.

“For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, …”

It is not only to have these qualities, but that the qualities are to INCREASE.

Increase is an important truth in God’s word. We can see this outworked across all of life.

There is much friction in increase.

We cannot ride a bike for any distance without pumping our legs until they’re burning. This provides increase. We get fitter, our legs get stronger.

We are to set about our lives getting fitter and stronger in the qualities Peter lists out.

We need to wrestle with this list!

Virtue. Knowledge. Self-control. Steadfastness. Godliness. Brotherly affection. Love.

Peter tells us that with these qualities growing and increasing we are effective and fruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

If this is true for us then we are good soil, bearing much fruit!

* Father God,

Please help us take hold of Peter’s words here, Your word spirit-breathed and carried along.

Thank You for Jesus, Your beloved Son in whom You are well pleased.

Amen.