Lesson 2 – 2 Peter Chapter 1:4-7
So far in 2 Peter, we’ve been reminded that we are bond-servants of God… slaves of God. We know that we share the very same faith as the apostles had. When God sees us, He sees us through the lens of Christ’s righteousness and not our own. As believers in Jesus Christ we have a knowledge of God that only believers can understand, the world cannot understand because they don’t belong to Him. We are strengthened in our walk with God because He has given us all the power we need to live a godly life. God called us to all this and He does this by His own glory and excellence.
2 Peter 1:4
“For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.”
For by these… (God’s qualities), His glory and excellence. God has accomplished all that is necessary for our salvation. He has granted or has given means “to bestow,” this isn’t the usual word “to give something.” The Greek definition carries the idea of “the worth of the gift.”
James 1:17
“Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.” (NLT)
God has bestowed upon us His salvation, which to the believer is precious. Peter describes all the salvation promises as precious and magnificent, remember precious literally means “beyond calculation” and magnificent has the meaning of “valuable” and “very great.” When you think about it, how could anything that comes from God to us be anything less than precious and magnificent.
The promises included in salvation are: spiritual life, our resurrection, the Holy Spirit, God’s grace to us, joy, peace, strength, guidance, instruction, wisdom, eternal rewards, and an eternity with God in heaven… all precious and magnificent to say the least.
So that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature…
When Peter says “may become,” he’s not referring to something in the future for us, but it is a present reality. When we give our life to Christ, we receive everything related to life and godliness, as well as His priceless spiritual promises. It is because of all of these we “may become,” here and now, possessors of God’s own eternal life… man, talk about a “package deal!”
Partakers… (koy-no-nos’) this means “partner,” we become partners with God. Peter used a similar word for partakers in 1 Peter 4:13, that word is “share:” “But to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.”
Even though Jesus was alone on the cross, we were partakers with Him.
Gal. 2:20
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”
Believers being partakers of the divine nature… now means that we are “partners” of the divine nature… through the promises God has given us through the knowledge of Christ, who gave Himself for us.
Col. 3:3
“For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”
By being partakers of the divine nature, we have this built in desire to have a relationship with God, and this nature determines our appetite. God has also given us His Holy Scriptures which direct our new nature.
John 14:26
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”
Our nature is distinct from that of the animals and the rest of creation in that we can think and feel. There should be no question that this is a unique gift bestowed to us by God.
The Bible teaches that God created human beings in His image. This means that He enables us to have some understanding of Him and of His vast and complex design. Our human nature reflects some of God’s attributes, although in a limited way. We love because we are made in the image of the God who is love.
1 John 4:16
“We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.”
We will talk more about love later on.
Because we are created in God’s image, we can be compassionate, faithful, truthful, kind, patient, and just. In us, all these attributes are distorted by “sin,” which also exists in our nature. We know that as believers our sins have been forgiven, but we also should realize that we have the freedom to choose not to sin.
When the sinner believes on Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to impart the life and nature of God within us.
Unfortunately, mankind is under the bondage of corruption:
Romans 8:21
“That the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.”
The believer also shares in the freedom and growth that is a part of possessing the divine nature.
Having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust…
Here we have the “opposite” of the divine nature… the corruption that is in the world.
Because we have this divine nature that Peter is talking about, we have completely escaped the corruption (or defilement) and decay in this evil world. The key for us is to continually feed our new nature with the nourishment of the Word of God.
The corruption that is in the world…
Corruption… means destruction, or perishing. In a more graphic sense, an organism decomposing or rotting, and its accompanying stench. A picture of coming destruction.
By lust… The world’s decay and evil are driven by its sinful lust! …Lust means “evil desire.”
1 John 2:15-17
“Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.”
Our bodies and this world might be passing away, but we will always live forever through Christ. As believers, we have escaped from the fallen nature we once had. Having escaped… depicts for us a “successful flight” from danger. The danger is someone remaining in a fallen state apart from Christ.
Jermiah 17:9
“The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it?”
As we saw in 1 John, the expression lust of the flesh brings to mind primarily “sexual sins,” but while they are included in its definition, the phrase lust of the flesh is certainly not limited to that meaning. Whether regarding money, sex, or self-esteem… lust simply says, “I’ve got to have more and more.” And as believers, we can be delivered from this mind-set.
The world also entices sinner’s thoughts and actions that are contrary to God’s will through the lust of the eyes. Our society today is on a rapid downward spiral toward total moral depravity. These consequences ripple through our culture, affecting relationships, families, and the very fabric of a nation that once turned toward God. What is seen on American television today is very different from just ten years ago. The Communist Chinese government has banned all depictions of gay people on television as part of a cultural crackdown on “vulgar, immoral and unhealthy content.” Chinese censors have released new regulations for content that “exaggerates the dark side of society” and now deem homosexuality, extramarital affairs, one-night stands and underage relationships as illegal on screen. Sad that the United States won’t follow suit.
But I digress… let’s continue on with our “successful flight” from danger by pursuing a genuine knowledge of God through Jesus Christ who gives all we need to live godly lives.
2 Peter 1:5
“Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge,”
Now for this very reason also…
I’m a little surprised that Peter didn’t use the word “therefore” here, because the very reason he’s talking about points back to the “precious and magnificent promises” he mentioned before. With this in mind, it only makes sense that we would respond with maximum effort in our quest in living for Christ.
Phil. 2:12-13
“So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”
Our maximum effort comes from God, and He gives us the desire and the power to do what pleases Him. This won’t happen unless we’re living the “Spirit filled life.” Jesus directs our efforts when He says, “Apart from Me, you can do nothing.” (Jn. 15:5)
Through Christ, we have every reason in the world to apply all diligence, as Peter says. And what this comes down to is the assurance of our salvation.
So you must ask yourself, are you secure in your salvation?
1 John 5:11-12
“And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.”
John 20:31
“But these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.”
Being secure in your salvation means you have the guaranteed assurance that God keeps His Word, and that He has given you eternal life.
God, through Christ, granted every believer a perfect and complete salvation; yet, in a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory way, He requires that we “work it out” by applying all diligence. Keep in mind, God is never absurd or contradictory. Because of all we have in Christ, we are to do this… applying all diligence.
The NLT reads, “make every effort to respond to God’s promises.”
One commentator says, “Where there is life, there must be growth. The new birth is not the end; it is the beginning.”
Remember Paul said, “work out your salvation with fear and trembling,” he didn’t say, “Let go and let God,” that’s false doctrine. Our spiritual growth is not a passive process, it’s not automatic; it requires a conscious effort and intentionality.
Just as a plant needs care, sunlight, and nourishment to thrive, our spiritual well-being in Christ demands attention and cultivation… it’s a choice we make.
Peter lists seven character qualities in these next few verses that need to be added to our “beginning point of faith,” in order for spiritual maturity to take place.
In your faith supply…
2 Cor. 5:7
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
Saving faith is the foundation in which the fruit of our sanctification grows. God never intended for us to become stagnant in our faith.
Eph. 2:10
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”
In our faith, we are always going to have to battle with our flesh… you know that, you’ve lived it.
Unless we continue our Christian walk through the sanctification process, it will be hard to have a firm sense of assurance. So we step out in faith, and every step we take, God is right there with us.
By faith we supply… the word supply means to “give lavishly” or “generously.” It can mean to equip an army with all the necessary provisions; it can also mean to equip the soul with all the necessary virtues for life. Remember, God has provided all we need to maintain the assurance of salvation. God gives us enough faith to take one step at a time in our spiritual growth… then we take another step, and then another step.
To supply moral excellence, means that we’re going to give it a major effort on our part, which will be required of all the other characteristics Peter lists as well.
The NLT says, “Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence.”
Moral excellence… other translations say, virtue or goodness. This term was used to describe heroic or courageous deeds. A land that produces crops is deemed “excellent’ because it is fulfilling its purpose. A tool that works correctly is also “excellent” because the tool is doing what it is supposed to do. Paul demonstrated moral excellence when he said: “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:14)
By Paul “pressing on,” he is showing that he is applying maximum effort. Our job in life is to glorify God, because we have God’s nature in us. When we live lives that glorify God, we’re showing moral excellence because we are fulfilling our purpose in life. This should be demonstrated in the normal course of living as well. In other words, glorifying God is “just who we are.”
And in your moral excellence, knowledge… at the heart of moral excellence is knowledge. As we look at each of these characteristics, we will see that each one builds off the other.
Moral excellence is that which makes room for us to take in the Word and gain knowledge of the Lord.
Knowledge… what we have here is “full knowledge” or a knowledge that is growing. The Greek describe it as moral wisdom, such as is seen in right living.
Knowledge refers to the divine truth that is the foundation of spiritual discernment and wisdom.
Romans 15:14
“And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another.”
When Paul says “full of goodness,” this again takes us back to moral excellence, allowing growth in our knowledge. Knowledge is having one’s mind “accurately enlightened” about the truth of God’s Word.
Col. 3:10
“And have put on your new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him.”
This involves a diligent study of the Scriptures and meditation on our part, so as to continue to develop “the mind of Christ.”
1 Cor. 2:16
For, “Who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?” But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.”
2 Peter 1:6-7
“And in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in our brotherly kindness, love.”
Self-control… it’s defined as the virtue of one who masters their desires and passions, especially sensual appetites. It literally means “holding oneself in.” It was also used to describe athletes who exhibited self-discipline and self-restraint.
I think Paul had a great appreciation for the athlete, as he makes reference to them a number of times in his writings.
1 Cor. 9:25-27
“All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.” (NLT)
Paul and Peter both recognized the value of having self-control.
Proverbs 25:28
“A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls.” (NLT)
Even the secular world sees value in self-control. It defines it as the ability to regulate and alter responses to avoid undesirable behaviors and achieve long-term goals, greater sense of meaning in life, success in academics and occupations better mental and physical health, reduction in crime, longer life spans and improved relationships.
Although we might be disciplined and self-controlled, if we’re not careful, we can become impatient with those who are not.
And in your self-control, perseverance…
Perseverance (hoo-pom-on-ay’) It goes hand-in-hand with patience. It means steadfastness, constancy, endurance, a patient enduring.
As Christians, we’ll often joke around and say, “Don’t pray for patience, because God will certainly test you on it.” But like I said before, each of these virtues listed all build off each other. If we have self-control in our life, chances are perseverance or patience is sure to follow.
In following this line of thinking, if we find ourselves lacking in one of these characteristics, it would make sense to go back and make sure that we’re grounded in the previous virtue. In this case, if you’re finding problems in the patience department, go back to how well self-control is exercised in your life.
William Barclay, a Scottish theologian, writes this about patience: “(hoo-pom-on-ay’) does not simply accept and endure; there is always a forward look in it. It is said of Jesus, that for the joy that was set before Him, He endured the Cross, despising the shame (Heb. 12:2). That is (hoo-pom-on-ay’), Christian steadfastness. It is the courageous acceptance of everything that life can do to us and the transmuting of even the worst event into another step on the upward way.”
Imagine the perseverance of Jesus going to the cross. Like Jesus said, He could’ve called down legions of angels to help Him, but He chose to drink the full cup of suffering on our behalf.
I like Barclay’s phrase, “on the upward way,” speaking of our continual growing in Christ… we should always be “on the upward way.”
And in your perseverance, godliness…
At the heart of our spiritual pursuits is godliness, (yoo-say-b’-i-ah) meaning reverence for God, a piety towards God. This can also be translated, “true religion,” or “true worship.” This is a picture of a person who honors and adores the Lord. Another way to say this is, “He is a God-fearing man or she is a God-fearing woman.”
John 4:24
“God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Godliness gives us the ability to worship in spirit and truth. Godliness is that quality of character that makes a person distinctive.
1 Tim. 4:8
“For bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.”
And in your godliness, brotherly kindness…
Brotherly kindness is so closely linked to godliness that 1 John 4:20 says: “If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.”
It would be a contradiction in terms if a self-described person of godliness had no love for their brothers and sisters.
Peter introduced us to brotherly kindness in his first letter:
1 Peter 1:22
“Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart,”
Romans 12:10
“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;”
Perhaps Peter and the other disciples may have struggled a bit with brotherly kindness. How often did we see them debating and disagreeing with each other, vying for first place in the kingdom and who might sit at Jesus’ right hand.
Pastor Jon Courson writes, “Brotherly kindness keeps godliness from being harsh, for brotherly kindness dictates that we be as magnanimous as we possibly can to as many as we possibly can.”
Hebrews 13:1
“Let love of the brethren continue.”
Last, but certainly not least… And in your brotherly kindness, love…
Love out-weighs all.
Luke 10:27
“And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”
1 Cor. 13:1-2
“If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.”
The Bible has a great deal to say about love. In fact, the Bible says that “love is of God” and “God is love” (1 John 4:7–8); in other words, love is a fundamental characteristic of who God is. Everything God does is prompted and influenced by His love.
For believers, love for others (especially fellow believers) has always been inseparable from love for God. This is agape love… and we’re all familiar with it – the sacrificial, selfless love of the will.
Matt. 5:43-44
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,”
Unlike our English word love, agape is not used in the New Testament to refer to romantic or sexual love. Nor does it refer to close friendship or brotherly love, for which the Greek word philia is used. Agape love involves faithfulness, commitment, and an act of the will. It is distinguished from the other types of love by its lofty moral nature and strong character.
When we have brotherly love, we love because of our likenesses to others; but with agape love, we love in spite of the differences we have. Agape is almost always used to describe the love that is of and from God. God does not merely love; He is love. Everything God does flows from His love. Agape love is always shown by what it does. God’s love is displayed most clearly at the cross.
Eph. 2:4-7 [Paul gives us the perfect picture of God’s love]
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”
We’ll close with a statement from Warren Wiersbe, “It is impossible for fallen human nature to manufacture these seven qualities of Christian character. They must be produced by the Spirit of God. To be sure, there are unsaved people who possess amazing self-control and endurance, but these virtues point to them and not to the Lord. They get the glory. When God produces the beautiful nature of His Son in a Christian, it is God who receives the praise and glory.
Because we have the divine nature, we can grow spiritually and develop this kind of Christian character. It is through the power of God and the precious promises of God that this growth takes place.
The divine “genetic structure” is already there: God wants us to be “conformed to the image of His Son” (Rom 8:29). The life within will reproduce that image if we but diligently cooperate with God and use the means He has lavishly given us.”