Second Peter 1:1-2
I. Introduction:
A. Prior to Jesus' ascension into Heaven, Jesus told Peter to feed His lambs/sheep (John 21:15-17).
- Peter didn’t hesitate to jump right in to the work after Jesus ascended into Heaven (Acts 1:15-16, Acts 2:14, etc.),
- When we finished the first letter Peter wrote, we see he took to shepherding in the most literal way, being an elder (I Peter 5:1-4).
- At the writing of this letter, he knows his days are short (II Peter 1:13-14).
- The goal of this letter is to remind the saints (II Peter 1:12; 1:15).
II. Body: II Peter 1:1-2
A. Peter understands his role as an Apostle - to serve (Matthew 20:20-28).
- Peter did not always understand being a servant (John 13:1-17).
- Recognizing the servant role of every one of us keeps things in perspective (Luke 17:7-10).
- Think about how significant that understanding is not only for all saints, but especially for one having the authority of an evangelist (Titus 2:15), Apostle (Matthew 16:13-19, Acts 2:42, and II Corinthians 5:20), and an elder (Hebrews 13:17).
- Like faith in that there is one faith (Ephesians 4:4-6).
- The price, the value of the faith had a precious price (I Peter 1:18-19).
- That one faith for both Jew and Gentile (Romans 3:22 and Romans 3:29-30).
- We see the righteousness of God through the Gospel (Romans 1:16-17).
- Our righteous God has given us the means whereby we obtain that like precious faith (Romans 10:14-17).
- Epistles commonly included the extension of grace and peace (Romans 1:7, I Corinthians 1:3, II Corinthians 1:2, Galatians 1:3, Ephesians 1:2, Philippians 1:2, Colossians 1:2, I Thessalonians 1:1, II Thessalonians 1:2, I Timothy 1:2, II Timothy 1:2, Titus 1:4, Philemon 1:3, I Peter 1:2, II John 1:3, and Revelation 1:4).
- For grace and peace to be multiplied [increased] work has to be done on the part of the believer (I Peter 3:10-11 and II Peter 3:18).
- Through knowledge is self-explanatory (Colossians 1:10; 3:10).
III. Conclusion: Our next lesson: II Peter 1:3-4