Some religions provide no certainty about whether God will grant someone a place in paradise. Even Christians sometimes wonder about their eternal destiny and whether they are acceptable to God. In his second letter, the Apostle Peter teaches that in Christ, our position is secure. He also shows us how we can avoid falling from our secure position. He alerts us to false teachers and assures us of God’s promise of a new heaven and earth. Instead of fearing God’s judgment, we can look forward to Christ’s return.
- Author, To Whom Written and Purpose of Writing (2 Peter 1:1-2) - As people get older they begin to think about what kind of heritage they will leave for the generations that will follow. As death draws near there is time only to pass on those things which are of most importance. Things of lessor significance are set aside so that what is most important will not … Continue reading
- Who is Jesus? (2 Peter 1:1-2) - The Apostle Peter wrote his inspired letters so that those who read them might be able to reason in a pure way. The basic premise of Peter’s second inspired letter is that uncorrupted thought depends upon having a correct view of who Jesus is. If we have a proper understanding of Jesus and accept His … Continue reading
- Jesus’ Provision and Call (2 Peter 1:3-4) - In his second inspired letter the Apostle Peter tells the followers of Christ that they will receive grace and peace through having a full knowledge of Jesus. If we want peace we must know who Jesus is. Who is Jesus? Peter identifies him as God, Savior, Christ, Lord and Master. But the knowledge Peter writes … Continue reading
- Growing in the Knowledge of Christ (2 Peter 1:5-11) - The theme of the Apostle Peter’s second inspired letter is that in order avoid the errors of false teaching and to avoid misunderstanding God’s promises, we must have a correct understanding of who Jesus is. But a correct understanding of Jesus is more than an intellectual knowledge of who He is. It is not enough … Continue reading
- The Basis for Belief (2 Peter 1:12-18) - In order to safeguard ourselves from false teaching it is essential that we have a correct knowledge of who Jesus is. But how can we know that what we have been taught about Him is true? One way to do this is to consider the character of those who teach us. In chapter 1, verses … Continue reading
- Word of the Prophets (2 Peter 1:16-19) - In his second inspired letter the Apostle Peter writes that we can place confidence in what he taught about Jesus because he was an eyewitness of the events of Jesus’ life. In chapter 1, verses 16 through 18 he says, “ For we did not follow cunningly devised fables, when we made known to you … Continue reading
- How to Recognize False Teachers (2 Peter 1:19-2:3) - In the first part of his second inspired letter Peter explained that his teaching about Jesus is true because it is based on eyewitness testimony and because it agrees with the words of God which the prophets delivered. But how can we know what is truly a message from God instead of merely the words … Continue reading
- An Inevitable Destruction (2 Peter 2:4-10) - In chapter 2 of his second inspired letter, the Apostle Peter warns the followers of Jesus that false teachers will come among them just as false prophets had come in earlier times. But Peter also assures his readers that false teachers will be destroyed. In verse 3 he writes, “…their destruction will not slumber.” But … Continue reading
- The Character of False Prophets (2 Peter 2:10-16) - Jesus said, “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.” (Luke 6:43 NIV) With this in mind we should pay careful attention to what Peter writes in his second inspired letter about the character of false teachers. Since their characters are bad, the outcome of their lives will be … Continue reading
- A False Promise (2 Peter 2:17-22) - The Apostle Peter spends a good portion of his second inspired letter warning the followers of Jesus about false teachers. But why is this necessary? Why is the message of false teachers so attractive? It is because of the false promise that these teachers make. After describing the character of false teachers, Peter writes in … Continue reading
- The Lord’s Command and the Testimony of History (2 Peter 3:1-7) - The Apostle Peter tells us the purpose of his inspired letters in the second letter, chapter 3 and verse 1. He writes: “This is now, beloved, the second letter that I have written to you; and in both of them I stir up your sincere mind by reminding you;” [NIV, “stimulate you to wholesome thinking”] … Continue reading
- The Witness of God’s Character and the Responsibility of Christians (2 Peter 3:8-13) - The purpose of the Apostle Peter’s inspired letters is to stimulate the followers of Christ to wholesome thinking. If our thinking is not wholesome we will have a wrong view of God. In chapter 3 of his second inspired letter Peter points out that because Christ’s promised return to judge the world has not yet … Continue reading
- The Witness of Scripture and the Christian’s Secure Position (2 Peter 3:14-18) - Though the return of Christ to judge the earth may seem slow in coming, the Apostle Peter assures us in his second letter that it will indeed occur. Christ’s return is delayed so that mankind has the opportunity to repent. At Christ’s coming the world will be destroyed and according to God’s promise the followers … Continue reading