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 about is far more than a mental acknowledgment of who Jesus is. For example, if we truly know that Jesus is the Christ, then we will also know that God anointed Him to be our high priest and will present our petitions to God in Jesus’ name. If we truly know that Jesus is the Master, then we will also know that we are his servants and will obey him.
A true knowledge of Jesus not only places us under obligation to obey, but grants us unparalleled blessings. In chapter 1, verses 3 through 4 Peter writes. “seeing that his divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and virtue; by which he has granted to us his precious and exceedingly great promises; that through these you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust.”
Jesus possesses divine power because, as Peter had already said in verse 2, he is Lord. It is because of this power that He is able to grant everything that pertains to life and godliness. It is not entirely clear whether Peter means that Jesus will provide everything that we need for living as well as godliness, or whether he means that Jesus will provide everything we need in order live a godly life. In either case Peter says that Jesus provides all things. This means that His provision is complete. We do not need to look elsewhere, or to someone else, to meet our needs. But the fact is that we often feel that we have not been given everything that pertains to life and godliness. We often feel that we lack the things we need. Not all of our desires are fulfilled. Since this is so, how can Peter say that Jesus provides all things? The answer to this is found when we look at how Jesus provides. Peter writes that Jesus provides through our knowledge of Him. Jesus provides in proportion to our knowledge of Him. If we feel that we are lacking the things that are needed in our lives then we do not yet know Jesus as we ought to know Him. The more we rely on Jesus, the more He will enable us to face any situation. In view of this the Apostle Paul wrote, “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)
It is important to understand that God never promises that the followers of Jesus will have a life free of trouble. That is not His purpose. Peter writes that his purpose is that we “…may become partakers of the divine nature…” The more we know Jesus, the more we will want to be like Him. And it is to fulfill this purpose that Jesus provides all things. The Apostle Paul wrote, “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose. For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son…” (Romans 8:28-29) No matter whether we have little or much, whether we face adversity or not, God provides exactly what we need to make us more like Jesus. And it is in this sense that Jesus provides everything we need pertaining to life and godliness.
Peter writes that the followers of Jesus are called. But why are they called? Is it because of their goodness? No. Peter makes it very clear that Jesus calls us not because we are good, but because He is. There are many who think that they can earn their salvation by the good deeds that they do. But this is not the case. None of us can meet the standards that God requires. As the Apostle Paul wrote, “…all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23) We do not earn our salvation. It is Jesus’ gift to us which he grants as a result of His goodness.
But Jesus is not the only one who calls. Peter contrasts the call of Jesus to that of the world. In using the word ‘world’ Peter is not merely speaking of the earth on which we live. He is using the word in a spiritual sense as well because he speaks of the lusts that is, evil desires, which are in the world. Peter’s meaning becomes even more clear when we look at how the Apostle John used these words. He wrote, “Don’t love the world, neither the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the Father’s love isn’t in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, isn’t the Father’s, but is the world’s.” (I John 2:15-16)
Both the call of Jesus and the call of the world are accompanied by promises. Peter points out in chapter 2 of this letter that one of the enticements of the world’s call is pleasure. And, at least to a certain degree, the world can fulfill this promise. But Peter also points out that this pleasure is temporary and carries a heavy price. The world’s call also makes the false promise of providing freedom. In chapter 2, verse 19 Peter writes concerning false prophets, they entice by, “promising them liberty, while they themselves are bondservants of corruption; for a man is brought into bondage by whoever overcomes him.”
In contrast to the promises of the world, Peter says that the promises of Jesus are “precious and exceedingly great.” In chapter 3, verse 13 he tells us what these promises are. He writes, “But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.”
What are the consequences of obeying the two calls? Peter says that listening to the call of the world leads to slavery and corruption. On the other hand, putting our trust in the promises of Jesus allows us to escape from the world’s corruption and to participate in the divine nature.
Each one of us must decide which call to obey. Will we respond to the call of Jesus, or will we respond to the call of the world? But Peter is writing to those who are followers of Jesus. Why is it necessary for Peter to say these things to them? Haven’t they already obeyed Jesus’ call by becoming his followers? The answer is that it is possible for us to be ineffective and unproductive in our knowledge of Jesus.