What God Gives to His People (2 Peter 1:3-4)
Sermon Summary
Pastor David Yan
3 January 2021
God gives good things to his people. From 2 Peter 1:3-4 we note what these things are.
But first we should observe the different contexts of Peter’s two epistles. In 1 Peter he addresses persecution of the Church. In 2 Peter he addresses false teachings in the Church. Persecution (murder) and false teachings (lies) are the very things Jesus attributed to the devil (John 8:44). Peter is used by God to show how believers are to cope with the attacks of the devil.
2 Peter 1:3-4 tells us what the Lord God gives to his people as they face false teachers.
He gives everything they shall ever need in life to live godly lives. False teachings lead to loose living but the true teachings of Christ Jesus lead to godliness. God gives believers everything they shall ever need to live God-honouring lives.
This he does by the supply of his almighty power. The same power that delivered Israel from Egypt, fed Israel in the wilderness, that was manifested by Jesus in the feeding of the multitudes, healing the sick and supremely in the raising of Jesus from death is given to believers. By the supply of God’s power we will not be led astray and we will live lives that are pleasing to the Lord.
The Lord also gives great and precious promises enabling believers to have a living hope.
These promises are given through the excellencies of Jesus Christ spoken here in terms of his glory and virtue. Jesus is glorious and virtuous and through his excellencies the Father gives believers great and precious promises.
God promises to keep his people. He promises them eternal life. Our earthly life is temporary and beyond its transience there is eternal life. This is the promise that God gives to all who believe him through his Son Christ Jesus.
God's people are partakers of the divine nature whereby they become more like Jesus. Whereas false teachings can lead to ungodly lifestyles the truth of Christ's gospel leads to godliness.
God's people have escaped the worldly corruption which is driven by lust. This worldly corruption can enter the church, especially in doctrine. Doctrine leads to practice. Believe right and you will live right.
In all this the apostle stresses the need to know God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Without a knowledge of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ how can we withstand the wiles of the devil? Jesus withstood the devil. He has triumphed and in him we also triumph.
The lesson for us is that in the midst of life’s trials we should be assured of God's great care for us. He has given us many blessings for which we should be thankful.
Let us continue to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Grow to maturity in him who is the way, the truth and the life. By so doing we shall become more like him which is the desire of the apostle Peter in his second epistle.