May grace and peace be multiplied to you
in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
2 Peter 1:2 ESV
Peter... writing to the church shortly before his death...
is concerned about the teaching going on in the church...
But false prophets also arose among the people,
just as there will be false teachers among you,
who will secretly bring in destructive heresies,
even denying the Master who bought them,
bringing upon themselves swift destruction.
And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them
the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed
they will exploit you with false words.
2 Peter 2:1-3 ESV
Peter's second letter focuses on the importance of knowledge...
Knowledge of God and of Jesus... as a means to increasing grace and peace...
The Greek used here is... epignosis... right and correct knowledge...
I had assumed it was experiential knowledge of Father God and Jesus...
but it is accurate knowledge Peter is talking about...
Which makes perfect sense...
because if your knowledge is inaccurate...
what you experience will be interpreted wrongly...
Peter points the church to the Word of God...
as the one source of accurate knowledge...
For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man,
but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
2 Peter 1:21 ESV
This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved.
In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder,
that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets
and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles...
2 Peter 3:1-2 ESV
Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth
for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,
since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of
imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for
"All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord
remains forever." And this word is the good news
that was preached to you.
1 Peter 1:22-25 ESV
Through accurate knowledge of the Word of God...
faith engages... and we are born again...
and increasing knowledge leads us deeper into sanctification...
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness,
through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence...
For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith
with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control,
and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,
and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being
ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:3-8 ESV
Accurate knowledge...
not just experiential...
is key to growing in grace and peace...
self-control and perseverance...
godliness and brotherly affection...
love and fruitfulness in Christ...
The only trustworthy... imperishable... everlasting source of accurate knowledge is His Word...
Know it... so you won't be deceived... or led astray...
This week's readings...
Monday 1 John 1:1 - 2:27
Tuesday 1 John 2:28 - 4:21
Wednesday 1 John 5, 2 John
Thursday 3 John, Jude
Friday Haggai 1-2
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