2 PETER LESSON 2
We will begin this lesson in II Peter 1:12 "Wherefore I will not
be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though
ye know [them], and be established in the present truth."
In the last lesson, we learned that Jesus is the only way to
heaven. Those who are truly saved are taking up their cross daily and
walking in the footprints of Jesus here on the earth. We, also,
learned some of the character traits of those who follow Jesus. Some
of the character traits are faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance,
patience, kindness, charity, and godliness. Peter is reminding them of
these things, so that they will not be negligent in keeping them. He
says that they are already aware of this, but he is just reminding
them, so they will grow in the Lord. "To be established in the truth",
means you are daily studying God's Word and growing in that knowledge.
To do otherwise, would make you a basckslider.
II Peter 1:13 "Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this
tabernacle, to stir you up by putting [you] in remembrance;"
Peter is speaking of the tabernacle of his body. He knows it is
important to not only be saved, but to stay saved. Walk daily in the
salvation you have received. Since Christ gave him such authority in
the church, he was obligated to keep reminding them how important it
is to walk uprightly before the Lord.
II Peter 1:14 "Knowing that shortly I must put off [this] my
tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me."
Peter was aware that not too long hence he would be dead. He was
speaking to them while he could. From this, we can assume that the
Lord had shown Peter that he would die the martyr's death. History
tells us that he was crucified upside down.
II Peter 1:15 "Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able
after my decease to have these things always in remembrance."
A written message like this could be read over and over. It was
not like a spoken message that just had use for the one message. In
fact, even hundreds of years later, until our very time, it is useful
to all Christians.
II Peter 1:16 "For we have not followed cunningly devised fables,
when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty."
Peter is explaining to them that the things he tells them are not
things that he has heard, but are things he actually saw. He was one
of the three apostles closest to the Lord Jesus. Peter, James, and
John were with Jesus at the transfiguration. They had been with Jesus
some times when the others were not. They had heard the voice of God
the Father, who said this is my beloved Son. They knew even better
than the others who Jesus really was and is. They had seen Him in His
magnificence at the transfiguration. Peter was trying to warn them to
stay strong in the Lord, and not make the mistake he had made when he
denied Jesus. Peter's knowledge was first-hand knowledge, he had been
there when Jesus taught all of these truths. Peter had seen the
miracles Jesus had done. Peter knew first-hand that He rose from
death. Peter was there when Jesus walked on the water. He was there
when Jesus calmed the angry sea. He knew that Jesus caused Lazarus to
rise from the dead. We could go on and on. All of Peter's knowledge
was not hearsay. He was there when it happened.
II Peter 1:17 "For he received from God the Father honour and
glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory,
This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
The most outstanding thing to Peter, in all of this, was the
moment of transfiguration, when the glory of God appeared on the
mount, and Peter, James, and John heard the Father speak of Jesus as
His Son, in whom He was well pleased. Matthew 17:5 "While he yet
spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice
out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am
well pleased; hear ye him." Matthew 17:6 "And when the disciples heard
[it], they fell on their face, and were sore afraid." Matthew 17:7
"And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid."
Matthew 17:8 "And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man,
save Jesus only." This showed them Jesus in His glory.
II Peter 1:18 "And this voice which came from heaven we heard,
when we were with him in the holy mount."
This is just explaining that the voice was an audible voice from
heaven, and that all three of them heard it.
II Peter 1:19 "We have also a more sure word of prophecy;
whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth
in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your
hearts:"
Peter says, here, that the Word of prophecy fulfilled in Jesus
Christ is even greater evidence than the transfiguration. Jesus is the
Light of the world. The world was lost before the Light {Jesus Christ}
came to save us. Psalms 119:105 {NUN.} "Thy word [is] a lamp unto my
feet, and a light unto my path." The Word of God, both spoken and
written, are the light that directs us unto all Truth. When you accept
Jesus as your Saviour and He comes to dwell within you, you are filled
with the source of all Light. This Light does away with all darkness.
Salvation occurs in the heart. This Light shines in the heart of the
Christian. Jesus is this Day Star. Without this Light, there is no
life. The Light of Jesus gives everything the power to be. Darkness is
symbolic of evil and of Lucifer. Lucifer pretends to be the light, but
is not. "Day star", in this particular instance, means bearer of the
Light.
II Peter 1:20 "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the
scripture is of any private interpretation."
We see from this, that all who are guided by the Holy Spirit of
God can get their own message from God from any Scripture. The
smallest, uneducated child, who is searching for answers in the
Scriptures can have his or her own understanding of any Scripture. The
greatest scholar, who is not guided by the great Teacher {Holy
Spirit}, however, might not understand the simplest Scripture. The
Scriptures are spiritually discerned. I Corinthians 2:14 "But the
natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they
are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are
spiritually discerned."
II Peter 1:21 "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will
of man: but holy men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy
Ghost."
God is the Author of the Bible. God is a Spirit. If a Spirit is
the Author of the Bible, then we must understand it by the Spirit of
God. Let the Holy Spirit of God be your Teacher and Guide. God moved
upon holy men of God, and they were the penmen of God's thoughts. True
ministers of God do not bring their own message to the church. They
speak the message God has placed into their heart for a particular
congregation at a particular time. Luke 12:11 "And when they bring you
unto the synagogues, and [unto] magistrates, and powers, take ye no
thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:" Luke
12:12 "For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye
ought to say." We are ambassadors for Christ. We do not carry our own
message, but the message God has given us. We are messengers. I
believe these Bible studies to be what God would have His people to
know in this hour. I believe the Holy Spirit of God has moved upon me
and the explanations of the Scriptures given are His that I have
written down.
2 Peter 2 Questions
1. Who is the only Way to heaven?
2. What are some character traits if Christians?
3. Why is Peter reminding of this?
4. What does being established in the Truth mean?
5. If you are not growing in the Lord, you are a ____________.
6. What is the tabernacle Peter is speaking of in verse 13?
7. What is important to do after you are saved?
8. What is indicated that the Lord has revealed to Peter in verse 14?
9. History tells us Peter died how?
10. Why is a written message better than a spoken message?
11. Who is this letter, that Peter wrote, important to?
12. Quote 2 Peter chapter 1 verse 16.
13. What is Peter explaining in verse 16?
14. Who were the three apostles that were closest to Jesus?
15. What had happened that caused them to know beyond any doubt who
Jesus was?
16. Peter's knowledge was _____________ _____________.
17. What were some of the things Peter had been eyewitness of?
18. What did the voice from heaven say about Jesus?
19. What is even greater evidence than the transfiguration?
20. Quote Psalms chapter 119 verse 105.
21. Where does salvation occur?
22. What does day star in verse 19 mean?
23. Quote 2 Peter chapter 1 verse 20.
24. Why can a child sometimes understand a Scripture when an adult
cannot?
25. Quote Luke chapter 12 verse 11.
26. Why does the author of this Bible study believe she is able to do
this?
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