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1 Peter 5:12-14; 2 Peter 1:1-3:18<\/strong><\/span> Today we start the book of Second Peter!\u00a0 This is another great letter from Peter to the early Christian church written in approximately 65 to 68 A.D., just before Peter was martyred during the reign of the Roman emperor Nero.\u00a0 1 Peter was more of a letter of encouragement to early Christians who were facing suffering, whereas 2 Peter is written to dispel false teachings within early Christianity.\u00a0 Below is a fresco by Michelangelo of Peter being crucified, in the Sistine Chapel in Rome:<\/span><\/p>\n ~ Second Peter ~<\/strong> 2 Peter 1 verse 3 brings up a couple of good questions we should ask ourselves \u2013 \u201cAs we know Jesus better, his divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Do you want to know Jesus better?\u00a0 How will you do this?\u00a0 (hint \u2013 reading the Bible daily is one great way\u2026)\u00a0 How else?\u00a0 Do you want to live a godly life?\u00a0 What does a godly life look like? Do you believe Jesus\u2019 divine power gives you everything you need to live a godly life?<\/span><\/p>\n Verse 19 makes a One Year Bible Blogger happy \ud83d\ude42 \u2013 \u201cBecause of that, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. Pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a light shining in a dark place\u2013until the day Christ appears and his brilliant light shines in your hearts.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 I think one of the beautiful things about the One Year Bible is going through both the Old Testament and New Testament each day.\u00a0 We learn from the prophets and can play close attention to what they wrote \u2013 for as Peter says, their words are like a light shining in the dark!\u00a0 Below is a stained glass image of the prophet Elijah (Elias is Greek for Elijah) \u2013 <\/span><\/p>\n Second Peter chapter 2 is a strong one that looks at the danger of false teachers \u2013 both in the Old Testament times through false prophets and also in the early church during the 1st century.\u00a0 I have to confess that as I read this chapter I think of some current books and movies and teachers in our modern world that I am afraid apply to the warnings of this chapter.\u00a0 Do you believe that there are false teachers also in our world today?\u00a0 Teachers that distort the Gospel message?\u00a0 Teachers that steer people away from Truth and into Darkness?\u00a0 Teachers that are in it for the money?<\/span><\/p>\n Verses 2 & 3 warn us that: \u201cMany will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of them, Christ and his true way will be slandered. In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Commentaries suggest that at the time Peter wrote this letter the shameful immorality was primarily sexual sin.\u00a0 The false teachers were allowing \/ encouraging people to basically do what they want sexually.\u00a0 They taught that there is no theological or spiritual or personal damage that will come with sexual do-whatever-you-wantness\u2026\u00a0 (okay, that\u2019s not in the Bible \u2013 I made that up).\u00a0 Do we see this type of teaching today?\u00a0 Is this type of teaching true?\u00a0 Is it false?\u00a0 Is it shameful?\u00a0 Do you believe that sex can be damaging to you outside of the proper context of marriage?\u00a0 Verse 19 warns again: \u201cThey promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves to sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 What controls you?\u00a0 Is it purely love for God and his ways, which is great.\u00a0 Or is it something else\u2026?\u00a0 Something that is dangerous and leads down a slippery slope\u2026 ?\u00a0 Will you instead pursue God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the True Freedom that only They can give you?\u00a0 Please please be watchful of wolves in sheep\u2019s clothing.\u00a0 The Enemy comes in sheep\u2019s clothing to lie, steal, and kill.\u00a0 The lies may be attractive on the surface, but the core of the lie is deadly to you.\u00a0 Please cling to Jesus and God\u2019s Word, the Holy Bible, above all else.<\/span><\/p>\n Today we finish the letter of Second Peter!\u00a0 Again, I have been so blessed reading through this letter this year.\u00a0 It\u2019s always a good thing to read a letter from a guy that Jesus said this about in Matthew 16:18 \u2013 \u201cAnd I tell you that you are Peter [which means rock], and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades [or hell] will not overcome it.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Do you believe that the gates of hell will not overcome the church of Jesus Christ?\u00a0 (church \u2013 that\u2019s us.\u00a0 You and me and him and her. The body of Christ.\u00a0 Not the buildings\u2026)<\/span><\/p>\n Verse 3 is a reminder to us all: \u201cFirst, I want to remind you that in the last days there will be scoffers who will laugh at the truth and do every evil thing they desire.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Keep in mind that we live in the last days \u2013 everything post-Jesus\u2019 resurrection and ascension into heaven is last days.\u00a0 So, in the time of Peter and the early church there were scoffers who laughed at the truth and did every evil thing they desire.\u00a0 Is this still happening today?\u00a0 (I couldn\u2019t resist this Matrix picture below of a scoffer\u2026 \ud83d\ude42<\/span><\/p>\n Verse 9 is helpful in knowing why Jesus has not yet returned: \u201cThe Lord isn\u2019t really being slow about his promise to return, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to perish, so he is giving more time for everyone to repent.\u201d\u00a0 <\/em>He is giving more time for everyone to repent!\u00a0 Will we repent?\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n Verses 15 & 16 are very interesting.\u00a0 They are basically Peter giving praise to Paul\u2019s writing: \u201cThis is just as our beloved brother Paul wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him\u2013 Some of his comments are hard to understand, and those who are ignorant and unstable have twisted his letters around to mean something quite different from what he meant, just as they do the other parts of Scripture.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Have you ever found Paul\u2019s writing hard to understand?\u00a0 I know many of my friend\u2019s have.\u00a0 And I have too on occasion.\u00a0 But, there is so much going on in Paul\u2019s letters that need to be looked at contextually and in depth.\u00a0 Overall, Paul\u2019s letter\u2019s have been such a blessing to me personally, and I look forward to reading them and studying them again next year with you!\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42 Below is \u201cThe Apostle Paul\u201d by Rembrandt, circa 1657:<\/span><\/p>\n Peter closes the letter today with the beautiful verse 18: \u201cBut grow in the special favor and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be all glory and honor, both now and forevermore. Amen.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0I don\u2019t know that I can add any more to this than simply another \u201cAmen.\u201d\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n Worship Video: <\/strong>As it is almost Christmas, here is Casting Crown\u2019s \u201cI Heard Bells on Christmas Day\u201d live:<\/span><\/p>\n
~ Click here to read today\u2019s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~<\/span><\/em>
~ Listen to today\u2019s Scripture with <\/em>The ESV Bible<\/em><\/span> ~<\/p>\n
Author: Peter the apostle
Place: Uncertain, perhaps Rome
Date: A.D. 67
Content: This letter was written by Peter shortly before his death and deals with the problems that the church would face after his departure. He encourages the believers to continue in their spiritual growth, realizing the truth of the Christian gospel. It does not consist of fable but fact. He warns them of false teachers who would destroy the truth by exalting their own ideas over those of the church. Finally, he points out that Christ will return some day to destroy the old order of this world; as a result, we ought not to become too attached to it.
Theme: Second Peter is a call to steadfastness in the midst of numerous pressures to drift from the truth. The world is seeking to undo the work of God, but we must resist all such pressure by living godly lives, believing the truth, enduring persecution, trusting God, and looking for Christ\u2019s return. (Above commentary is from Tyndale Publishers \u201cThe One Year Bible Companion\u201d p. 33)<\/em> A great overview of Second Peter and the other \u201cNon-Pauline Epistles\u201d by J. Hampton Keathley is <\/span>at this link<\/span>. (Scroll down just below his commentary on First Peter to get to his commentary on Second Peter.)\u00a0 Below is a painting of Peter by William Holman Hunt \u2013 <\/span><\/p>\n