December 5, 2021

1 & 2 PETER: BE HOLY

December 05, 2021

Pastor Jonathan Falwell

 

It’s hard to believe we are in December again! What is the most challenging part of this season for you? What have you learned about handling this challenge?

When Peter, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote his two letters (1 & 2 Peter), nearly three decades had passed since Jesus Christ had been crucified, risen, and ascended back to heaven. Peter, the first of the apostles whom Jesus had chosen, was now months—or possibly weeks—away from being crucified himself. That fact makes these two letters to believers whom he had nurtured extremely precious. For three years Peter had daily been with Jesus, seeing His ministry, His miracles, and hearing Him teach, and now an additional thirty years had passed, as he carried out the work God had given him. Throughout both of the letters, Peter focuses on being citizens of heaven dwelling in a hostile world, yet remaining faithful. God never changes. His Word never changes. It is as “living and sharp” in our lives today as the day Peter wrote it, and as we go through days the likes of which we’ve never experienced.

Focal Passage: The Books of 1 Peter and 2 Peter

God’s presence in our lives gives us everything we could ever need

• Read 1 Peter 1:14-16. Why does Peter remind these Christians that they were once living another lifestyle? As we go out into the world, why is it necessary for us to remember that we were once unsaved? Read Is. 51:1. Is that what Isaiah also says? Why did Jesus call us out of that life? What did we deserve?
• Read 2 Peter 1:3. If someone told you that your parents had provided everything you needed to start your home and family, what would you expect when you stepped inside your first house? What did Peter mean when he wrote that God has given us everything we require (notice it does not say “want”) for life and godliness? What is the medium through which He provides this? How do we get that knowledge? What priority should the Word of God be in our lives?
• More and more we are seeing our lives filled with uncertainty. Did God hold anything back when His Word was given to us? If we need to know how to act, to do life, to overcome….is it all in the Scriptures? How do we find what we need?

As a result, we should seek the things ABOVE THIS WORLD

• Read 2 Peter 1:5-8. What are the character traits that Peter lists? Can people have these qualities and still be lost? Why does he say to “add” these to your faith?
• Read Matt. 6:33, Psa. 27:4, 8, 34:14 and Col. 3:1. What are some other attributes that we are to see increase in our life? Why are we to grow in our life of faith?

Avoid the things OF THIS WORLD

• Read 2 Pet. 1:4. We read that His divine power has given us everything that pertains to life and godliness; how do we know this is true? What will they help us escape? Read Ps. 119:11. Why is memorizing God’s Word a shield to protect us from sin? Read James 1:27. Why is it important to avoid the sins of this world?
• Read 2 Pet. 2:1-5. What should we rid ourselves of? How would you do that?

Peter writes that we are to desire the milk of the Word. What gradually happens as babies drink milk after they are born?

• As we grow, what happens in our lives? We often feel sacrifices are not necessary for our daily living. Read Ps. 27:6, 51:17, 116:17, Heb. 13:15. What are some sacrifices we can give God?

 

Close

No doubt you’ve seen pictures from the 1800s of the California Gold Rush, where men panned for nuggets of gold in the creeks and rivers in the west. In a way, that’s what we do as we read God’s Word daily, looking for those “nuggets” that will—as Peter wrote—help us navigate this life and our desire for godliness. How many times have you needed wisdom or guidance for something that seemed larger than life, and in your morning devotions a verse leaps out at you, giving you the way you should go? Many times, hopefully.

As you begin reading in 1 Peter 1, you see promise after promise. He says in verse 8, “whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory; receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.” Reassurance of salvation is in this short passage. He says, “knowing you were not redeemed with corruptible things like silver or gold,…but with the precious blood of Christ.” In the second chapter he continues, “to you who believe, He is precious.” Later Peter speaks of our testimony among unbelievers, that because we “conduct ourselves honorably, they may, by our good works, glorify God.” And ladies, Peter has a message for you: that your “adornment” be not merely the outward arranging of hair, wearing gold, or fine clothing, but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.”

His words flow over you as a blessing when he says we have a responsibility to “have compassion for one another; love as brothers [or sisters], be tenderhearted, courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling [sometimes so difficult!], but on the contrary, blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.”

Those are only a few of the Words of life. If we were golddiggers, we would be leaving nugget after nugget. Yet if we just took these few short passages and applied them to our hearts, carrying out the truths in them, we probably would change our families within a few months; perhaps change our church within the year; and who knows? Perhaps we could change our nation within this decade.