THE SECOND EPISTLE OF PETER
1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: The letter is from Simon Peter who is a servant and Apostle of Jesus Christ. Peter obeys and serves His Lord Jesus Christ. Apostle means someone who God sends. God sends the believers to tell the good news of Jesus Christ to the world. The believers are living epistles of Jesus Christ. 2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, (2 Peter 1:2) We know God and Christ because of the Holy Spirit who takes the things of Christ and makes them real to us. Our knowledge of Christ comes by the Holy Spirit. Grace and peace are multiplied in your life through your knowledge of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. God has made every arrangement for us to live in Christ. And God has made every arrangement for us to live in godliness for Him. The believer grows in grace , and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To God be glory both now and forever. The character of the believer. The person who commits himself to the Lord Jesus Christ loses himself, not by his personality, but by the submission of his will to the Lord. Paul testified, " I am crucified with Christ , nevertheless I live, yet not I , but Christ lives in me." No personality is lost. The Holy Spirit , who produces in our lives the grace and knowledge of the Lord in their fullness in Christ , within us. The Bible is not about great men. The Bible is about how great God is. God has made weak men into great men. There is nothing for us to boast about except how great the Lord is. The character of Peter appeals to us because it is an inspiration to see how God can turn a weak Peter into a godly person of solid rock of spiritual strength. 3 According as his divine power has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that has called us to glory and virtue: (2 Peter 1:3) The Lord has power and authority over life and death. The Holy Spirit make us know that God saved us. God saved us not because of our merit. God saved us not because of our character. God saved us because our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus loves us enough to die for us on the cross to pay for the penalty of our sin. The Holy Spirit gives us the knowledge to God and the Lord Jesus. 2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as his divine power has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that has called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (2 Peter 1:2-4) Through the knowledge of Him that have called us to glory and virtue. We are called to be like Christ. It is only through the knowledge of Christ that we can learn to live like Christ. Through the knowledge of Christ we have the courage to excel in life. Virtue is excellence in Christ. God has given us exceeding great precious promises.. (John 6:37) By these you might be partakers of the divine nature. You might be a child of God. The Lord's Divine power has given us all things which we need to live His life . God has given us all things that pertain unto life in Christ and our godliness of life for Him. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. (2 Peter 1:5-7) If you are a believer you are to grow spiritually. Faith is saving faith that the Holy Spirit gives. Add to your faith virtue. It is the courage to stand in the Lord. Add to virtue knowledge. Knowledge in Christ is to grow and develop in the believer's life according to the Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit makes you sure of the Word of God. The Holy Spirit confirms the Word of God in your heart and you will grow spiritually in your life. Faith is a gift from God. Give all diligence add to your faith virtue. Through the knowledge of Christ we have the courage to excel in life. Virtue is excellence in Christ. And add to virtue knowledge of Christ. Through the knowledge of Him that have called us to glory and virtue. We are called to be like Christ. It is only through the knowledge of Christ that we can learn to live like Christ. Through the knowledge of Christ we have the courage to excel in life. Add to knowledge temperance. Have the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ to be self-controlled in every area of our lives. Temperance is self-control . Add to self-control patience. Have the patience to endure when the trials come. Patience is endurance. Patience is built upon the knowledge of Christ and the courage to stand in the Lord Jesus Christ. Add to patience godliness. Godliness is to be like God .After you are born into the family of God want to be righteous like your heavenly Father. You desire to be righteous like your heavenly Father. It is the desire and aim of every individual who is a partaker of the divine nature . God is our heavenly Father . We worship and praise God. We depend on God and devoted ourselves to God. 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. Add to godliness brotherly love. Brotherly kindness is brotherly love. We are to love other believers. It is a joy to have a loving relationship with the brethren. It is a joy to have a loving relationship with the believer. Add to brotherly kindness charity. Charity is also directed to outsiders. We are to love the sinner is God loves him. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. God hates sin and will judge the sin unless the sinner turns to Christ. we are to love the outsiders by bringing the gospel of Jesus Christ to them. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that you shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.(2 Peter 1:8) You will not be idle nor unfruitful. If these things in you - faith , courage , knowledge of Christ, self-control , patience ,godliness, and love of brethren , and love for the outsiders . If all these things are be within you , you will not produce the fruit of the Spirit by sitting idle on the sideline. We are to yield ourselves to the Holy Spirit to produce fruit. God does not want us to be barren. God wants us to produce fruit. The fruit is faith , courage, knowledge of God and Christ , self-control, love for the believer and love for the unsaved. 9 But he that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. (2 Peter 1:9) But he that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off. He can not see where he is going .He can not see God. He is not sure that he is saved. He has forgotten that he was purged from his old sin. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if you do these things, you shall never fall: 11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:10-11) Don't be blind to the truth of Jesus Christ. Give all your effort to make sure that your calling and election is sure. If you do these ,you will never fail. You have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace and peace is multiplied unto you through your knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. 12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though you know them, and be established in the present truth. 13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; 14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ has showed me. 15 Moreover I will endeavour that you may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance. 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. 17 For he recei1ved 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. 18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. 19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto you do well that you take heed, as unto a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:10-18) Peter remind the believers about the truth.FALSE TEACHERS
(2 PETER 2)EXAMPLES OF GOD'S JUDGMENT
Wicked angels The flood The city of Sodom and Gomorrah 1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingers not, and their damnation slumbers not. (2 Peter 3;1-3) There were false prophets among the people of Israel in the Old Testament. But today there are false teachers , even there shall be false teachers among you Many false followers will follow their pernicious ways. False followers will follow false teachers. Jesus said , My sheep hear my voice , and they will not follow a false shepherd(John10:27) The false followers follow the false teachers because they shall speak evil against the truth. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you whose judgment now of a long time linger not, and their damnation plumbers not , Through covetousness shall they formed their words , as from clay , wax , stone , plastic. They their words to make merchandise of you. Their judgment linger not and their damnation slumber not. 4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; God created the angels with a free will.Apparently some of the angels exercise their free will to follow Satan in his rebellion against God. Before God made man , there was another creation. God created angels before God created man. There was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the rebellious angels. God cast them down to hell , and delivered them into chains of darkness , to be reserved into judgment. But not all the rebellious fallen angels are chained in darkness. They are very active in the world. 5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; (2 Peter 2:5) God saved eight people. There were seven others with Noah. Noah and his wife, his three sons , their wives are eight persons who came through the flood. 6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; 7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) (2 Peter 2:6-8) It was torture for Lot to live in Sodom.Lot was vexed with the filthy conservation of the wicked. Lot was tired down with toil of resisting the darts of the filthy conversation of the wicked. Lot was tormented by the filthy conversations and deeds of the wicked. For that righteous man Lot dwelling among them , in seeing and hearing day to day with their unlawful deeds. God delivered just Lot. Lot was justified in the sight of God. God delivered just Lot , vexed with the filthy conversations and the manner of activities of the wicked. Lot was a just man because Lot was justified before God. Lot trusted God just as Abraham trusted God . 9 The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: 10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. (2 Peter 2:9-10) But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness. All their filthy mind walk after the flesh in the lust of all their heart for uncleanness. They are lower than animals . They delight in being vulgar , vile, and vicious. And these brute beasts despise the spiritual government of God. They despise that which is ordained by God. Presumptuous are they. They are daredevils that speak with filth that come from their blaspheming hearts. These brute beasts are self-willed, doing their own evil things. The brute beasts are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. They are not afraid to speak evil of the glories of God. They speak evil of that which is holy. They take the name of God in vain. These daredevils are not afraid to speak evil of the dignities , of glories of God, of the government of God. 11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. (2 Peter 2:11) These false teachers are puffed up with pride when they speak evil. Whereas the angels , which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. We need to follow Michael, the archangel and the angels in being humble before God. We need to manifest a spirit of humility. We need to turn all to God. 12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; (2 Peter 2:12) These natural brute beasts are like wild animals. These beasts are made to be taken and destroyed. They have descended to the level of hopelessness. They speak evil of things that they understand not.These false teachers shall utterly perish in their corruption. And these false teachers shall receive the reward of unrighteousness. These false teachers count it pleasure to riot in the day time. They are spots and blemishes. They sport themselves with their own deceiving , while they feast with you. Their eyes are full of adultery. Cursed children, they cannot cease from sin , beguiling unstable souls. They have a heart exercised with covetous practices. The false teachers have forsaken the right way and are gone astray. On the outside , the natural brute beasts look religious. The natural brute beasts do some form of motion and works but their are not right with God. The natural brute beasts have corrupt hearts. The false teachers are like wild beasts. These beasts are made to be taken and destroyed. They have descended to the level of hopelessness. They speak evil of things that they understand not. These false teachers shall utterly perish in their corruption. 13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceiving while they feast with you; 14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: a heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: (2 Peter 2:13-14) The hearts of the false teachers are corruption. When their minds are corrupted , they are going to act wrong. When their hearts are corrupted , they walk the wrong way and are astray , following the wrong way of Balaam the son of Bosar , who loved the wages of unrighteousness. Balaam knew that he should not go and prophesy against Israel. Balaam did it because he loved the price that was offered to him to prophesy against Israel. The way of Balaam is the covetousness of a person who performs religious for personal profit. 15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbade the madness of the prophet. (2 Peter 2:15-16) But Balaam was rebuked for his iniquity. The devil gives the sinner the wages of unrighteousness. The wages of unrighteousness is a heart of a wild beast. The wages of unrighteousness is lunatic. The mind is not thinking right. The heart is not right. The false teachers have forsaken the right way , and are gone astray, following the lunatic of Balaam But was rebuked for his iniquity . The dumb ass speaking with a man's voice forbade the lunatic madness of the prophet, 17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. (2 Peter 2:17) These false teachers are wells without water.They are empty clouds that are carried with a tempest. God have reserved for them a mist of darkness forever. 18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. (2 Peter 2:18) For when these false teachers speak great swelling words of uselessness , they allure through the lusts of the flesh , through much lewdness and sexual excesses. It is a false religion that appeals to the senses .It appeals to the eyes. This false religion appeals to the ear . This false religion appeals to the nose. They are the lust of the flesh. They are the desires of the flesh . These false teachers allure through the lust of the flesh, through much wantonness 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. (2 Peter 2:19) While the false teachers promise them freedom , they themselves are servants of corruption . While they promise others liberty , they themselves are enslaved in corruption. The false teachers are overcome by corruption. They don't really know freedom . They are brought in bondage with corruption. 20 For if after they have escaped the pollution of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. (2 Peter 2:20) These false teachers are aware of the truth. But they have to love for the truth. They reject the truth and became enslaved in corruption. These false teachers think that they are very religious. They belong to a certain church. These false teachers don't believe the Bible is really the Word of God, but they talk a lot about love and brotherhood. These false teachers have clean escaped from the pollution. But they became enslaved in some sort of corruption. Through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they were able to escape the pollution of the world. But afterward they are again entangled in corruption. And they are overcome by the corruption. They have heard the gospel of Jesus Christ over hundreds of times. These false teachers are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. (2 Peter 2:21-22)JESUS WILL RETURN
(2 PETER 3) Jesus will return and God's judgment will happen. God is patient. Live the right way. The full knowledge of God , and of Lord Jesus Christ is the foundation on which the believer's character is built. 1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: (2 PETER 3:1) Peter wrote the two epistles. Peter wrote unto you to stir up your sincere minds by way of remembrance. Peter wants to stir up your memories of Lord Jesus . Peter can tell you from his own experience. And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shall deny me thrice (Luke 22:61) We have the same frailties that Peter has. Peter wants to stir up our sincere minds by way of remembrance. 2 That you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Savior: (2 PETER 3:2 ) Now what Peter wants you to be mindful of ? That you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets. The Holy Spirit spoke through the Holy Prophets of the Old Testament. And You are to be mindful of the commandment of the Lord Jesus Christ given through the apostles of the Lord and Saviour. 3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. (2 PETER 3:3-4 ) Scoffers are false teachers . Scoffers evidently will be church members and pastors who will be walking after their own lusts. The false teachers are saying, Where is the promise of his coming? The Old Testament prophets wrote about Christ's coming to earth to establish His kingdom. The New Testament apostles wrote about Christ's coming to take the church out of the world. And after the Great Tribulation Christ comes again to the earth to establish His Kingdom. Jesus said, I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you , i will come again, and receive you unto myself (John 14:2) Jesus promised to come back for us , and then to establish His kingdom upon the earth. The false teachers are saying, for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. The scoffers claim that nothing happens since father Adam's time. But the false teachers and scoffers are absolutely wrong. God has already judged the wicked people of the world that then was. 5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: (2 PETER 3:5 ) For this the false teachers willingly did want to believe that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:(2 PETER 3:6 ) The scoffers willingly did not want to believe what have happened to the old world that perished under the flood. 7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.(2 PETER 3:7 ) This heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word of God are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly The heaven and earth are stored up for fire and with fire. The earth carries its own judgment. Water had destroyed the world that was. Now the present world is reserved for the judgment of fire. 8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.(2 PETER 3:8) But beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing , that God loves you. The Lord is everlasting . The Lord has His own timing. How many man are a thousand years ? It is not for man to measure the times of the actions of the Lord. The Lord has eternity . The Lord need not worry about times. Just trust in the Lord to love you. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 PETER 3:9 ) God is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; But the Lord is longsuffering to us-ward The Lord is patient. The Lord is not rushing things. The Lord is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. (2 PETER 3:10 ) But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; Unexpectedly it will begin as a thief of the night. The heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. The building blocks, the elements, of the universe is melt with fervent heat. The elements are untie and unloose. And tremendous amount of energy is released with fervent heat. The earth also and the works of wicked that are therein shall be burned up. 11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? (2 PETER 3:11-12 ) What manners of persons you ought to be in holy conversation and godliness , seeing what will happen to all these things. These are warnings from the Lord to tell us that these things shall be dissolved. These are fire alarms to warn us that these things shall be dissolved, and the elements shall be melt with fervent heat. 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness. (2 PETER 3:13 ) Nevertheless we , according to the promise of the Lord , look for new heavens and a new earth , wherein dwells righteousness. 14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that you look for such things, be diligent that you may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. (2 PETER 3:14 ) Wherefore , beloved , seeing that you look for the Lord, be deligent that you may be found of Lord Jesus Christ in peace , without spot and blameless. 15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him has written unto you; (2 PETER 3:15 ) And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation. The Lord's patience is delaying His return in judgment. The Lord's delay in His return is giving the folks an opportunity for people to be saved. And account that the patient of the Lord is salvation. We have to be patient with the Lord. We have to wait patiently while the Lord deals with the present world situation. Peter reminds us that brother Paul also wrote about this. 16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. 17 You therefore, beloved, seeing you know these things before, beware lest you also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. (2 PETER 3:16-17 ) Beloved , don't be a lazy believer , not learning the Word of God. There is no shortcuts. There is no little course you can take in a few days. There is no easy way to learn the Word of God. We are to seriously study the entire Word of God. You therefore, beloved, seeing you know these things before, beware lest you also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. Lazy folks forget about the Word of God. Lazy folks are led away with error of the wicked. Lazy folks lost their Word of God. Lazy folks do not have the truth. Lazy folks lost their knowledge of God. Lazy folks fall from their own steadfastness. Beloved , if you have a true knowledge of the Word of God and apply it to your life , you will be a steadfast believer. 18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. (2 PETER 3:18 ) Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Grow in the grace of our Lord Jesus as we grow in the knowledge of of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We grow in the grace of God as the Holy Spirit fills us with the knowledge of our Lord Jesus as He is revealed to us in the Word of God. Purpose in your all mind to know our Lord Jesus with all your mind .Purpose in all your heart know our Lord Jesus Christ. Purpose in your soul to know our Lord Jesus Christ with all your soul. Purpose in your all strength to know our Lord Jesus Christ. To our Jesus Christ be glory both now and for ever. Amen. -------------------------- Title : Second Epistles of Peter ISBN 13 978-1-928153-18-4 (paperback) Author : Anthony Ing First Printing 2016