2 Peter 1: Becoming Like Christ
What made Peter’s message so special?
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2 Peter 1:1 From Peter, a servant and special messenger of Jesus Christ, to those who share our complete trust in God and live in righteousness through Jesus Christ our Savior.
King James
2 Peter 1:1 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:
What does it mean to have “complete trust” in God?
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Job 13:15 God may be killing me, but I still trust him. In standing before him, I declare that I am innocent of any wrongdoing.
Hebrews 11:6 Unless we believe in God and the rewards that follow, we’ll neither approach him nor seek to please him.
2 Peter 1:1 From Peter, a servant and special messenger of Jesus Christ, to those who share our complete trust in God and live in righteousness through Jesus Christ our Savior.
King James
Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
2 Peter 1:1 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:
How can Christians know God and not be at peace?
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Mark 4:38 Jesus was asleep in the back of the boat, his head resting on a cushion. His disciples woke him, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we are about to die?”
2 Peter 1:2–3 May grace and peace abound in your lives through your knowledge of God and our Lord Jesus. God is our only resource for righteous living. By knowing him, we are called to his abundance and virtue.
King James
Mark 4:38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
2 Peter 1:2–3 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
Of what value is a promise if we don’t have what it promises?
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Hebrews 10:36 We can be thankful for delays that bring patience, because endurance is essential for receiving God’s promise.
Hebrews 11:13 All these people believed God’s promises but died without seeing their fulfillment. They saw enough from a distance to be convinced of the truth and confess that they are foreigners just passing through.
2 Peter 1:4 We have the most valuable, spectacular promises in Christ. By acquiring his divine nature, we escape the world’s corruption and selfish desires.
King James
Hebrews 10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
2 Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
What might we need to do to acquire a “divine nature”?
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Psalm 37:4 Delight in the Lord, for he can give you the desires of your heart when you want what he wants.
James 4:8 Move closer to God, and he will move closer to you. Wash your hands of wrongdoing and purify your hearts with good motives. Don’t live a double life, but have a single focus upon what the Lord wants.
2 Peter 1:4–6 We have the most valuable, spectacular promises in Christ. By acquiring his divine nature, we escape the world’s corruption and selfish desires. With so great a promise, passionately desire to be like him, growing your faith as you increase in knowledge and righteousness. With better knowledge of the Lord, seek to master your desires, learn to patiently wait upon him, and do what most pleases him.
King James
Psalm 37:4 Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
2 Peter 1:4–6 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
How difficult is loving your enemies?
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Matthew 5:43–44 “People usually say, ‘Love your neighbor, and hate your enemy,’ but I say you should show kindness to your enemies, doing good to those who persecute you.”
Romans 12:20 If your enemy is hungry, prepare a feast for him. If he is thirsty, give him your best wine. Your generosity will amaze him—as much a shock as coals of fire being poured upon his head—and God will reward you.
2 Peter 1:7 Having God’s caring heart, be kind to your neighbors and love even your enemies.
King James
Matthew 5:43–44 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Romans 12:20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
2 Peter 1:7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
What is the difference between the fruits of the spirit and the fruits of the flesh?
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Galatians 5:19–23 Your self-serving nature can lead you to such things as infidelity, pornography, and other sexual impurity—contentions, anger, and resentment—false doctrines, psychics, and misplaced worship—envy, jealousy, and preying upon others—alcohol, drugs, and mindless partying. As I’ve said before, don’t think for a second that you can do such things and have any place in the Kingdom of God. If the Holy Spirit is guiding your life, you show true love—giving to people without regard to whether they can return the favor. You have joy, peace and patience in stressful situations. Kindness, generosity, and faithfulness expresses who you are, not what people deserve. You are gentle and even-tempered. There’s no law against such behavior.
2 Peter 1:8 The more you are used by God for his purpose, the greater your feeling of self-worth will be, and your relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ will always be fruitful.
King James
Galatians 5:19–23 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
2 Peter 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Why might Christians have difficulty remembering how God has changed their lives?
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2 Corinthians 3:18 Like someone looking into a mirror, when we see the Lord in the glory of the new contract, we become more like him, being changed from glory to greater glory by the work of his Spirit.
Philippians 3:13 Friends, I haven’t figured everything out yet, but I know one thing: the past needs to be forgotten so I can focus on doing better in the future.
2 Peter 1:9 Those who lack these qualities are spiritually blind, unable to see past their noses, forgetting how they were cleansed from their sins.
King James
2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
2 Peter 1:9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
Why is planning our work and working out plan not necessarily a guarantee of success?
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Proverbs 16:9 People want to map their entire journey, but God shows them only the next step.
Jeremiah 29:11 The Lord says, “I have fully drawn up the plans I have for your lives. The details are laid out to complete something very good, not to harm you at all, but to give you hope for what comes in the end.”
2 Peter 1:10 Therefore, my friends, abandon your self-serving desires and focus all your energy on what God wants. Then, what he had called you for will be what you become, guaranteeing your success.
King James
Proverbs 16:9 A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
2 Peter 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
Jesus and his disciples preached the “Kingdom of God.” What do you think the content of that message was?
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Matthew 9:35 Jesus traveled through all the towns and small communities, teaching in the synagogues and preaching the good news of the Kingdom. He healed all kinds of sicknesses and infirmities.
Matthew 10:7 “Wherever you go, preach the good news that the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”
Mark 9:1 “I guarantee, some of you standing here will not die before they see the Kingdom of God come with power.”
Luke 17:21 “No one will say, ‘Here it is,’ or, ‘It’s right over there.’ That is because the Kingdom of God is within you.”
Romans 14:17 The Kingdom of God is not built upon what we eat or drink. It’s built upon our relationship with him—each of us following the direction of the Holy Spirit in righteousness, peace, and joy.
2 Peter 1:11 The door is wide open for you to experience the abundant life that exists only in the eternal Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.
King James
Matthew 9:35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
Matthew 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mark 9:1 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.
Luke 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
2 Peter 1:11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
How can knowledge of the truth be forgotten?
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Romans 1:24–25 God has given them free will to go their own way so they can enjoy their sinful pleasures, so they can do shameful acts with one another. In this process, they exchange the truth of God for the lies they want to believe, worshiping the creature instead of the Creator, who alone is worthy of eternal adoration. Yes, this is true.
2 Timothy 3:7 These people seem always to be learning, but they never come to grips with the truth.
2 Peter 1:12–13 Although you have learned these things and are established in the truth, I would be negligent if I didn’t keep reminding you. Yes, for as long as I live, I have a responsibility to refresh your memory of what Jesus means to you.
King James
Romans 1:24–25 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
2 Timothy 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
2 Peter 1:12–13 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. 13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;
What is the benefit of knowing “life is short”?
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2 Peter 1:14–15 The Lord Jesus Christ has shown me that I don’t have much time left on Earth, so I’m writing these things to help you remember after I am gone.
King James
2 Peter 1:14–15 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.
Why should we believe Peter’s “eyewitness report”?
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Luke 1:2 All these accounts owe their source to the early disciples and other eyewitnesses who saw him with their own eyes and touched him with their own hands.
2 Peter 1:16 We were not making up clever, fictional stories from our imagination when we showed you the power of our Lord Jesus Christ and his coming. With our own eyes, we saw his greatness.
King James
Luke 1:2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;
2 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.
In how many ways might Peter have heard God speak from above?
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Matthew 17:5 While Peter was still speaking, a brilliant cloud overshadowed them. A voice came from the cloud. “This is my dearly loved son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.”
John 2:23 Many people came to the Passover celebration in Jerusalem. When they saw the miracles Jesus did, they believed.
John 12:28 “Father, bring glory to your name.” A voice from above said, “I have already glorified my name and will do so again.”
2 Peter 1:17–19 For God the Father revealed his son’s honor and glory when he spoke from above, saying, “This is my dearly loved son, in whom I am well pleased.” We heard that voice from above with our own ears, when we were with Jesus on the sacred mountain. That experience adds to our confidence in the prophetic words concerning Jesus, which you do well to heed as in the dawning of a new day, when the Morning Star arises in your hearts.
King James
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.
John 2:23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.
John 12:28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.
2 Peter 1:17–19 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. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. 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:
What is the difference between “news” and “fake news”?
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2 Timothy 4:3 You will experience times when people reject sound teaching for what suits their desires. They will love those who preach what they want to hear.
2 Peter 1:20–21 Above all, you should know that prophecy in Scripture is never an expression of human intellect, for the prophets of old spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit, not because of their own desires.
King James
2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
2 Peter 1:20–21 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 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.