BE WHO

YOU ARE

Lesson 9 for May 27, 2017

At the beginning of Peter’s second letter, he
wrote about faith so we “always have a
reminder of these things after my decease.”
(2P. 1:15).
He wrote about a precious faith that grows
until our whole life is soaked in it. It helps
facing death and it gives us the assurance of
eternal life.
 A precious faith. 2 Peter 1:1-4.

 From faith to love. 2 Peter 1:5-7.

 Living according to our faith. 2 Peter 1:8-11.

 Faith and death. 2 Peter 1:12-15.

2 Peter 1:1-4
A P R E C I O U S FA I T H
“Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to
those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the
righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:1)
We have faith “by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ,” not by
our own merit.
We receive faith by knowing God and Jesus (v. 2-3).
We know God by His Word, Creation, our lives being transformed, obedience and
God’s grace in us.

That faith helps us to escape “the

corruption that is in the world.” (v. 4).
The love of Jesus transforms our lives
and our desires, so we no longer want
to sin.
2 Peter 1:5-7 FROM FAITH TO LOVE
“But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith
virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control
perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly
kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.” (2 Peter 1:5-7)
In addition to using the gifts God has given us, we 8. Love
must seek the Christian virtues. Christians can grow Being willing to
up in a sanctified life if He lives with God. sacrifice the self for
6. Godliness the good of those we
Kind and humble, love (both friends and
enemies)
a behavior that’s
in tune with
4. Self-control our faith
Being able to control
2. Virtue our impulses 7. Brotherly
Moral Kindness
excellence 5. Perseverance Christians are a
Being brave and family that stays
3. Knowledge standing strong together
Understanding God’s before adversity
1. Faith ways and plans for us
Believing we are in a practical way
saved in Jesus
“These words are full of instruction, and strike
the keynote of victory. The apostle presents
before the believers the ladder of Christian
progress, every step of which represents
advancement in the knowledge of God, and in
the climbing of which there is to be no
standstill. Faith, virtue, knowledge,
temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly
kindness, and charity are the rounds of the
ladder. We are saved by climbing round after
round, mounting step after step, to the height
of Christ’s ideal for us. Thus He is made unto
us wisdom, and righteousness, and
sanctification, and redemption.”

E.G.W. (The Acts of the Apostles, cp. 52, p. 530)

2 Peter 1:8-11 LIVING ACCORDING TO OUR FAITH
“Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election
sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble.” (2 Peter 1:10)

First, Peter invited us to climb the “ladder of faith”. Then, he explained the result
of those virtues “abounding” (v. 8) or missing (v. 9).

ABOUNDING
We are not idle but we
are bearing fruit all the
time by sharing our faith
and we grow in knowing
Jesus more and more.

MISSING
We are blind. We cannot see
the result of our justification
(that is, sanctification). We
lose our saving relationship
with Jesus.

We must live according to our faith. If we don’t, we are actually denying it.
2 Peter 1:12-15
FAITH AND DEATH
“I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent
of this body, because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord
Jesus Christ has made clear to me.” (2 Peter 1:13-14 NIV)

Peter talked about his body as if it was a “tent”

that he will soon leave. Did Peter think that his
soul would ascend to Heaven the day He died?
In fact, Peter thought that his mortal material
body was temporal and it was going to be
replaced by something immortal.
Paul explained emphatically that our hope after
death is resurrection, and not an immediate
eternal life just after death (1 Corinthians 15:12-
57; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).
When we’ll be resurrected, our “tent” (the
mortal body) will become an eternal building
(an incorruptible body).
“Our mortal bodies may die and be laid away in
the grave. Yet the blessed hope lives on until the
resurrection, when the voice of Jesus calls forth
the sleeping dust. We shall then enjoy the
fullness of the blessed, glorious hope. We know
in whom we have believed. We have not run in
vain, neither labored in vain. A rich, a glorious
reward is before us; it is the prize for which we
run, and if we persevere with courage we shall
surely obtain it.”
E.G.W. (In Heavenly Places, December 11)
2 Peter 1:12-15
FAITH AND DEATH
“Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of
these things after my decease.” (2 Peter 1:15)

Jesus’ prophecy was going to be fulfilled

(John 21:18-19). Peter was going to be
crucified by Nero soon.

Was Peter
worried about
his death?

He wasn’t afraid or worried about himself and his

death. Christians must not be afraid of death,
because God has promised eternal life for us.
The Lord encouraged Peter to care about His
flock, so Peter’s only concern was to
encourage his brothers and sisters from all
times to be faithful to Jesus.
“For many years Peter had been urging upon the believers
the necessity of a constant growth in grace and in a
knowledge of the truth; and now, knowing that soon he would
be called to suffer martyrdom for his faith, he once more
drew attention to the precious privileges within the reach of
every believer. In the full assurance of his faith the aged
disciple exhorted his brethren to steadfastness of purpose in
the Christian life. ‘Give diligence,’ he pleaded, ‘to make your
calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall
never fall: for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you
abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ.’ Precious assurance! Glorious is the
hope before the believer as he advances by faith toward the
heights of Christian perfection!”

E.G.W. (The Acts of the Apostles, p. 533)