Day 1: 2 Peter 1:1-4

1 Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: 2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

As I was thinking about the opening of 2 Peter, I challenged myself to truthfully write down what I believe it means to have a full life. (Pause— try it out for just 30 seconds or so). I discovered a pattern in my list. Nothing on my list was particularly ungodly in-of-itself. Actually at first glance, I pat myself on a back a little (while no one was looking). But then there was something pressed onto my heart… my list was very skewed towards the earthly and temporary. Even my godly ambitions had the flavor of being earthly and temporary. Again not particularly ungodly, but also not strikingly eternal, heavenly, and forever. 

When the Bible and Jesus talk about “life”, it seems to talk a lot about life holistically, eternally, outside of this earth, outside of time and space, the forever-ness of God that will exist and reign and rule supremely after this world fades and the mountains crumble and seas dry up… that is eternity, forever, and everlasting. 

Psalm 106:1 Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!

Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.

1 Peter 1:24-25 for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” (quoting Isaiah 40:7-8) And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

In the first 4 verses of this book, Peter points us to amazing, breathtaking, heavenly, eternal, and forever truths about how God relates to His beloved people. 

  • We have obtained (or been bestowed) a faith to know and love the Almighty God
  • God has granted His people all things (not just some things but all things) that pertain to life
  • God calls us to His own glory 
  • God grants us blood-bought promises
  • God cleanses us and our corruption

These truths prepare us not primarily for a better life on this earth, but for eternity with Him. So I challenge us all to consider, ponder, repent, and re-resolve— what is a full, godly, joyful life (on this earth) that is laser-focused on eternity? Where will we make our investments and deposits? 

John 6:68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life"

Psalm 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Galatians 5:14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

2 Corinthians 4:17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison

Posted by Robert Han on 7/18/2016

Comments

I admit that I find myself fallen to the pleasures of this world and have the desire to be as comfortable as possible. I forget that this is not my home. I forget that God has so much more promised to me. I become distracted by the shiny trinkets that the world shows me only to find out that my hands become tarnished as soon as I hold them which leads to sometimes years to get rid of the residue from my hands. My salvation is not received as a trinket; it is a treasure that is given to me when I don't deserve it. With salvation, God calls His children to strive for higher standards and a higher purpose. Not because of what we can do through Christ (which is a lot), but because God has given us so much that we don't even realize. We have been given much, so that we can glorify Him much.

Diana Lim on 7/18/2016 at 7:59 AM

As God has repeated throughout His Word, as it does here, the "knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence" (3) is where it all begins, once Jesus has given us new life. God's power manifesting in our lives...ever abounding grace and peace in our hearts...the strengthening through his awesome promises...all of it comes to life through knowing Him more and more. I find it weird and silly that somehow I can try to justify not spending time with my Father by saying that, "oh, I only have time for a short prayer this morning, that will be good enough," when in reality, we cannot live fully without getting to know Him more, as you would spending time with your spouse, children, or best friends. Importance and centrality of deeply knowing the One who brought Christ to us cannot be overstated and this is a good reminder that, as Pastor Daniel indicated yesterday, godliness does not come automatically on its own. We have a mission/calling and (hopefully) a deep passion to know Him (love Him) and make Him known (love people). It is ever more imperative living in this world that is broken, lost and hurting.

John Kim on 7/18/2016 at 9:21 AM

It is interesting that many of God's promises are not only meant to help us get through this life but will continue to be precious and very great into eternity.

For the entirety of a Christian's existence, he can always know God to never leave nor forsake, always having every circumstance move towards good, never having a need in anything, etc... we can bank on God's promises forever.

Andrew Kim on 7/18/2016 at 11:37 PM