How
did Scripture come to be written according to 1:20-21?1st and 2nd Peter
Tested by Fire: Lesson 5
In his first letter, Peter gives us hope through the resurrection of Jesus that heaven is waiting for us. This world is not our home. He encourages Christians to stand up to outside pressures. The fire of persecution was coming from outside the church.
Now the fire is coming from inside our own house. Peter warns Christians to watch out for false doctrine and to be ready for the last day. He does this under the theme, “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).
A simple outline for 2 Peter.
Chapter 1 Grow in Faith through the Inspired Word
Chapter 2 Watch out for False Teachers
Chapter 3 Be ready for the Day of the Lord
Read 1:1-11
Agree or Disagree?
Since God has “given us everything we need for life and godliness” through his Word, we do not need to look for help from any other sources.
We do not need to look anywhere else for forgiveness and salvation. The Bible is correct in all that it contains, but it does not cover every subject. If you want to learn the complete history of China, you will need to go to another source. However, knowing the complete history of China is not necessary to know your Savior, Jesus, or to live a God-pleasing life.
Peter lists many characteristics in 1:5-7. Do these work like courses in college? “Once I have mastered goodness, I move on to knowledge and then self control.”
No. These are all founded on faith and we grow in them together.
Paul also gives a list of Christian characteristics. Which ones are different from Peter’s list?
Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Joy, peace, patience, gentleness
All Christians will have these characteristics, but in different amounts. How do we acquire these qualities in “increasing measure” as Peter urges?
We grow in these through the Gospel. That Gospel is found in God’s Word, in baptism, and in the Lord’s Supper.
What theological word describes this process of growing in faith?
A. Justification
B. Sanctification
C. Redemption
D. Atonement
Sanctification
Compare 1:9 and James 2:18. Are they saying the same thing?
James 2:18
18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
Faith will show itself in our actions and attitudes. Peter and James both make the same point. Faith is not just an intellectual knowledge of the Bible. It will have an effect on a person’s life.
In 1:10, it may look like Christians can do something to make their salvation more certain. Look at what Paul says in the following two passages.
Romans 11:6
And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.
Ephesians 2:8-9
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
Since our going to heaven is not dependant on us, what does Peter mean when he writes, “make your calling and election sure”? For whom are we making it sure?
To God it is sure. He is the one who elected us. We make it sure to ourselves as our faith is expressed in our lives.
Forgetting some things causes more problems than others. Forgetting your car keys may cause you to be late. Forgetting an appointment may cause you to lose business. Forgetting that you are married (if you are) may cause you to fall into temptation. Forgetting that you are forgiven, may cause you to live as though you were not forgiven.
Read 1:12-15
Agree or Disagree?
According to 1:12-13, it is fine to have essentially the same sermon every week.
The message that we have sinned and Jesus has forgiven us must never change. However, there are certainly different aspects and other points to be learned in each biblical passage.
What is the value in repetition?
Repetition is how we learn. It sinks the important truths of the Bible into our long term memory so that even without a Bible in front of us, we still know that God loves us.
Peter knew that he would soon die and no longer “live in the tent of this body.” How did he make sure that the gospel would not be forgotten by his audience? (1:12-15)
He wrote them a letter that the Holy Spirit has preserved for us today.
Peter describes his body as a tent. List some characteristics of a tent.
Temporary, flimsy, shelter, roughing it
Paul also uses the image of a tent.
2 Corinthians 5:1
Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
How is your body being a tent comforting?
Our bodies that get sick and hurt and wear out are only temporary. God will give us a glorious resurrection body on the last day that will never get sick, hurt, or wear out.
Read 1:16-21
What are some “cleverly invented” stories than have misled many people?
Joseph Smith—The book of Mormon
Mohammed—Koran
In courts, the most powerful testimony is often eyewitness testimony. “I saw him rob the bank.” “I heard him give the orders to shred the documents.” As part of the inner circle of disciples, Peter, along with James and John, was an eyewitness of several wonderful events. What event does Peter relate in 1:16-18?
The Transfiguration
Read the account of this event in Mark.
Mark 9:2-10
2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 4 And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. 5 Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 6 (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.) 7 Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” 8 Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus. 9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant.
What misunderstandings did Peter and the others have at that time?
They wanted Jesus, Moses and Elijah to remain on the earth. They did not understand that Jesus would rise.
Peter has learned. His first letter made much of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. God “has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3). He also comforted us with the truth that Jesus “has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him” (1 Peter 3:22.
Verse 19, may be better translated, “We have the more certain word of the prophets.” Nothing makes God’s Word more certain. It is true and reliable without regard for outside circumstances.
How
did Scripture come to be written according to 1:20-21?
God gave men the command to write, the message to write and even the very words to write. God used the writing style of the human authors, but the words and messages are still his.
What do we call this doctrine?
Inspiration of Scripture
Peter writes, “Prophecy never had its origin in the will of man.” Jeremiah tells us what many false prophets say.
Jeremiah 6:13-14
13 “From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit. 14 They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. ‘Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no peace.
When true prophets spoke, they spoke seriously against sin and they spoke seriously about the gospel. They did this because God is serious about sin, but he is also serious about forgiveness. May we not take sin lightly or his forgiveness for granted.
Why do you believe that all of Scripture is from God and therefore without error?
The Bible says so. The Holy Spirit created faith in us to believe in Christ and his Word.
2 Timothy 3:16
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
How would you respond to someone who…
1. Claims that there are errors in the Bible.
God does not make mistakes. Show me an error. Many errors that people think are in the Bible have been shown to be correct and others are easily explained.
2. Says, “Christians are biased. You believe the Bible is inspired by God and then use passages from the Bible to proved your point. You are using circular reasoning. If you looked at it objectively, you would see that the Bible is just another collection of books written by men.”
The Bible is self-authenticating. Only someone who has been given faith through the good news in the Bible can believe that it is the inspired Word of God. Perhaps the best response is to ask the person if they know what the main message of the Bible is. Then you can tell them about their sin and their Savior. That message has the power to convert them and then the inspiration of the Bible will no longer be such an issue for them.
