Be Equipped • 2 Peter 1:3-8; 18-21
By Arthur Story
In this week’s lesson from 2 Peter 1, we see three foundational building blocks of spiritual growth that God has provided for us as believers; Our Salvation, Christ’s Identity, and Scripture.
Our Salvation (vs. 1-4)
The first foundational building block of spiritual growth for us as believers is our salvation in Christ. Apart from salvation there is no spiritual growth (John 15:1-7). Just like a baby has no ability to physically live and grow apart from physical conception, there is no possibility for eternal life and spiritual growth without being spiritually born through Christ (John 3:3).
Through His divine power, Christ has given us everything we need to grow and serve Him. In His call to salvation He established a relationship with us that gives us access to all we need to be who He has called us to be. Nothing is hidden or kept from us. Just as parents bring a newborn child into this world and make every provision for them to grow into adults, Jesus provides us with all we need to be able to grow and serve Him.
In His love for us, Jesus assures us of the promises given to us through His work of salvation. We are promised grace (Romans 5:15), the Holy Spirit and guidance (John 16:13), God’s presence and power (Isaiah 41:10), resurrection (John 11:25), heaven (John 14:1-3), and more. As recipients of His promises we are to grow and become like Him (Ephesians 4:24; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 2:5-8). This growth requires both His provision and our action (Ephesians 2:8-10). Peter describes this development in the life of the believer in verses 7 and 8. As we grow, we begin with “goodness,” or character, and move to unconditional “love” (CSB). As we grow in these areas of our life we mature and avoid becoming “useless,” or idle, and “unfruitful” (CSB).
Christ’s Identity (vs. 5-7)
The second foundational building block of spiritual growth for us as believers is the truth of Christ’s divinity. The world we live in is filled with ideas people are passionate about. Many of these ideas are not based on evidence and are not aligned with reality. In fact, many of them are dependent on complex tales that are built on subtle deceptions or deviations from truth. These ideas deceive masses of people, who passionately embrace them and maintain life-long commitments to them.
Thankfully, we are not following our own passions or the deceptive ideas created by others. As Peter states in verse 16, we do not follow “cleverly contrived myths” (CSB). Jesus identity is clear from history and recorded Scripture. Peter draws form his own personal experience with Christ as he recounts what he witnessed with James and John at the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:5; Mark 9:7; Luke 9:35). This understanding of Christ’s divinity was based on truth from Scripture, his relationship with Jesus, and his first-hand witness of Christ.
Each of us who knows Christ as Savior and Lord has a similar testimony to Peter’s. While we were not with Him physically, as Peter and the other disciples were, we have seen and experienced Jesus’ work in our lives and in the lives of others. In addition, we have come to know Him personally through our relationship with Him. Finally, we have come to understand His divine nature through the testimony of God’s written Word.
Scripture (v8-11)
The third foundational building block of spiritual growth for us as believers is Scripture. God has not left us to figure things out on our own. He has provided truth through Scripture in order for us to understand our origin, this world and its struggles, eternity, how to live, and our only means of a restored relationship with Him through Jesus.
Scripture will continue to outlive its critics and detractors. If Scripture could have been disproven, it would have been done long ago. If Scripture could have been silenced, it would have been done long ago. If Scripture could have been destroyed, it would have been done long ago. The people that belong to this world would love nothing more than to eliminate God’s Word, but they cannot (Isaiah 40:6-8).
Scripture reveals everything we need to know in order to live an abundant life here and in eternity. This is true because Scripture comes from God and not man (2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). Since Scripture comes from God it is timeless and speaks to every generation and every world situation. Scripture shines the light of truth in darkness, it opens eyes that would otherwise be blind, and it brings life where there is only death.
Thanks be to God for providing us, his children, all we need to grow and live as He intends. As you spend time in 1 Peter 2 this week, prayerfully consider how you are growing as a child of God.
Story is a member of First Ridgeland Church, Ridgeland.
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