Christian Growth
—2nd Peter 1:1-11
This lesson in Peter’s second epistle looks at what Peter says immediately after his greeting. He speaks of the power of God, what it can do for us, and what it helps us to do for God.
This passage is structured like a sandwich, two pieces of bread with meat in between. First there are verses 3-4 (the top piece of bread) about What God’s power does for us.
Next there are verses 5-10 (the meat) about what God’s power helps us do for God, then there are verses 9-11 (the bottom piece of bread) with more about what God’s power does for us.
1 God’s Part
2Peter 1:3-4
God’s "divine power1 has granted us everything pertaining to life and godliness" (2Peter 1:3).
Some of the things that God’s power1 provides us...
- Christian life and godliness (2Peter 1:3)
- True knowledge (2Peter 1:3)
- A calling to glory and excellence (2Peter 1:3)
- Great and precious promises (2Peter 1:4)
- An escape from the world’s corruption 2Peter 1:4
- To share in the divine nature 2Peter 1:4, Acts 2:38
2 Our Part
2Peter 1:5-10
As well as showing us what God does for us, Peter also reminds us of what we must do for God with the help of what God’s power has granted us. We must...
- Apply all diligence (2Peter 1:5,10)
- Add to our faith (2Peter 1:5)
- Supply virtue (moral excellence) (2Peter 1:5)
- Learn knowledge (2Peter 1:5,8)
- Exercise self-control (2Peter 1:6)
- Perservere (2Peter 1:6)
- Acquire godliness (2Peter 1:7)
- Show brotherly kindness (2Peter 1:7)
- Love (2Peter 1:7)
- Not be useless or unfruitful but abounding (2Peter 1:8)
- Not be blind and forgetful (2Peter 1:9)
- Make our calling sure (2Peter 1:10)
- Not stumble (2Peter 1:10)
3 God’s Part (Again)
2Peter 1:9-11
As we continue "dot pointing" the statements Peter is making, we find him returning to an emphasis on what God’s power does for us rather than what God’s power helps us do for him. This is the bread, so to speak, at the bottom of the hamburger...
- Purification through Christ’s death 2Peter 1:9
- Our calling and election 2Peter 1:10
- In the future an abundant entrance into his eternal kingdom 2Peter 1:11
1Note:— The Greek word for “power” δυναμις dunamis, is the word from which we get "dynamite" and "dynamo".