“The Just Shall Live By Faith”
New King James Version Written by: David Hicks
Romans 1:17 “ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."
Galatians 3:11 “But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith."
Hebrews 10:38 “Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him."
“Articles of Faith”
(A Study in II Peter)
Lesson 1 - Introduction:
Author:
The author of this letter is stated within the statement of verse one, “Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ” . In this letter Peter does not claim to have the assistance of Silvanus, who helped him pen the first letter ( I Peter 5:12 ). This may easily explain the noted differences in the style of the writing. In addition, and for no other reason than the subject matter is the same, much of the second chapter of this letter closely resembles that of the letter Jude (the subject being discussed in both letters is that of false teachers and apostasy).
Date:
This letter was written by Peter with notations that he is anticipating his own death, note:
2 Peter 1:14-15 “knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. 15 Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease.”
This may tell us that he is now in Rome during the days of Neronian persecution. In any case he states that he writes this second letter as a means of reminder ( 3:1 ); and that the subject of the reminder is the same as what has caused them to leave their homeland and disperse to northern Asia Minor . The pending judgment of Jerusalem is very close, but not yet, as the scoffers of chapter three, point out. This tells us that the epistle was written prior to the destruction of Jerusalem .
Theme:
The key word in this study is going to be the word, “ KNOWLEDGE ”. Having dealt primarily with external influences in the first letter (lusts of the flesh, suffering, persecutions, etc…), Peter switches gears to influences from within. These inside influences would take the shape of false prophets and false teachers. In contrast to the moral excellence that Christ expects those who are his to posses, false teachers are sensual, arrogant, greedy, and covetous.
In order to counteract this inside influence, the knowledge of Christ must be the primary focus of each of these Christians. The word knowledge occurs some 16 times in three chapters of work, and 6 directly refer to knowledge of Christ. This knowledge produces peace and grace ( 1:2 ), fruitfulness ( 1:8 ), is the secret of freedom from defilement ( 2:20 ), and is the sphere of Christian growth ( 3:18 ).
This knowledge is not just academic, but spiritual, arising from a growing endeavor in Christ ( 3:18 ).
Content:
Peter would open his letter with the fact that the Lord has given us (Christians – those who pertain to Christ) all things that pertain to life and godliness. This beneficial act was made possible by the KNOWLEDGE of Him who called us ( 1:3 ). These great and precious promises have allowed us to become “PARTAKERS OF THE DEVINE NATURE” (the theme for this study). In this new and divine nature we have escaped the corruption that is in the world. So, in order to maintain our freedom in Christ, the Christian must pursue moral excellence ( 1:5-11 ).
Since it is the knowledge of Jesus Christ that allowed us to escape corruption and maintains our freedoms from it, an assurance is given to these Christians of the trustworthy nature of the prophecy they have been given ( 1:16 -21 ).
Apart from what may be trusted as divinely inspired, are the destructive doctrines of false teachers. Their base behavior and doom are the focus of chapter two. Their knowledge of Jesus Christ combined with their twisted perversions of His teachings have lowered them beyond their previous perversions in sin, to an all time low in lewdness, note:
2 Peter 2:22 “But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: "A dog returns to his own vomit," and, "a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire."
In addition to the destructive doctrines created by false teachers, there are those who ridicule the apostolic warnings of the coming of Christ in judgment ( 3:1-9 ). However, Peter reassures these brethren that the coming day of the Lord is eminent (a phrase that was always associated with national judgment – 3:10 -13 ).
Finally in conclusion, Peter exhorts these brethren to steadfastness and warns them not to fall away ( 3:14 -18 ).
Note:
II Peter should probably be seen as bearing the form of a farewell testament or farewell discourse. It contains predictions of the author's death and other imminent catastrophes. It also contains admonitions to remain faithful and the ultimate victory promised those who do. With the absence of apostolic guidance, comes the very great and immediate concern for these false teachers and the apostasy they bring.
Next: “ The Ladder of Fruitfulness ”