“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 10- Seeing You Know These Things Beforehand:
As we come to the conclusion of this series, let us describe some of the things that we have learned:
• We have been given all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him ( 1:3 ), that by this and the precious promises of God through Christ, we have become partakers of the divine nature ( 1:4 ). For this reason we must be diligent to add to our faith the ladder of virtues that promote the continued transformation, in order to make our calling an election sure ( 1:5-11 ).
• Since the Apostles of the Lord new that they would not be with these brethren or their future generations, they were committed to leave them with that which would remind them and us of all these things; the prophetic word. This prophetic word was made more sure via eye witness testimony (not cunning words), and we would do well to heed it (in the simple truth it was delivered in by the Holy Sprit – 1:12 -21 ).
• As there have always been false teachers, some would rise up among them. These false teachers would be motivated by covetousness and they would have hearts trained in unrighteousness. There doom is sealed with God, as He knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation (by the truth and a knowledge of it), and reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment ( Chapter 2 ).
• Finally, regardless of the scoffers and their taunts, this letter comes as a reminder that God is not slack concerning His promises. The Day of the Lord is near and they needed to be concerned with what manner of persons they should be and look for the new heavens and earth (the spiritual kingdom of Christ , where righteousness dwells – 3:1-13 ).
• Based on the last note, we will begin this lesson with the word, “therefore” (when we see the word therefore, what do we do? We ask, what is it there for? This is as old as the hills, but still true!). Since they were to consider what manner of persons they ought to be; Peter's final words are an exhortation to that end .
Text:
2 Peter 3:14-18
“Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation--as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. 17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever.” Amen.
Seeing that you look: With such prospects as the righteous kingdom of Jesus Christ our Lord within our sights (instead of the terrible Day of the Lord which is shortly to be revealed on Jerusalem and its inhabitants, or the sure and righteous judgment of God that awaits us at death – Hebrews 9:27 ), we should have all the incentive necessary to live for it.
The diligence mentioned is the same diligence prescribed in the first chapter towards the ladder of fruitfulness (virtue, knowledge, self control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love – “if” these things are yours they will keep you from being either barren or unfruitful, 1:5-8 ), which is the expected outward production of our faith !.
Longsuffering of our Lord: This reference is the same as mentioned in 3:9 , and given so that they should not fret over the seeming delay in His coming.
Peter also mentions that Paul wrote to these brethren on the same matters as the present epistle. Peter wrote both of his letters to the same brethren, as he calls this the second letter he has written to them ( 3:1 ). In the first letter he mentions that he is writing to brethren in Galatia and Asia ( I Peter 1:1 ), and we know that Paul wrote a letter to the Galatians, the church at Ephesus, and the church at Colossi, with instructions that the letter be read to the brethren in Laodicea ( Colossians 4:16 ), all of these in the area that these brethren have come to.
Internally, this is evidence that the letters of the Apostle Paul had been copied and circulated, having been written according to the knowledge and wisdom given him (just as Paul claimed his preaching was, “in demonstration of the Spirit and power” – I Corinthians 2:4 ).
This process of collection and distribution was the birth of the cannon that is our collection of Holy Scripture.
The Apostle Paul often used himself as a symbol of the longsuffering of God, having taken him from the chief of sinners and making him a pattern of salvation to those who would believe to everlasting life, note: (Timothy was in Ephesus when he wrote this!)
1 Timothy 1:15-16 “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.”
Just as the Lord worked His longsuffering in Paul, He likewise works in all of us, as we work to transform our old man into the new man of divine nature, regardless of the temptations and persecutions around us.
As in all his epistles: Here Peter makes additional reference to the letters of Paul, that within the letters he addresses the same issues he is speaking of here. This shows that Peter had an intimate knowledge of the teachings of Paul and a great respect for them. Since both Apostles wrote so much concerning the kingdom of the Lord, it would be fruitless to try to match the thoughts. However, the important note in this verse is that Paul's letters produced the same scoffers as those who scoff at the teachings of Peter and as they do the rest of the words of God!
Peter notes to these brethren that these scoffers twist, through their lack of knowledge and unstable character, the teaching of God through His Apostles to their own destruction.
Seeing that you know these things beforehand: Peter starts verse 17 with, “you therefore” , and that this note is intended for those who do not at this point share the characteristics of the scoffers and false teachers mentioned in the previous verse (this note is for a better class of disciple, that we should all hope to be).
In addition to this note coming to a better class of disciple, it is also coming to the disciple that has been adequately taught and warned concerning the things that men might twist and falsify. No one can be on both sides of an argued thought or teaching. Here Peter notes that they were aware of the truth and thus it was expected that they side with the truth (trusting in God), against those who would distort it.
Even with this, Peter feels that it is necessary to warn that they should beware lest they be led away (even knowing the truth in advance). Such was the persuasive power of the designing false teachers who walked after their own lusts ( Chapter 2 ).
To this very day, this stands as testimony of the need of every Christian to be, “diligent to study and show themselves approved, workers that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” ( II Timothy 2:15 – a passage that Paul recounts the nature of approved and disapproved workers ).
Just as they existed before Peter wrote this letter, just as they existed when Peter wrote this letter, and just as they exist today , these cunning false teachers who are motivated by their own desires lead good people astray because they did not develop a love for the truth ( II Thessalonians 2:10 ).
Grow in grace: The final thought and hope of Peter is that these brethren grow in the favor of the knowledge of Jesus Christ (the “all things that pertain to life and godliness” ; the “prophetic word which we would do well to heed” – 1:3 ; 2:19 ). Only in the knowledge of Jesus Christ can we overcome all that those who are bent on evil throw at us. Only in the whole armor of God (that which the word of God provides to protect the soldier of Christ – Ephesians 6:10 -20 ), can we ward off Satan's darts, thrown by those who do his bidding instead of the Lord's.
If you don't take any other thought and practice from this series than this, ‘ Christians must grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ ', you will have had a successful study!
Next: “ Contend For The Faith ”
- A Study In Jude -