Mar. 02, 2025
2 Peter 3:1-10
“What Manner of People Ought We to Be”
March 2, 2025 Dr. Don Bazal
Writer: Peter the Disciple
Date: 64-67 AD
Origin: Rome
Audience: Christians of every age (2 Peter 1:1-4)
2 Peter 1:1-4 - Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; 3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.
Destination: Churches in Asia Minor
Reason for Writing: (1) Persecution that rumbles on the horizon: 1 Peter 1:1
(2) Combat the prevalent false teachings pressing upon God’s people such as antinomianism which taught “Grace is more than enough so let us sin” (Romans 6:15-16; Matthew 5:17). Secondly, the heresy of legalism which said “God’s grace alone is not enough. . .Salvation is grace plus the law” such as new moons, feasts, circumcision: Ephesians 2:8. We have to live in light of eternity to be who God has saved us to be.
1. To live in light of eternity we must be grounded people.
2. To live in light of eternity we must be godly people: (v.1,13)
a. Godly in mind
Sincere = sine + cere from two words meanings meaning “sunlight” and “judge”
Philippians 1:10 is the only other New Testament usage.
Philippians 1:10 - So that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order t to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;
b. Godly in conduct (KJV = “conversation” or lifestyle)
TRUTH: Our lives should be spotless, blameless lives: v.14.
TRUTH: The certainty of eternity cannot be denied: vv 13-14.
TRUTH: Purity is to be our priority.
I Thessalonians 5:13 – and that you esteem them very highly in love because of
their work. Live in peace with one another.
Philippians 1:10-11 – so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; 11 having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 2:10-11 – so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
2 Timothy 1:5 – “be mindful of”
For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother
Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.
III. To live in light of eternity we must be guarded people: vv 15-17.
TRUTH: Distortion of the Word brings destruction.
Isaiah 55:11 – So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not
return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
IV. To live in the light of eternity we must be growing people: vv 17-18.
I Peter 2:2 – Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,
Ephesians 4:15 – but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,
How to Grow:
G – Go to God in prayer daily
R – Read God’s Word daily
O – Obey God moment by moment
W – Witness for Christ by your life and words
T – Trust God for every detail of your life
H – Holy Spirit: allow God to control and power your daily life
V. To live in the light of eternity we will be glorying people: v.18b.
TRUTH: Glory is that which God possesses and radiates from Him. Praise is
recognizing that glory. We give God glory in two ways:
TRUTH: We give God glory by acknowledging His worth.
Revelation 4:8-11 – And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.” 9 And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”
Revelation 5:11-15 – Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.” 13 And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.” 14 And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped.
TRUTH: We give God glory by attending to His work.
John 14:13 – Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
John 17:3-4 – This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. 4 I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do.
John 15:8 – My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.
John 20:21 – So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”
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