Great and Precious Promises

Great and Precious Promises

II Peter Chapter One:

1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The apostle, having stated the blessings to which God has called Christians in I Peter, exhorts those who had received these precious gifts, to strive to grow in graces and virtues. Some Christians are led to disregard or belittle this commandment bu the influence of this by the wickedness of false teachers. They are guarded against impostors and scoffers, by disproving their false assertions. Faith unites the weak believer to Christ, as really as it does the strong one. Christ purifies the heart of one as truly as of another. Every sincere believer is, by faith, justified in the sight of God. Faith produces godliness. It produces effects which no other force in the soul can accomplish. In Christ our Lord, ALL fullness dwells. From Him come pardon, peace, grace, and knowledge, and newness in life which are delivered through the Holy Spirit.

These promises, to those who are partakers of the Divine nature, may cause some to ask God whether or not we are really renewed in the heart and mind. Babes in Christ lack knowledge and understanding. Wisdom comes by learning God’s Word. We must turn all these promises into prayers for the transforming and purifying grace of the Holy Spirit. The believer must add knowledge to virtue, increasing acquaintance with the whole truth and will of God. We must add temperance to knowledge; moderation about worldly things; and add to temperance, patience, or cheerful willingness and submission to the will of God. Tribulation worketh patience, whereby we bear all calamities and carry our crosses with silence and submission. We ride out life’s storms by anchoring to the Rock. To patience we must add godliness which includes the holy affections and dispositions found in the true worshiper of God. Give tender affection to all fellow Christians, who are children of the same Father, servants of the same Master, members of the same family, travelers to the same country, heirs of the same inheritance. Wherefore let Christians labor to attain assurance of their calling, and of their election, by believing and well-doing; and thus carefully to endeavor to reach the mark of high calling. This is a firm argument of the grace and mercy of God. Prayerfully upholding them so that they shall not utterly fall. Those who are diligent in the work of our Lord, shall have a triumphant entrance into that everlasting kingdom of God; where Christ reigns. They shall reign with him for ever and ever; and it is in the practice of every good work that we are to expect to receive crowns when we enter our rest. Know God,know peace. Amen. 11-18-1920 BLL