AS we found in the first 9 verses, the sentences in Peter's writing are long and seem very complicated. However if we spend time reading the verses over and over again, thinking and asking ourselves questions, the passage reveals great spiritual riches. Although the verses before us today are continuous, I believe it is good to split them up into sections because smaller helpings of are easier to digest and get hold of. So I have divided the passage into four. AS we found in the first 9 verses, the sentences in Peter's writing are long and seem very complicated. However if we spend time reading the verses over and over again, thinking and asking ourselves questions, the passage reveals great spiritual riches. Although the verses before us today are continuous, I believe it is good to split them up into sections because smaller helpings of are easier to digest and get hold of. So I have divided the passage into four.
VERSES 10-12.
Peter points out that the salvation he has been speaking of is not an after-thought, but something that has been planned by the purpose of God from the beginning of time. Peter shows this to be true by saying that the prophets in the Old Testament spoke about it. He goes on to say that they spoke about it because they had the truth from the Spirit of Christ. The prophets were told about this salvation so that they could record it for people in the future, and specially for all those who lived at the time when Christ came and on from that time.
We can notice some wonderful things about the salvation. Firstly it is called by Peter 'the grace that has come to you' (v10). Salvation is the pouring out of God's grace in mercy, to give to us forgiveness, new life, and fellowship with God for eternity. It is grace because none of us deserve it. It is grace because none of us would have sought it unless God in mercy bestowed it on us. It is grace because of the riches it gives to us freely.
Secondly, it is the Holy Spirit who is the one who makes this salvation known in the world. He made it known in the Old Testament to the prophets. They were inspired by the Holy Spirit with this wonder of salvation which could not have been conceived or known unless the Holy Spirit had sovereignly made it known. It is the Holy Spirit who is in all true preaching and who makes the preaching effective to people so that they understand it and receive it.
Thirdly, this salvation is such a wonder that even the angels long to look into it.
VERSES 13-17.
These verses tell us the obligation that is upon us because of the gift of this grace of salvation. The possession of this salvation demands that we live as God would have his children live. This salvation through Christ's suffering for us gives us new birth into the heavenly spiritual kingdom of God. We have been born spiritual with a new holy nature, which is created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:25). This is our new self which we must allow to have complete expression and dominion in our living. This means we must express the holiness of this new nature, and be holy as God is holy. This means we must not allow the old fallen and sinful nature in our flesh to express itself (v14). To do this we must prepare our minds for action. What does this mean? This is a good question for us to discuss.
We must set our minds on the grace to be given us when Jesus Christ appears. In other words we must live for the heavenly glory we are destined for, and revel in the glory of this hope (see verses 3,4). In this way we shall escape the seductions of the world.
We must also live our lives in this world as strangers. We are citizens of heaven, not of this world, so we do not belong here but with God, and so we should reflect this fact in our living. We must live in reverent fear. What does this means? Here is another question we can ask ourselves in discussion.
VERSES 18-21.
These verses tell us why it is imperative to be holy. It is because of the cost which God and Christ went to, to bring us into this blessing of being heirs of the heavenly glory.
We have been redeemed by nothing less than the blood of Christ. The cost of the salvation we enjoy was the death of Christ and his suffering in hell. God planned this before the world existed, and accomplished it in time through his Son, and won the victory through his Son God testified to it by raising Jesus from the dead. It is through Christ and his great sacrifice for us that we believe. We need to ask ourselves "do we appreciate the greatness of this sacrifice?" and "do we enquire into its greatness?"
VERSES 22-25.
These last verses Peter speaks to us of the preciousness of the Bible, the Word of God, the Word of truth.
It is the 'word of truth' by which we are purified. We are purified by knowing, understanding and obeying this word of truth. What is our experience of this? This word of truth is living and enduring. What does this mean?
It is by this word of truth which brings to us through the Holy Spirit the imperishable seed by which we have been born again. What does this mean?
The end of the application of the word of truth is that love may abound among us. We must love each other deeply, from the heart. What sort of love is this?
Everything else in this world is perishing, but this word of truth stands for ever.
VERSES 10-12.
Peter points out that the salvation he has been speaking of is not an after-thought, but something that has been planned by the purpose of God from the beginning of time. Peter shows this to be true by saying that the prophets in the Old Testament spoke about it. He goes on to say that they spoke about it because they had the truth from the Spirit of Christ. The prophets were told about this salvation so that they could record it for people in the future, and specially for all those who lived at the time when Christ came and on from that time.
We can notice some wonderful things about the salvation. Firstly it is called by Peter 'the grace that has come to you' (v10). Salvation is the pouring out of God's grace in mercy, to give to us forgiveness, new life, and fellowship with God for eternity. It is grace because none of us deserve it. It is grace because none of us would have sought it unless God in mercy bestowed it on us. It is grace because of the riches it gives to us freely.
Secondly, it is the Holy Spirit who is the one who makes this salvation known in the world. He made it known in the Old Testament to the prophets. They were inspired by the Holy Spirit with this wonder of salvation which could not have been conceived or known unless the Holy Spirit had sovereignly made it known. It is the Holy Spirit who is in all true preaching and who makes the preaching effective to people so that they understand it and receive it.
Thirdly, this salvation is such a wonder that even the angels long to look into it.
VERSES 13-17.
These verses tell us the obligation that is upon us because of the gift of this grace of salvation. The possession of this salvation demands that we live as God would have his children live. This salvation through Christ's suffering for us gives us new birth into the heavenly spiritual kingdom of God. We have been born spiritual with a new holy nature, which is created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:25). This is our new self which we must allow to have complete expression and dominion in our living. This means we must express the holiness of this new nature, and be holy as God is holy. This means we must not allow the old fallen and sinful nature in our flesh to express itself (v14). To do this we must prepare our minds for action. What does this mean? This is a good question for us to discuss.
We must set our minds on the grace to be given us when Jesus Christ appears. In other words we must live for the heavenly glory we are destined for, and revel in the glory of this hope (see verses 3,4). In this way we shall escape the seductions of the world.
We must also live our lives in this world as strangers. We are citizens of heaven, not of this world, so we do not belong here but with God, and so we should reflect this fact in our living. We must live in reverent fear. What does this means? Here is another question we can ask ourselves in discussion.
VERSES 18-21.
These verses tell us why it is imperative to be holy. It is because of the cost which God and Christ went to, to bring us into this blessing of being heirs of the heavenly glory. We have been redeemed by nothing less than the blood of Christ. The cost of the salvation we enjoy was the death of Christ and his suffering in hell. God planned this before the world existed, and accomplished it in time through his Son, and won the victory through his Son God testified to it by raising Jesus from the dead. It is through Christ and his great sacrifice for us that we believe. We need to ask ourselves "do we appreciate the greatness of this sacrifice?" and "do we enquire into its greatness?"
VERSES 22-25.
These last verses Peter speaks to us of the preciousness of the Bible, the Word of God, the Word of truth. It is the 'word of truth' by which we are purified. We are purified by knowing, understanding and obeying this word of truth. What is our experience of this?
This word of truth is living and enduring. What does this mean?
It is by this word of truth which brings to us through the Holy Spirit the imperishable seed by which we have been born again. What does this mean?
The end of the application of the word of truth is that love may abound among us. We must love each other deeply, from the heart. What sort of love is this?