Peter was one of Jesus’ original 12 Disciples and listed among the Apostles. As Paul was the Apostle to the Gentiles Peter was the Apostle to the Jewish Christians: But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised (for He who effectually worked for Peter in his apostleship to the circumcised effectually worked for me also to the Gentiles), (Gal 2:7-8)
So the writings of Peter take on a Jewish/Christian flavor. It begins with him using his Jewish name Simon, Symeon.
2Pe 1:1 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:
2Pe 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;
Knowledge gained from a process of study.
Knowledge gained from observation-experience.
Knowledge settled down upon. It is an understanding, an illumination, insight given not gained. Faith – given. Knowledge – given.
2Pe 1:3 seeing [understanding] that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by to His own glory and excellence.
Granted – given to us – faith/knowledge. We didn’t accomplish, achieve or reach some level of reward.
Everything – Everything. All things.
Specific to how we live our life in a godly way.
Php 4:11 Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
This is how I live when all is well. This is how I live when all is not well. SAME
Difference in surviving and thriving
Survive – have just enough
Thrive – have more than enough
How do you qualify someone as rich?
Is there a dollar amount?
Rich is having more than enough.
Forbes: Average American is 90 times richer than the average person in the rest of the world.
We are rich in everything pertaining to life and godliness.
· the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience,
· the riches of His glory
· riches for all who call on Him;
· the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
· the riches of His grace
· the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
· unfathomable riches of Christ
2Co 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;
Peter wants us to understand the value of that treasure – the scope of the riches – the extent of everything.
Determining value: whatever someone is willing to
pay, based on what they think somethings worth.
Extrinsic – as valued from others
Intrinsic – as you value something – Antique Road
Grandmother’s old wedding ring is priceless to you because she wore it. It means nothing to a jeweler but something to melt down for scrap gold.
No extrinsic value but high intrinsic value.
On the other hand, you may have something of tremendous extrinsic value and not even know it.
The Bradfords had been dirt-poor farmers in East Texas forever. Dad Joiner felt there was oil underneath their land. When the Daisy Bradford #3 well came in he had discovered one of the largest oil deposits ever discovered at that time.
They lived all those years and never knew the value of what was theirs.
We don’t realize what we have in Christ so He has to
settle that knowledge down upon us.
Glory and excellence.
Glory: who He is
Excellence: what He does
His reputation and the success of His reputation define the product of His work.
TAKEAWAYS:
To send an army into battle unprepared is unthinkable.
To leave Christians on the earth after salvation without what is necessary for them to thrive is inconsistent with God’s reputation and work.
We not only are equipped, we are fully equipped for life.
Satan wants us to think we’re paupers, even though we are wealthy in the riches of Christ.
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