A Faithful People

November 22, 2009

Background Scripture: 2 Peter 1:3 – 15
Lesson Passage: 2 Peter 1:3 – 15

Peter’s first letter encouraged Christians who were victimized by persecution from outside of the church family. He reminded them that they were partakers of Christ’s suffering whenever they were subjected to suffering because of their faith in Jesus. Peter’s second letter addresses a very different problem. Believers were being bombarded by false teachers who were seeking to lead them away from the faith. Time has shown that this problem was much more severe than the outward persecution in that it still persists today. In this letter, Peter declared a personal determination to fight against this evil for as long as he lived and to do all within his ability to leave a record of truth for believers to have even after his death. Such a statement expresses the severity of the problem faced by the apostles during the latter half of the first century. A half-truth is always more dangerous than a blatant lie. Once false teaching began to move throughout the Christian community, Satan no longer had to wage spiritual warfare by using external persecution. Even today we live in a time when persecution is not prevalent throughout the Christian community. In fact, it is nonexistent in many. The real warfare against the family of faith is internal false teaching. The Holy Ghost obviously revealed this to the apostles as they labored to lay the foundation of the Christian church and build upon it. This is evident in Peter’s letter as well as Jude’s letter, Paul’s second letter to Timothy, and John’s epistles. The common theme that runs through all of these letters is the admonition to Christians to stay with the original faith and teachings that were first delivered to them. The false teachers were instigating apostasy or backsliding by combining elements of the faith along with worldly wisdom that was not of God. Accepting Jesus Christ as one’s personal Lord and Savior does not lead to a wonderful problem-free life in this world. Rather, it leads down the same road that Jesus traveled. Jesus beckoned those that would to take up their cross and follow him. He did not invite men to accept a new status as his servant and then go and live according to the world standards. The world hated Jesus and reacts the same way towards his followers. Yet, we can still live victorious lives by following Christ’s examples. Our character should be a reflection of the Spirit of God living in us. This is an outgrowth that comes from increasing our faith by growing in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. We don’t add Christianity to what we are. We accept the character of Christ and we die out to the old person who by nature is corrupt and at enmity with God. False teachers found this too unpalatable and therefore sought to water down the message of the gospel. We continue in our old sins when we refuse to see the new life that Christ has made available to us. Peter further admonishes believers to walk victoriously through the knowledge of their election and calling. Peter’s last letter is an appeal to Christians to be faithful people.

Robert C. Hudson
November 12, 2009