Who Are You? 2Peter 1:1-11

As we begin our study of the second general letter of Peter, we first of all acknowledge the letter as being authored by the Simon Peter who was a fisherman called by Jesus to follow Him and become a fisher of men – the one who walked on the water to Jesus for a while – the one who saw Jesus transfigured on a mountain top along with Moses and Elijah – the one who denied Jesus three time – the one whom Jesus restored – the one who preached at Pentecost when 3,000 people became believers in Jesus – the one who first took the gospel to non-Jews – the one who became a leader of the church in Jerusalem – the one who authored 1 Peter to the Christians scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Capadocia, Asia, and Bithynia - the one whose father, John, called him Simon, but whom Jesus renamed Peter (Greek) or Cephas (Aramaic) – that Peter.

That Peter, with all those credentials (and more), calls himself a bond-servant and missionary (apostle) of Jesus Christ and says of those he addresses that they have received the same kind of faith as his. Our question for the day is; “Who are you?” Are you one to whom Peter writes? Are you one who has the same kind of faith? If you are of “like faith” you have great cause for thanks. If you are not, you have great cause of thanks that today you will hear what this great faith is and hearing, have opportunity to respond in faith to God's salvation unto eternal life through the substitutionary atoning work of Jesus Christ.

THIS FAITH

• What is this “faith”? v.1

  • Objective - The gospel truth? The plan of salvation, The doctrines

  • Subjective - The obedient response to that gospel?

  • Received --- Both are gifts from God, not the reward or result of human effort or worthiness.

• “Same kind” indicates that Peter is speaking of the response of faith since there are various responses to God's call whereas there is only one gospel, one plan that saves.

  • “isotimon” = equal value or equal privilege

  • The gift - Ephesians 2:8-9; 1Corinthian2:5 1Co 2:5 that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

  • The response - to God's sovereign choice – Acts 16:14 ... One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. ; Romans 10:9-10 ... because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

• Where is it from? v.1

  • By the righteousness of someone else – Jesus Christ

  • who is our God and Savior. Philippians3:8-9... Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

:9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith--

• ; Romans9:5 Jesus is God - ... To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.

• How does it work? v.2

  • In the realm of Grace and Peace

    • Grace – God's gift of favor which no one deserves reconciled to God Romans3:24 Rom 3:24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

      ; Ephesians1:7 ... In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

    • Peace – with God and from God in all life's circumstances Ephesians2:14-15 Eph 2:14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility

15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in
himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,

; Philippians4:7 Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

• Through the knowledge (v.3) of God and of Jesus our Lord.

  • “epignosis” = intimate understanding 1)of a person – Jesus Christ; 2) of the work of Jesus Christ; 3) through the truth of His Word 2Timothy3:15-17 ... and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

• 
  

• Is it enough? vv.3-4

  • Enough for regeneration – Romans 3:24 (above), 8:16-17 Rom 8:16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

:17 and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

• Enough to live the life – 2Corinthians9:8 2Co 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

  ; Philippians4:19 Php 4:19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

• Enough for sanctification – Ephesians3:17-19 Eph 3:17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,

19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Romans8:29; For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

• Enough for glorification – Romans8:17 and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

  , V. 30 Rom 8:30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

• It is like a wedding feast - Matthew22:2-ff; Revelation19:6-9 a celebration with nothing spared.

IS THIS FAITH YOURS? WHO ARE YOU?

• Innocent? You don't need it.

• Lost?

  • Rebelling, putting all faith in yourself?

  • Listening?

  Acts 3:22 Moses said, 'The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. 23 And it shall be that who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.'

• Having faith that you received from Jesus Christ, God and Savior

DURING THE COMMITMENT TIME (invitation):

You may come to receive Jesus as your personal Savior

You may come to join this body

You may come make an altar of prayer at the kneeling step

You may come and receive communion (for baptized believers).