Lesson VII
Introduction:
II. The Nature of True Knowledge (2 Peter 1:2-21)
1. A definition of “Nature” is Character
a. Thus we can say the “Character” of true knowledge
b. Synonyms for “Character” is “Quality, Makeup, Personality.”
1. Thus we can say the Quality or the Makeup, or the Personality of True Knowledge.
2. There are three parts to Lesson II.
a. True Knowledge is a Gift from God (2-4) which we have studied.
b. True Knowledge is a Growth in Experience (5-11) which we have studied
c. True Knowledge is a Ground for Certainty (12-21) which is tonight’s lesson.
3. We have studied that Knowledge or recognition
1. Of God
2. Of Who He is
3. Brings about
a. Grace and Peace
b. Life and Godliness
c. Great and Precious Promises
d. Glory and Virtue,
e. A partaking of His divine nature, and
f. An escaping from the longing (lust) of the world’s corruption (defilement)
b. Knowledge or recognition of God comes from
1. Knowing there is a God by the orderly world.
2. Knowing God by the Spirit
Note: We know God as God reveals Himself to us. Therefore, true knowledge is a gift.
3. Know God by the Word.
Note: It takes God to open our eyes (minds). So where ever we are in Him, it takes Him
revealing Himself to us for us to receive a greater knowledge of Our Lord and Saviour.
4. Last week we studied
a. That we were to add to our faith the attributes
1. Virtue
2. Knowledge;
3. Temperance;
4. Patience;
5. Godliness;
6. Brotherly kindness;
7. Charity.
b. Adding these seven things to our faith guarantee us
1. To be fruitful in our knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ which guarantees us
a. To have more Grace
b. To have more Peace
c. To have more Life
d. To have more Godliness
e. To obtain more of the Great Promises
f. To obtain more of the Precious Promises
g. To have more Glory
h. To have more Virtue,
i. To have more of His divine nature, and
j. To escape from the longing (lust) of the world’s corruption (defilement)
2. That we shall never fall:”
3. That an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting
kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”
Note: He/she who does not add these seven virtues to his/her life
a. Is blind,
b. Cannot see afar off,
c. Forgets that he was purged from his old sins.”
5. Tonight Scripture lesson 2 Peter 2:12-21)”
KJV
12) Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things,
though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. 13) Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; 14) Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath showed me. 15) Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance. 16) For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17) For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 18) And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. 19) We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20) Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21) For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
NIV
12) So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. 13) I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, 14) because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 15) And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things. 16) We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17) For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." 18) We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. 19) And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20) Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. 21) For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
6. Explanation of “True Knowledge is a Ground for Certainty.”
a. True Knowledge is
b. A Ground
1. A base
2. An establishment
3. A place to build
c. For Certainty
1. Confidence
2. Conviction
3. Faith
4. Belief
5. Assurance
II. The Nature of True Knowledge
A. True Knowledge is a Gift from God (2 Peter 1:2-4)
B. True Knowledge is a Growth in Experience (2 Peter 1:5-11)
C. True Knowledge is a Ground for Certainty (2 Peter 1:12-21) (tonight’s lesson)
1. The Apostle felt that it was his responsibility to remind them of what they have
already been taught. (12-15)
12) So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. 13) I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, 14) because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 15) And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.
a. He is reminding them of the things necessary to receive the promises of God.
verse 12 and verse 15
b. Those thing were:
1. v3--All things given to us by His divine power that pertains to life and
godliness which includes our salvation in v1, and grace, and peace mentioned
in v2. Also, he is reminding them that these things are increased with the
increase of our knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.
2. v3--Peter is reminding us that we are called to glory and virtue.
a. Glory is dignity, honour, praise, and worship.
b. Virtue is excellence and/or praise.
3. v4--Great promises
4. v4--The understanding that they, along with us, are partakers of His divine
nature.
5. v4--An understanding that we have escaped the corruption of the world because
we share in His divine nature.
6. v5-7--That the 7 virtues are to be added to our faith (salvation)
(v8) so we can be fruitful in our knowledge (understanding) of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
7. v9--That those without the growth of these 7 virtues in their lives are
a. blind
b. nearsighted
c. forgetful of God purging them from their old sins.
8. v10--That we are to be diligent (careful) to establish that our
calling (invitation) and election (selection) is sure (stedfast)
a. 2 Corinthians 13:5
“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”
9. v11--That an entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord is guaranteed if
we do the things that have been mentioned in the first 11 verses.
Note: All of what Peter is reminding them is tied to verse 2 where it is stated
“...through the knowledge (recognition, full discernment, or acknowledgment) of God
and of Jesus our Lord.”
Note: Peter is also reminds them in verse 9 that they can lose what they have in the Lord by their
failure to add the seven virtues mentioned in 5-7.
c. Peter mentions his personal responsibility. (v12)
1. I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though
ye know them, and be established in the present truth.
a. Negligent from the Greek “ameleo” meaning to be careless of, to make
light of, to neglect,
b. He felt he should always remind them, even though they already knew what
they were to do.
1. Put from the Greek “hupomimnesko” meaning to remind quietly,
to suggest to the memory, to put in mind, to remember,
to bring to remembrance.
2. Alway from the Greek “aei” meaning regularly, earnestly
3. Remembrance from the Greek “tupos” meaning a die (as struck),
(by implication.) a stamp or scar; by analogy. a shape, i.e. a statue, (fig.)
style or resemblance; a model (for imitation) or (for warning):--example,
fashion, figure, form, manner, pattern
2. We as ministers, pastors, teachers, parents, etc have the same responsibility and
mandate that Peter had.
a. We remind people by “exhorting them unto good works.”
b. We remind people through the preaching of the Word, Teaching of the
Word, Living the Word, Writing of songs, and sitting around discussing the
“Promises and Blessings of God.”
c. Ezekiel 33:7-9
7) So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. (8) When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. (9) Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
d. He is reminding them of things they already know (understand) v12
1. Because he wants them established in the present truth.
a. Established from the Greek “sterizo” meaning
to turn resolutely in a certain direction; to set fast; to confirm;
to strengthen.
b. Present from the Greek “pareimi” meaning to be near, or at hand.
Note: The truth is near us.
a. Deuteronomy 6:6-9
6) And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7) And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 8) And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. 9) And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
b. Deuteronomy 30:11-14
11) For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. 12) It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? 13) Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? 14) But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.
c. Romans 10:8
8) But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9) That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
2. Peter mentions 3 times that he wants to remind them and there are three
different reasons.
a. v12--Put you in remembrance to Establish you
b. v13--put you in remembrance to Stir you up
1. Stir from Greek “diegeiro” meaning to wake fully.
c. v15--put in remembrance so The truth will be with you after I
am gone.
3. Notice the Words or phrases Peter uses as he mentions “reminding them.’
a. v12--I will not be negligent
b. v13--It is meet (in character, just, equable, right)
c. v14-15--Since I am going to die soon, I am going to endeavor to remind you
so you will not forget.
Note: Peter is saying that He is going to wake them fully (stir them up), to bring them back to
the model they were to follow (the original teachings) so they will continue to follow the
original teachings after he is gone because as is mention in chapter 2, false
men/teachers (etc) will arise that will lead them astray if possible. Therefore, it is
necessary to keep going back to the model.
e. Note what he says in v15 “Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after
my decease to have these things always in remembrance.” (memorial)
1. Endeavour from the Greek “spoudazo” meaning to use speed, to make effort,
to be prompt, to be earnest, to give diligence, to be diligent to give labor,
2. Remembrance in this verse is from the Greek “mnema” meaning a memorial,
Note: Peter is giving labor, diligence to make sure that they have these things in their heart as a
memorial so they will always be in their minds and not forgotten.
2. Peter makes reference to the things that He has taught them prior to this letter
(16-18)
a. He declared that they had not been taught a fable or story devised by someone just
to entice followers.
b. But instead, Peter declares that they had been taught
Note: He use the word we no doubt as a reference to the other apostles and disciples for he
also uses the plural eyewitnesses)
1. The power of the Lord Jesus Christ
2. The coming of the Lord Jesus Christ
3. Furthermore, he was an eyewitness to the majesty (glory, superbness,
splender, magnificence, mighty power) of the Lord Jesus Christ.
a. Peter saw the Lord’s baptism.
b. Peter saw the miracles he did.
c. Peter saw his transfiguration.
d. Peter heard the voice of the Father saying
“this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
e. Peter saw him after his resurrection.
f. Peter saw him caught up into heaven in a cloud.
c. Peter declares that
1. He was with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration
2. He was a witness when the Father gave Jesus honour and Glory by calling Him
His Son
3. He heard the Father call Jesus His Son
Note: The best testimony that we can have is when we declare what Jesus has done for us, and
what we know firsthand through experience.
3. Peter makes reference to Scripture in support of what He has taught them.
Note: Peter is not relying just on His eyewitness account, but also with how the Scriptures had
been fulfilled in Jesus.
a. “We have also a more sure (stedfast) word (utterance) of prophecy (foretelling);
whereunto ye do well that ye take heed,
as unto a light that shineth in a dark place,
until the day dawn,
and the day star arise in your hearts;”
1. He is saying that the “utterances” from the Prophets are stedfast, and thus
declaring that it is not only his statements as an eyewitness, but the prophets
also established the same teaching and declaration.
2. “take heed to the words of the prophets,” or “pay attention to the prophets,”
as you would give attention to a light that is shining in a dark place.
a. Pay attention until the day dawns.
b. Pay attention until the day star arise in your hearts;
1. Pay attention to Scripture like you would a light, or a lamp until the day
appears.
2. The light or lamp is only used to shine in the dark and obscure places
until the brightness of the day star (sun) comes or shines.
Note: The Word of God (Scripture) shines in the dark and obscure places of our hearts until the
Day Star or Light Bearing morning star (Jesus) will arise (spring up) in our hearts.
Note: Therefore we are to pay attention to the Scriptures that it might provide us with a light
that gives us a knowledge of Jesus that He may arise as the morning star or day star of
our lives, and we are to continue to give attention to the Scripture that knowledge of
Him will increase in us until He, the day star, comes to take us with Him.
b. Prophecy (Scripture) comes from God (20-21)
1. Scripture References
1 Peter 2:21-22
(20) Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
(21) For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
Hebrews 1:1-2
1) God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2) Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
2 Timothy 3:16-17
16) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17) That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
2. Scripture is not for “private (self) interpretation (explanation; application)”
3. Scripture did not come by the will (desire; pleasure) of man
4. Scripture came by the will (desire; pleasure) of God.
5. Holy men (men of God) spake (uttered; proclaimed) as the
Spirit (breath, breeze) of God
moved them (carried them along as the wind carries a ship)
Note: In essence, Scripture has not came about by man’s own opinion (private interpretation),
but by the revelation or mind of God as men of God were moved (carried along) by the
breath of God the Holy Ghost.
Concluding remarks for Chapter 1.
1. The nature of true knowledge comes from an understanding of who Jesus is, and of who
God is, and of who we are in Christ.
a. This knowledge is a gift from God (2-4)
b. This knowledge is a growth experience (5-11) for we know Him more every day.
c. This knowledge brings about a stability in our lives (12-21)
1. So Peter reminds them of things they already knew
2. So Peter explains His witness of the majesty of Jesus
3. So Peter declares that Scripture will also give us a knowledge of God for it came from
God.
2. Scripture came from God
a. Holy men of old spoke as they were moved by God. These men uttered God’s words as
they were carried along by the breath of God. 2 Peter 1:21
b. God in the Old Testament spoke to men by inspired speakers, but in these last days has
spoken to us by His Son. Hebrews 1:1-2
Note: God’s word comes directed by God, and not of men’s own devices and desires.
c. Scripture is given by inspiration of God (God-breathed). 2 Timothy 3:16
Note: Holy men spoke as inspired or anointed of the Holy Ghost or simply as God-breathed on
them to proclaim His word.
d. Purpose of Scripture
1. To shine as a light in a dark place (2 Peter 1:19)
2. To make us wise unto Salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 3:15)
3. To be profitable (helpful)
a. for doctrine (instruction, teaching) (2 Timothy 3:16)
b. for reproof (conviction)
c. correction (straightening up again)
d. instruction in righteousness
(education or training, chastening, instruction by disciplinary methods)
e. That the man of God may be perfect (complete)
f. That the man of God may be thoroughly furnished (equipped fully)
unto all good works
Note: The Word is to keep us in a knowledge of Jesus so we will remain with Him.
a. Deuteronomy 17:18-20;
18) And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites: 19) And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them: 20) That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.
b. Psalm 119:10-11
10) With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
11) Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
