2 Peter 1 v 1 - 7 (1st October 2010)

[You can read the passage here]

We finally started our study on 2 Peter. Here are the main points:-


(a) The goal of our calling is godliness – to be like God. The means to attaining godliness is not by our own strength but through the power of Christ. (2 Pet 1:3)

(b) When we claim the promises of God, our lives can and will be changed – we can have the ‘divine nature’! We shared about some Bible promises that have indeed changed our lives. Here are some promises which we can claim:

• promise of life in the Spirit (Rom. 8:11);
  
• promise of spiritual transformation (Rom. 12:2);
  
• promise of spiritual strength (1 Cor. 1:7, 8);
  
• promise of spiritual deliverance (1 Cor. 10:13);
  
• promise of comfort (2 Cor. 1:3, 4);
  
• promise3 of provision (2 Cor. 9:8-11);
  
• promise of rewards (Gal. 6:9).

(c) We then looked at certain virtues that enable us relate to God, to our circumstances and to others.

• Qualities that relate to God: virtue (following in God’s footsteps and becoming more like God) and knowledge (having our minds changed by God so as to be able to think like God).
• Qualities that relate to our circumstances: self-control (dealing with passions, temptation, etc), perseverance (dealing with hardships) and godliness (showing our best face in the midst of challenges, ie. God’s face).
• Qualities that relate to others: brotherly kindness (concern for fellow believers) and love (showing God’s love to all).

Verse 5 reminds us that we must make every effort – it will not be easy. Here is a suggestion on some steps we can take:-

1. desire to have these qualities;
2. pray, really pray, regularly for it;
3. try to exercise them, eg. show kindness instead of anger, self-control instead of letting loose, try patience instead of retaliation, etc.
4. when we fail, we try and try again until we get it.

Reference: AHF Leaders' Guide