2 Peter 2:1-2
A. Peter tells us that just as there were men who spoke by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, so were there false prophets, and so will there by false teachers now and to come
–1. In all generations of the church
B. False teachers bring in destructive heresies
–1. They bring them in in secrecy, under the guise of truth
–2. But they share the commonality of denying the Master who bought them
—-a. And in doing so they bring in destruction upon themselves
—-b. Those who introduce errors and heresies which prove destructive to others will surely be brought to swift justice and destruction before the Lord
C. Still, many will follow these false teachers
–1. If we are not on guard against false teachings, we will be easily swept away by its lure
–2. And thus, the way of truth will be blasphemed
–3. The Christian name, even the very name of Christ, is tainted by these falsehoods
–4. Peter tells us this shall surely happen, and will continue to happen
—-a. Therefore, we ought not be offended or enraged when it happens, because we should expect it to happen
—-b. But let us, as Christians, take great care so as not to give any opportunity for false teachers to defame the name of the Lord

2 Peter 1:16-21

A. Peter asserts that they were eyewitnesses to Jesus’ majesty, that the gospel is no clever myth
–1. They heard the Father’s voice from heaven
—-a. “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
—-b. God is pleased with Christ, and with us in Christ
——i. How good that God delights in honoring his Son, and that we may delight in our Savior!
B. Peter then lays out a second proof, to him even more reassuring of the truth of Christ’s gospel
–1. The Old Testament is a more sure word of prophecy, a prophetic word more fully confirmed
—-a. The New Testament agrees with the Old, and shows it to be prophetically fulfilled in Christ
—-b. This, to the Jews at the time, should have been the strongest proof available
——i. If they would not believe this, they would not even believe because of miracles (Luke 16:31)
–2. I do well to pay attention to the scriptures
—-a. Use the scriptures as I would a light, shining in the darkness
——i. The word is a guiding light, it shows me the way I ought to live
——ii. This means I must necessarily recognize the darkness of my own heart
——iii. That left to my own whims and wisdom, I stumble about like one in the dark
–3. After all, the prophecies of Scripture are the word and will of God
—-a. Peter asserts that the prophecies in the Old Testament did not merely arise out of the minds of men, but that they were from the Holy Spirit

2 Peter 1:12-15

A. Peter writes to always remind me of these things (v5-7)
–1. I need reminders, though I already know
—-a. To prevent my forgetting, and to prompt me to practice
–2. My foundation must be on truth
—-a. That Jesus is the Christ, that he came to save sinners, that all who believe in him will be saved, and that such belief should propel all believers into good action
–3. Peter seeks to stir us up, to agitate our settled nature and once again prompt us into action
—-a. Paul makes a similar point in Titus 3:8
B. Peter knows he will soon put off the tent, his body
–1. Our bodies are the tent, the tabernacle, of our souls
—-a. They can be moved, removed, and broken
–2. The nearness of death makes Peter diligent in the business of life
—-a. The time is short! I ought to have zeal and diligence in Christ’s work!
—-b. This is why Peter writes
——i. He makes every effort to still be able to teach after he departs, after he dies

2 Peter 1:8-11

A. These qualities (2 Peter 1:5-7) keep us from being ineffective or unfruitful
–1. When we are increasing in all the things Peter has just described, we have assurance that we will will be effective, active, and fruitful in our Christian practices.
–2. These things will bring fruit to the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ
—-a. It is possible for one to have knowledge and never act on it, rendering it rather useless
—-b. But those who “make every effort to supplement” their faith are promised to be making fruitful, good use of that knowledge
B. Peter tells us that the absence of these efforts to supplement our faith makes us blind, nearsighted
–1. We will be unable to see the world with a clear view, unable to see things far off
–2. This is saying that we will be blind to the things of God, to heavenly things
—-a. If we are not abounding in these supplements to our knowledge of God, we will quite easily and unfruitfully forget the grace that God has showered on us
—-b. We will forget the forgiveness we have been given and we will return to being consumed with the things of this world.
—-c. How good it is to supplement our faith and by doing so have clearer, brighter vision!
C. Peter promises two things as a result of practicing these supplements
–1. We will have stability in grace
—-a. If you practice these things you will never fall
—-b. In the face of temptations you will remain strong in faith, aligned with the will of God
–2. We will have a triumphant entry into heaven
—-a. Some will barely make it to future glory (1 Peter 4:18, 1 Corinthians 3:15)
—-b. But those who have these supplements will have an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ richly provided for them

Take the world, but give me Jesus
In his cross my trust shall be,
Till, with clearer, brighter vision,
Face to face my Lord I see

2 Peter 1:6-7

A. Peter marks out, step-by-step, the believer’s way of supplementing faith
–1. Having sought virtue, and adding wisdom to virtue, Peter says to add self-control to knowledge
—-a. This is temperance and moderation
—-b. It is a self-control that keeps us from making ill use of good things
–2. Add steadfastness to self-control
—-a. This is patience, a perseverance in faith against all trials and calamities
—-b. We let the Spirit sanctify us progressively, not being quickly discouraged by our own failings
—-c. James 1:4,12
–3. Add godliness to steadfastness
—-a. This is holiness, purity of heart, contentment with the love of God
—-b. Steadfastness itself works godliness in us
——i. When we bear trials patiently, we come to a fuller knowledge of the love of God
——ii. It is a love that is never removed from us, even when we face trials from God
——iii. Psalm 89:32-33
—-c. Paul also tells us to train ourselves for godliness (1 Timothy 4:8)
–4. Add brotherly affection to godliness
—-a. This is a tender affection and kindness to fellow christians
——i. Our fellow christians are “children of the same Father, servants of the same Master, members of the same family, travelers to the same country, and heirs of the same inheritance”, and should therefore be loved uncritically. -Matthew Henry
—-b. If we cannot show this to each other, how can we ever expect to show love to the rest of the world?
–5. Add love to brotherly affection
—-a. This is charity, an unconditional love and good-will toward all people
——i. Not just loving those who are lovable, or who will love us back
—-b. “All the children of men are partakers of the same human nature, are all capable of the same mercies, and liable to the same afflictions,” and therefore we should “sympathize with others in their calamities, and relieve their necessities, and promote their welfare both in body and soul.” -Matthew Henry

2 Peter 1:5

A. Peter now moves forward to the purpose of this epistle
–1. He encourages the reader to grow in holiness through practiced action
–2. Having already been given faith, and made partakers of the divine nature, he urges us forward
—-a. I should not remain complacent, as if I am already perfect
B. Peter marks out the believer’s way step-by-step, how to supplement faith
–1. Virtue (or justice, or excellence)
—-a. This refers to a sort of moral excellence, an uncompromising morality
—-b. I ought to be courageous in living morally and standing up for what is right
–2. Add knowledge to virtue
—-a. There is a knowledge of God that comes before our faith, a knowledge of who God is as he has revealed himself to us
—-b. This, rather, is a cultivated knowledge that comes after our faith begins
—-c. It is a discerning knowledge, a wisdom that guides our courage to be virtuous
——i. It is a prudence toward the manner and the method of our actions

A. Through knowledge of Christ, God has given us all things pertaining to life and godliness
–1. All things. All that is life-giving and godly is wrapped up in Christ
B. It is by Christ’s own glory and excellence that he has granted us his promises
–1. By his perfect and holy life, Christ confirmed that he is worthy of all that God has entrusted to him, even the promises Christ then confers on us
—-a. One of these promises is becoming a partaker of the divine nature
C. By becoming partakers of the divine nature, we escape the corruption of sin
–1. It is escape, it is freedom from that corruption that pervades the world
—-a. Sinful desire is at the root of all the corruption of this world
—-b. It is sinful desire that Christ has promised us an escape from: by virtue of his own glory and excellence, he pulls us out of our corruption and sinfulness, into life and godliness
—-c. Surely this is grace; surely this allows us to be at peace