Post #49 The Doctrine of God - The Persons of the Trinity in the General Epistles (James, 1 & 2 Peter)

Introduction:

    In our last post we explored how we see the Trinity in the letter to the Hebrews. When it comes to our New Testaments, there are noted four main divisions. 

1. The Gospels

2. Acts

3. The Epistles or letters

4. The Book of Revelation or Apocalypse.

    When we look at that third designation, "epistles", we subdivide it further:

A. Paul's letters (Romans - Philemon)

B. General Epistles (Hebrews - Jude)

    In more ancient listings of the New Testament literature, Hebrews was classified as a Pauline letter. The majority of the early church identified Hebrews as authored by Paul (although it was not a complete consensus). In more recent church history, Hebrews was classed among the general epistles. This latter classification is called "general" or sometimes "catholic epistles" ("Catholic" isn't referencing the Roman Catholic church, but instead is from the Greek word "katholikos", meaning "general"). Such a designation is due to the letters written to a more generalized collection of churches or on more generalized topics (hence the name "General Epistles"). 

    In any case, we will take time in this post to explore the books of James to 2 Peter to see what they have to teach about the Godhead and the Persons of the Trinity. In the next post we will continue our exploration of the Trinity in the general epistles of John (1,2,3 John) and the Epistle of Jude.

1. The Book of James overtly mentions the Father and the Son

    We notice right away the two foundations of the doctrine of the Trinity in James' letter. First, the Oneness of God in being (James 2:19,23; 4:4,7,8), and secondly the distinction of Persons within the Godhead or Divine essence (The Father, James 1:17-18; 3:9 and the person of the Son 1:1;4:10; 5:4,7,8,9,15). 

    Why do I say mention is made of the Son? Although the term "Son" is not overtly expressed, it nevertheless is a pattern in the New Testament to find the Son mentioned with the Divine title "LORD" (Hebrew "Yahweh", Greek "Kurios") or ascribed the offices and functions of God (Judge, compare Matthew 25 and 28:18, with the other titles distinguishing the Divine Person from God the Father). Wherever the Father is mentioned by the title "God", it is not too far to find the Person of the Son mentioned directly or indirectly by a Divine title to distinguish the two Persons. 

    James 1:1 distinguishes the Father and the Son in this manner: "a servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ". James is the earliest of the New Testament letters (and arguably the first New Testament book written, with Matthew, Galatians, and the Thessalonian letters written a few years thereafter in the late 40's to early 50's A.D.). 

    The early church distinguished the Father with the title "God" and Jesus with the title "LORD" (see 1 Corinthians 8:6, for example), with a second pattern of expressing the Son as having the same nature as the Father when a more forceful argument was made to prove the deity of the Son, hence being called "God" (as in John 1:1 "the Word was God"; John 1:18, "the only Begotten God"). 

2. The Epistles of 1 & 2 Peter further reveal the Persons of the Godhead 

    When we consider 1 & 2 Peter, we are dealing with letters written twenty-five years after James. If we take a date of 45-50 A.D. for James, it is reasonable to assign a date for Peter's letters no later than 70 A.D. and no earlier than 60 A.D. Most scholars date 1 Peter to 63-64 A.D. As for 2 Peter, though some question its authorship due to literary differences between 1 & 2 Peter, if we understand that 1 Peter was dictated by Peter to an amanuensis named Silvanus (an "amanuensis" is an ancient term for a recording secretary, describing Silvanus' role, see 1 Peter 5:12), with 2 Peter written directly by Peter himself, such arguments denying Petrine authorship can be ignored. We can date 2 Peter to 64-66 A.D. 

    As for how we see the Trinity in 1 Peter, we see mention made of all three Persons in 1 Peter 1:2 

"According to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure."

    As all three Persons of the Godhead operate inseparably in the activity of sustaining Christian salvation, the doctrine of appropriations stipulates that each Person is assigned a particular role. The Father planned salvation. The Son purchased it by His blood as the incarnate Son of God. The Holy Spirit applies salvation by His setting apart, internalized call to whichever sinner He is dealing, with subsequent faith and repentance issuing forth from the sinner to newfound faith in Jesus Christ.

    1 Peter is rich in its treatment of the Trinity. We find in 1 Peter 1:5 that the Father is credited with preserving the Christian's faith as He or she perseveres in faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:6-8). The Holy Spirit (designated "the Spirit of Christ") works through the prophetic Scriptures to reveal and bring salvation to the human soul (1 Peter 1:9-12). 

    Peter's Trinitarian emphasis moves on into the remainder of 1 Peter 1. The Father (1:13-17), the Son (1:18-21), and Holy Spirit (1:22-25) are featured again in his ongoing exposition of Biblical salvation. Peter then expounds further on the Father's involvement in subsequent chapters of 1 Peter (2:1-4, 9-10, 15; 3:12; 4:17-19; 5:6-11). Also too, He mentions the Son in those same chapters (2:4-8, 21-25; 3:18-22; 4:1-2,11; 5:4,14). We then see mention made of the Holy Spirit's work in the raising of Christ from the dead (1 Peter 3:18). Overwhelmingly the Trinity is the centerpiece of Peter's arguments in 1 Peter.

    As for 2 Peter, 2 Peter 1:1-4 features all three Persons of the Trinity (The Father and Son, 1:1-2; indirect mention of the Holy Spirit in 1:3-4). The Divine revelation by God of Himself is presented by Peter along Trinitarian lines in 2 Peter 1:16-21. It is then in 2 Peter 3:2 we see affirmation of the deity of the Son. 2 Peter 3:9 asserts the work of the Father, with 2 Peter 3:10 pointing us to the Son. 

    It is interesting how the term "Day of the Lord" in 2 Peter 3:10, no doubt pointing to the second coming of Jesus (compare Matthew 24:15-28; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2), has a parallel term "Day of God", gesturing towards the Person of the Father. This dual mentioning of the Father and the Son is Peter's way of reinforcing the New Testament's teaching of the distinction yet equality of the Father and the Son in the Godhead. Further analysis of the remainder of the New Testament confirms this point. 

    For instance, the Apostle John in Revelation 16:14 is the only other Biblical author to feature this particular title "Day of God". In the context of Revelation 16:14, we find the Son returning in the future to fight and defeat the confederations of Anti-Christ and the nations at the battle of Armageddon. Luke tells us that the Son will return when "He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels" (Luke 9:26). The union of Divine nature and glory between the Father and the Son serves to cement the reality of the doctrine of the Trinity (One God, revealed in distinct Persons).   

Closing thoughts:

    Today we explored how we see the doctrine of the Trinity discussed in James and in Peter two epistles. In our next post, we will continue our exploration by noting how we see the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in 1,2,3 John and Jude. 

A brief discussion on the definition and significance of Biblical inerrancy

2 Peter 1:20-21 "But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God."

When we speak of the Bible as inerrant, what is meant by this term and why is it important to the Christian?

Inerrancy literally means “without error”. Stated positively, inerrancy means that the Bible is true in all it says touching all matters.  An understanding of this truth arises from four considerations: God’s character, logical proof, Jesus’ view of scripture and scripture’s preservation down to present times.

1. First, at the heart of the Christian faith is the idea that God is a talking God that has revealed His power in creation, His Presence in the incarnation of Jesus Christ and His purposes in a book - the Bible. God by nature is Holy, Perfect and without flaw. (Isaiah 6; Habakkuk 1:13) Moreover, God cannot lie (Hebrews 6:18-19) but always tells the truth and reigns over His world by the basis of truth (Psalm 89:14). The character of God is the basis for any belief in the doctrine of the Bible's character as a 100% truthful document without error (hence inerrancy). 

2. Secondly, it logically follows from God’s character that the Bible He would reveal is without error. If we were to track this out logically, we could note the following:

Premise #1 God is a God that cannot lie and thus is without error

Premise #2 Anything spoken or recorded in written form from the One, true, Perfect God is without error, being that God cannot lie

Premise #3 The Bible is the only book, that contains fulfilled prophecy, unparalleled unity, correct explanations of history and the power to convert sinners, which are marks of Divine revelation

Premise #4 Divine revelation can only come from One source, God

Therefore: The Bible is without error and cannot lie, thus always truthful (i.e inerrant)

3. Thirdly, Jesus Himself taught that the Bibles that He and the Apostles had in their day (Old Testament Greek Septuagint and Aramaic Targums of the Synagogues) were the authoritative, inerrant Word of God (Matthew 5:18; Luke 24:44). Through His numerous assertions of “it is written” and citations of the scriptures themselves, Jesus’ view of the inerrancy of scripture is uncontestable.

4. Finally, inerrancy as expressed in the above statement (i.e “as originally given”) applies to the 66 books in regards to their wording. Though the original autographs are no longer with us, their words have been preserved among the multiplied thousands of manuscripts and translations of the Hebrew/Aramaic Old Testament and Greek New Testament. Despite variations and differences among the manuscripts (which only account for 3-4% of the Old Testament’s 419,687 words and 2% of the New Testament’s 138,162 words), we still have the original words with us – which means that those copies are just as authoritative as their originals. To put it another way, there is not one example of variations among the manuscripts that affects any major doctrine of Christianity. 

This was Jesus’ position, and thus should be our own. The logical reasons for inerrancy flow from considerations of God’s perfect character – which makes inerrancy (or total truthfulness) a cardinal point in defining Biblical authority for our lives.  

What Jesus and the Apostle Peter teach on heaven

John 14:2 "In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also."

2 Peter 1:11 "for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantlysupplied to you."

Introduction:

Yesterday we considered what Jesus and the Apostle Peter teach on Hell. Today's post features in brief what both taught on Heaven. 

1. Heaven is God's throne or abode

Matthew 5:34; 5:45; 6:9; 11:25; 12:50; 16:17 and 18:4 refer to the third heaven as God's primary base of operations. Undeniably God's Sovereignty extends over and through every square inch of creation. In 2 Peter 1:12, we read of the Holy Spirit being sent from Heaven - "It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look." Peter is perhaps thinking of the Day of Pentecost in which he was preaching some 30 years prior and in which the Holy Spirit had descended. The Spirit's descent signaled the presence of God being with His church as well as in Heaven. 

2. Heaven is a place.

Jesus taught the physical/spiritual reality of Heaven as a locatable place somewhere in the created order. He taught both the reality of the current heaven (Matthew 5:3, 20; 6:20; 19:21; Luke 10:20; John 17:24) and the One He is preparing (John 14:2-3). Heaven is a destination, a home, for the believer (John 14:2; Mt 5:8,5:12; 8:11; Mt 13:43; 25:34,46). The Apostle Peter also wrote of the reality of Heaven as a place. (1 Peter 1:4; 1:11) Peter also wrote of what will be the New Heaven as well. (1 Peter 3:13). Both Jesus and Peter refer to Heaven as having an entrance, thus lending further to its reality. (Matthew 25:34; 2 Peter 1:10)

3. Heaven has angels

The third commonality of the teaching on Heaven shared by Jesus and Peter is that it is a place occupied by angels. Jesus refers to angels that represent in some fashion children in Matthew 18:10. According to Matthew 22:30, Angels in heaven do not have offspring. Jesus speaks elsewhere of angels in Luke 12:10 and 15:10. In Luke 16:22 Jesus reveals that angels are somehow involved in escorting a believer's soul into the presence of God. The Apostle Peter too speaks of angels in Heaven as being curious beings about believer's salvation here on earth. 

Closing thoughts

Today we aimed to explore what Jesus and Peter taught regarding heaven. In our brief study we discovered three common points:

1. Heaven is God's throne/abode

2. Heaven is a place

3. Heaven has angels

The Greatness of Jesus Christ in the General Epistles

Hebrews 1:1-4 "God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. 3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they."

Introduction: A quick word on the general Epistles

Michael Harbin in his survey of the Bible entitled: "The Promise and the Blessing", notes - "As we approach the end fo the apostolic age, we note a change in the letters (That is the New Testament Epistles). Outside of James, the letters we have seen thus far were written to individual churches, that is, to all the believers in a given city. By contrast, the letters written in the sixties or later (60 A.D or later) were written either to larger geographical regions or to specific individuals."  Harbin later notes: "Those letters written to larger geographical regions are often called Catholic or General Epistles because they were written to believers in general, not to a specific individual or city."  Harbin's comments relate to the 8 books in our New Testaments we classify as the general epistles, namely: Hebrews, James, 1 & 2 Peter. 1,2,3 John and Jude. These books are many times not read as often as the thirteen letters of Paul (Galatians-2 Timothy), which is to the Christian's detriment. Why? Because in exploring the general epistles, one can better understand for example the relationship of suffering to the Christian life or how the Old Testament and New Testament fit together. Today's post is about briefly considering the most important person and topic that could be pondered - Jesus Christ. What I aim to do in this post is list one text from each of the general letters of the New Testament that shows to us the greatness of Jesus Christ. My prayer is that this post edifies and encourages every reader.

1. Jesus Christ is Supreme - Book of Hebrews

Hebrews 1:1-4 "God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. 3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they." The theme of "better" occurs over a dozen references in Hebrews, all pointing to how Jesus Christ is supreme above all things. 

2. Jesus Christ's authority - Book of James

James 5:7-9  "Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. 8 You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. 9 Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door." Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 28:18 that all power and authority had been given to Him in heaven and on earth. He is the judge, having authority and Divine power. 

3. Jesus Christ's comings - 1 & 2 Peter

1 Peter 3:18 "For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit."

2 Peter 3:9-10  "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in whichthe heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up."

4. Jesus Christ as Savior - 1,2,3 John

1 John 5:13 "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life." Jesus as Savior provides assurance of salvation for everyone who responds by grace alone through faith alone in Him alone.

2 John 1:9 "Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son." It is not enough to say one believes in a Jesus, but in the right Jesus. The Jesus that saves people from their sins is the One revealed in the Bible, the Word of God.

3 John 1:7 "For they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles." The term "Name" is shorthand for everything that Jesus is and accomplished and is still doing today. Acts 4:12 reminds us that no other "name" is given under heaven to people whereby they can be saved. 

5. Jesus Christ is the God of mercy - Book of Jude

Jude 1:21 - "keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life." Jesus Christ is "Lord", which is a title of Deity, and He is merciful, which reminds us of the fact He is the God of mercy. Jude closes out his book and our study of the greatness of Jesus Christ in the General Epistles with these words from Jude 1:24-25 - "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, 25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen."

P4 - Seeing Eternity beyond this life - 2 Peter 3

2 Peter 1:3 "seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence."

Introduction and review
The last several posts have been dedicated to understanding why it is we see the scriptures teaching about the eternal destinies of Heaven and Hell. To deny the eternal realities of heaven and hell requires us then to also deny the realities of moral absolutes and thus requires us to either diminish our view of God or to deny the Biblical revelation of God altogether. 

Today we will wrap up our study about seeing eternity beyond this life in 2 Peter. This little letter of Peter's is quite significant in understanding how we see eternity beyond this life. Far from portraying Heaven and Hell as abstract ideas that do not concern us in this life, Peter clearly draws the connecting points between how we relate to the God of eternity in this life and our eternal destination in the next life. We have looked so far at the following points:

1. Physical and spiritual life are rooted in God. 2 Peter 1:3-9

2. Eternity in Heaven follows from your relationship with God. 2 Peter 1:10-12

3. Eternity in Hell results from your final rejection of God. 2 Peter 2:1-2,10,15; 3:16

Today we consider the desire of God for anyone reading this post..

Eternity with you is the desire of God. 2 Peter 3:9, 10-12
How do we know that God grieves over anyone choosing to go to Hell? 2 Peter 3:9 tells us the answer - "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." God's desire would be for every person on planet earth to respond to the call of salvation. 1 Timothy 2:4  "who desires all men to be saved and tocome to the knowledge of the truth." Now how is it that God's desire for all to be saved does not conflict with other scriptures that teach His Sovereign choice of some unto salvation? (Eph 1:4-5; 1 Peter 1:1-2; 2:9-10) No one knows the answer to that question. 

What we do know for certain is this: that God in no way, no how sends anyone to Hell. Jesus died for all men to give them the opportunity to hear the Gospel and to either respond to it or reject it. He died for His people, His sheep, so that they could have all the benefits of salvation applied to them upon their response of faith to His Gospel call. 1 Timothy 4:10 tells us - "For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers."

If God did not genuinely desire all men to avoid the terrors of Hell, then the Gospel would not be extended to them as a legitimate offer. For those who by grace through faith respond to His call, they are recipients of His mercy and grace. For others who choose to remain in their lost condition, they will, sadly, become recipients of His Justice in hell for all eternity. 2 Peter 3:10-13 has Peter making the final appeal for his readers to be sure they are ready for eternity. 

Closing thoughts
It is so vitally important how you respond to eternity not only in this life, but also to make sure you are ready for it. There is an eternity beyond this life. As we have labored these past several days in 2 Peter, we have noted the following about Seeing Eternity beyond this life:

1. Physical and spiritual life are rooted in God. 2 Peter 1:3-9

2. Eternity in Heaven follows from your relationship with God. 2 Peter 1:10-12

3. Eternity in Hell results from your final rejection of God. 2 Peter 2:1-2,10,15; 

4. Eternity with you is the desire of God. 2 Peter 3:9, 10-12

P3 Seeing Eternity Beyond this Life - Hell follows from final rejection of God in this life - 2 Peter 2-3

2 Peter 1:3 "seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence."

Introduction 

Today I want us to continue delving further into the actual argument of Peter in his 2nd letter. This little letter of Peter's is quite significant in understanding how we see eternity beyond this life. Far from portraying Heaven and Hell as abstract ideas that do not concern us in this life, Peter clearly draws the connecting points between how we relate to the God of eternity in this life and our eternal destination in the next life. Yesterday we sketched out the first two main points of eternity beyond this life as we find it in 2 Peter. 

1. Physical and spiritual life are resourced in God. 2 Peter 1:3-9

2. Eternity in Heaven follows from your relationship with God. 2 Peter 1:10-12

Today we continue on into 2 Peter by noting the next point about seeing eternity beyond this life....

Eternity in Hell follows from final rejection of God in this life. 

If we necessarily believe that there is such a thing as universal standards of right and wrong, and if we believe there are associated consequences that have to do with justice, then what we have evidence for is a Divine law Giver. Many people today struggle with the concept of eternal punishment or feel uncomfortable at the thought (this writer included). As hard of a struggle we may have with the Biblical teaching on eternal punishment, that nonetheless does not take away the true reality of Hell and eternal punishment. The Bible clearly teaches it, with Jesus being the Chiefest Teacher of the reality of eternal hell. Hell is mentioned nearly 100 times in the scripture, with Jesus speaking on the subject nearly 20 times. As a matter of fact, Jesus speaks more on Hell than finances, the cross and even the subject of not judging. In-as-much as Jesus so often spoke on the topic of loving one's enemies and God Himself, He dedicated equal amounts of time warning people about the terrors and realities of Hell. 

Frankly for the Christian church to neglect the Bible's teaching on Hell is to commit two major errors: not being loving to those who are perishing in their sins without Jesus and not being faithful to God's truth like the Prophets, Jesus and the Apostles were. 

The Apostle Peter relates to us some certain realities about hell in 2 Peter 2 & 3:

1. Final rejection of God is why people go to Hell. Let it be plainly stated: God does not send anyone to Hell nor predestine people to such. People go to Hell because they persisted in their free and final rejection of Jesus Christ in the Gospel. Notice 2 Peter 2:1, how the false teachers are condemned because of their "denying the Master who bought them". Jesus died on the cross for humanity in a general way, especially believers. (1 Tim 4:10) No one who dies and goes to Hell can say that they were excluded from Jesus' dying on the cross for them. He died for all men to hold off the wrath of God long enough to give people a chance to hear the Gospel and to respond to the call of salvation. Notice elsewhere in 2 Peter 2 how we see other people following the rejection of Christ in 2 Peter 2:2. 2 Peter 2:15 describes unbelievers who are on their way to Hell in this life as "forsaking the right way" and in 2 Peter 2:21 as those who "turn away".  Here is the scariest thing of all dear friend, especially for readers who may be reading this post today, you do not know when your final rejection may be. You have heard what Jesus has done for you many times over and have rejected Him as many times. How long will God hold out for you? As the scripture says: "it is appointed unto man once to die and after this the judgment." (Hebrews 9:27) Final rejection of Jesus Christ is why people go to hell. But now notice a second truth about Eternal Hell following from rejection of God in this life...

Finality of Hell as an eternal place for those who reject God in this life. 

Peter describes just how real Hell now and the later Lake of Fire is and will be in eternity for those who reject Jesus Christ. Hell is a place of swift destruction (2 Peter 2:1); punishment (2:9); black darkness (2:17); fire (2 Peter 3:7) and wrath (3:12). When you read the account of the Rich man in Luke 16, there is no return, no rescue and no relief. No one who dies comes back as a re-incarnated person or thing in this life. Hell is final once a person passes from this life to the next. 

The sad thing is that in order for you to go to Hell, you don't have to do anything. All who are born into this world are described in scripture as being "in Adam" and "sons of rebellion". John 3:36 says the wrath of God is already sentenced for everyone born into this world and who are conscious and understanding. Unless you by grace through faith enter "into Christ", you cannot escape the judgment of God. 

Tomorrow we will consider one final point on seeing eternity beyond this life...

P2 - Seeing Eternity Beyond this life - The realities of a Christian Relationship and Heaven - 2 Peter 1

2 Peter 1:3 "seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence."

Introduction 

Today I want us to begin delving further into the actual argument of Peter in his 2nd letter. This little letter of Peter's is quite significant in understanding how we see eternity beyond this life. Far from portraying Heaven and Hell as abstract ideas that do not concern us in this life, Peter clearly draws the connecting points between how we relate to the God of eternity in this life and our eternal destination in the next life. We will sketch out the first two main points of eternity beyond this life as we find it in 2 Peter. 

1. Physical and spiritual life are rooted in God. 2 Peter 1:3-9

2. Eternity in Heaven follows from your relationship with God. 2 Peter 1:10-12

Physical and spiritual life are rooted in God. 2 Peter 1:3-9 

We will comment briefly on this first thought, being that it leads us straight to the main point of these posts: seeing eternity beyond this life. As Peter begins his short letter, he first of all talks about how all physical life and spiritual life are resourced in God. After making a remark about how God's Divine  power supplies everything we need for both life and godliness in verse 3, we then see these words in 2 Peter 1:4 "For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust." The question we could inert at this point would be: "who then lives the Christian life?" It sounds like here that it is the Lord Himself living the life through us. However we discover a second and equally correct answer in 2 Peter 1:5-9, namely that we are the ones responsibile to live the life through Him. Peter instructs us to "add" to our faith. Without a doubt we are saved by grace alone through faith alone, however following conversion, our faith must never be alone. 2 Peter 1:5-9 is but an expansion of passages such as Galatians 2:20 and this verse in Philippians 2:12-13 "So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." All physical life and spiritual life are resourced in God. He is the One who called everything into existence and it is He who calls forth the Christian life in to existence. (2 Corinthians 4:6) 2 Peter 1:5-9 summarizes what the Christian life ought to be like in this world, but now how about what lies beyond this world? This is Peter's next point....

Eternity in Heaven follows from your relationship with God. 2 Peter 1:10-12

Peter writes in 2 Peter 1:10-12 "Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will neverstumble; 11 for in this way the entrance intothe eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you." If you will recall, the existence of God is the reason why we have moral absolutes in this world. Moral laws of any kind include the notion of consequences. Moral absolutes, being rooted in the Eternal God Himself, are by nature not just confined to this world. Thus it follows then that consequences, as they relate to God, exist both in this life and in the next. How we are related to God in the here and now will determined where we spend eternity. As Peter spells out the believer's relationship with God, the wonderful promise of a Heavenly destination is promised to those who are in right relationship with Him. We can note two realities spoken of by Peter in these verses that pertain to what he has to say about heaven and the child of God.

First we see the reality of a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:1, 10.  That relationship includes in its description God's loving choice of each believer in eternity, or what the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 calls God's elective purpose of grace. That elective purpose of grace stands behind the call issued forth by the Holy Spirit in the Gospel to believe, repent and be saved. (see Acts 3:19; Romans 10:9) So we could say then that a relationship with God is grounded in His Sovereign choice, followed by the Spirit's call. God's choice and call is spelled out in 2 Peter 1:10 and urged upon Peter's readers as to what they need to be making certain of in their lives. Then we see a third component necessary for a relationship with God, namely a specific response of faith in Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:1 is after all addressed to those who have "received a same precious faith as ours". It is at the moment of saving faith in the new birth that one's relationship begins with God. God's Sovereignty and human responsibility in salvation are not in contradiction with one another, but function together as a total definition of the reality of a relationship with God. 

Second we see the reality of heaven, the eternal destination of a person in relationship with God. 2 Peter 1:11

Peter writes in 2 Peter 1:11 "for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you." When you have been brought into relationship with God by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, the reality of heaven itself is your destination. Whenever we survey this verses and others, we note several truths about the reality of heaven. 

a. Place called Heaven. Here we see Peter making mention of an "entrance" and Jesus in John 14:1-3 states He is going to prepare a "place". 

b. Prepared place for believers. Peter here in 1:11 notes how it will be a place "abundantly supplied" and Jesus echoes this to his disciples in John 14 by the words "I go to prepare a place for you."

c. Richly prepared place for believers. Notice, Peter does not just say "supplied" but "abundantly supplied" in 1:11. Jesus notes in John 14 how in His Father's house are many rooms or as the KJV puts it, mansions. Revelation 21-22 describes the even greater reality of the New Heavens as containing streets of gold, gemstone foundations and endless supply of God's glorious light.

d. Jesus richly prepares the place called Heaven for believers. Into whose Kingdom is this heavenly entrance? Jesus' of course! He told the thief on the cross; "today you will be with me in paradise". Wherever Jesus is, heaven is. As a little girl on an airplane flight responded to her grandmother one time who told the little girl: "look out the window Suzy, the clouds look like heaven". The little girl simply said: "But where is Jesus?" Just as a wedding would not be a wedding without a bride and a groom, Heaven would not be heaven without our heavenly bridegroom. Will there be streets of gold to tread - yes! Will there be dwelling places or mansions? Absolutely! But what makes Heaven Heaven is Jesus Himself. All who make it to Heaven can take no credit. All credit goes to Jesus Christ and the Father's purposes of grace and the Spirit's calling of them to believe and be saved. 

P1 Seeing Eternity beyond this life - 2 Peter

2 Peter 1:3 "seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence."

Introduction and review
Yesterday's post attempted to connect the dots between absolute moral standards, The Existence of The Divine Moral Lawgiver and the Eternal realities of Heaven and Hell. 2 Peter has been the launching point of our discussion over the last two posts. We ended yesterday with the following logic:

1. Moral standards includes definitions of right and wrong, justice and injustice and their associated consequences 

2. Universal Moral Standards point to The Eternal Moral Law Giver Who Defines Right and Wrong both in this life and eternity

3. Universal Moral Standards also point to The Eternal Moral Law Giver Who is the Standard of Justice and Injustice both in this life and eternity

4. Hence the associated consequences play out in both this life and eternity. 

That last statement of course points to why it is we see the scriptures teaching about the eternal destinies of Heaven and Hell. To deny the eternal realities of heaven and hell requires us then to also deny the realities of moral absolutes and thus requires us to either diminish our view of God or to deny the Biblical revelation of God altogether. 

Today I want us to begin delving further into the actual argument of Peter in his 2nd letter. This little letter of Peter's is quite significant in understanding how we see eternity beyond this life. Peter clearly draws the connecting points between how we relate to the God of eternity in this life and our eternal destination in the next life. We will sketch out Peter's main points today and then look at them in more detail tomorrow.

1. Physical and spiritual life are rooted in God.  2 Peter 1:3-9 

2. Eternity in Heaven follows from your relationship with God. 2 Peter 1:10-12

3. Eternity in Hell results from your final rejection of God. 2 Peter 2:1-2,10,15; 3:16

4. Eternity with you is the desire of God. 2 Peter 3:9, 10-12

More tomorrow.....

P2 Book of 2 Peter - Exhortations to grow in God's Grace

2 Peter 3:18 "but grow in the grace and knowledge of ourLord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen."

Review from yesterday
2 Peter explains Christian growth in grace and provides exhortations (strong encouragements) to continue in such. As we saw yesterday, much of what Peter explains about such growth is found in 2 Peter 1:1-3:13.  In today's post we will conclude this brief overview of 2 Peter by noting the exhortations or strong encouragements to grow in grace from 2 Peter 3:14-18.

You may notice a repeated pattern
In 2 Peter 3:14-18 we see Peter summarizing everything that he wrote in 2 Peter 1:1-3:13.  The same three points that were used to explain growth in grace are now points of exhortation in 3:14-18.  Please note how Peter lays these out:

1. Exhortation #1 - Diligently live in God's grace. 2 Peter 3:14-16

2. Exhortation #2 - Defend against the enemies of grace. 2 Peter 3:17

3. Exhortation #3 - Determine to know the Lord of grace. 2 Peter 3:18

These exhortations are identical to the three-fold explanation we saw yesterday.  Why are we repeating them again? Because that is exactly how Peter reinforces his main point of urging believers to grow in the grace of God.  Consider the verses in 2 Peter 1 and 3 that Peter issues reminders to his readers:

1. 2 Peter 1:12-13 "Therefore, I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present with you. 13 I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder."

2. 2 Peter 1:15 "And I will also be diligent that at any time after my departure you will be able to call these things to mind."

3. 2 Peter 3:1-2 "This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 2 that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles."

On top of pointing people to the writings of the Apostle Paul and the rest of the scriptures, Peter is wanting to reinforce the need to grow in grace.  If you and I ever expect growth in grace to be of chief priority, it must make the necessary journey from the head to the heart.  2 Peter is a wonderful book of the Bible that both explains (2 Peter 1:1-3:13) and exhorts (2 Peter 3:14-18) us on the importance of growing in God's grace.

P1 Book of 2 Peter - Explaining growth in grace

2 Peter 3:18 "but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen."

Introduction: The need to grow in grace
In the Apostle Peter's first letter or epistle, the chief concern is to explain what it means to stand firm in God's living grace.  As you turn to the even shorter Epistle or letter of 2 Peter, the focus becomes on explaining the need to grow in such grace.  2 Peter 3:18 is being identified as the key verse to the letter, since Peter is summarizing  everything he wrote at the end, much like he did in his first letter.  Years ago commentator Richard De Haan wrote these words concerning the message of 2 Peter: "He challenged them to develop the Christian graces of faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love (2 Peter 1:5-7). God had done His part in providing His people with full salvation; now they were to do their part by working it out through the development of these graces."1
I would only add to DeHann's observation that the Christian who is working out their salvation is doing so in concert with the Spirit's continuing work in their lives of making them more like Jesus. (Galatians 2:20; Philippians 2:12-13)

2 Peter is all about explaining to the Christian how to grow in grace and providing exhortations (strong encouragements) to continue in such. In today's post we aim to give you the reader and outline of 2 Peter that will serve to explain what it means to grow in grace.  Much of what Peter explains about such is growth is found in 2 Peter 1:1-3:13.  In tomorrow's post we will conclude this brief overview of 2 Peter by noting the exhortations or strong encouragements to grow in grace from 2 Peter 3:14-18. 

Explaining what it means to grow in grace
2 Peter 1:1-3:13
So what does it mean to grow in the grace of God? Three main points appear to explain what Peter is writing about when it comes to this subject of growing in God's grace.

Diligently live in God's Grace. 2 Peter 1
As you consider 2 Peter 1, we find the word "diligence" mentioned three times in 2 Peter 1:5,10 & 15.  Exercising due diligence is the necessary attitude for growing in the grace of God.  In this first chapter we could unfold the a,b,c's of what it means to be diligently living in the grace of God.
1. Add to your faith.             2 Peter 1:1-9

2. Base your 
confidence in God's 
calling and election.             2 Peter 1:10-15

3. Consider the Scriptures.  2 Peter 1:16-21 

So in order to grow in the grace of God, we need to be diligently living in such grace.  But notice a second idea that Peter uses to explain this important notion of growing in grace, namely....

Defend against the enemies of grace. 
2 Peter 2
2 Peter 1 is all about mounting up an effective offensive, whereas 2 Peter 2 is all about effectively defending your growth and grace against certain enemies.  What are those enemies? Peter lists at least three such enemies here in 2 Peter 2:

a. False teachers.        2 Peter 2:1-3
b. Demonic realm.        2 Peter 2:4
c. The world.                2 Peter 2:5-11
d. False doctrine.         2 Peter 2:12-22

Unless you and I defend what ground we gain in our activity of growing in grace, we stand to lose much ground.  So Peter explains what it means to grow in grace by telling us to be diligent, and to defend, but notice the third idea: Determination.  What must the Christian be determined about as they set out to grow in grace?

Determine to know the Lord of grace. 
2 Peter 3:1-13
In these verses of 2 Peter 3 we come to know the Lord Jesus Christ in two chief ways.  First I determine to know Him as the Savior in 2 Peter 3:1-9.  Secondly, Peter writes that Jesus Christ is also to be known as the coming King in 2 Peter 3:10-13.  The first coming assumes a second coming, and the second coming of Jesus Christ is made possible because of what He achieved in His first coming.  Thus you and I believer, if we are to grow in grace, must determine to know the Lord of grace.  

More tomorrow.....
Endnotes:
1. Richard De Haan. Studies in 2 Peter. Victory Books. 1977. Page 135.