2 Peter 1:1-8

2 Peter 1:1. Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, Peter was pleased to be able to write those words.

There was a time when he had thrice denied his Master, but now he is glad to call himself «a servant of Jesus Christ.» Once he had said, «I know not the man,» but now he claims that he has been sent out by that glorious Lord to be his apostle,-a sent one,-«a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ.» Probably he had ringing in his ears, at that moment, those blessed words, «Feed my sheep; feed my lambs;» and he was going to do that work again in this his second general Epistle.

2 Peter 1:1. To them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.

These Epistles are not written to everybody. Some readers do not seem to remember this fact. This one is written, says the apostle, «to them that have obtained like precious faith with us.» The faith of the weakest believer in Jesus is the same kind of faith as that which was found in Simon Peter, who stands among the very first of the worthies in the College of Apostles.» Like precious faith with us.» Only think of it, you whose faith is of a very trembling sort, which might be well described as «little faith.» Yet yours is «like precious faith» with that of Peter and the rest of the apostles.

The tiniest diamond is as truly a diamond as the Kohinoor, and the smallest faith, if it be really the work of the Spirit of God, is «like precious faith» with that of the apostles.

2 Peter 1:2. Grace and peace be multiplied unto you-

You have some measure of these choice blessings; may you have a great many times as much! When we go to the multiplication table, we not only multiply by two and by three, but we can multiply by a hundred, we can multiply by ten thousand. Oh, that God would thus multiply to us the grace and the peace that he has already given to us! «Grace and peace be multiplied unto you»-

2 Peter 1:2. Through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

The more we know of God, the more grounds and reasons shall we have for enjoying grace and peace, and the more we know of God and of Jesus our Lord, the more will our enjoyment of grace and peace be multiplied.

2 Peter 1:3. According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

It is through knowing God that we realize that «his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness,» for all these things are in him; and as we know him, trust him, love him, and become like him, we also come to possess all these precious things in him.

2 Peter 1:4. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

See what is God's great object in giving us these «exceeding great and precious promises.» It is that we may become morally and spiritually like himself,-just and true and holy and righteous, even as God himself is. O brothers and sisters, we fall far short of the high example that we find set before us in our gracious God, nevertheless, we press forward towards the goal, strengthened by God himself, who, having begun to make us like himself, will never cease that blessed work until he has fully accomplished it.

2 Peter 1:5. And beside this, giving all diligence,-

For we cannot expect to go to heaven asleep. We are not taken there against our wills. It is not our will that accomplishes our salvation; but still, it is not accomplished without our will. «Giving diligence,» yes, but more than that, «giving all diligence,»-

2 Peter 1:5. Add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance;

It is ignorance that is intemperate and rash.

2 Peter 1:6. And to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness' brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

What Christian ever wishes to be barren or unfruitful? Is it not the aspiration of every branch in the true vine to bring forth much fruit?