Walking Second Peter, Part 3

I’m not usually good at dragging these things out, just like movie sequels; or books for that matter. If you’re reading anything I write, I simply consider that a miracle. So, I would like to cover that transition from verse 5 to 9 to 10.

Peter’s Message

Look, if you can’t receive a gift on your merit, in what way can you possibly make it more of a gift? Peter clearly (to me) says that faith is a gift, “through the righteousness of God and Jesus Christ.” (v.2) WE didn’t receive it through our effort, but it seems we’re more than ready to draw that conclusion through verses 5-10. When we read this passage it seems to suggest that it is through our effort that we become more worthy, that we become more godly and more loving.

But, what if this passage is referring back to that faith and the, “great and precious promises”?(v.4) What if we’re being asked to realize that it is through the faith we have received that we “participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption of the world caused by evil desires”?

It isn’t about progressing, about gaining more ability in being able to behave these ways. It isn’t about a progression through stages where each stage leads to another higher one. Peter is talking about qualities. He even says so. Now, how can we see ourselves as possessing these qualities?

Even when we’ve tried to “behave” according to how we believe one possessing these qualities would act, we’ve never really believed that sinners could be such things. And consequently, we’ve forgotten that our sins were forgiven. We’ve tried to act like those qualities and found ourselves that much more insecure about our calling.

Funny, too, because when you read on, Peter isn’t trying to stir those he is writing to into a state of activity in becoming these things, he says that he is reminding them of what they already know, so that they will remember who they are and through whose effort it was that made them that way.

So, what could possibly be a perversion of such a message?

Posted by: HarryTick™ on 15. December 2007, 18:59 |