December 25: 2 Peter 1-3, Jude 1

December 25, 2 Peter 1-3, Jude 1

A very Merry Christmas to you! Yes, it is this Jesus that we study and give our lives to - Praise Him!!!
2 Peter intro from the ESV Bible: “In this second letter, Peter describes (ch. 2) some twisted versions of Christian truth being taught. Recalling his experience of Christ’s glory at the transfiguration (1:17–18), Peter explains the “more fully confirmed” truth of the gospel as an antidote to heresy. The gospel is like “a lamp shining in a dark place” (1:19). In chapter 3 Peter focuses on those who scoff at the idea of Christ’s triumphant return and the final judgment. Just as God once destroyed the world with water, he will one day bring his fire to it. In light of this, we should live in “holiness and godliness” as we await his return and the salvation he has promised to all believers. Peter probably wrote this letter about a.d. 67–68, shortly before his death.” Today’s study is taken from Bakers Commentary.

• “…make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 
• “For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved… For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”
• “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”

2 Peter 1 “After identifying himself, Peter greets the readers of his letter with a salutation in which he expresses the wish that they may increase in grace and peace through a knowledge of Jesus Christ. He informs them about the great and precious promises God has given them. He exhorts them to add to their faith seven virtues: goodness, self-control, knowledge, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. He teaches them that they will be effective and productive in their spiritual life if they increase these qualities. He encourages them to ascertain their calling and election, so that they may enter Christ’s eternal kingdom.

Peter reminds the readers of the truth they possess. He wishes to refresh their memories, especially because the duration of his earthly life is short. He discloses that Jesus Christ has told him about his impending death. Therefore, he puts forth every effort to have them remember spiritual truths.

With the other apostles, Peter preaches not fables but truths about the power and coming of Jesus Christ. He proves the veracity of the apostolic message by relating his account of the transfiguration. He is able to testify that he heard the voice of God the Father commending the Son. God’s revelation is confirmed by the prophetic word of the Scriptures, which have been inspired by the Holy Spirit. Indeed, the prophets were carried along by the Spirit when they spoke the Word of God.”

2 Peter 2 “Peter writes this chapter to warn the believers against the pernicious heresies of false teachers who openly deny the sovereignty of Christ and consequently face swift destruction. Peter describes the greed and dishonesty of these teachers and as a warning states that many in the Christian community will follow their immoral ways.

With a number of examples from history, Peter compares the destiny of the false teachers to that of the angels who sinned and were condemned to hell, to the unbelieving contemporaries of Noah who perished in the flood, and to the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah that were reduced to ashes. By contrast, God protected Noah and his family and rescued Lot. Thus, the Lord spares the righteous but punishes the unrighteous on the day of judgment.

The false teachers even slander celestial beings, arrogantly level accusations, behave like animals, and thus face inevitable destruction. In broad daylight they yield to drunkenness and practice adultery. They are greedy and skilled in seduction. Peter uses the illustration of the life and motives of Balaam, whose donkey rebuked him.

Peter’s language is picturesque. He resorts to metaphors as he describes the false teachers, whom he depicts as waterless springs and clouds without rain. Once more Peter warns the believers against seduction. The heretics promise freedom, yet they themselves are slaves of sin. Because they have known the way of righteousness, the apostates are accountable for their actions. It would have been better for them had they never known Christ. With two proverbs about a dog and a sow, Peter concludes his lengthy description of these false teachers.

2 Peter 3 “In this second epistle to his readers, Peter exhorts them to think clearly and to recall the teachings of the prophets and the apostles. He alerts them to the danger of the presence of scoffers in their midst, for these false teachers deny the return of Jesus Christ and the coming of the judgment day. Peter reminds the readers of the creation of the universe and the destructive forces of the flood. These facts the scoffers purposely forget. Yet as the world perished in the deluge, so heaven and earth will be destroyed by fire.

Peter teaches the readers about time and eternity when he compares a thousand years with one day in the sight of God. The day of the Lord will be postponed because of God’s patience toward sinners. Yet that day will come unexpectedly. When heaven and earth have been destroyed, a new heaven and a new earth will appear; they will be known as the home of righteousness.

God’s patience signifies salvation for the sinner. This is the message Paul also conveys in all his epistles. Some unstable people twist the meaning of Scripture. Peter concludes his letter by exhorting the readers to be on guard and not to be dissuaded by the false teachers. He urges the believers to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.”

Jude intro from the ESV Bible: “The letter of Jude warns against those who, having gained admission to the church, were perverting the grace of God, denying “our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ” (v. 4). Jude used Old Testament examples to warn of these “blemishes” on the church. He wrote multiple denunciations of these ungodly people who “defile the flesh” and “reject authority” (v. 8). He urged Christians to continue in godliness and love toward such people, in some cases reasoning with them, in other cases “snatching them out of the fire” (v. 23). Jude closes with one of the most beautiful doxologies in all of Scripture (vv. 24–25). Jude was the brother of James (probably “James the Lord’s brother,” Gal. 1:19). He likely wrote sometime between a.d. 65 and 80.” Today’s study is taken from Bakers Commentary.

Jude 1 “Jude writes a letter to strengthen the readers in their faith and to warn them not to be misled by apostates who in life and doctrine try to lead them astray. After identifying himself, he greets the recipients and pronounces a blessing of mercy, peace, and love.

In a personal manner, Jude says that he had planned to write a letter about the doctrine of salvation and to urge the recipients to contend for the faith, that is, the gospel. However, he changes his mind because of the presence of immoral men who have infiltrated the Christian community. Jude reminds the believers of three Old Testament examples that illustrate divine judgment: the unbelieving Israelites in the desert, the rebellious angels who left their positions of authority, and the immoral men of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Jude calls the infiltrators “dreamers” who engage in immorality, rebellion, and slander. He cites the incident of the archangel Michael, who refrained from bringing an accusation against Satan. These ungodly men follow the way of Cain, Balaam, and Korah. They are blemishes in the company of Christians. Relying on a prophecy of Enoch, Jude describes the coming of the Lord with his myriads of angels. The Lord will judge the ungodly according to their words and deeds.

The readers know about the coming of the scoffers, for the apostles have given them instructions. Jude urges the believers to strengthen one another in the faith and to wait prayerfully for the realization of eternal life. He exhorts them to show mercy to doubters, to save others from destruction, and to be wary of sin’s contamination. He concludes his epistle with a splendid doxology to God.”

To sum it all up: 

• Our holiness must be genuine. Repent where you have fallen short and pursue holiness in Christ. 
• Living your life with selfish intentionality will bring you to destruction. As my Grandpa used to always say, a moment of pleasure can ruin the rest of your life. Do not seek the pleasures of the world, rather seek the pleasure of our Father in Heaven.
• “Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 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.”