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A study in 2 Peter chapter 1
1:1 I am Simon the Rock, bondman and ambassador of Jesus Christ. What Godaccomplished in Christ to rescue us is what gives our faith equal value. (If righteousnesshad anything to do with personal merit or performance, then only the good enoughamongst us would qualify. The word,
lanchano,
to be measured out beforehand, to beallocated something by allotment, emphasises the fact that nothing we did or determinedto achieve had any influence upon God to qualify us.
Faith is not a reward for personaldiligence; it is everyone’s portion; no one’s faith is inferior to another’s because Godsees all equally justified in Jesus Christ. Salvation belongs to everyone based onexactly the same merit.
)1:2 With a faith of equal content as our reference, we may now know ourselves the wayGod has always known us, realised in Jesus our leader, and be increasinglyoverwhelmed by grace and peace. (In this context no one can feel ignored or neglected.)1:3 God’s powerful intervention is the authority behind all this. He gifted us with all that ittakes to live life to the full. Because of what God knows (about our original design,) Heintroduced us as it were to ourselves again (
kaleo,
to surname) because it was Hisintention to restore His glory and virtue in us. (See Peter’s testimony in Math.16 in thenotes.)1:4 His knowledge of us is the vehicle through which He bestowed the magnitude of Hispriceless promises upon us; the expectation of the promises pointed towards our restored participation in our godly origin; (His image and likeness revealed in us. Thefactory settings are restored; every compatible programme is again installed in our hard-drive to facilitate the Divine Nature.) Thus we have escaped the distorted influence of thecorrupt cosmic virus of greed and lust.1:5 Now that the stage is set to display life’s excellence, imagine the extreme devotionand focus of a conductor of music; (
epichoregeo, epi,
preposition
, + chorus,
chorus or choir or orchestra, + ago, to lead as a shepherd leads his sheep) how he would diligentlyacquaint himself with every individual voice in the choir, as well as the contribution of every specific instrument, to follow the precise music represented in every note in order to give maximum credit to the original composition; this is exactly what it means toexhibit the divine character. Before a performance the first violinist will give the exactnote for every instrument to be finely tuned to that note, in the same way the faith of Godgives that exact pitch. You are the choir conductor of your own life; study the full contentof faith; you will find virtue there, and within virtue faith-inspired knowledge will voice itscontribution. (There is a level of understanding that can only be accessed by faith.Heb.11:3, “by faith we understand that the ages were framed by the Word of God...)1:6 The one attribute reveals the other, strength of character emerges out of faith-knowledge, in its strength follows the ability to prevail in patient perseverance, these arethe ingredients that reveal depth of devotion;1:7 out of such devotion flows true friendship, brotherly affection inspires divine love.1:8 While you diligently rehearse the exact qualities of every divine attribute within you;the volume will rise with ever increasing gusto, guarding you from being ineffective andbarren in your knowledge of the Christ-life displayed with such authority and eloquencein Jesus.
 
1:9 If anyone feels that these things are absent in his life, they are not; spiritualblindness and short sightedness only veil them from you. This happens when one losessight of one’s innocence. The moment one forgets the tremendous consequence of thefact that we were cleansed from our past sins, one seems to become pre-occupied againwith the immediate sense ruled horizon, which is what short sightedness is all about; thismakes one blind to His blessings. (Spiritual realities suddenly seem vague and distant.)1:10 Therefore I encourage you to make every conscious effort my Brothers to becomecemented in the knowledge of your original identity revealed in the Word; fully engagethese realities in your lifestyle; if you do this you will never falter. (Or get out of tuneagain in the context of verse 5, lit. to fall, lose height, to stop flying.)1:11 Thus the great Conductor of music will draw your life into the full volume of theharmony of the ages; the royal song of our saviour Jesus Christ.1:12
Having said all this I am sure that you can appreciate why I feel so urgent in mycommitment to you to repeatedly bring these things to your attention; as indeed youhave already taken your stand for the truth as it is now revealed (in the Gospel.)1:13 So while I am still in this body-suit, I take my lead from the revelation of righteousness and make it my business to thoroughly arouse you until these truthsbecome permanently moulded in your memory.1:14 All the more since I know that my time in this tabernacle is almost done; our Lord Jesus Christ has prepared me for this.1:15 In the meantime I will do whatever it takes to make it possible for you to alwaysbe able to easily recall these realities even in my absence.1:16 We are not con-artists, fabricating fictions and fables to add weight to our account of His majestic appearance; with our own eyes we witnessed the powerfuldisplay of the illuminate presence of Jesus the Master of the Christ life. (His faceshone like the sun, His raiment were radiant white. Math.17)17 He was spectacularly endorsed by God the Father in the highest honour andglory. God's majestic voice announced, "This is the son of My delight, He has Mytotal approval."18 For John, James and I the prophetic word is fulfilled beyond doubt; we heard thisvoice loud and clear from the heavenly realm while we were with Jesus in thatsacred moment on the mountain.19 For us the appearing of the Messiah is no longer a future promise, but a fulfilledreality; now it’s your turn to have more than a second hand, hear-say testimony, takemy word as one would take a lamp at night, the day is about to dawn for you in your own understanding; when the morning star appears, you no longer need the lamp,this will happen shortly on the horizon of your hearts...
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