We
learned who the author of this book called Second Peter was in our
previous study – “Simon Peter” which means Hearkening Stone,
and as chapter one and verse one continues we see how Peter describes
his position in Jesus Christ and to whom he is writing. We read:
Simon Peter, a servant
and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like
precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our
Saviour Jesus Christ:
The
verse begins, “Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of
Jesus Christ,...”. Let's
notice first that Peter calls himself a “servant”
which is the Greek work “doulos” and means “bond-servant”. A
bond-servant was a servant who willingly desired to be a servant for
his master. In other words he is devoted to another to the
disregard of his own interests. In
the book of Exodus in chapter twenty-one and verse one through six we
learn what it means to be a willing bond-servant. A servant or slave
would work for six years for personally incurred debt or bankruptcy
and was to be set free in the seventh year. If, however, he desired
to continue serving his master he would become a “bond-servant”,
receive an earring in his ear as a symbol of his servanthood, and
continue with his master for the rest of his days. Exodus chapter
twenty-one and verses five and six tell us:
And if the servant
shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will
not go out free: Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he
shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his
master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him
for ever.
Peter
was a willing servant of Jesus Christ before he was an “apostle”
or “called out one” for him. Once Peter's primary position was
set, he was now ready to be what Jesus called him to be.
The
verse continues, “to them that have obtained like
precious faith with us...”.
Peter's audience for his writing is found in this portion of the
verse. Those who “have obtained like precious faith”
or in other words those who have placed their trust in, relied upon
and clung to Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. Peter is
basically writing to those who are within the church who are known as
Christ's body. Let's also notice Peter's inclusionary phrase
“with us” which implies that
he knows his personal need for this “precious faith”
is just as great as anyone who is reading his words.
Finally
the verse reads, “through the righteousness of God and
our Saviour Jesus Christ:”.
Peter concludes this introductory verse with the manner in which he
and those who believe in Jesus received this precious faith. It was
through God's righteousness and our Saviour Jesus Christ's
righteousness that we received it. It was not of any acts or works
which we have done, but “through the righteousness”
of them that anyone may believe in the first place. The basic idea is
that it was God who began the work. It is our Savior Jesus Christ who
continued the work, and they work together that we may be
participants in the most precious commodity available to man – a
relationship with God.
Next
time we will discover the greeting which Peter employs as he writes
to his readers, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation” and the new marriage book “So, You Want
to Be Married” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ;
www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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