Lacking, Blind and Forgetful 2 Peter 1:9

When we are growing in our relationship with the Lord Jesus, we will exhibit the eight characteristics listed by Peter in chapter one and verses five through seven. Peter wrote that if these abound in us, “we will neither be barren nor unfruitful in our knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ”. In verse nine of the same chapter we learn what happens if these traits are not within us. We read:

But he that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

The verse begins, “But he that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off,...” Once again the operative word “but” is employed in the scriptures, and as we have learned in previous studies, when the word “but” is used it means that what is about to be written takes exception to what was previously written. Usually it means there is something more important that is about to be said, and in this case, Peter says that if a person “lacks”, which means “denies the thought of”, in the eight characteristics he listed, that person is “blind, and cannot see afar off.” In other words the person is without understanding, mentally blind, and only able to see dimly or what is near.

The verse goes on to say, “and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.” Peter implies that the infraction of not growing is so great that the one who is not exhibiting faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and charity “has forgotten” that he was “purged from his old sins” which is the word “katharismos” which means “a cleansing, purification, purgation, washing from the guilt of sins wrought by the expiatory sacrifice of Christ”. In other words, if the traits listed by Peter are not manifested in the believer's life, it is as if he forgotten that he was cleansed from his sins in the first place.

Are we growing in our relationship with the Lord? Do the characteristics listed by Peter continue to manifest themselves greater and greater in our lives every day? Do we need to remember that Jesus Christ purged us from our old sins? As we ponder this verse, may the Lord bring to our minds areas in which He desires to exhibit His “divine power” and where He chooses to pour out His “exceeding and precious promises” upon us so we will never forget what He has done with our past.

Next time we will see what to do about our election and calling, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

 

Until tomorrow...there is more...

 

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