Peter Blessing Those With Like Faith
Minister: |
Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: |
2/16/2014 PM
|
Text:
|
II Peter 1:1,2
|
Psalters: |
132, 164, 21, 172 |
- The like faith.
- Peter declares that the ones to whom he is writing have the same ?faith? which he and the other apostles have.
- This faith is the bond which unites the regenerated, called sinner to Christ, so they believe in Him and trust Him.
- It is ?like? faith because every believer is in relationship to Jesus the same way.
- This faith is ?of God and our Savior: Jesus Christ? (1) and ?of God and of Jesus our Lord? (2).
- The heart of faith is that it holds that Jesus is the divine Person who is able to save from all our sin.
- As such this Jesus is Savior (the only Savior) and He is Judge who will reward and punish accordingly.
- This faith is obtained ?through the righteousness? of our God and Savior.
- This like faith is ?precious,? i.e., valuable, with great honor, beyond computation or price (I Peter 1:7,19; 2:4,6,7).
- Faith is precious because it is ours by ?obtaining? it, i.e., by divine allotment.
- Faith is precious because it is a gift from no one other than God Himself!
- Faith is precious because it is rare (I Sam. 3:1) and few find it (Matt. 7:13,14).
- Is your faith (and the gospel it embraces) precious to you?
- Peter declares that those with faith are blessed.
- Peter has this assurance of their blessedness because of his office.
- He is ?a servant? (slave) of Jesus.
- And he is ?an apostle? (one sent out by Jesus).
- The apostle blesses with a efficacious declaration (not a wish and certainly not an offer).
- ?Grace? is the unmerited and undeserved love of God Himself for guilty sinners.
- ?Peace? is the consciousness of being reconciled with God and at harmony with Him.
- These blessings are ours experientially in the way of our knowing God and Jesus our Lord.