The early Christians were not just struggling with persecution and suffering, but also hearing the destructive heresies from false teachers who were trying to stir strife and dissension among immature Christians. False teachers have been a problem from the beginning of the church, attempting to damn souls to hell by deceiving them with lies masquerading as divine truth. They are the emissaries of Satan. Satan seduced our first parents in the garden and turned them away from God. He continues with his lying and deception till the end. One of the manifestations of the lying intent of Satan is the proliferation of false teachers that shut off the true gospel and put a stumbling block on believers.
False teachers had swiftly entered the early community of Christians. These deceivers lied to the believers, challenging and denying the authority of Jesus (2 Peter 2:1). They ridiculed the promise of his return (2 Peter 3:3-4). Certain teachers were consumed with fleshly lusts and despised divine authority, inviting others to indulge in their sexual sin. The deity of Jesus Christ is a strong undertone throughout this letter. By stating terms like ‘Our God’, ‘Our Lord’, and ‘His divine power’, Peter launches punch after punch against any who may doubt that Jesus of Nazareth is God in the flesh.
In an effort to expose and stop the invasion of heresy and false teaching among the Christians, Peter writes this letter to warn Christians emphasizing the importance of clinging to the proper knowledge of God. To be able to recognize false teachers, we must first know the truth which they seek to undermine, pervert, and distort.
In these four verses, Peter gives three foundational principles for the defense of the Gospel truth.
Salvation: Stand firm on it (v1)
The first line of defense against Satan when he comes at you sowing the seeds of false doctrine is to wear the helmet of salvation and stay confident knowing you belong to Christ. Generally, immature, confused Christians will become easy prey for false teachers because they don’t know what their true spiritual condition is. At the very beginning of his letter, Peter identified himself as a ‘slave of Christ’. He also identifies all the believers (elect) as having the same birthright through the same gift of faith in Jesus Christ -they are all ‘slaves of Christ’. To call the Christian the slave of Christ means that he is irrefutably owned by Christ. A servant can change his master, but a slave cannot for he is absolutely at the disposal of God.
Peter affirms these Gentile believers that they have received the same kind of faith as them, as Jews or as apostles (‘ours’). They were not second-class Christians. They received the same salvation through the righteousness of God and Savior Jesus Christ. They have obtained a faith of equal standing with the greatest apostles, equal standing with Jews. There is no Jew or Gentile. God has given us all the same imputation of Christ’s righteousness that covers our sins and makes us acceptable to God. We must stand firm in our glorious salvation.
Scripture: Know them well (v2)
Peter identifies that the knowledge of God is the path to grace and peace. Grace is the unmerited favor (the free gift of God) given to believers in Christ. Through God’s grace sinners are delivered from their sins and brought into a saving relationship with the holy God. The substance of our salvation is the knowledge of Jesus Christ. God, for His own glory and good pleasure, called us out of the grave through the knowledge of Jesus Christ (v3). No man comes to faith except by hearing about Christ (Rom. 10). Peace is the result and benefit of grace. It refers to a state of untroubled tranquility, a state without war, or dividing factions or enmity. In fact, the order is significant. First grace and then peace. Until we know and appropriate grace, we can’t experience peace.
Grace and peace are not static statuses we enjoy before God. They are an experiential Christian enjoyment. This grace and peace do not cease with justification but continue as the foundation of the believer’s life with God throughout all eternity. There is always more grace and peace to be enjoyed. The more you know of God, the more familiar you are with his promises, the more your thinking and behavior are shaped by the words of God, and the more grace and peace will be multiplied to you.
There are several aspects of peace that God’s grace gives according to different contexts of the scripture.
- Peace with God – It refers to the peace of salvation wherein the barriers (man’s sin and God’s holiness) that separate man from God are removed through faith in God’s gracious work in Christ. (Ephesians 2:14-18, Romans 5:1)
- Peace of Fellowship – It refers to the Peace of a Conscience Void of Offense. This is the personal peace that God gives to the individual through fellowship with the Lord. (1 John 3:21, Galatians 5:22, 1 Timothy 1:5, Acts 24:16)
- Peace of Assurance – This is the peace that comes from being confident of God’s control of all the affairs of life. This is the peace that settles our minds and allows us to relax even amid our sufferings and trials. (Psalm 119:165, Proverbs 3:13-17)
- Peace with Others – This is the peace of unity and oneness in the body of Christ. (Ephesians 4:3, 1 Thessalonians 5:13, Mark 9:50, Philippians 2:1-4)
- Peace of State – This is the public peace that comes through the rulers acting in accord with the principles of the Word and through members of godly citizens who live by the truth of Scripture. (Romans 13:1-7, 1 Timothy 2:2)
- Global Peace – This is the peace of a world without war and disharmony which can only occur with the return and reign of the Lord (Rev. 20).
Sanctification: Use divine resources (v3-4)
God is the one who called us out of the ashes to the ‘life’ (regeneration of the new birth) through the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Christ being one with God the Father and the Holy Spirit (Triune God) has used His divine power, His glory, and His excellence to give everything we need to live a godly life that is ‘well pleasing’ to Him (for our sanctification). Christ is the true God with all authority and it is His excellence and glory unveiled and draws wretched sinners to their Savior. He has not withheld any spiritual blessings from the believer. Life (regeneration) and Godliness (sanctification) entail the entire Christian existence from conversion until they stand perfected before the throne of God.
He also has given us great and precious promises enabling believers to have a living hope. By the supply of God’s Holy Spirit power, we will not be led astray and we can live lives that are pleasing to the Lord, escaping the corruption in the world. When you are becoming a partaker in the divine nature you are escaping the corruption of the world. This worldly corruption can enter the church, especially in false doctrine. Embrace the pure doctrine and you will live right.
Gospel is under constant attack by Satan, by our culture, and by false teachers. So, it is necessary to constantly remind ourselves about the foundational truths of the gospel. Without a knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, we cannot withstand the schemes of the devil. God is infinite, and incomprehensible yet knowable. We cannot complete our knowledge of Him in this life however we should strive to grow in our knowledge of God. Are you growing in your knowledge of Jesus Christ? Is there evidence of continued growth in your Christian life?
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