A Daily Walk

Guest (Male): We're talking about a faith that is precious. Today on A Daily Walk. Folks, the emphasis here: our faith is everything. It is precious. It is valuable. And that is why our faith is constantly under attack. Did you know that? That's why the enemy wants to undermine our faith and trust in God because he knows that through faith we are able to overcome fear, we're able to overcome the lies of the adversary. And so he seeks to undermine our faith.

But folks, one of the greatest blessings in knowing the Lord is having that faith that leads to salvation. There's nothing more valuable, and that only comes through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. A faith that is precious.

Some may wonder what is the benefit of knowing Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Well, if that thought has ever crossed your mind, keep listening. We've got a great study in 2 Peter lined up for you today on A Daily Walk. We'll be considering the blessings of knowing Jesus that include a faith that is precious and a righteousness that is divine. Here is Pastor John Randall to explain from chapter one.

John Randall: 1 Peter was the book we studied last time. Now we're in 2 Peter chapter one. I want to look at the first four verses as we consider together the blessings of knowing Jesus. 2 Peter chapter one, beginning in verse one.

Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Although the apostle Peter wrote two letters, even perhaps to the same audience, the emphasis and the theme of the letters are different from one another. In his first letter, Peter had written to encourage believers who were scattered in every direction due to the increase of persecution. He reminded them of their living hope that they had in Jesus, and he exhorted them to follow the example of Jesus, remembering what He had endured through suffering.

Yet within his second letter, Peter seeks to equip his readers in order that they could stand against the false teachers that were coming into the church and leading people astray. If persecution wasn't able to destroy the church from the outside, Peter knew that the false teachers could destroy the church from the inside. And therefore he warns them to be on guard. To be aware and alert of false teaching was something that the apostles had to contend with on a regular basis. In fact, many of the epistles in the New Testament were written to combat the false teaching and heresy of the day.

It's interesting to note for some reason the books of 2 Peter and Jude are not preached, studied, or quoted as much as other books. However, the church truly needs this letter of 2 Peter because there are many false teachings even circulating today. Now, one of the ways that the church then and the church now can avoid being deceived is by having a proper knowledge of the Word of God. To handle that which is true so that you won't be deceived by the counterfeit. If you handle the truth enough when something is in error or false, you'll be able to recognize it.

Peter uses this word "know" or "knowledge" at least 13 times in this short epistle. And it means more than just an intellectual assent to a truth or doctrine. It means more than mere abstract head knowledge of God or even facts about God. The word knowledge is a Greek word, *epignosis*, which means a precise knowledge involving the complete appropriation of all truth and the unreserved compliance to God's will.

Peter wanted these believers to know with an accurate, thorough, experiential knowledge. Knowing the truth by experience. And this knowledge only comes through a personal and intimate relationship with Jesus. And knowing the truth, the church would be free from false doctrine. Folks, I hope you know this: it is important for us to know what we believe and why we believe it.

In 2 Timothy chapter 2 and verse 15, Paul exhorted Timothy when he said, "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." There are countless false religious systems that are prevalent. Even some in the church today have allowed their biblical worldview to become increasingly diluted by the culture. For others, they have even deconstructed their faith and turned away from the Lord. And still there are others who are content to have a watered-down version of Christianity to comfort them in their carnal living as the lines of truth are becoming increasingly blurred.

This second epistle opens the same way that the first epistle did with the author's introduction. In verse one, it says, "Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ." As the letter opens, Peter uses both of his names. The first, Simon, also Simeon, was his given name and the name he had before Jesus called him. But Peter was the name that was given to him by Jesus. Formerly a fisherman along the shore of the Sea of Galilee in the area of Tiberias, it was his brother Andrew that actually introduced Peter to the Lord.

One day Jesus called to Peter and said, "Follow Me, and I will make you become a fisher of men." And the Bible records that Peter, along with the others, left everything and followed Jesus. Peter was in many ways a leader amongst the disciples. Often he spoke up on behalf of the rest of them. He's mentioned also as one of the inner three disciples that included James and John.

On one occasion when Jesus was in the area of Caesarea Philippi, He posed the question to His disciples: "Who do men say that I am?" And initially the disciples responded with some of the circulating opinions that were popular among the people. Some say that You're the prophet. Some say You're Elijah. Some even think that You are John the Baptist risen from the dead.

Jesus then made the question more personal: "Who do you say that I am?" And Peter spoke up and he said, "You're the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus then commended Peter for this confession in Matthew chapter 16. He said, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it."

Over time, this is who Simon would become: a rock, solid in his faith and his witness for Christ. Even eventually to the point of death, as he would die on a cross being crucified upside down, for he did not feel that he was worthy to be crucified in the same way as Jesus. This letter, 2 Peter, is actually his last letter before his martyrdom.

Yet although Peter had the privilege of a change of name and three years of ministry alongside of Jesus, a pillar in the early church, notice how he describes himself. He begins by referring to himself as a bondservant or bondslave of Jesus Christ. Even before he speaks of his apostleship, this calling, he calls himself a servant. And not just any kind of servant, folks: a bondservant. The apostle Paul also used this phrase to describe himself.

But the word bondslave or bondservant is the most abject, servile term for a slave of the five words that are described or used to describe a servant in other places in scripture. The word *doulos* in the New Testament refers to one who serves without regard to his own personal interests.

According to Exodus chapter 21, there was a law concerning a bondslave. A Hebrew servant could serve his master for six years, and in the seventh year he would actually have the option to go out free. Exodus 21 describes this when it says this: "But if the servant plainly says [that is after the six years], 'I love my master, my wife, my children, I will not go out free,' then his master shall bring him to the judges. He shall bring him to the door or to the doorpost, and his master shall pierce his ear with an awl, and he shall serve him forever."

If a servant didn't want to leave his master, if he truly loved his master, he could decide to be a servant for the rest of his life. It was his decision. He exercised his free will in desire to stay. The master would then take him and pierce his ear, which symbolized that he was a servant by choice, motivated by love. Peter says that's how I see myself. I am a servant for life, motivated by my love for Jesus.

Folks, this is a proper way to see ourselves as servants of the Lord. Because when you consider that we were formerly slaves of sin, and that Jesus came and bought us and redeemed us, we've been loved. We've been freed from bondage. And now that we've been given everything we possess, it's because of our Master, Jesus. Gratefully, wholeheartedly, I choose to serve Him for the rest of my life. Why? Because the love of Christ constrains me. I don't want to serve any other master. I used to serve myself. I used to serve the devil in that sense. I want to serve Jesus. There is nobody like Jesus.

In addition to being a bondservant, Peter then speaks of his apostleship: an apostle of Jesus Christ. The word apostle means one that is sent out to represent another. The 12 apostles had the unique privilege of being with Jesus during His earthly ministry. They were eyewitnesses to His resurrection, and they were the first to be entrusted with the Great Commission. Peter and the other apostles were ambassadors on behalf of Christ.

Now, today there are not apostles in the New Testament sense like the original 12. But we are called to represent the Lord Jesus to this world. In fact, Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians chapter 5 and verse 20: "Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God." Some of us may be the only Bible that a person ever reads. We are living epistles, Paul said, known and read by all men.

The fact that Peter speaks of himself as a servant and an apostle shows both humility and authority within his ministry. Moving from the author of the letter, now we observe to whom the letter is addressed. Who is he writing to? And in addressing this group of people, folks, this is what I want you to make note of today: Peter is going to reveal the blessings that come as a result of knowing Jesus.

And I'm going to highlight those blessings for us. But in verse one, he talks about those who have obtained. Verse two, he talks about what has been multiplied to us. Verse three, what has been given to us. Verse four, what has been given to us. If you're taking notes, here is the first blessing. I encourage you to write this down. There's a quiz. No, there isn't. But please write it down. Make a note of it. What's the first blessing that comes as a result of knowing Jesus? Here it is: faith that is precious.

Look at verse one: "to those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ." Peter's writing to those who have obtained. The word means received as a gift this saving faith. And he refers to it as precious, meaning that it is valuable. Faith is to trust in the Lord. I trust the Word of God that He provides salvation. I place my faith in Christ Jesus. Jesus is the object of my faith.

He said He was the way, the truth, and the life, and that no one comes to the Father except through Him. Check this out: I believe that. I trust in that. That is this saving faith. The faith that I have, it is precious. There's nothing more valuable in all the world than having salvation. Nothing compares to it.

Now, when a person expresses faith in salvation, they are taking themselves out of their own keeping and entrusting themselves into the keeping of the Lord Jesus. True faith, because of the grace of God, provides salvation. And there are three elements that are attached to this faith. First of all, a firm persuasion or solid conviction of the truth. I am a sinner, I need salvation. I believe it. There's a conviction here of the truth.

Secondly, there is a surrender and submission to that truth. And thirdly, there is evidence of that surrender in a life that is lived out for Jesus. I'm now living out my faith. My faith is revealed by the way that I live my life. But it starts with faith in God.

You remember in Genesis in the Old Testament when God called Abraham out of Ur of the Chaldees, made promises to Abraham? The Bible tells us in Genesis chapter 15 and verse 6, it says, "And he [that is Abraham] believed in the Lord, and He [that is the Lord] accounted it to him for righteousness." What work did Abraham do? Abraham believed. That was what he did. And because he believed what God said, he was declared righteous because of his faith.

In John chapter 6 and verse 29 in the New Testament, Jesus said this: He answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe on Him whom He has sent." The people said, "What good work can we do that we might inherit eternal life?" Jesus said, "Here's the work: believe." Faith. Believing in what He has done.

The belief in Christ is not a simply a passive action, but it is a decisive decision that in turn, again, affects the way that I live. The Bible tells us that we are saved by grace. Ephesians chapter 2 verse 8: "For by grace you have been saved [how?] through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God." In writing to the Romans, it tells us that we are justified by faith. Romans 5:1 says, "Therefore, having been justified [just as if you never sinned] by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Corinthians 5:7 says we walk by faith. That is, we live by faith, not by sight. And of course, in Romans 1:17, the just shall live by faith.

Folks, the emphasis here: our faith is everything. It is precious. It is valuable. And that is why our faith is constantly under attack. Did you know that? That's why the enemy wants to undermine our faith and trust in God because he knows that through faith we are able to overcome fear, we're able to overcome the lies of the adversary. And so he seeks to undermine our faith. But folks, one of the greatest blessings in knowing the Lord is having that faith that leads to salvation. There's nothing more valuable, and that only comes through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. A faith that is precious.

Second blessing, you ready? Righteousness that is divine. A righteousness that is divine. "To those who have obtained like precious faith with us [notice this] by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ." We need the righteousness of Christ imputed to us because we have no righteousness in and of ourselves. We are sinners by nature. We cannot make ourselves righteous. We cannot place ourselves in a right standing with God. That's why Jesus came. That's why Jesus died on the cross. We need Christ's righteousness given to us. Because all our righteousness, according to Isaiah chapter 64 verse 6, is a polluted garment. It's a filthy rag compared to the righteousness that Christ provides.

Church, when we turn to Jesus for salvation, He forgives our sins. We have the hope of eternal life in heaven, and we are positionally declared righteous. We were not in a right standing with God, but now we are in a right standing with God. We are clothed not in our own righteousness, but we are in a sense clothed in His righteousness. Isaiah 61 verse 10: it's such a beautiful passage where the prophet declared, "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, and my soul shall be joyful in my God [why?]. He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of His righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments and as a bride adorns herself with jewels."

Guys, listen: we have been clothed in the righteousness of Christ. So what does that mean? This is what it means. This is going to blow your mind. Buckle up your seat belt. It means that when the Father looks at you, He sees the righteousness of Jesus. Not the righteousness of John, hallelujah, the righteousness of Jesus. Therefore, I am accepted in the beloved, Paul says in Ephesians chapter 1.

How does this happen? 2 Corinthians chapter 5 verse 21, Paul said it best: "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." That's how it happened. He took on our sin, and exchange for our sin, He gave us His righteousness. In writing to the Philippians, Paul being aware of this, he said, "I want to be found in Him [Philippians chapter 3 verse 9]. I want to be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith [there it is again, faith] in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith."

In exchange for our sin, we are given a righteousness that is divine. And the reason that I say the righteousness is divine is because Peter tells us where the righteousness comes from. He says it right here in verse one: "our God and Savior Jesus Christ." I hope you understand that passage. This is one of the many passages that declares the deity of Jesus Christ. "Our God and Savior Jesus Christ." Not talking about separate people here: talking about the same person. If you didn't know this, let me just tell you what the Bible says: Jesus is God. Simply stated, and profoundly stated as well. He is God! People say, "Oh, Jesus never said He was God." You have not read the Bible. It says it over and over and over again. Here's another passage. In writing to Titus, Paul said the same thing. He said in Titus chapter 2 verse 13, "We are looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ." Jesus is God.

So through the knowledge of God, through this relationship with Jesus Christ, what do we have so far? We have a faith that is precious, a righteousness that is imputed, that is divine.

Guest (Male): We're considering the blessings of knowing Jesus today on A Daily Walk from Pastor John Randall. It's the first of many studies we have planned for you from 2 Peter. Hear this study again anytime you'd like at adailywalk.org, and look for us wherever you get your podcasts.

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We've picked out an encouraging book this month from John MacArthur. It's titled 12 Ordinary Men. John uncovers how the Master shaped His disciples for greatness and how He wants to do the same with us. You don't have to be perfect to do God's work, and the 12 disciples are proof of that. We're making this available to our A Daily Walk listeners for the special price of 12 dollars at adailywalk.org. You can also call 877-242-0828.

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