Beloved, we are in Peter's second letter. Last week we talked about to whom the letter was written. He addressed it to a group of believers in the province of Asia. And he said, to those who obtained a faith of equal standing with ours. by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ. We unfolded that and we talked about that faith of equal standing. Let's continue on in our study. Let me read to you the first two verses. And before I read them to you, let me remind you of the preciousness of God's word. God's Word is inerrant. It contains no errors. God's Word is infallible. It is incapable of leading us into error. This means we can trust the Word of God. But more than that, God's Word is all-sufficient. Peter himself will say, all things that pertain to life and godliness is found through the knowledge of Him who called us by His glory and virtue. Amen. Let me read to you 2 Peter 1. Simeon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have attained a faith of equal standing with ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ. May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. Beloved, why did I go into reminding us of the preciousness and the uniqueness of God's Word that we need for our lives. It is because we actually see it right here in the first two verses of Peter's letter. Peter's writing a letter that is written shortly before he will be martyred himself. He identified himself as that slave of Jesus Christ. The Bible translates it as a servant in English, but in Greek it was doulos, which is the common word for slave. He reminds the believers that will be going through the mill, I too am that follower of Christ. I too am a slave and a servant of Jesus Christ, and there's no greater honor than this. And he reminds them that he's one of the original 12 apostles. And his letter is a little bit different from his first letter. As he pointed out that his first letter was addressing the situations and the problems from without. And there will be persecution and suffering They'll happen via the hands of evil people, whether it be the rulers, the wicked slave owners, that harsh husband treating of his wife. Peter reminds them of who they are in Christ. He reminds them of their security in Christ. Right away in chapter 1, he also then goes on to remind them that they are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, God's own prized possession. We know that they were bought by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. He reminds them that the chief shepherd, will be coming again. And this letter is a little different because this time, as we noted, Peter wants to make sure that the believers are growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Why? Because they need to be able to stand firm. Be confident in the faith. Because this time, the dangers will be from within. And sometimes, that is so much harder. Because it comes with people that you thought you trusted. You thought you knew, and they were the enemy. We know the key passage of the purpose of the letter was in chapter 3, verse 17 and 18. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the air of lawless people and lose your own stability. but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. Why did I go on in the beginning to say that this word was inerrant, infallible, and all-sufficient? Because Peter wrote every word with intention. guided and directed by the Holy Spirit to write these words that not only do the believers in the province of Asia need, but to secure them and preserve these words because these are the words that all of God's people need. It is important that they know that they are a people who have obtained a faith of equal standing, equal standing with Simon Peter and the apostles themselves. As Simon Kistemaker points out, he stressed equality. And with the choice of words, he seems to point to his unassuming self-identification as servant. In the Christian community, every believer receives the same precious gift of faith from God. Peter uses the plural pronoun in our, let me stop and slow down a little bit. Peter uses the plural pronoun are in this text to demonstrate that the faith of the apostles is the same as that of the readers. In other words, the apostles are on the same spiritual level as all other Christians. He's reminding them that they're standing before God as equal. That that equality means that there is no distinction. All are equal in Christ. Jew and Gentile, rich and poor, male or female. It does not matter your race, the color of your skin, the ethnicity, tongue you speak, where you're born, your social, economic standing. Everyone is equal in Christ. And God treats all his people equal in Christ. Amen. Why is that important? Because when you go through the mill sometimes, when you're going through that suffering or when you're going through that severe trial, many times the greatest need you will have. Are you still my God? Do you still see me? Peter reminds them, you have the equal stand. And this equal standing came via the gift from Christ. Remember it says, to those who have attained a faith of equal standing with ours. We noted that this faith from the Greek word have obtained, rather, of faith, the word obtained is in the passive. It means that they were recipients of this faith. And the word obtained is a Greek word that means to be appointed, chosen by lot. As Simon Kistemaker said, Peter uses this verb, obtained, received, to indicate that man received his faith from God in accordance with God's will. He reminds his reader that faith does not originate in themselves, but it is a gift from God. End of quote. The Apostle Paul says, for by grace you have been saved through faith. It is not your own doing. It is the gift of God. In fact, that gift of God is referring to what? That salvation, which includes faith. Everything that pertains to salvation is from God alone, and given as a gift to that elect sinner. God will give eyes to see and ears to hear. And that sinner will turn to the Lord Jesus Christ. His faith will be in Christ alone, who died on that cross to forgive him of his sins, cleanse him of his sins, and give him a new heart. so that he will walk with God. God saves the people from their sin so that they will be with Him. Remember, this faith in Christ originated with God. And it must be understood that coming to Christ in salvation was a gift of grace. Unmerited favor God freely gave is an unmerited favor. And He graciously granted to His elect a people who are totally unworthy to found corrupted by sin and guilty. And He called them, and they will turn to Christ. That faith is in Christ alone. who is delivered up because of our transgressions and raised up because of our justification. And that faith has equal standing. But what we begin to see is that all that standing has to do with what Christ has accomplished. Because the very next phrase, he says, a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ. What made this standing possible that is equal amongst all of God's people? Even though we're not called to the same work or have the same function. Again, the apostles were the foundation. And when that last apostle died, so did the office. The foundation has been laid. Equality does not mean that our jobs are interchangeable. No. There will be elders in the church. There will be people that will have to follow and submit to the elders, as the elders follow and submit to the Chief Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ. The text seems to indicate that that office is only open to the spiritually qualified men, and that they are men. But that doesn't mean that the congregation is any less. Because in the eyes of God, we are equal. It doesn't mean that a woman is any less important, any less valuable, any less precious in the sight of God. Her faith has equal standing, even that with the Apostle Peter himself. But again, what made this possible? It was all of Christ's doing. Peter will identify Christ as the giver of our salvation. As we'll go on and read verses three and following. And in the text it is saying it is by Christ's righteousness that has made this possible. That's his saving righteousness. John Calvin says, He adds, through the righteousness of God, in order that they might know that they did not obtain a faith through their own efforts or strengths, but through God's favor alone. For these things stand opposed the one to the other, the righteousness of God, in the sense in which is taken here the merit and the merit of man, And Calvin's saying that they are against each other. Calvin goes on to say, "...for the efficient cause of faith is called God's righteousness for this reason, because no one is capable of conferring it on himself, so that the righteousness that is to be understood is not that which remains in God, but that which he imparts to men, as in Romans 3.22. Besides, he ascribes this righteousness in common to God and to Christ, because it flows from God, and through Christ it flows down to us." What's he talking about? flows down to us. This righteousness flows down to us. What is Calvin talking about? He's talking about the biblical concept of imputation. Imputation is Latin for to treat as. First of all, the cross. was the perfect demonstration of the righteousness of God. Because a holy God cannot look upon sin with favor. A holy God cannot leave sin unpunished. In the very beginning, God said, if you eat this fruit, you shall surely die. And through one man sin entered into the world, and death to sin. And death spread to all men, because all have sinned." He declared the wages of sin is death. Salvation begins with the righteousness of God. The Holy God demands payment for sin. This is why there's another biblical word, propitiation. The removal of divine wrath. The satisfying of divine anger of God towards sin. How did that happen? Because imputation. Our sins. The sins of everyone whom Jesus will save. The ones that will call upon him for salvation. Their sins were laid upon Christ. And God the Father treated Christ as the sinner. As the one who is guilty. Like the one who is completely defiled. He was the walking leper. God uses leprosy to describe the contamination and the pollution of sin and the need for cleansing. A holy God looks upon that defiled, corrupted man and he says, Guilty! And there must be punishment for the sin. The Bible says, for our sake he made him to be sin, who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Imputation. God's righteousness is revealed perfectly at that cross. The Bible says, now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift, but as his due. And to the one who does not work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteous. And just as David also speaks of blessings, of the one to whom God counts righteous apart from works, blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin. You see, what we also must understand That imputation was double. Our sins placed upon Christ. And when God calls His people to salvation, they see themselves as that leper. And they come to God as beggars. God will forgive them, cleanse them, and give them a new heart. But he also will see them as righteous. What happened? Our sins were imputed to Christ, Remember, imputation is double. That means Christ's righteousness was imputed to us. Because of the finished work of Christ applied to me, applied to you, this is why you have equal standing. This is why you have equal standing. Because you are seen as righteous. And though you were once the slave of sin. And though you were once the most disgusting person on the face of the earth. Because of your sin. You are no longer the sinner. But you are closed in the righteousness of Christ. And this is how God views you. Isaiah 61, 10. I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall exult in my God. For He clothed me with the garments of salvation. He covered me with the robe of righteousness. As a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself, with her jewels. Glory to God. Again, how could that occur? Romans chapter 3 verse 21 through 26. but the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law. Although the law and the prophets bear witness to it, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ, for all who believe, for there's no distinction, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace, as a gift through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forth as a propitiation by His blood to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness because His divine forbearance had passed over former sins and to show His righteousness at the present time so that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Amen. Amen. Again, how is this imputation of righteousness possible? Because the cross, Jesus' death, served as propitiation, satisfying God's divine justice and holiness and His wrath against sin. And in return, the only one who could save man was the God-man. The Lord Jesus Christ. Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. His death will accomplish redemption for God's people that will be scattered throughout the entire world, from every tribe, every tongue, every nation, From every walk of life you can imagine. And from every situation you can imagine. And that sinless one, his righteousness is imputed to you. And God treats you as righteous. And that righteousness, because it is Christ, gives you equal standing in the body of Christ. That came from Christ. Now this is where I differ a little bit, because when Calvin talks about this righteousness, again he said, he ascribes this righteousness in common to God and to Christ, because it flows from God and through Christ, it flows down to us. One, what Calvin said is definitely not heresy. Because there are times in which righteousness has seemed to be accredited to God the Father, and there are times that righteousness seems to be accredited to Jesus Christ. But I don't see the text saying that this righteousness was both from the Father, God, and the Savior, Jesus Christ. I think the grammar seems to indicate, and the way that Peter talks throughout this epistle, that it is referring to the same person. It is referring to the Lord Jesus Christ. The Savior, who is also God. The phrase God and Savior thus are referring to the same person. Jesus Christ, not two different people, but the one who is both God and our Savior, Jesus, who is God. This is so important because I believe Peter is going to be addressing false teachers. And where false teachers begin their error, many times it is on the person and work of Jesus Christ. In fact, many liberals who call the name of Jesus Christ, do not see Him as God. They have no real faith. Because they have not come to the Christ of the Scriptures. Because the only one that saves a people from their sin is both God and Savior. John 20 verse 28, Thomas answered him, My Lord and my God. Acts 2.36. Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified. Romans 9.5. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race according to the flesh is the Christ who is God over all. Blessed forever, amen. The Greek grammarian Robert Mount said the deity of Jesus was not the invention of some unfortunate disciple who needed something to believe in, but the inescapable conclusion of an historic fact. Beloved, we know that he is the Savior. Matthew 1.21, For she shall bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sin. Luke 2.11, For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. You remember what the people said to the woman at the well? In John 4, verse 42, they said to the woman, It is no longer because of what you said that we believe. For we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this indeed, the Savior of the world. Amen. Simon Kiste Maker said the word Savior does not occur in Peter's first epistle. but in his second it appears five times. Chapter one, verse one and 11. Chapter two, verse 20. Chapter three, verse two and 18. Except for the first instance in verse one, all these verses have a familiar expression, Lord and Savior. Because Jesus is God, And Lord, He's able to set us free from sin, to make us righteous, to restore us completely. And then Simon Kistemaker quotes from the hymn of J. Wilbur Chapman, Hallelujah, what a Savior. Hallelujah, what a friend. Saving, helping, keeping, loving. He is with me to the end. Amen. Amen. Remember when I said this word is all sufficient? Well, Peter makes a prayer wish. Now, it is important to understand that when Peter prays, and we know this is a prayer wish from the grammar here, And he's praying and has this wish for the people. He says, may grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. Now, when Peter prays this, he's not praying in a manner of like many times we pray and sometimes what we pray is just for a hopeful circumstance that may or may not come about, but we're seeking God's help. That's not the way in which Peter's praying. He has this prayer wish, knowing that it is possible that it is more than possible for every believer to experience this grace that is abundant and peace that is abundant knowing that it stems from our knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord This is a common way of greeting, this prayer wish is a common greeting in many of the letters. Paul says, to those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints, grace to you and peace from God our Father and Lord Jesus Christ. And so that grace and peace is a common. And here he says, may grace and peace be multiplied to you. you know, right off the bat, and these guys are gonna be going through the mill. And he addresses the basic need for man to live in such a time. Grace. Grace. Grace is the basic need that man has before God. He needs grace for his salvation. Grace, a cherished, God's unmerited favor bestowed upon the undeserving sinner. But what we must understand and see now, it is this grace not only will save you, But this grace will transform you and enable you to live for the glory of God. The gift of grace that saves the sinner will also be the gift that will enable the sinner to live for His glory. We needed grace for salvation. Ephesians 1.7, in Him we have the redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace. But I believe that the grace that Peter is referring to here is grace that enables. Therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the air of lawless people and lose your own stability, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. Grace that not only saves, but it is grace that transforms and enables you to be a different person and to serve God for His glory. Beloved, you are a new creation in Christ. And by His grace, you have been transformed and enabled to serve Him. Notice the Apostle Paul's words. I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God, I am what I am. And His grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them. Though it was not I, but the grace of God that is within me." He wants the believers Not to survive this time. Not to just exist during this time. He wants the believers to live. To live. Enabled to live for the glory of God. It is funny, this is something that we all need. We are reminded, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, the new has come. All this is from God. Amen? He's the one that reconciled us. He's the one that forgave us of our trespasses. Beloved, remember when I preached an abridged version of this truth to the people in the nursing home? Reminding them of that glorious nature. That relationship with Christ. I don't believe in self-esteem. But there should be no believer that thinks that they're a second class citizen in Christ. And though they live in a nursing home, they have equal standing. And we're there together. And as we worship God, that is a taste of heaven. People from every walk of life and every situation worshiping God. And one day He'll be in its fullness. But God does not want them just to exist. He wants us to live. Enabled by His grace. Again, you are a child of equal standing accepted by God. a child that had the same standing as the apostles. Again, we're not called to the same work or position in our work for Christ on this earth, but we do have that same acceptance and standing before God, equally fit for glory. The same grace that saved, transformed, and enabled the apostles to work and serve Christ, is the same grace that is given to you, that saved you, it will transform you, and you will continue to be enabled throughout your earthly life to live with purpose for His glory. As the Theological Dictionary of Theology, Second Edition states, God's regenerating grace is dynamic. It not only saves, but also transforms and revitalizes those whose lives were previously broken and meaningless. Can I confess something to you? I'm a pastor. And there are so many times I will convey these truths to believers who need them, as they're going through the mill and through some struggles. There were times in my life, and sometimes just recently, beloved, It seems like those circumstances that which I'm in and the trial and turmoil and of living in this fallen world was so great. And I realized that Peter understood these words. And these words are not just for People out there, they're for you. They're for me. He reminds me that I can stand up. I can get up because He gives me the strength. I can walk because He'll give me the ability I can do this because I am what I am by the grace of God. Robert Mounts says this, Grace is God's favor poured out on the undeserving man. Peter had often been the recipient of the gracious activity of his Lord. Jesus had seen him fishing in the Sea of Galilee with Andrew, his brother, and graciously called him to another kind of fishing, fishing for men. Mark chapter 1, verse 16 through 17. When Peter stepped out of the boat to meet his master on the water, and losing faith, he began to sink. Jesus graciously reached out to save him from the waters, Matthew 14, 31. After Peter cowered before the young maiden and denied his Lord, a young man at the empty tomb told the woman to tell his disciple and Peter, Mark 16, 7. Peter knew the healing power of divine grace. Grace, the divine source of all blessing, is coupled with peace, the deepest experience of the soul. No greater wish could be made for the Asian believers who were to receive the letter, but to have grace and peace in abundance. You know beloved, I don't know if we'll be able to finish all of this. But needless to say, that grace that saves will transform you. But also what you need is a heart that is settled. A heart that is sure. It is well with my soul. And just like grace is seen at the beginning of salvation, salvation begins with peace. It begins with having peace with God, being reconciled to God. Why is this important? Because before you were saved, the Bible declares, Isaiah chapter 57, verse 20 to 21. But the wicked are tossed like a tossing sea. Let me repeat that again. Isaiah 57, verse 20 to 21. But the wicked are like the tossing sea. For it cannot be quiet. Its waters toss up mire and dirt. There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked." This is why you need the work of Christ. Colossians 1, verses 19-22. For in Him, that is Jesus Christ our Lord, all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell. And through Him, to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace by the blood of His cross. And you, who was alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, has now been reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you a holy and blameless above reproach before him." End of quote. Because that peace will give you confidence. I got a little ahead of myself there. Because that peace will give you confidence. That reconciliation will give you confidence that you are right with God. That you have fellowship with God. And in the storm of life, Isaiah 54 10 becomes real to you For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed But my steadfast love shall not depart from you My covenant of peace shall not be removed says the Lord who has compassion on you And beloved, that peace will continue long after your salvation. Isaiah 26, 3 and 4, you'll keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed upon you, because he trusts you. He trusts in the Lord forever. For the Lord God is an everlasting rock. Amen. You know, beloved, I hope that my frailty sometimes in preaching. Because sometimes I get before myself and I will fumble words. But the confidence that you have is not in this preacher. Because we're only under shepherds. We are not perfect. We need grace. The hope that we have is that these words of God are true. Infallible. And Peter prays that grace and peace be in abundance to the child of God. Because it can. Because it will. And we'll go on in the weeks to come to remind ourselves that the key is found in the Holy Writ. It says, in the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ, And we will show that God communicates with His people primarily through written word. In fact, that's how He exclusively communicates to His people since the canon of scripture has been closed. That's how we know Him. That's how we begin to understand how He works. That's when that grace becomes so real to us. It is no longer head knowledge. It is reality. And I think you who have grown in Christ who have matured in Christ know that this is true. When I was young, I went to a Bible college, and theology and study of the scriptures came easy to me. And many times I was like a bull in a china cabinet, wanting to defend orthodox Christianity. But as I grew and I understood, God has always humbled and broken me in such a way that it was not enough to say, this is true. In our lives, we have the privilege of saying, I know it's true. I know it's true. Peter understood that. And Peter will become that man by the grace of God. And do things that he thought that he would never do. Remember the words of Christ? After he restored him, for the three times he denied him, challenged him of his love for him, challenged him to feed his sheep, and Peter does. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you should dress yourself and walk where you wherever you want it, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go. This, he said, to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God. And after this, he said to him, follow me. And the only way that he could follow Him was that grace that transformed him. And the only way that he will be able to give his life, because he is a follower of Christ, and be crucified upside down by Nero's hands, and have peace, because he knows that this prayer wish is a very real reality that all of God's people can experience. Beloved, may grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Sole Deo Gloria. We'll pick it up again next week, beloved.