Previously, the apostle Peter had written to his brethren scattered abroad who were facing persecution at the hand of heathen people. They were facing fiery trials by people that recognized no authoritative standard for living, and Peter encouraged them to withstand because Jesus Christ was worth it. Now, as he writes to apparently many of the same people, Peter builds on his previous point by proclaiming the superior knowledge and wisdom of God to which they were privy and upon which they could rely. Man in and of himself is unable to direct his own steps righteously, thus God made provision by which proper direction could be provided that would give man a pattern so he could live and have his steps directed righteously. And as Peter addresses this infinitely important topic, he had three points to make to further encourage these people to cleave closely to the truth, grow in its grace and knowledge, and allow it to direct them steadfastly toward heaven. What, though, are those points?
Number one, in II Peter 1, the apostle relates to his brethren God’s provision of truth. Earlier in the New Testament, Paul had told Timothy that the inspired scriptures were given by God “that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (II Timothy 3:17). Seeing the way Paul described the scriptures as the standard of truth by which man can be perfected in the sight of God it seems to be quite obvious that those scriptures pertain to life and godliness. Knowing that, though, it is interesting to see what Peter has to say about the degree to which God provided truth.
“Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (II Peter 1:2-4).
If the scriptures are what can perfect man in all areas of life according to the standard of godliness, and God has provided all things that pertain to life and godliness, it is easily realized that God provided truth completely. There is absolutely nothing that man needs to know in order to direct his the steps of his life righteously that God has not provided, and to everything revealed Peter could testify as an eyewitness to confirm those things so. To a degree, the apostles served an added purpose as a system of “checks and balances” to confirm the reality of all things done by Jesus Christ, and with his testimony well in hand Peter could confidently affirm that “no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (II Peter 1:20-21). Thus to fortify their faith, Peter reminds these brethren that God provided truth.
Number two, in II Peter 2, Peter reveals God’s plan to protect the truth. The apostle, from verses 1-7, reminds the readers of examples from history in which God punished those who trespassed His will, and concludes in verse 9 by stating that “the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished.” A very stark warning is thus given to all those who would potentially pervert God’s truth to suit their own twisted agendas; God will not stand for it, but will enact destruction upon them all. Such a warning exists to protect the purity of God’s truth, and that fact could act to fortify the brethrens’ faith.
Then, number three, in II Peter 3, Peter reminds them of God’s promise by His truth. The gospel exists for one essential purpose—to save the souls of men (Romans 1:16). In order, though, to fully instill an appreciation within a group of people for a standard of truth, it is important to remind them that there will come a day at which time we all will be judged according to this standard (II Peter 3:7). And no matter how much time may pass until that day, it will come beyond the shadow of a doubt. In fact, Peter tells them that they should not look at the passage of time as a breach of God’s promise, but as a sign of His longsuffering because His desire is that every single and solitary soul be saved. So what God is doing is providing the time necessary for such to occur. However, that longsuffering will not last forever, because one day it will run out, the judgment will come as a thief in the night (vs. 10), the earth will melt with fervent heat, and we will face trial. And for all those who submitted to God’s standard of truth, we will be found without spot and without blemish; wholly innocent according to the promise of God.
Surely the book of II Peter does just as our title suggests, it reveals God’s infinite knowledge in saving the souls of man. What remains to be seen is if we have read, studied, appreciated, and obeyed that great truth.