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Daily Devotions

2 Peter

2 Peter 
Day 
Day 1

"A bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ"

Text: 2 Peter 1:1

SERVING GOD THROUGH THE YEARS

For the Apostle Peter, the years of serving the Lord, helped him grow even humbler. This becomes more obvious in the very opening words of his second epistle.

“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 Saviour Jesus Christ.”
2 Peter 1:1

1. “Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ”

a) His birth name was Simon.

b) It was the Lord Jesus who called him “Peter” (John 1:42; Mark 3:16).

i) In 1 Peter 1:1, he wrote “Peter”.

ii) In 2 Peter 1:1, he wrote “Simon Peter”.

c) Much of 2 Peter would be “a reminder”.

d) Peter was also reminded of many things in his personal life.

2. “A bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ”

a) Peter was made an apostle by the Lord (Mark 3:13-16; Matthew 10:1-4;
1 Peter 1:1).

b) Peter now added the term “a bondservant” in the second epistle.

i) The word “servant” was used in 1 Peter 2:18. It was a reference to household slaves.

ii) The word Peter used was even “lower”. He saw himself as a bond-servant (a bondslave) of the Lord.

iii) He would serve the Lord Jesus for life!

3. “To those who have obtained”

a) Peter was writing to the scattered brethren.

b) He chose a special word “obtained” to describe them.

c) In 1 Peter 1:2, Peter’s word to describe believers was “elect” (chosen).

d) The word “obtained”:

i) It is closely associated with the word “chosen”.

ii) The word “obtained” is not the same as “achievement”.

iii) Our salvation is entirely out of grace.

iv) God chose us and thus we “obtained”.

4. “Like precious faith”

a) Peter wrote to his readers to help them appreciate their faith in Christ.

b) It is the same faith as that of the Apostles.

c) This faith is truly “precious”.

5. “By the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ”

a) Our salvation:

i) It is given by God out of His grace.

ii) It is obtained through faith.

b) Results of this salvation:

i) Righteousness is imputed to us.

ii) This is the righteousness of God.

c) This is possible only because of our Saviour.

i) He gave His life for us that we may be saved.

ii) He is to be greatly treasured as our wonderful Saviour.