Jul. 12, 2026

                                                       “WATCH OUT”

                                                   “THE REAL THING”

                                                      2 PETER 1:1-4

Peter laid the foundation of the entire book by establishing the fact that genuine salvation is a supernatural act-the work of God from start to finish. This a lone distinguishes the real thing from the many counterfeits. The new birth involves a divine call, the implementing of a divine nature, and the importation of divine power for the successful Christian living:

2 Peter 1:1-4 “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: 2Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3as 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, 4by 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.”

*Introduction: 2 Peter 1:1-4

1.  The Identification Of Peter- 1 Peter 1:1-2

vs.1 “bondservant”- Greek (doulos) means a slave totally possessed by the Master. 

vs.1- “apostle”- a person sent out or sent forth, a representative.

Peter left all the follow Jesus:

Mark 10:28 “Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.”

vs.1 “precious faith”-it means that we are all given the very same faith.

vs.1 “obtained”- to be given a share or a portion, you cannot earn it.

vs.2- Grace, peace, and knowledge: 

“Grace”-the undeserved favor and blessing of God. 

“Peace”-bound, joined, and woven together with God, to be assured, confident, secure in the love and care of God. 

“Knowledge”-full, personal, precise and correct knowledge of God by walking and talking with Him.

John 17:13 “But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.”

2.  A Divine Call- 1 Peter 1:3

1 Peter 1:3 “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.”

The phrase “Him who called us…” has two applications: 

*First, it sometimes has a reference to the general invitation of the gospel, which is extended to everyone:

Isaiah 55:1 “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters;And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price.”

Revelation 22:17 “And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.”

Romans 10:13, John 3:16

Romans 3:11 “There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.”

*Second, The Holy Spirit Must Accompany The Gospel Message- 2 Peter 1:3

vs.3 “as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness…”

The supernatural work is opening sin-blinded eyes and giving the  power to believe.

Romans 8:30 “Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.”

3.  A Divine Nature- 2 Peter 1:4

2 Peter 1:4 “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.”

vs.4 “partakers of the divine nature”

The moment a person receives Christ, he is delivered from this evil world system and becomes a partaker of the divine nature.

*The heretics didn’t understand that salvation is in three tenses: We have been saved from the: 

*First, the penalty of sin- We are being saved from sins.

*Second, the power of sin- growing in grace and knowledge and becoming more Christ-like.

*Thirdly, we will be delivered from the presence of sin

You may be asking, what exactly was Peter referring to when he said, “We are partakers of the divine nature?”

*There are three factors involved:

*One, All who believe in Christ are brought into union with Him.

*Second, We are “partakers of the divine nature” through the new birth.

John 3:7 “Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.”

Peter told Christians that they should love one another fervently:

1 Peter 1:22-23 “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, 23having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever.”

*Thirdly, We are “partakers of the divine nature” “through the presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit.”

1 Corinthians 6:19 “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?”

The Holy Spirit indwells every believer from the moment they receive Christ.

Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

4.  A Divine Power- 2 Peter 1:3 

2 Peter 1:3 “as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness…”

The salvation that God gives is complete!!

Philippians 1:6

As we honestly evaluate ourselves, its hard to see evidence that God’s “ divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness…” vs.3

*The Real Thing:

Biblical salvation bears the mark of God’s supernatural activity from start to finish.

Titus 2:12-13 “teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”

2 Timothy 1:12 “For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.”