Oct. 08, 2025

Dear Friends,

I hope you can join us tonight as we look at 2 Peter 1:10-21. This passage includes some of the most quoted Scriptures in the New Testament. Notes are attached.

LIVING THE CHRISTLIFE

WAYNE BARRETT

OCTOBER 8, 2025

2 Peter 1:10-21

10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice

these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance

into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

12 Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established

in the truth that you have. 13 I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of

reminder, 14 since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made

clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to

recall these things.

16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of

our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For when he received honor and glory

from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son,

with whom I am well pleased,” 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were

with him on the holy mountain. 19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you

will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning

star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's

own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God

as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

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v 10 – “Therefore, brothers, …”

“therefore” — dio mallon - “for this reason, all the more …” or “wherefore rather” – Peter was

contrasting how we should live in light of what he had just written.

confirm – bebaios – firm, sure, steadfast, poieó – make

This does not mean (merely) to verbally acknowledge

It means to be diligent in our faithfulness to Christ (and don’t forget how this chapter

begins), such that we are not tripping, stumbling as we follow him

“calling and election”

Christ calls us, or we could not come to him.

“On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, ‘If anyone

thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has

said, “Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”’”—John 7:37-38

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”—Matthew

11:28

But not all who are called are chosen.

“For many are called, but few are chosen.”—Matthew 22:14

We have to respond to God’s call in repentance and faith in Christ.

Some are invited, but refuse to come. Some are invited, and only pretend to come. (What

about those who never hear the Gospel? God alone is the judge.)

Special Notice: The “Calvinism/Reformed vs. Arminianism/Free Will” debate is not taking place

this evening.

Peter’s point is that all Christians have been both called and elected—and that we should be

“diligent” to do all that we can to walk in faithfulness.

2

“for if you practice these things …”

more lit. “for [as you keep] doing these things, not never shall you stumble at any time.”

“doing” — poieó—to make, to do. It’s the same verb used earlier (see above)

“these things” – What things? All that he has written about.

“not never”—a double negative was proper grammar, used for emphasis. (We do the same thing

with “improper” grammar.)

Peter does not deal in vague, iffy statements. He prefers direct, non-qualified statements. This is

a good example.

“If you walk in his way, you’re never going stumble. No not never!”

“For in this way …”

Not “for this cause” but “in this way” [houtos]

Peter is describing the Christian life as intended to be lived—with its outcome

Our great hope: the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

vv 12-15 – “to stir you up by way of reminder”

We need to know the truths of God – but we also need to be reminded about them

“stir you up” – diegeiró, awaken, arise, be stirred [from rest]. This does not mean to charge us

with emotion, but to get us going. We are inclined to go to sleep in our Christian living.

“since I know …”

Peter knew this was his last letter (as 2 Timothy was for Paul)

Jesus himself made this clear to Peter.

“body” – skénóma, tabernacle, tent

Not “I’m going to die soon” but “the removal of my tabernacle will be soon.” Big difference.

“And I will make every effort …”

Peter was responsibly seeking to ensure that all the truths of the Gospel were firmly implanted

into the minds of believers.

v 16 – “For we did not follow cleverly devised myths …”

This is such an important and ever-relevant passage

Even in Peter’s day, they were accused of making it all up, telling tales for whatever motives.

myths – mythos, myths, fables – ancient Greece had lots of these

“power and coming”

power – his miracles

coming – not just the fact the Jesus of Nazareth lived. That could hardly have been disputed,

although, with some distance and time …. But it refers to his entire life—all that he was and

did and said. His life was his “coming.”

“we were eyewitnesses”

This was all by God’s design

Even today, we recognize the bottom-line reliability of multiple eyewitnesses

See 1 John 1:1-3; John 1:14

vv 17-18 – “for when he received honor and glory …”

This happened both at Jesus’ baptism (Matt. 3:17) and at the Transfiguration (Matt. 17:1-8)

Peter is (at least chiefly) referencing the Transfiguration

If they had had any doubt about Jesus, God did away with those doubts, giving witness to Jesus

with his own voice

3

“we ourselves heard this voice …” – indeed they did. Peter was interrupted by it.

“holy mountain” – where this occurred—the exact mountain is not known to us

v 19 – “and we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed …”

“the prophetic word” – OT Scriptures, particular those that refer to Christ

“more fully confirmed” – by the “power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (v 16)

“to which”—meaning to all the truths of the power and coming Christ— “you will do well to pay

attention”

“as to a lamp shining in a dark place” – the illumination of the Holy Spirit, who both illuminates

Scripture and gives us life

“until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts”—a beautiful picture of receiving

new life in Christ

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am

the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”—Revelation 22:16

vv 20-21 – “knowing this first of all …”

Peter is continuing to reinforce that his hearers must be guided by the Christ and the Holy Spirit

in understanding all the OT Scriptures

This is also a reinforcement of the teachings of the apostles, who were themselves the

messengers of Christ, appointed by him

“… just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given

him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are

some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist

to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.”—2 Peter 3:15-16

“prophesy” – prophéteia, not just foretelling, but also forthtelling. Proclaiming what God has

said and foretelling what God is going to do.

This guidance now applies to the New Testament

The Holy Spirit inspired all Scripture—and we must be guided by the Spirit in our

understanding.

The point of it all is Christ!