The missive starts out “Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ.” And of course many people immediately wonder to themselves, “I thought Peter was fired after Matthew 16:22-23 and his misconduct in Antioch (see Galatians 2:11-14)!?!?” Nope. Peter wasn’t fired because he did John 4:29, Matthew 3:8, Matthew 9:13 , Romans 7:24, and 1 Timothy 1:15.

Peter says, “God’s divine power has granted to us ALL THINGS that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence.” It is imperative that we remember that Jesus of Nazareth (as He is emphatically described in the gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) dictates, dominates, and defines what life, godliness, glory, and excellence ACTUALLY looks like! So when you go to your decorous church gatherings, and when you find yourself in the consumeristic/prosperous pursuits of American “Christianity”, and when you obsess over people’s perceptions, and when you fret about popularity — you must ask yourself, “Is this what I see in the gospel accounts when I read about Jesus of Nazareth?” #DIM? [Does It Match?]

Peter says, “God has granted to us His precious and very great promises, so that through them we may become partakers of the divine nature.” Wowza! #POTDN!!!

Peter talks about pursuing qualities – and increasing qualities – that keep us from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. That’s interesting. So apparently it is possible to have ‘unfruitful knowledge of Jesus Christ.’ It is well worth your time to personally ponder this question… ‘Do I have a fruitful knowledge of Jesus Christ?’ And again – it is absolutely essential that you determine your answer to this question based on the emphasis of Jesus of Nazareth as He is distinctly described in the gospel accounts. …To gain more and more clarity regarding TRUE CHRISTLIKE qualities – take a long hard look at characters like Joseph (son of Jacob) a.k.a. Zapthenath-Paneah, Hadassah a.k.a. Esther, Daniel a.k.a. Belteshazzar, Elijah, Elisha, and John (son of Zechariah & Elizabeth).

Peter says that whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that they are blind …and specifically – they have forgotten to keep THEIR FORGIVENESS as the most fantastic and forefront theme of their life. In other words, they lose the joy of delighting in bearing fruit in keeping with Matthew 3:8 and 1 Timothy 1:15 and John 4:29.

Peter says, “Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. …in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Peter says, “Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities. …I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder. …And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.” *Peter is putting A LOT of attention on this!!! Probably because Peter made the mistake (multiple times) of losing sight of the most fantastic and foremost reality of his need for the astounding forgiveness of Jesus (see John 13:8, Matthew 16:22-23, and Galatians 2:11-14).

Peter stresses the fact that, “We did not follow cleverly devised myths.” Namely the myth of ‘popularity’ or ‘plausibility’ or ‘self-sufficiency’ or ‘social media’ or ‘self-justification’ etc. etc. etc.

Peter WARNS, “False prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.” There is a HIGH % chance that you currently kind of like a false teacher. You don’t think of them as a false teacher, but they are. When listening to people you must regularly ask yourself, “Is this what I see in the gospel accounts when I read about Jesus of Nazareth?” #DIM? [Does It Match?] …see Acts 17:11.

Peter says “God rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked.” You better wrestle with that one! Do you know the story of Lot? If you had a time machine and you went back to live for 1 year with Lot (and his daughters) in Zoar and then in the hills and caves near Zoar …what would that ACTUALLY be like?

Peter says, “There are false teachers who forsake the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor.” I personally know a few PhD, professing “Christians” who fits this description. …I’m getting them donkeys for Christmas this year.

Peter says, “These false teachers speak loud boasts of folly.” I know a few PhD, professing “Christians” who fits this description (two of ’em I know personally, and the other one I have heard a lot about – and he is esteemed and liked by many people I know – but I’ve never met him).

Peter says, “They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption.”

Peter says, “They’re like the dog that returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”

Peter says, “Paul writes some things that are hard to understand.” e.g. Philemon, and 2 Corinthians 7-9.

Peter says, “Scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. …And they deliberately overlook facts.” Namely – they overlook the EMPHASIS of Jesus of Nazareth. They overlook the fact that Jesus of Nazareth is the embodiment and epitome of what sort of people we ought to be. Jesus of Nazareth is the one of models the WAY of actual holiness and godliness. Honestly, many of us are picturing and practicing PHARISAICAL ways of “holiness” and “godliness.” We really really really need to be honest with ourselves, and we need to actually see and savor the WAY of Jesus of Nazareth. …Take care that you are not carried away with the error 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.