“Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours…” (2 Peter 1:1) The significance of this introduction is very profound. Upon this thought is built the Christian life, which is a holy life separated from the world and unto God.
Peter understood that “…the faith he received was by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:1b) This faith of Peter’s was not created in his heart but was a gift of God, a gift built out of the righteous goodness that belongs to God alone. God is the creator of all things and that includes goodness and righteousness.
It is by faith that we are able to see what God has done for the believer and all that follows in the opening verses of chapter one, such as, “…His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness…” The truth of all that God has done and not men can only be obtained through a faith that is received.
The entire New Testament is built upon the proposition that the just shall by faith and apart from faith, no good can come from any man. Let us look at some other writers of the New Testament.
Paul wrote, “For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.” (Romans 12:3) God apportions faith to each man.
James wrote, “But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” The proof of good works is the holy faith that produces them.
John wrote, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:4, 5) It is faith by good works that overcomes the evil of this world.
Jude wrote, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith praying in the Holy Spirit, 21keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.” (Jude 20, 21) So whether it is prayer, keeping yourself in the love of God, or patience, it is faith by which we do these things.
My dear readers, the all-important point of this blog is a simple one. The primary object of the faith that saves and keeps the repentant sinner is Almighty God and Him alone. He alone can be the source of holiness and He will only be happy with the good that He creates. Put dead works to death by waiting on God to create the works that please Him.
You can hear me teach this lesson on my podcast at https://www.thattheymightknow.net/podcast/episode/46ab7614/discovering-a-holy-means-of-grace-part-2
You can also order my book, THE JESUS YOU NEED TO KNOW, on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Jesus-You-Need-Know/dp/1512765074
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