Second Peter was the last epistle of Apostle Peter (2 Pet 1:14). He knew his life would be ending soon and wrote this epistle to prepare the hearts of the believers for persecution. He encouraged them to hold on to their faith and their witness.

In 2 Peter, the focus is on the promises that God has given to believers. God gave them these promises to strengthen their faith. To claim these promises for ourselves today, we have to first make sure that we are true believers. Many today think they are believers when they are not.

Who is a believer? A believer is a servant/slave to the Lord Jesus (2 Pet 1:1). A believer must realize that he has no rights of his own and is expected to do everything that the Master desires. Unless we see our relationship with Christ in this way, we will murmur and complain and be most unhappy. A believer is also an “apostle” in that he is sent on a mission by Christ after his salvation. Until our mission is completed, we will remain on this earth to serve Him.

The faith we have in God is given to us by God. Every true believer must have this faith. Without this faith, we cannot claim the promises in 2 Peter 1:3-4. Christ came to save us from our sins. Peter experienced this in his heart. Every believer must have this experience.

In Christ, we have grace and peace (2 Pet 1:2). Why was mercy excluded? Mercy will not be shown if one does not repent. Our faith is based on the knowledge of God through His Word. Our full knowledge of the gospel is based on God’s Word, not external circumstances.

The promises of God are from a God who cannot lie and who cannot fail. The Word of God must be clearly taught and explained so that believers will be stirred in their hearts to grow in Christlikeness (2 Pet 1:3).

Believers have the divine nature, not the sinful nature (2 Pet 1:4). The divine nature cannot be taken away from believers. Only with the divine nature can one enter the new heaven and new earth.

We do not deserve God’s promises, but they are gifts from God. God has guaranteed them to the recipients of this epistle. God wants holiness and godliness from believers. Make sure you are a child of God and be a good and faithful witness for Him.