2 Peter 1 1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the Knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as His Divine Power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the Knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

1December 30, 2009

1a Simon Peter, a servantservant and an apostleapostle of Jesus Christ,

2

Peter declared himself a servantservant (doulos = slave)

Of Jesus Christ firstfirst and an apostleapostle -- secondsecond.

We must learnlearn to see ourselvesourselves the same way.

Servant's

1 Corinthians 6 19-20 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost Which is in you, Which ye have of God, and ye are not your ye are not your ownown? For ye are boughtbought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

3

Romans 8 12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

We owe God everything. He bought us.He paid for us with Blood of His Son Jesus.

1b to them that have obtained like precious faith with us

4

The faith of everyevery Christian is as valuable and precious as of any Christianany Christian.

The faith of a pastorpastor is no more precious to God, nornor more effective than the faith of a little childlittle child.

No you

The ground is level at the foot of the

cross.

1b to them that have obtainedobtained like precious faith with us

5

We think of "obtainedobtained" to mean we did something to get it, but that's not the meaning here.

Our faith is freely givenfreely given to us; we only receivereceive it, and that through no workno works of our own.

RatherRather:

1c through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ:

6

Ephesians 2 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the Knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3According as His Divine Power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the Knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

7

To personally knowpersonally know God as our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ is the only wayonly way

To receivereceive grace and peace in our souls.

God's Divine PowerGod's Divine Power has givengiven to usus who believe

all thingsall thingsThat pertain to lifelife and godlinessgodliness.

8

Life does not existnot exist in the things of this world.

Life is to know Himknow Him and love Himlove Him Who is LifeWho is Life.

This is not available to a select fewselect few, as some secret societies (cults) teach today.

It is available to everyevery oneone who places our faithplaces our faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ for salvation.

The Lord has called us allcalled us all to a life of glory and virtue by His Ownby His Own Glory and Virtue.

9

God's kids are notnot just like everybody else.

We are glorifiedWe are glorified; ; sanctifiedsanctified; set set asideaside

Jesus is our example; follow Him.

10

Everywhere He went, He was doing good.

Jesus was obedientobedient to His Father's Will.He was ledled and empoweredempowered by the Holy Spirit

in all things.

He humbled Himselfhumbled Himself to obey unto death.

He was often tiredoften tired, but never refusednever refused to minister to those in need.

We are given Power to partake of His Divine Nature -- to be like Him.

11

It is our responsibility to submitresponsibility to submit to that Power.

AllowAllow the Holy Spirit to work in us to change us.

We are not callednot called to take our ease.

We are not called to sit on our do-nothingsit on our do-nothing.

We are not called to the pleasurespleasures of this world.

We are called to faithfully servefaithfully serve our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ.

Resurrection Day in 2010 is April 4.

12December 30, 2009

Brother Archie sent some photos of the children receiving gifts that his ministry provided.

We were part of that.