Lesson 11 for March 12, 2016

Peter fought a personal battle in the Great Controversy, so he can teach us how to deal with everyday battle against evil. 1.Chosen to be holy. 1 Peter 2: Confronting problems:  Saints among unbelieving. 1 Peter 4:1-7.  Facing up to scoffers. 2 Peter 3: Living in holiness:  How to live our faith. 2 Peter 1.  Waiting for His Coming. 2 Peter 3:8-14.

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” (1 Peter 2:9-10)

“In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.” (1 Peter 4:4) Peter invites us to think like Jesus does and to break off with sin (1P. 4:1 NIV). Some sins are “socially accepted”, so we may be rejected by our friends and mates when we want to stop taking part on those things. They cannot understand why we think and act like that, so they insult us. They accuse us of being weak or ignorant, and they try to make us take part on those sins again. Peter’s advice in that case is to “be serious and watchful in your prayers.” (1P. 4:7).

Some lustful brothers try to get rid of guilt from their sinful minds, so they can sin without problems. They make fun of God’s promises. They act like the serpent in Eden; they deny Jesus’ affirmation, “I will come again” (John 14:3). Peter states that they “willfully forget” (2P 3:5) how God acted in the past and how He will in the future. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth—which came from water and was destroyed by water. In the future, God will destroy this earth with fire after He comes back (2P. 3:5-7). “knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.’” (2 Peter 3:3-4)

“And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” (2 Peter 1:19) Peter was a witness of Jesus’ glory (2P. 1:16-18). That experience was confirmed by the prophecies about the Messiah that Jesus fulfilled (Luke 24:27). Peter said that we must fully trust that “prophetic word” that was inspired by the Holy Spirit and not invented by men. When we study the Word, It leads us into a special lifestyle. We became “partakers of the divine nature” and we flee from this world’s decay (2P. 1:4). Likewise, our live will evolve from faith to love. We will reflect virtue, knowledge, self-control, patience and brotherly love (2P. 1:5-7).

“Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?” (2 Peter 3:11-12) The Controversy between good and evil is not eternal. It will end soon. Everything we know today will be destroyed and God will re-create this Earth. With this in mind, how should we live this life? Peter summarized the “holy conduct and godliness” in one word; “blameless” (2P. 3:14). Sin and stains shouldn’t be found in our lives. We must live like Christ did. By the Holy Spirit’s power we can “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2P. 3:18).

“In order to manifest the character of God, in order that we may not deceive ourselves, the church, and the world by a counterfeit Christianity, we must become personally acquainted with God. If we have fellowship with God, we are His ministers, though we may never preach to a congregation. We are workers together with God in presenting the perfection of His character in humanity.” E.G.W. (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, section 1, cp. 1, pg. 13)