What scriptural connections exist between 2 Peter 1:1 and other New Testament teachings on faith? 2 Peter 1:1 – The Launch Pad “Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have received a faith as precious as ours through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.” Faith Received, Not Achieved • “Received” (Greek lachousin) pictures a portion allotted by God—echoes of grace rather than personal merit. • Ephesians 2:8-9 — “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works…” • Philippians 1:29 — “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for Him…” • 1 Corinthians 2:5 — “So that your faith would not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.” Equal Standing for Every Believer • Peter calls it “a faith as precious as ours,” placing Jewish apostles and Gentile converts on the same footing. • Acts 15:9 — “He made no distinction between us and them, for He cleansed their hearts by faith.” • Romans 3:22 — “This righteousness of God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction.” • Galatians 3:28 — “There is neither Jew nor Greek… for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Rooted in the Righteousness of Our God and Savior • The basis of saving faith is “the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.” • 2 Corinthians 5:21 — “God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” • Romans 1:17 — “For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith…” • 1 Corinthians 1:30 — “Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.” The Preciousness of Faith • Peter’s phrase “precious faith” parallels his earlier description of faith’s worth. • 1 Peter 1:7 — “…your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire…” • Hebrews 11:6 — “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” • James 2:5 — “Has God not chosen the poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith…?” Faith Centered on the Person of Jesus • Notice Peter calls Jesus both “God” and “Savior,” anchoring faith in Christ’s deity and saving work. • John 20:31 — “…that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.” • Hebrews 12:2 — “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.” • Galatians 2:20 — “…the life I now live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Faith that Grows but Never Changes Foundation • 2 Peter 1:5-7 will call believers to add virtue, knowledge, and love, yet all growth rests on the unchanged foundation laid in verse 1. • Colossians 2:6-7 — “Therefore, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith…” • Jude 20-21 — “But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God…” Putting It Together 2 Peter 1:1 gathers the New Testament’s major themes on faith into one sentence: • Faith is a God-given gift. • It grants every believer equal standing. • Its sure foundation is the righteousness of Jesus, our God and Savior. • It is precious beyond earthly value. • It remains centered on Christ and grows as we walk with Him. |
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