Precious Promises 2 Peter 1:1-4
V1 Peter is talking about salvation. He says we have received the same precious faith as the apostles.
The word precious means the same of equal value. We have the exact same salvation the apostles had, the faith that they wrote about in holy scriptures, that we read about and have received from their writings.
V3 Peter says God’s divine power he has given us everything that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.
Along with salvation God has given us everything that pertains to this life and to living a godly life.
Then in verse 4 he says God has given exceedingly great and precious promises.
It’s these precious promises I want us to look at.
First I want you to see
V3 THE PROVISION of these precious promises
FIRST NOTICE THE FEATURES OF THESE PROMISES:
THESE ARE DIVINE PROMISES PROVIDED TO US BY HIS DIVINE POWER
DIVINE means of God. These promises have their source and origin in God.
They are not from man, not from our parents, not from the government, not even the church.
Because of this they can’t be taken away. They will not rust, rot, or be ripped from us.
Jesus said, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.” Mat 6:19-20
These promises are a part of the treasures God has given us. Jesus said moths can’t get to them, they won’t corrode, and thieves can’t steal them.
What God gives, no man can take from us. These divine promises have been provided to us by his divine power and we will never lose them.
Notice not only the features of these promise but also,
2/THE FULLNESS OF THESE PROMISES:
Verse 3 says by his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness.
The divine promises include everything we need for this life and godliness.
He has given us everything we need. We lack nothing. God held nothing back. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
In Ephesians Paul says God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Eph. 1:2
He has blessed us with EVERY thing we need in Christ.
2/ NOTICE ALSO THE PROMISE V4
First the QUANTITY of his promises: They are: GREAT PROMISES
GREAT means numerous, large, abundant. GK: Mega. .
God has given us abundant promises. Numerous.
The Bible is God’s book of promises. God is a good God. He is a giving God. He is a generous God.
The one who created and owns heaven and earth makes everything he created available to his children.
The one who said it is better to give than to receive practices what he preaches.
The quantity They are: GREAT PROMISES, many, Numerous, abundant.
QUALITY of his promises: They are PRECIOUS PROMISES
Precious means of great price. Valuable. Costly.
It cost God the life of his son to give us these promises. It cost the life of many of his prophets to make known these promises.
Many have died to get us these promises. They are costly.
What are these promises? There are many. Too many to cover today.
1/He has promised us his provisions.
Paul tells us about this when he wrote, “My God shall meet all your need according to his riches in glory.”
2/he has promised us pardon.
John wrote, “If we confess our sins he is faithful to forgive us of our sins.”
3/he has promised us his presence.
He has said I will never leave you nor forsake you.
4/he has promised us paradise.
To the thief on the cross who believed in him, and to whom Jesus said this day you will be with me in paradise makes that same promise of paradise to all who believe in him.
5/he has promised us his protection.
Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand." John 10:27-29
You talk about protection…that’s protection to the max. Maximum security.
Jesus said My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish.
We are his sheep, he knows us, he has given us eternal life and we shall never perish. Never, no never, perish.
He says, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. All that have come to him in faith, he has lost none.
These are great promises: numerous, abundant. They are precious promises, costly, valuable. Divine promises, not of man, but of God.
Promise of provisions, pardon, presence, paradise, and protection. V3 the promises are only available through the knowledge of him who called us to glory and virtue.
