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2 Peter 1:1
1 Simon [Sumeon] Peter [Petros], a servant [doulos] and [kai] an apostle [apostolos] of Jesus [Iesous] Christ [Christos], to them that have obtained [lagchano] like precious [isotimos] faith [pistis] with us [hemin] through [en] the righteousness [dikaiosune] of God [theos] and [kai] our [hemon] Saviour [soter] Jesus [Iesous] Christ [Christos]: KJV-Interlinear
1 Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: NASB
In this letter, Peter begins with his given name, Simon, and then adds to it the name given to him by Jesus, which is Peter.
Simon means to hear, and Peter means a chip of rock. The hearer is one who listens repeatedly and finally gets it. The chip of rock is a chip from a larger rock. The larger rock being that of Christ.
In his first letter, Peter addressed those believers who were under pressures of sufferings of every imaginable kind.
This letter is addressed to all believers, anyone who has believed in Christ and has decided (finally), to listen to His words (doctrine), and grow up in their spiritual life.
This is a letter of reminder. Not that we do not already know the content of what he has to say, but that believers have only one defense against this world and that is the repetition of doctrine that keeps them on track in their spiritual life.
Without the repetition of Bible doctrine, believers will stray from their spiritual life into a life of oblivion, and even with repetition, believers have a tendency to stray out of the boredom which comes from nothing significant happening in their life, at least significant in such a manner as they want things to happen.
And then we have the daily occurrences of life which serve to keep us on track, if for no other reason but to remind us that we are not in control of our destiny in this world. The current storm serves as a great teacher of just how helpless we can become.
Currently we have three feet of snow and more on the way. Very abnormal for this time of year and especially here in Oregon, in the coast range (we typically get one of two inches, not thirty-six inches). Our power has been out for thirty hours now and the generator is on its last couple of cans of fuel. As power and phone lines are down, one can only wait for everything to be restored, for roads to be cleared, for the weather to warm up so all of this white stuff will melt away, and so that life can resume back to some semblance of normalcy. Warming temperatures are not expected for another week.
The whole country seems to be getting hammered from a severe winter storm this year.
So, what does that teach us? That we are helpless, and depend on powers outside of our control. We can only wait.
But suppose this were the Tribulation, when life will fall apart with huge storms and disasters, and there won’t be any help, or repairs, or restoration of services, ever. What do you suppose those folks will do?
Well, some will turn to Christ, some will dig their way out, and most will die.
And what does this have to do with Peter? This is a reminder that you need to get your priorities in order in your spiritual life, because life is a serious matter and not a game.
Your entire eternal future is at stake, and more than that, the quality of your entire eternity is at stake.
There is one common thread that intersects every persons life, and that common thread is Christ.
Anyone can listen, but it takes a bit more to hear, and a bit more to accept the mandates of God, without finding an excuse as to why they do not apply to you.
And more than that, it takes a whole lot more in you, to get you through whatever suffering you are having to endure, without falling away from God, from doctrine, and from your most valuable future.
