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Simon Peter – Prominent Prophet of the Apostles (10 of 10)

Focus Text: 2 Peter 3.14-18

“Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation——as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 3.14-18).

In spite of all that happened to Peter and all that Peter allowed himself to get in to, when all has been said and done, Peter was a loyal disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. That is why he could serve as an elder in his later years (see 1 Peter 5.1-4). His former failures were eclipsed by his faithful service in his later years, and he used his weaknesses as a means to develop strengths. He would have to be considered a faithful servant in spite of the fact that he denied the Lord on the night of His arrest and trial. It is this final trait of faithfulness that we address in today’s message.

In the focus text, Peter challenged others to “…be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless.” To read these words is to see the tremendous spiritual maturity that was effected within Peter’s life over his years of service. The man who had denied, now affirmed Christ in the most straightforward terms; the turncoat now marched proudly and fearlessly under the blood-stained banner of the cross!

Likewise, Peter warned, “…beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked.” Jesus had personally warned Peter of his impending fall, even vowing to pray for Peter during his crucial trial period. Yet, in spite of the warnings, in spite of his personal boasts to go with Christ to death, and in spite of prayer by Jesus on his behalf, Peter fell into Satan’s snare; he fell from his own steadfastness but later warned others that they should not follow in those same footsteps.

As a final point in this series (as well as the closing statement in his epistles), Peter said, “…but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” “But grow in Christ” is put in contrast to “…being led away with the error of the wicked.” What Peter advised others to do, he certainly had done himself; he had grown in the grace and knowledge of Jesus. Hence his admonition is one which strikes a chord in the hearts of all who look at this man and the tremendous impact that his life on the lives of others. It could have ended in a very different way, but given Peter’s strength of character, what could have been a disaster was turned to a victory for the cause of Jesus Christ.

Peter is one of the most influential characters of the Bible; imitate the good; learn from the bad!

Questions:

1. What is involved in being diligent to be found of Christ without spot and blameless?

2. What does the possibility of falling from one’s steadfastness do the false doctrine of impossibility of apostasy?

3. How does one grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ? What are some common hindrances to that growth?

4. Given Peter’s failures, how could we possibly learn to live from him?

"Refreshment in Refuge" from Gina Burgess

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