2 Peter Chapter one

2 Peter 1 ~ I will attempt to set forth my understanding of 1 Peter Chapter one. Peter being the apostle unto the Jews, begins with his letter 'to the strangers (Heb 11:9) scattered throughout the known world (Col 1:23) of the Jews, who are called the elect'. Those to whom the Holy Ghost had sanctified, unto obedience. Paul tells us in Rom 1:5 that he has received this grace for (eis unto) obedience to the faith (Rom 12:3, 1 Jh 5:4, Eph 2:8) also. What seems to throw one off here in Peter, for continues by saying ‘and sprinkling of the (life Lev 17:11) blood of Jesus Christ’. Paul states this also in Heb 9:13 comparing the requirements under the old with the new, and in Vs 14 “How much more shall the (Passover) blood of Christ, (this is the blood, life) that is found as a witness in the earth (1 Jh 5:8). Who through the eternal spirit offer himself without spot unto God, purge your conscience from dead works (law of works) to serve the living God.” Jesus our husband has, by virtue of his spotless body, provided a covering (Matt 22:11) as the New Testament (Heb 9:15) Passover Lamb for his bride. If this were not so; no one could enter (Rom 9:29) into the wedding feast with him, there to sup with him here in his kingdom. (Lk 12:32, Jh 3:3,5) Paul goes on here in Hebrews to show the distinction between the first and second. “For this cause, he (Jesus the man) is the mediator of the new covenant by means of his death:” that is as the Passover covering (for the firstborn) in the first three hours while in the light. The atonement for the total family of God would take place in the three hours of darkness, behind the veil.

Vs three ~ Peter then tells us that we as the church bride 'hath begotten us again unto a lively hope'. Peter cannot be talking about the forty days from the resurrection unto Pentecost, for until he was endued with power from on high, he was ready to cast aside this whole thing and go fishing, even after Jesus’ resurrection wherein he had already appeared twice before. (Jh 21:1) “This being the third time that Jesus had appeared them.” This begotten unto a lively hope (Jh 21:31) would be on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Ghost came down and administered the new covenant unto those chosen from the beginning (2 Thess 2:13).

Vs four ~ This inheritance, which is reserved in heaven, is speaking of (the new heaven), or his kingdom here in time. It is in the upper room (new heaven) where unto those who have met in the assembly (new earth) are perhaps blessed to enter into this heavenly place (Eph 1:3) and sup with him for a few moments. While in this place (new heaven), the world is shut outside and we are permitted to lean upon our savior’s breast, as the Apostle John (Jh 21:20), and rejoice in his loving arms.

Vs five ~ Yes, this remnant is kept by his power, (Isa 1:9; 37:31; Ps 110:3; Phil 2:14). If this were not so, then all of mankind would have been as Sodom (Rom 9:29). God, through his divine purpose, has reserved a remnant that will not bow to Baal. (Rom 11:4) Those so-called, can by the unction of the ‘Holy One’ (1 Jh 2:20) discern the uncertain sound (1 Cor 14:8) of the false doctrine. This is accomplished through the truth that is found in the dealt faith (Rom 12:3) of the new covenant, which is written upon their hearts of those added unto the church daily (Acts 2:47). The last time (Hos 6:2) under consideration here is the gospel day.

Vs six tells us the reason and benefits of this new covenant. Vs seven the testing of this new covenant dealt faith is as the refined gold. Vs eight really gets down to just who is under consideration here. It is not every child of God, but those who, through much tribulation having came through the fire, and now receiving the benefits of their struggles. Those under the first covenant never had this (vs 12) blessing although they pinned it down for those under the second to reap the benefits thereof.

I trust that is some small way I have been able to stir up you pure minds to see the total context of this chapter. Now in Vs thirteen Peter then admonishes these faithful to gird up their minds by the very virtue of the revelation wrought out through the dealt faith of the new covenant. Let us be careful to stay with the context, for in vs 18 lest we attempt to switch over to the eternal side of justification. We must realize that the Son of God in his divinity (2 Cor 5:19) secured eternal security for all the children by the atonement blood, but he, as the son of man, also provided a redemptive covering for his church bride. Without the covering of his robe of righteousness no one could enter into the wedding feast, which takes place in the upper room during the time of the assembly. We see in Num 3:41 where the Levites as the priesthood were redeemed by the firstborn. Yes only the firstborn was spared from death by the Passover blood; likewise it is the firstborn/first fruit that must have the robe of righteousness of their spotless husband, Jesus the man, before they can approach their Husband.

Conclusion: This is the word, (rhema) which by the gospel is preached unto you. The rhema, written word (water) is mixed with the spirit to produce the gospel (Jh 2:7,8, 3:5). This idea is set forth in both Jh 2, 3, 4, & 7. One must first have been added to the church kingdom (Acts 2:47), wherein the Holy Ghost has administered the new covenant, engrafted word of faith (Rom 12:3, Eph 2:8, 1 Jh 5:4) unto them, in order to see the church kingdom (regeneration as taught in Mt 19:28). Having been so added, they must then have the gospel (mixture of water [written word] with the spirit) preached unto them in order to enter into the church kingdom.

Vs 20 “Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who by him do believe (n) in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.” This Passover event was foreordained in the mind and purpose of the thrice Holy God before the foundation of the world to take place here in time, for the purpose of giving a covering to the bride of the son of man; it is by him that one believes. This belief is a noun and is established by the two witnesses. All this took place to establish the true faith here in this time world; that is, that God may have glory here in this time world.

Vs 22 “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren.” In order for one (who has been called, added to the church through the administration of the new covenant faith by the Holy Ghost), to sup with her Husband, he must purify himself. He must study his word, (trimming his wick), meditation, and pray (obtain oil), thus preparing himself to enter into the bride’s chamber, when the bridegroom appears (Mt 25:1-13).

Continuation of vs 22 “see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible (1 Jh 3:8), by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” The word of God herein is the Logos, not rhema yet it is not capitalized for it is the seed of Christ (engrafted word), not Christ himself. It is the new covenant written upon the heart (1 Jh 3:8, Rom 2:14, Heb 8:10), having been administered by the Holy Ghost unto those called unto the wedding feast (Mt 22:11-14). It is also referred to as the eternal life that abideth in you, being the seed of Christ (not literally Jesus) in you which liveth and abideth forever. This is also the word, seed, eternal life spoken of in 1 Jh 2:25, and 3:9 where the Greek word gennao is use to express the thought of procreation of the father, to regenerate: beget, conceive. In other words, the Father, Jehovah, has given unto the son of man a bride, through the operation of the Holy Ghost, the mother of us all, as She (Gal 4:26) administers the new covenant unto a portion of his people, as defined in Deut 21:17, 32:9. We also find this same thought presented to us in 1 Pet 2:9. Peter concludes this first chapter by letting us know that, “all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: but the word (rhema) of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the word [(rhema) that by itself will only bring death (2 Cor 3:6)], which by the gospel (being mixed with the spirit Heb 4:2) is preached unto you.” We must understand the corrupt nature of man, from the fall of Adam, for us to truly understand how valuable the KJT word is to us. God has preserved his word (KJT) even to the use of not capitalizing a word, down through time until this present time, although man has and is attempting to distort it by changing and revising it time and time again. Let us be careful lest we lose the beauty of its teaching, and teach rather (Col 2:22) “the commandments and doctrines of men, which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship”. Isa 4:1 “in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.” Heb 13:9 “Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines.” Yes the true bride of Christ is but one (Song 6:9) “My dove, my undefiled is but one.” Having said this, we must understand that the teaching is speaking not of sonship but rather of discipleship, not relation ship, but fellowship. Gal 4:25 The false churches are in bondage with their children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. The desolate hath many more children than she does, which hath a husband.

Allen Cook 03/05/08 Rev 4/10/08 Rev 5/27/09 Rev 9/1/09