THE REFUGE DEVOTIONAL
The Apostle Peter pens his second letter, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to a persecuted church who had been dispersed throughout all the Roman Empire. Many false teachers had crept in, seeking to reduce the incarnation of Jesus Christ as being God, to just merely a spiritual being, or a common man in whom the Spirit of God came upon and then left at His death. Peter tells us, “These false teachers promise freedom while they are slaves to corruption.” So Peter defends the deity of Jesus Christ, urging those who have been called to such a great salvation, who have escaped the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desires, “To make every effort to supplement their faith with goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.”
The scriptures are very clear that those who are truly in Christ have been saved by grace through faith alone, and it is not of themselves it is a gift of God. They are new creatures with new affections and with new desires. Just as the waves on the sea bear the evidence of the wind blowing, so the life of a Christian bears the evidence of a new heart which longs to be conformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ. Therefore, Peter implores every Christian, “To be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you.”
Blessed be The God of Heaven Who sent His Beloved Son to us, so that He may save us from the penalty of the law which we have all broken. God is perfect and holy; therefore, sin cannot go unpunished. Jesus Christ, Gods only begotten Son, took the punishment of God’s wrath on all who come to Him through faith and repentance. The question that we must ask ourselves according to the inspired letter of Peter, is everyone who makes a claim to Christian faith saved? The answer is no. Many claims to be in Christ, but on the inside are full of corruption, engaging in open wickedness with little or no regard to God’s holy commands.
James tells us in Chapter 2 of his letter that not all faith saves, but that there is a counterfeit faith that leads many astray, deceiving them until the fiery judgment. This faith shows no inward change of a new heart, no longing to be renewed by God’s word, but a continual longing for self-pleasure. If we have truly come to The Lord Jesus Christ, can we continue to break His holy commandments, which is a violation against His character? Saving faith is not that we sin, get caught, and then feel bad about it, but that our heart is broken because we have sinned against our Savior and the light of His word.
Rodney Nantz
“Therefore brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you.”
2 Peter 1:10 NASBS