Knowing he was about to die, Peter gave reminders to the believers on how to be real Christians, how to experience true salvation (2 Peter 1:12-15). In 2 Peter 3:1-2 he wrote that he was “stirring up” people’s minds by “way of reminder”.

1) RICHES OF TRUE SALVATION

We are all bondservants to Christ, just like Peter, purchased by God through the blood of Christ (2 Peter 1:1-2). Our goal in life is to please the Master. We are living for His glory and pleasure alone. The faith Peter had is the same as ours today --- faith in Jesus Christ as God and Savior. Grace and peace can be multiplied in us through the true knowledge of God and Jesus our Savior. In John 17:3, eternal life is to know (experientially) the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent.

2 Peter 1:3 lists down the great riches of true salvation: experiencing “divine power” and granting “everything pertaining to life and godliness”. We need to live in accordance with His will and design. Jesus is the fulfillment of “precious and magnificent promises” (v.4). This includes complete forgiveness, eternal life, and immortality -- being with God forever! As we become “partakers of the divine nature”, we are being transformed into a new nature. 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us about the riches of salvation: we are a new creature, and the old things have passed away! The richness of salvation is this new direction in life. In Christ, we have been made complete!

2) RESPONSE TO TRUE SALVATION

2 Peter 1:5-6 gives seven traits we must apply diligently after having faith in Jesus – moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love.

First is MORAL EXCELLENCE, which is Christlikeness. We must rid ourselves of obvious and hidden sins.

KNOWLEDGE; to not fail and falter, we need to keep growing (2 Peter 3:18). Salvation is by grace through faith, which is a gift of God. This is not a result of works so that no one will boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Real faith and real grace will compel us to “deny ungodliness and worldly desires”, in order to “live sensibly, righteously, and godly” (Titus 2:11-12). Additionally, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 tells us to take full responsibility of our thought life – “to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ”. We must be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2).

SELF-CONTROL, we discipline our body and make it our slave (1 Corinthians 9:27).

PERSEVERANCE -- we must endure like how Christ endured (Hebrews 12:1-2).

GODLINESS --- live a life centered on God as 1 Timothy 4:7-8 emphasizes.

BROTHERLY KINDNESS --- is to show preference and respect for everyone (Romans 12:10).

LOVE - God is the supernatural source of love that enables us to love others as He has loved us (1 John 4:7-8 and 19).

We must show evidence of true salvation; the Holy Spirit makes these traits possible for us (Galatians 5:22-23).

3) RESULTS OF TRUE SALVATION

CHRISTLIKENESS (spiritual maturity) = God’s Word + God’s Spirit + Problems + Prayer + Worship + God’s People + Time. With these, we will be able to live out the evidence of true salvation.

With these qualities, we become “neither useless nor unfruitful” (2 Peter 1:8-9). If we lack the qualities mentioned, we are warned of being blind or short-sighted. 2 Peter 2:20-22 is a sharp reminder of the contrast between someone who has experienced the grace of God versus someone who is “again entangled and are overcome,” falling away from God; it would have been better if they did not know of the gospel! They are likened to a dog that returns to its vomit or a pig that returns to the mud.

True salvation results in TRANSFORMATION and 2 Peter 1:10-11 reminds us to practice living out these truths about our salvation in all diligence so that we will not stumble.

May we all keep growing so that we will be welcomed by our King and Savior Jesus Christ in glory, saying “Well done good and faithful servant!”