1. 2 Peter 1:1-8 1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and the Saviour Jesus Christ: 2 Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; 3 seeing that his divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue; 4 whereby he hath granted unto us his precious and exceeding great promises; that through these ye may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in that world by lust. 5 Yea, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply virtue; and in your virtue knowledge; 6 and in your knowledge self-control; and in your self-control patience; and in your patience godliness; 7 and in your godliness brotherly kindness; and in your brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful unto the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2. Surveying Peter’s Final Words Starts by encouraging all to growth (2 Pet. 1:1-11)   Knowledge of Christ is the source of life & godliness   Faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness & love are essential in growth   Love is listed as the culmination of other graces   Peter commends love (1 Pet. 1:8,22; 2:17; 3:10; 4:8; 5:14) … mature love Peter’s life is an example of such a growth in love

3. The Life of Peter: Growing to True Love How Did He Grow To True Love?

4. Characteristics of Early Peter Impulsive & impetuous in showing affinity for Jesus   Matt. 14:25fin wanting to walk on sea to Jesus   Matt. 16:22quick to confess then tell Jesus “No”   Matt. 17:1-8on the mount of transfiguration   Jn. 21:7-8jumped into the sea swimming to Jesus   Characteristic of acting upon emotional feelings for Jesus Ready to fight & die at Jesus’ seizure (Jn. 18:10-11)   Peter had promised his loyalty that night (Matt. 26:35)   Had an emotional love for Jesus manifest in His presence Denied Jesus three times later (Matt. 26:69-75)   “Wept bitterly” when Jesus looked & Peter remembered   Emotional love not strong enough to resist when away

5. Characteristics of Early Peter Had to learn mature love   John 13:34love sacrifices   John 14:15love obeys (14:31)   John 15:12love includes others   John 17:26love like God loves Had to learn to practice love, not just preach it   Acts 1:15; 2:14; 15:7Peter was bold   Acts 8:20Peter was firm   Acts 10:26Peter was humble   Galatians 2:11-14Peter was hypocritical Had to learn to become a “rock” (John 1:42)

6. Taught to Grow to True Love After resurrection, Jesus taught Peter nature of the true love needed to endure & work (Jn. 21:15-19)   Jesus asked Peter if he loved (agapao) Him   Peter responded that he loved (phileo) Jesus   Difference between serving love & emotional affection   Jesus commands service in His work, not just emotion   Change in love carried Peter from problems of youth to selfless service in Acts & martyr’s death as aged man Peter had to learn emotion-based love is not enough   Peter had emotional affinity for Jesus … even at betrayal   Love demanded by Christ was based on commitment to truth & principle engrained into the character Teaching of 2 nd Peter shows he learned the lesson

7. Have We Grown to True Love? Youth often has over-estimation of emotion   True in search for marriage partner & other relationships   True in deciding spiritual issues & marks of strength   Sadly, many never grow & mature to true love Weak Christians often have an emotion-based love for Christ:   Makes one secure thinking love is present, when it is not   Lacks sufficient strength to endure in times of trial   Feelings replace service as defining point of spirituality   Effects of sin & error minimized due to emotion present

8. Have We Grown to True Love? We must grow to true love just as Peter grew   Saturate self with grace & knowledge of Lord & Savior   Let characteristics taught by Christ be in us & abound Requires character & action from knowledge of truth