It was not the original Simon Peter, impulsive and full of weakness, whom Christ called, “Simon” Mark 14:37; Luke 22:31; John 21:15-17 who is credited with writing this epistle. It was that Peter who Christ gave the keys to the kingdom, Matthew 16:13-19. The same man chastened by years of suffering and trials and strengthened by the baptism of the Holy Spirit; whom this epistle belongs to, written in the later period of his life.

Paul’s call for Christian’s to examine them self is that there are always occasions to be deceived. As some folks have already been deceived and departed the faith. Paul wanted the church to institute a strict and impartial examination of them self to ascertain whether they had not been deceived. Self-examination, however, is never unimportant or useless for Christians; and an exhortation to do it is always in place.

This title, “The Sharp Two-Edged Sword”, is used partly to show that the only weapon the church, the true ministers of Christ, and its members have to defend themselves against the growing corruptions of antichrist is the word of God.

It was not the original Simon Peter, impulsive and full of weakness, whom Christ called, “Simon” Mark 14:37; Luke 22:31; John 21:15-17 who is credited with writing this epistle. It was that Peter who Christ gave the keys to the kingdom, Matthew 16:13-19. The same man chastened by years of suffering and trials and strengthened by the baptism of the Holy Spirit; whom this epistle belongs to, written in the later period of his life.

Have your sanctified yourself? And are you ready to pass over?

After the birth of Jesus, scripture says, “And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing, which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.” Most people stop at the Christmas story after they hear of the birth of Christ, they do not follow the shepherd’s example. But after the shepherds had heard and seen, they returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen; as it was told to them, they made it known to others.

As Timothy was being launched into a ministry and responsibility that he had never really faced before, the Apostle Paul who had been mentoring and training him, was edifying, encouraging, and reminding him of the great gift of God’s grace that had empowered Paul and would, no doubt, empower Timothy and all who would come after him. This moment can apply to any believer that God is calling to accomplish something great for the kingdom. We, like Timothy, need a bit of edification and encouragement from time to time that everything we need to perform the Father’s will is placed in us through the New Birth experience.

One of the greatest attributes of a true Christian is that of a selfless servant. Service to God in sincerity and truth can only result from a free and willing allegiance of the heart. Joshua knew that all service that was not done free and voluntarily would be seen as deceit and hypocritical, as God loveth a cheerful giver.

The human nature we possess but who we can be in Christ. We are called for a purpose.

As Timothy was being launched into a ministry and responsibility that he had never really faced before, the Apostle Paul who had been mentoring and training him, was edifying, encouraging and reminding him of the great gift of God’s grace that had empowered Paul and would, no doubt, empower Timothy and all who would come after him. This moment can apply to any believer that God is calling to accomplish something great for the kingdom. We, like Timothy, need a bit of edification and encouragement from time to time that everything we need to perform the Father’s will is placed in us through the New Birth experience.