A Dispensational Approach
By R. B. Shiflet
II Peter
I. Introduction 1:1
II. INVOCATION 1:2-3
III. IDEAL SPIRITUAL LIVING 1:5-7
IV. INCREASING KNOWLEDGE 1:8
V. IMMINENT DANGER 1:9
“But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.” (2 Peter 1:9)
To fail to grow in grace and manifest the fruits Peter has listed can have dire results. There is no human being more precious than a newborn baby and nothing more tragic than an infant that does not mature normally. Failure to grow in the graces Peter has listed results in:
A. Walking in Darkness—”is blind.”
This is the “flip side” of John’s admonition that “if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with the other and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” We cannot expect to grow in the knowledge of God’s Word as long as we refuse to walk in the light that we have received. Many great Bible teachers have failed to walk in all the light they have received from God’s Word because of fear of ostracism or persecution for preaching a truth that is not popular.
B. Shows Short-sightedness—”cannot see afar off.”
The word Peter uses can have either of two meanings.
1. To be Short-sighted—so see only the here and now and not view life “with eternity’s values in view.” How many Christians grow more concerned over a favorite team’s losing a game than over the fact of a world that is perishing without Christ.
2. To be Blinking—shutting our eyes to that which we do not wish to see. These verses are a serious call to get our priorities straight.
C. Short Memory—”hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.”
This implies that hatred for sin and its consequences has faded into insignificance. A new Christian is keenly aware of the exceeding sinfulness of sin and the great price that was paid for our redemption. We need to be reminded daily of the fact that it was the blood of His cross by which we obtained redemption. We need to sing to ourselves frequently such great old gospel songs as “Lead Me to Calvary” and “O Happy Day.”
I recall a dear old brother who has been with the Lord now for many years, but as long as he lived, when I would preach on the blood that was shed on Calvary’s cross as the only means of salvation, tears would roll down his cheeks. We must never blink or shut our eyes to that precious cardinal truth.
(To Be Continued)
