Peter was a man just as I am. Subject to fits of temper, impetuous, at times misguided and at times downright wrong. Yet yes, Jesus loved him. And certainly, chose him as one of the leaders of the early apostolic church, just as was Paul, James, Apollos, Aquilla, Barnabas and Timothy and others. There is no hint in scripture, anywhere, that Peter had any authority over the others.Whatever he received from Christ by way of promise, that also was offered to the rest of the church. Peter himself says that we are all living stones built together on the chief cornerstone, Christ, and built to make up a house for the presence of God.
He also tells us how we are to gain eternal life, and how to live a holy life now.
**2 Peter 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3 According as **his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these **ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
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Note what Peter is saying here. It is the power of God operating in our lives that gives us all things that pertain unto life and godliness. Peter continues to tell us that this is through knowledge of Him, in other words, through a personal one on one relationship with the Lord Himself who has called us to glory and virtue, that is, righteous living.
Peter goes on to explain that it is through faith that we are partakers in His divine nature. Faith in what? Faith in God’s promises, which Peter says are exceeding great and precious.
**5 ¶ And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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And we have here a step by step instruction as to how we can come to spiritual maturity in our relationship with Jesus. This knowledge of Jesus Peter speaks of is not a knowledge about Him, but a knowledge of Him. This brings us to a personal level, a level whereby we can become personally acquainted with our Maker, a level whereby Jesus becomes our closest confidante, friend, and Saviour. A help when in need, a strength when weak, a guide when lost, a shepherd when in danger, a light when confused, a friend when lonely, an encouragement when afraid. So long as we remain attached to the vine Jesus, we receive from Him the sap, the life giving power we need to ensure our eventual salvation, the growth and fruit we need to produce healthy seed with which to sow the gospel in the hearts and minds of others through our preaching, writing, and example.
**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.
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*The blood of the covenant, the blood of Jesus shed for us upon the cross of Calvary is sufficient to purge us from our old lives, and the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit gives to us all the power to live new lives. *
**10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
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No word here that submission to any earthly power or bishopric is a necessary adjunct to our salvation.
16 ¶ For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
Peter and others were eyewitnesses to the glory of God. They not only heard His voice, but witnessed His power in the resurrection of Jesus and in all the miracles that He did among them, and through them after He had returned to heaven. So they didn’t make up the gospel story, it is as verifiable as any event in history, **yet Peter does not use any of these as the basis or foundation for faith, not even the voice of God Himself! because Peter says next
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19 ¶ We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
Prophecy, Peter is saying, is even more sure to pin our faith and hopes in than a voice from heaven. The scriptures, the Lamp, therefore are the basis and foundation of all our belief and doctrine.
**20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
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Man is not to interpret God’s word, for
**All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.**2 Timothy 3:16
It is the Spirit inside the believer that leads man to all truth, and man does this through study, line by line, precept upon precept, here a little there a little, the scriptures interpreting themselves.
