A Message from Simon

 

 

Simon, a disciple of Jesus (Yeshua).

 

Matthew 4:18-20 (New American Standard - NAS-) Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.

 

Matthew 16:16-17  Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." And Jesus said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

 

Most of the time Yeshua speaks to Peter addressing him as Simon.

 

Can we put much stock in what Simon Peter wrote? After all he was just a fisherman? He always seemed to get himself in hot water, so to speak.

-         He could not walk on water (Mathew 14:28-)

-         He could not understand the parables (Matthew 15:15)

-         He rebuked Yeshua (Matthew 16:22)

-         Yeshua said he was speaking on Satan’s behalf (Matthew 16:23)

-         He seemed to speak out of turn (Matthew 17:4; 17:24-26)

-         He was unwilling to forgive, if sinned against him too much (Mt 18:21)

-         He was looking for reward for following Yeshua (Matthew 19:27)

-         He slept when asked to pray with Yeshua on His last night (Mt 26:37-40)

-         He cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant (John 18:10-11)

-         He denied Yeshua (Matthew 26:58-75)

-         Even after Yeshua’s resurrection Simon went back to fishing (John 21:3)

 

Not much of a track record to put a lot of trust in what he says, right? Do we see any good characteristics, redeeming qualities or changes in Peter?

-         He was quick to call out for help (Matthew 14:30)

-         He was one of the inner three (Mark 5:37)

-         He was given insight into whom Yeshua was (Matthew 16:16-17)

-         He repented deeply for his denial of Yeshua (Matthew 26:75)

-         He was married yet left all to follow Yeshua (Matthew 8:14; 19:27)

-         He ran to the tomb when he heard Yeshua had risen (Luke 24:12)

-         He was zealous in his devotion to Yeshua (John 21:7)

-         Yeshua gave him the command to feed His sheep (John 21:15-17)

-         He began to take the lead (Acts 1:13, 15; 2:14)

-         After receiving the Holy Spirit he preached - 3000 were baptized (Ac 2:41)

 

What more shall we say? He was dynamic after the baptism of the Holy Spirit, he spoke out boldly in Yeshua’s name. He told the Jewish leaders he had to obey Elohim rather than man, even under the threat of death – he was imprisoned and miraculously released –the Messiah revealed to him the calling of the gentiles; there were many more positive happenings. Peter was not perfect, nor are we, he may have slipped up a time or two but so do we. Just look how the Master was able to use him – maybe he can use us as well.

 

Should we listen to him, I say, definitely. One dominate characteristic I see in Simon is – he never gave up. With all his apparent failures he was in the hands of the Messiah. His life shows us that regardless of our weaknesses there is hope for us when we turn to our Savior and trust Him to change us. Let us pay attention to Peter’s appeal to us.

 

Simon Peter’s message is one of grace and knowledge. A message of hope and active participation. A message of ‘know and grow’; a call to wholesome thinking and paying attention to reminders. It is also a warning message to those who do not apply the promises found in Scripture, the teachings of the prophets and the apostles (the sent ones). He wanted us to be reminded of our need to be vigilant, so he wrote to us.

 

2 Peter 2:12-15 (New Living Translation - NLT-)  Therefore, I will always remind you about these things––even though you already know them and are standing firm in the truth you have been taught. And it is only right that I should keep on reminding you as long as I live. For our Lord Jesus Christ has shown me that I must soon leave this earthly life, so I will work hard to make sure you always remember these things after I am gone.

 

Further reason for writing:

2 Peter 3:1-2 (Complete Jewish Bible - CJB-)  Dear friends, I am writing you now this second letter; and in both letters I am trying to arouse you to wholesome thinking by means of reminders; so that you will keep in mind the predictions of the holy prophets and the command given by the Lord and Deliverer through your emissaries (the Apostles).

 

What does he want us to understand?

2 Peter 3:3-4 (CJB)  First, understand this: during the Last Days, scoffers will come, following their own desires and asking, “Where is this promised ‘coming’ of his? For our fathers have died, and everything goes on just as it has since the beginning of creation.”

 

We find a similar negative philosophy in Psalm 10:4 (NAS)  The wicked, in the haughtiness of his countenance, does not seek Him. All his thoughts are, "There is no God."

Verse 11  He says to himself, "God has forgotten; He has hidden His face; He will never see it.

 

One may not verbally say, “God is dead!”, but do we live as though He does not exist, as if He cannot help us, or He has no place in our busy lives?

 

There is a negative tendency in the churches today, and that is, the losing of members. In Europe church attendance has fallen to approximately 2% of the population. If time were to go on, the United States would see the same percentage. In the U.S., during the WWII period, 65% of church going teenagers grew up to attend church. During the late 60’s it had fallen to 35%. It is predicted to fall to 4% in the near future. Church members are not practicing and establishing their faith, they are following their own fleshly desires. They are not establishing strong moral Godly values in themselves and in their children.

 

So how should we concern ourselves?

2 Peter 3:13-14 (CJB)  but we, following along with his promise, wait for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness will be at home. Therefore, dear friends, as you look for these things, do everything you can to be found by him without spot or defect and at peace.

 

Peter ends his second epistle with these words:

2 Peter 3:17-18 (CJB)  But you, dear friends, since you know this in advance, guard yourselves; so that you will not be led away by the errors of the wicked and fall from your own secure position. And keep growing in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Deliverer, Yeshua the Messiah. To him be the glory, both now and forever! Amen.

 

 

So far we see Peter has written:

            -   I am trying to arouse you to wholesome thinking by means of reminders

-   keep in mind the predictions of the holy prophets and the …emissaries

-   following along with his promise, wait for new heavens and a new earth

-   scoffers will come, following their own desires …

-   guard yourselves; so that you will not be led away by the errors

-   do everything you can to be found by him without spot or defect and at peace

-   keep growing in grace and knowledge of our Lord…

 

 

Let us go back to the beginning of Simon’s letter; to whom is he writing?

2 Peter 1:1 (NAS)   Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, (How?) by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:

 

Peter’s prayer for fellow believers:

1:2 (CJB) May grace and shalom (peace) be yours in full measure, (How?) as you come to a full knowledge of God and Yeshua our Lord.

 

First: there is the need for ‘grace’ and peace. A question was asked, “What is grace and how does it relate to observing YHVH's law?” Good question; ask ten people and you may get ten different answers – stay with us.

 

Second: we need to come to a full knowledge of the Father and His Son; that is, we must have a relationship with our Creator.

 

Peter was paying attention when he was a disciple of Yeshua (Jesus); he knew how important it was to know our Savior, he knew it demands a relationship.

Matthew 7:21-23 (NAS)  "Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. "Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ "And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’

 

The first (grace) and second (knowledge) are connected; note Simon’s statement at the end of this letter:

3:18 (NAS) but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…

 

My personal definition of grace is: – ‘the internal empowerment (the Spirit) of our Savior to keep YHVH’s law and thus escape (be set free from, have victory over) the pulls of our human nature’. The law, or Torah, is the Creator’s instruction on how to know Him better and how to conduct ourselves before Him and our neighbor. Because of our innate nature, we need His grace to live a godly life.

 

 

Peter defines grace:

 

Therefore dear friends, do your part:

1:5  In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge,

6  and knowledge with self–control, and self–control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness,

7  and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.

 

Then:

8  (NLT) The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(NAS)  For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(CJB)  For if you have these qualities in abundance, they keep you from being barren and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah.

 

 

What if we fail to grow?

1:9 (NLT)  But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed (purified, washed) from their old (former, past) sins.

 

What should we do?

1:10  So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard (be diligent) to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away (never stumble).

 

If we do our part...

1:11 (CJB) Thus you will be generously supplied with everything you need to enter the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Deliverer, Yeshua the Messiah.

 

 

Simon goes on to witness that his instruction came from the very Son of God. He has instructed us on how to be assured we will have an entrance into the Kingdom. How? By knowing the Savior better; those failing to grow in grace and knowledge can be carried away by false and misleading prophets (ministers) whose end is as the fate of the rebellious ones mentioned throughout Scripture (see chapter 2).

 

We are encouraged by Peter’s instruction, because we, the ones who have accepted Yeshua as Savior, have been forgiven sins (past) and are being cleansed of our sinful nature by paying attention to the promises given us; that everything we need to live a godly life will be supplied. We are also warned; if we do not give heed to grow in grace and knowledge, we could suffer the fate of the wicked (2:20-22).

 

Peter wanted to keep us ever mindful (by reminders) of the promises. Make Peter’s writings a regular part of your reading. Be sure to come to know Yeshua the Messiah better by developing a wholesome relationship; He will supply our every need to assure our entry into His eternal Kingdom, which is the grace of our Creator.

 

A quick review:

-   To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours

           

-   I am trying to arouse you to wholesome thinking by means of reminders

 

-   guard yourselves; so that you will not be led away by the errors

 

-   come to a full knowledge of God and Yeshua our Lord

 

-   grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…

 

-   God has given us everything we need for living a godly life

 

-   promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires

 

-   make every effort (to)... supplement your faith with …moral excellence, …with knowledge, …with self–control, …with patient endurance, …with godliness, …with brotherly affection, …with love for everyone

 

-   The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ

 

Remember:

 

 

Praise Him, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, for unto Him belongs all glory, all power, and the Kingdom, forever and forever. Amen.