2 Peter 1:9
Verse
Context
Partakers of the Divine Nature
8For if you possess these qualities and continue to grow in them, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.9But whoever lacks these traits is nearsighted to the point of blindness, having forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
Sermons
Leonard Ravenhill
Zac Poonen
Joe FochtZac PoonenZac Poonen
Horatius BonarZac PoonenSummary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
But he that lacketh these things - He, whether Jew or Gentile, who professes to have Faith in God, and has not added to that Faith fortitude, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and universal love; is blind - his understanding is darkened, and cannot see afar off, μυωπαζων, shutting his eyes against the light, winking, not able to look truth in the face, nor to behold that God whom he once knew was reconciled to him: and thus it appears he is wilfully blind, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins - has at last, through his nonimprovement of the grace which he received from God, his faith ceasing to work by love, lost the evidence of things not seen; for, having grieved the Holy Spirit by not showing forth the virtues of him who called him into his marvellous light, he has lost the testimony of his sonship; and then, darkness and hardness having taken place of light and filial confidence, he first calls all his former experience into doubt, and questions whether he has not put enthusiasm in the place of religion. By these means his darkness and hardness increase, his memory becomes indistinct and confused, till at length he forgets the work of God on his soul, next denies it, and at last asserts that the knowledge of salvation, by the remission of sins, is impossible, and that no man can be saved from sin in this life. Indeed, some go so far as to deny the Lord that bought them; to renounce Jesus Christ as having made atonement for them; and finish their career of apostasy by utterly denying his Godhead. Many cases of this kind have I known; and they are all the consequence of believers not continuing to be workers together with God, after they had experienced his pardoning love. Reader, see that the light that is in thee become not darkness; for if it do, how great a darkness!
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
But--Greek, "For." Confirming the need of these graces (Pe2 1:5-8) by the fatal consequences of the want of them. he that lacketh--Greek, "he to whom these are not present." blind--as to the spiritual realities of the unseen world. and cannot see afar off--explanatory of "blind." He closes his eyes (Greek) as unable to see distant objects (namely, heavenly things), and fixes his gaze on present and earthly things which alone he can see. Perhaps a degree of wilfulness in the blindness is implied in the Greek, "closing the eyes," which constitutes its culpability; hating and rebelling against the light shining around him. forgotten--Greek, "contracted forgetfulness," wilful and culpable obliviousness. that he was purged--The continually present sense of one's sins having been once for all forgiven, is the strongest stimulus to every grace (Psa 130:4). This once-for-all accomplished cleansing of unbelievers at their new birth is taught symbolically by Christ, Joh 13:10, Greek, "He that has been bathed (once for all) needeth not save to wash his feet (of the soils contracted in the daily walk), but is clean every whit (in Christ our righteousness)." "Once purged (with Christ's blood), we should have no more consciousness of sin (as condemning us, Heb 10:2, because of God's promise)." Baptism is the sacramental pledge of this.
John Gill Bible Commentary
But he that lacketh these things,.... Or in, and with whom, they are not; that is, these virtues, as the Arabic version reads, as faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity; where the principles of those things are not, and they are not exercised and performed, such an one is blind: let him boast ever so much of his light and knowledge, and value himself upon it, and expect to be saved by it, let him live as he will; for he has no true knowledge of God, as in Christ, as the God of all grace, as his covenant God and Father; nor does he know what it is to have communion with him in Christ; he only professes to know him in words, while in works he denies him; nor has he any right knowledge of Christ, only notional and general, not spiritual, experimental, particular, and practical; he does not see the Son, so as truly to believe in him; he has no true sight of his beauty, suitableness, and fulness, and of him for himself; nor any experience of the work of the Spirit of God upon his heart, whom he neither receives, sees, nor knows spiritually, any more than the world itself does; nor does he see the plague of his own heart, the corruptions of his nature, and the exceeding sinfulness of sin; nor has he any true spiritual light into the Gospel, and the doctrines of it, only a form of godliness, without the power of it: and therefore, whatever natural understanding of things he has, he is spiritually blind, and cannot see afar off: at least, not the good land that is afar off, the kingdom of heaven; the invisible glories of the other world; things that are not seen, which are eternal, which one that has true faith has a glimpse and sight of; nor Christ, who is in heaven at the right hand of God, and the things of Christ, his blood, righteousness, and sacrifice, carried within the vail; nor even what is within himself, the sins of his heart, the pollution of his nature, and the evil that dwells there; he sees not that he is poor, and wretched, and miserable, but fancies himself to be rich, and in need of nothing; he sees nothing but outward things, the things of time and sense, worldly and earthly things, which are near him, and all around him, which he minds, on which his heart is set, and he pursues with rigour. The Vulgate Latin version renders it, "trying with the hand", as blind men do, feeling and groping to find the way; see Act 17:27, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins; not by baptism, from the sins committed before it, for that does not purge from any sins, old or new, but that which it leads the faith of believers to, for pardon and cleansing, even the blood of Christ; but this also, and purification by it, is not meant here, though generally interpreters give this as the sense, and understanding it of the sin of ingratitude in such a person, who had received so great a benefit by Christ, and was unmindful of it; since it cannot be thought that one so described as above should ever have had his conscience purged by the blood of Christ from his old sins, or those before conversion, unless it be by profession; and then the sense is, that he has forgotten that he once professed to have been purged from all his sins by Christ; which, if he had, would have made him zealous of good works, and put him upon glorifying Christ both in body and spirit. The Ethiopic version renders it, "and he hath forgot to purge himself from old sins"; which he would have been concerned for, had he had a true and spiritual knowledge of Christ, and his Gospel, and an application of the exceeding great and precious promises of it, or had been made a partaker of the divine nature through them; see Co2 7:1, but the words are better rendered agreeably to the original text, "and hath forgotten the purification of his old, or former sins"; or "sins of old"; as they are rendered by the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions; that is, he does not consider, nor think of it, that he was a sinner of old, a sinner in Adam, that he was conceived and shapen in sin, and went astray, and was called a transgressor from the womb; he does not think that he stands in any need of being purged from former sins; and is entirely unmindful of, and neglects, the purification of them by the blood of Christ.
2 Peter 1:9
Partakers of the Divine Nature
8For if you possess these qualities and continue to grow in them, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.9But whoever lacks these traits is nearsighted to the point of blindness, having forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
1 Cor 13 (Version 1)
By Leonard Ravenhill43K46:12LoveMAT 5:12PE 1:9In this sermon, the speaker shares a personal anecdote about his experience with his children and a tennis game. He then transitions to discussing the concept of love, specifically the biblical definition of love. He emphasizes that love is not just a feeling or emotion, but a selfless act of kindness and sacrifice. The speaker also highlights the importance of loving God and loving others with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. He concludes by emphasizing the need to prioritize God above all else and to live a life of love and service to others.
Grace Gives Power for Holiness
By Zac Poonen1.5K1:04:56JHN 8:32JHN 16:13JHN 17:172CO 12:91PE 5:52PE 1:9
This sermon emphasizes the importance of understanding and seeking the truth of God's word, as knowing the truth will set us free. It highlights the need to desire God's truth, sanctifying us and making us holy through His word. The sermon also discusses the role of the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of truth, guiding us into all truth and revealing the hidden sins in our hearts. It emphasizes the need for humility, grace, and dependence on the Holy Spirit to overcome weaknesses and be transformed into Christlikeness.
(Genesis) Genesis 37:12-39:10
By Joe Focht1.1K1:10:45GenesisGEN 6:9GEN 12:1GEN 37:5JHN 1:12ACT 4:13HEB 11:102PE 1:9In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding Joseph's perspective in the story. He highlights Joseph's refusal to engage in wickedness, even though it may not be considered as such in society. The speaker encourages the audience to read ahead in the Bible to learn more about Joseph's story. The sermon also includes an invitation for those who do not know Jesus to accept him as their Lord and Savior.
Knowing the Name of Jesus (Kannada)
By Zac Poonen1.1K55:24PSA 91:14JHN 14:6JHN 15:5PHP 4:13HEB 8:72PE 1:9
This sermon delves into the promises and conditions outlined in Psalms 91, emphasizing the importance of knowing God's name and calling upon Him. It highlights the difference between forgiveness and salvation, stressing the need to understand the depth of God's love and forgiveness to truly love Him. The sermon also explores the significance of praying in Jesus' name and the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in overcoming sin and living a victorious life.
Filled With the Spirit and With Mercy
By Zac Poonen7241:03:41LUK 6:38JHN 3:3JHN 7:38ACT 2:4ROM 8:91CO 12:28PHP 2:25JAS 3:172PE 1:9
This sermon emphasizes the importance of being filled with the Holy Spirit, starting from the foundation of being born again through the Holy Spirit. It delves into the distinction between being born of the Spirit and being filled with the Holy Spirit, highlighting the need for continuous spiritual growth and capacity expansion. The sermon stresses the significance of mercy, kindness, and forgiveness as key aspects of a Spirit-filled life, leading to personal healing and spiritual blessings. It encourages believers to be merciful, kind, and generous, reflecting God's mercy and love to others.
Follow the Lamb! (Selections)
By Horatius Bonar0Following ChristSpiritual GrowthLEV 11:45PSA 52:2PRO 23:23JHN 10:27ROM 15:3GAL 5:241TI 6:102PE 1:91JN 4:1REV 3:4Horatius Bonar emphasizes the continuous journey of following Christ, urging believers to keep their focus on Jesus and His cross for spiritual health and growth. He warns against distractions from the world and the dangers of complacency in prayer and spiritual practices. Bonar encourages Christians to live a life of integrity, humility, and discernment, avoiding the pitfalls of self-indulgence and covetousness. He reminds the faithful that their lives are a book being written for eternity, and they must strive for holiness and righteousness in all aspects. Ultimately, Bonar calls for a deep, intimate relationship with God, urging believers to act in love and service, reflecting Christ's character in their daily lives.
Let Not Your Faith Fail
By Zac Poonen0PSA 34:18LUK 22:311CO 10:13JAS 4:62PE 1:9Zac Poonen delves into the story of Jesus warning Peter of the impending danger of being sifted by Satan, highlighting how God allowed Peter to fail in order to cleanse him of pride and self-righteousness. Poonen emphasizes that God's purpose in allowing us to fail is to remove the chaff from our lives, making us humbler and more compassionate towards others who stumble. He explains that through our failures, God is working to strengthen our faith in His perfect love, ensuring that even at our lowest points, we can confidently declare that God still loves us just as we are.
The Day of Clear Vision to the Dim Eyes.
By Horatius Bonar0Hope in ChristSpiritual VisionPSA 119:18ISA 32:3MAT 13:15LUK 4:18JHN 8:12JHN 9:391CO 13:12EPH 1:182PE 1:9REV 22:4Horatius Bonar emphasizes the spiritual blindness of many, contrasting it with those whose eyes have been opened by God to see the truth. He explains that while some see, their vision can still be dim, leading to a partial understanding of the gospel and Christ's glory. Bonar assures that a time is coming when all believers will see clearly, without any dimness or distortion, experiencing the fullness of God's light and love. He encourages the faithful to seek clearer vision and anticipate the day when they will behold Christ in all His glory. The sermon calls for a longing for spiritual clarity and the ultimate revelation of God.
Look Backward, Upward and Forward
By Zac Poonen0PRO 3:5PHP 3:13HEB 12:22PE 1:9REV 1:17Zac Poonen preaches about the importance of looking backward, upward, and forward in our spiritual journey. Looking backward helps us remember God's faithfulness, forgiveness, and mercy, strengthening our faith and gratitude. Looking upward allows us to see more of the glory of the Lord, humbling us and keeping us in brokenness and humility. Looking forward in faith reminds us that God has great plans for us and encourages us to focus on doing His work on earth.
Long-Sighted
By D.L. Moody0Spiritual ClarityEternal PerspectiveEXO 2:11HEB 11:102PE 1:9D.L. Moody emphasizes the importance of being long-sighted in faith, contrasting Abraham's vision of the eternal city with Lot's shortsightedness focused on immediate pleasures. He illustrates how many in the Church are caught between worldly desires and spiritual aspirations, leading to confusion and blurred vision. Moody highlights biblical figures like Moses, Stephen, and Paul, who exemplified long-sightedness by prioritizing God's promises over earthly temptations. He calls for the Church to seek the Holy Spirit's power to cleanse and refocus believers on eternal truths, urging a release from worldly attachments. The sermon serves as a reminder of the need for spiritual clarity and commitment to God's Kingdom.
Never Forget Your Past
By Zac Poonen0RemembranceSpiritual VisionROM 5:9ROM 8:1HEB 8:122PE 1:9REV 12:11Zac Poonen emphasizes the importance of remembering our past and the cleansing from our sins, as warned by Peter in 2 Peter 1:9. He explains that forgetting our past can lead to spiritual blindness and short-sightedness, causing believers to prioritize earthly pleasures and material wealth over eternal values. Poonen encourages believers to feel compassion for those who are spiritually short-sighted, rather than anger, as they will face regret before the Lord. He shares his personal conviction to never forget the pit from which God saved him, while also affirming that he stands justified before God, free from condemnation. Ultimately, he highlights the power of Christ's blood in overcoming guilt and shame.
2 Peter 1:9
By John Gill0Importance of VirtueSpiritual BlindnessJHN 8:12ROM 12:22CO 5:17EPH 1:18COL 3:2HEB 10:22JAS 1:221PE 2:92PE 1:91JN 1:7John Gill emphasizes the critical importance of possessing virtues such as faith, knowledge, and charity, warning that those who lack these qualities are spiritually blind, despite any claims of enlightenment. He explains that such individuals do not truly know God or Christ, lacking genuine spiritual insight and understanding of their own sinful nature. Gill highlights that they may be unaware of their need for redemption and the significance of Christ's sacrifice, living instead in a state of ignorance and self-deception. The sermon serves as a call to recognize the necessity of spiritual growth and the active pursuit of a relationship with God through Christ. Ultimately, Gill urges believers to remember their past sins and the cleansing power of Christ's blood.
Thy Love to Me Was Wonderful
By C.H. Spurgeon0ISA 42:16ISA 49:6MAT 4:16MAT 9:27LUK 1:79LUK 4:18JHN 1:4JHN 5:3ACT 13:11ROM 1:16ROM 2:19PHP 2:152PE 1:9REV 3:17In this sermon on blindness, the preacher delves into the concept of 'tuphlos' which can refer to both literal and spiritual blindness. It is used to describe one's mind as ignorant, slow of understanding, and incapable of comprehending spiritual truth. Jesus criticized the religious leaders of His time as 'blind guides' for leading people away from the Light of the world. The Jews were meant to be a light to the Gentiles, but many failed in this role until figures like Paul stepped in to fulfill God's purpose of bringing salvation to all nations.
Without the Shedding of Blood Is No Remission
By C.H. Spurgeon02PE 1:9Ralph Enlow discusses how Scripture uses the imagery of blindness to depict those who are spiritually unable or unwilling to perceive divine revelation, emphasizing that spiritual truth is understood through revelation and illumination by the Lord. Believers can also fall into spiritual blindness by neglecting spiritual growth or becoming lukewarm in their faith. The figurative sense of blindness in the Bible often refers to the inability to comprehend spiritual truth, particularly the true identity of Jesus Christ. It is crucial for Christians to rely on the Holy Spirit for all aspects of Christian witness to counteract spiritual blindness and reveal God's truth.
Jottings
By John Nelson Darby0SalvationRegenerationMAT 19:28LUK 19:9TIT 3:52PE 1:9John Nelson Darby emphasizes the distinction between inward quickening and true salvation, asserting that salvation is fundamentally the work of Christ rather than the Holy Spirit. He illustrates this by comparing the experiences of two individuals who profess faith in Christ, noting that true salvation is evidenced by a relationship with God as Father, while mere quickening may lead to uncertainty and fear of judgment. Darby also clarifies the meaning of regeneration, suggesting it refers to a change in state rather than life itself, and he highlights the importance of recognizing one's salvation through a genuine relationship with Christ, as exemplified in the story of Zacchaeus.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
But he that lacketh these things - He, whether Jew or Gentile, who professes to have Faith in God, and has not added to that Faith fortitude, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and universal love; is blind - his understanding is darkened, and cannot see afar off, μυωπαζων, shutting his eyes against the light, winking, not able to look truth in the face, nor to behold that God whom he once knew was reconciled to him: and thus it appears he is wilfully blind, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins - has at last, through his nonimprovement of the grace which he received from God, his faith ceasing to work by love, lost the evidence of things not seen; for, having grieved the Holy Spirit by not showing forth the virtues of him who called him into his marvellous light, he has lost the testimony of his sonship; and then, darkness and hardness having taken place of light and filial confidence, he first calls all his former experience into doubt, and questions whether he has not put enthusiasm in the place of religion. By these means his darkness and hardness increase, his memory becomes indistinct and confused, till at length he forgets the work of God on his soul, next denies it, and at last asserts that the knowledge of salvation, by the remission of sins, is impossible, and that no man can be saved from sin in this life. Indeed, some go so far as to deny the Lord that bought them; to renounce Jesus Christ as having made atonement for them; and finish their career of apostasy by utterly denying his Godhead. Many cases of this kind have I known; and they are all the consequence of believers not continuing to be workers together with God, after they had experienced his pardoning love. Reader, see that the light that is in thee become not darkness; for if it do, how great a darkness!
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
But--Greek, "For." Confirming the need of these graces (Pe2 1:5-8) by the fatal consequences of the want of them. he that lacketh--Greek, "he to whom these are not present." blind--as to the spiritual realities of the unseen world. and cannot see afar off--explanatory of "blind." He closes his eyes (Greek) as unable to see distant objects (namely, heavenly things), and fixes his gaze on present and earthly things which alone he can see. Perhaps a degree of wilfulness in the blindness is implied in the Greek, "closing the eyes," which constitutes its culpability; hating and rebelling against the light shining around him. forgotten--Greek, "contracted forgetfulness," wilful and culpable obliviousness. that he was purged--The continually present sense of one's sins having been once for all forgiven, is the strongest stimulus to every grace (Psa 130:4). This once-for-all accomplished cleansing of unbelievers at their new birth is taught symbolically by Christ, Joh 13:10, Greek, "He that has been bathed (once for all) needeth not save to wash his feet (of the soils contracted in the daily walk), but is clean every whit (in Christ our righteousness)." "Once purged (with Christ's blood), we should have no more consciousness of sin (as condemning us, Heb 10:2, because of God's promise)." Baptism is the sacramental pledge of this.
John Gill Bible Commentary
But he that lacketh these things,.... Or in, and with whom, they are not; that is, these virtues, as the Arabic version reads, as faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity; where the principles of those things are not, and they are not exercised and performed, such an one is blind: let him boast ever so much of his light and knowledge, and value himself upon it, and expect to be saved by it, let him live as he will; for he has no true knowledge of God, as in Christ, as the God of all grace, as his covenant God and Father; nor does he know what it is to have communion with him in Christ; he only professes to know him in words, while in works he denies him; nor has he any right knowledge of Christ, only notional and general, not spiritual, experimental, particular, and practical; he does not see the Son, so as truly to believe in him; he has no true sight of his beauty, suitableness, and fulness, and of him for himself; nor any experience of the work of the Spirit of God upon his heart, whom he neither receives, sees, nor knows spiritually, any more than the world itself does; nor does he see the plague of his own heart, the corruptions of his nature, and the exceeding sinfulness of sin; nor has he any true spiritual light into the Gospel, and the doctrines of it, only a form of godliness, without the power of it: and therefore, whatever natural understanding of things he has, he is spiritually blind, and cannot see afar off: at least, not the good land that is afar off, the kingdom of heaven; the invisible glories of the other world; things that are not seen, which are eternal, which one that has true faith has a glimpse and sight of; nor Christ, who is in heaven at the right hand of God, and the things of Christ, his blood, righteousness, and sacrifice, carried within the vail; nor even what is within himself, the sins of his heart, the pollution of his nature, and the evil that dwells there; he sees not that he is poor, and wretched, and miserable, but fancies himself to be rich, and in need of nothing; he sees nothing but outward things, the things of time and sense, worldly and earthly things, which are near him, and all around him, which he minds, on which his heart is set, and he pursues with rigour. The Vulgate Latin version renders it, "trying with the hand", as blind men do, feeling and groping to find the way; see Act 17:27, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins; not by baptism, from the sins committed before it, for that does not purge from any sins, old or new, but that which it leads the faith of believers to, for pardon and cleansing, even the blood of Christ; but this also, and purification by it, is not meant here, though generally interpreters give this as the sense, and understanding it of the sin of ingratitude in such a person, who had received so great a benefit by Christ, and was unmindful of it; since it cannot be thought that one so described as above should ever have had his conscience purged by the blood of Christ from his old sins, or those before conversion, unless it be by profession; and then the sense is, that he has forgotten that he once professed to have been purged from all his sins by Christ; which, if he had, would have made him zealous of good works, and put him upon glorifying Christ both in body and spirit. The Ethiopic version renders it, "and he hath forgot to purge himself from old sins"; which he would have been concerned for, had he had a true and spiritual knowledge of Christ, and his Gospel, and an application of the exceeding great and precious promises of it, or had been made a partaker of the divine nature through them; see Co2 7:1, but the words are better rendered agreeably to the original text, "and hath forgotten the purification of his old, or former sins"; or "sins of old"; as they are rendered by the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions; that is, he does not consider, nor think of it, that he was a sinner of old, a sinner in Adam, that he was conceived and shapen in sin, and went astray, and was called a transgressor from the womb; he does not think that he stands in any need of being purged from former sins; and is entirely unmindful of, and neglects, the purification of them by the blood of Christ.