2 Peter 1:12, commentary and pictures

Peter resolves to keep putting believers always in remembrance of the essential truths, though they already know them and are firm in the truth for their time, and to keep stirring them up as long as he remains alive. The reminding is urgent because he must soon lay aside his earthly life as Christ showed him, and he labors so they will hold these things in memory after his death. The things to be remembered are the multiplied grace and peace through knowing God and Jesus, the divine power giving all needed for life and godliness, the precious promises by which believers partake of the divine nature, and the diligent adding of faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and charity, which makes calling and election sure and gives abundant entrance into Christ's everlasting kingdom. Present truth is God's word of special importance for its own time and the only surety in the last days, setting forth His unchangeable moral law together with the gospel of a crucified Redeemer, including the Sabbath, the sanctuary, the commandments and the faith of Jesus, and the message of Christ's righteousness. Even those established still need constant reminding because they can forget and grow careless, fall short without divine keeping, and being established does not make anyone incapable of error.

Peter's Charge and Setting

Peter resolved not to be negligent but to put believers always in remembrance of these things, though they knew them and were established in the present truth, and to keep stirring them up by remembrance as long as he remained in this tabernacle of life. The things were grace and peace multiplied through the knowledge of God and Jesus, divine power giving all things pertaining to life and godliness, exceeding great and precious promises by which believers become partakers of the divine nature having escaped worldly corruption through lust, and the diligent adding to faith of virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and charity. That adding of grace to grace, with fruitfulness in the knowledge of Christ rather than blindness and forgetting cleansing from old sins, makes calling and election sure so as never to fall and ministers an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of Christ, which is the life insurance policy everyone may have. Knowing and being established does not remove the need for constant reminding, and keeping believers in this remembrance is a duty not to be neglected but right and fitting while life lasts.

The constant reminding was urgent because Peter must shortly put off his earthly tabernacle as Christ had showed him, expected soon to die, and as he faced suffering for Christ labored so believers would keep these things in remembrance after his death. He would keep stirring them to remember the truths and duties of the Christian life, that they might retain them when he was gone.

The things to be remembered are certain, not cunningly devised fables, because the apostles were eyewitnesses of Christ's majesty when He received honor and glory from the Father and they heard the voice from heaven declaring Him the beloved Son on the holy mount, holding forth eyewitness knowledge of the power and coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. That reminding carries the instruction on which eternal life depends, to strengthen believers as they seek victory over sin and rely on God's promises. Believers also have a more sure word of prophecy to heed as a light shining in a dark place until the day dawns and the day star arises in their hearts, and that prophecy is not of private interpretation and did not come by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

The putting in remembrance stands as a guard because false teachers will privily bring in damnable heresies even denying the Lord that bought them and bring swift destruction on themselves, many will follow their pernicious ways so the way of truth is evil spoken of, and through covetousness they will with feigned words make merchandise of believers. The verse was given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit as Peter's farewell charge to those of like precious faith, and was used as the basis for a public discourse.

Need for Constant Reminders

Even those who already know the truth and are firmly established in present truth still need to be put always in remembrance of it continually, and knowing and being established does not remove the need for constant reminding. The steady reminding is not negligence but duty, and stirring up by remembrance remains right and fitting as long as life in this tabernacle continues. These things to be remembered are the infinite treasure richly and freely bestowed: multiplied grace and peace through the knowledge of God and Jesus, divine power giving all things pertaining to life and godliness, and exceeding great and precious promises by which believers become partakers of the divine nature having escaped worldly corruption through lust. They include diligently adding to faith virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and charity, which keeps from barrenness, blindness and forgetting cleansing from old sins, makes calling and election sure, keeps from falling, and ministers an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of Christ. Living faith in Christ's power and His ample provision of grace keeps from false paths, and the Word is to be used as guide by following Christ's teaching and building character through obedience rather than being one's own lawgiver, as preparation necessary for entrance into God's kingdom.

Being established in present truth does not make a person incapable of error, so believers must remain willing to recognize and correct mistakes. Professed knowledge may lack a clear grasp of the evidence and reasons for belief, and believers need to understand the grounds of faith and be able to explain what they believe. Testing and having to stand alone can reveal confused ideas, weakness and ignorance that had gone unnoticed. Assuming understanding while relying on human wisdom instead of divine wisdom reflects departure from God. Confidence in present truth is an anchor that strengthens character and gives it energy, effectiveness and dignity, while a weak grasp leaves vulnerability to unbelief and spiritually harmful company, so seeking evidence and holding firmly builds confidence.

Reminders are needed because believers can forget and become careless or indifferent. They may lack the depth of experience that is their privilege and not keep their minds stayed on things of eternal interest. Without remembering and holding to the power that alone can keep them, they may fall short while the devil works actively to deceive. The remembrance calls them to take in the Word, live the Word and act the Word at all times and in all places, to walk in humility before God, feel their necessity, take fast hold of the Mighty One in continual dependence, cultivate a sanctified will, and show works at every point and not words only so they can give others an experience. Those who live on the plan of addition by diligently adding the qualities described will have God's salvation imparted to every humble soul and seen in large degree, while God brings the growth.

The need for repeated reminders and stirring up applies especially to youth, who are to be put always in remembrance even though they know and are established, with earnest exhortation to give diligence to make calling and election sure so as never to fall and so to receive an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. For youth pursuing education surrounded by contaminating influences, the instruction strikes the keynote of victory and must be forced impressively upon the mind by studying the words and practicing the precepts, understanding personal weakness, going to God for strength, and making Christ the all in all while studying, so as to stand nobly against evil instead of giving the mind wholly to study and losing all that enriches life. The need is especially great for new believers to whom Scripture's teachings are unfamiliar, who may lose the truth's force or accept mistaken ideas unless its importance is kept continually before them. Newly converted people must therefore be cared for, taught, guided and encouraged in the truth already accepted until firmly established, rather than left to shape experience from mistaken ideas or face opposition without support.

Knowing and accepting truth or professing Christianity is not enough by itself to save. Believers must become Christlike by adding grace to grace and forming character after the divine similitude, holding fast interest in the eternal life insurance policy provided in giving the only beloved Son, so that by belief in Him and acceptance of His great sacrifice they may obtain everlasting life, gain the victory, enter through the gates of the city of God, receive an immortal crown, and by example help others around them. A profession of present truth kept apart from actions has no power to convict or convert. Treating sin lightly while appealing to God's love encourages continued sin rather than a changed life, for truth must also shape the life in practical godliness.

Truths to Be Remembered

The things to be kept in remembrance are the infinite treasure richly and freely bestowed on God's people. That treasure is grace and peace multiplied through the knowledge of God and of Jesus, divine power giving all things that pertain to life and godliness, and the exceeding great and precious promises by which believers become partakers of the divine nature having escaped the corruption in the world through lust. With those gifts belongs the diligent adding to faith of virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge temperance, and to temperance patience, and to patience godliness, and to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness charity. The first chapter where these are set forth is full of instruction and strikes the keynote of victory, and its words are to be studied more abundantly and its precepts practiced.

The reminder concerns giving all diligence to work on God's prescribed plan by adding grace to grace in practical godliness from day to day, with continual advancement and no standstill. God works for man upon the plan of multiplication of grace and peace as man works upon the plan of addition, and heeding that instruction gives the grace of Christ to work it out and fulfills its requirements. Doing that work keeps believers from being barren and unfruitful in the knowledge of Christ, from blindness and forgetting that they were purged from old sins, and from falling, while it makes their calling and election sure. It ministers to them an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of Jesus Christ, which is the eternal life insurance policy everyone may have that Christ gave His life to make possible through His grace received through obedience. If heeded and practiced, especially by youth wherever placed, this truth makes the life work successful, exerts influence for righteousness, brings much prayer, roots and grounds in the truth, makes living witnesses who reshape moral character and retrace the image of God, brings oneness with Christ in God, and turns the transgressed law from a yoke of bondage into the law of liberty and freedom of sonship.

These truths also include living faith in Christ's power and the ample provision of grace that keeps believers from false paths as they seek victory over sin and rely on God's promises. They include the testimony of Christ's power and coming witnessed in His majesty on the holy mount, and the prophetic word shining like a light in darkness. Knowing that truth about the power and coming of Christ does not remove the need to heed it, for it warns against becoming self-focused and watching others for advantage and calls for a life shaped by brotherly love and the gospel.

The essential truths about God's requirements and instruction must be repeated even to those who already know them, because salvation depends on obeying those requirements and following Bible truth carefully when it is brought home. Becoming better acquainted with the laws of God's kingdom and obeying them is vital, since neglecting them risks losing eternal life and failing to enter God's city.

Meaning of Present Truth

Present truth is truth of special importance for its own time, the Word of God for this time and the only surety in these last days. Such present truth existed in the days of Christ and of Paul and of Luther, and exists for the church today. It includes what is coming upon the world and the truth then being accomplished in the Lord's work. It is God's special truths for our time, truths that have a direct bearing upon now and meet crying need on every hand. Its fundamental principles form a divinely harmonious, inseparably connected whole whose stability and final triumph are God's work.

Present truth is not law alone or gospel alone, for one is not complete without the other. It sets forth God's great moral standard of righteousness, His holy law with all its solemn injunctions, unalterable, unchangeable and eternal, spoken in person by Jesus Christ at Mount Sinai in awful grandeur. Together with this it sets forth the gospel of a crucified Redeemer who died for the transgressor, imputing His righteousness to believers and cleansing from all sin by His blood. This goodness and love of God in giving His Son to die as substitute and surety leads to repentance toward God and faith toward Christ. Sin is the transgression of the law, and sinners must be made to feel they are transgressors and be shown the sinfulness of sin in the light of the law, which has no saving quality to pardon but draws the convicted sinner to Christ. Law without faith in the gospel cannot save, and gospel without law is inefficient and powerless, but the two blended produce love and faith unfeigned, with Christ laid as foundation and headstone crying Grace, grace, the Author and Finisher of faith, making believers sons of God and joint heirs with Christ, and coming back to allegiance to God's holy law gives eternal life. The presentation of the law showed what sin is and brought conviction and conversion to those who had accepted the truth for the last days.

Present truth as taught includes the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, the sanctuary, the 2300 days, God's commandments and the faith of Jesus which explain the past Advent movement and show the people's present position. These truths strengthen the faith of those who doubt and give certainty about the future, while messengers should focus on them rather than on subjects that do not unite the church or sanctify the soul. Present truth is identified with the third angel's message, to be presented judiciously and with dignity, including to ministers and influential people, and rejection of the truth, as in Christ's day, is no reason for discouragement. It is the message turning people from themselves to Jesus and His righteousness. It includes health reform as truly as other features of gospel work, since no branch separated from the others can form a complete whole.

Present truth became clear gradually, link by link, through careful study and sustained labor with each point linked to the next, and it is now clear and supported by compelling evidence. It comes only by careful study of the Scriptures. It is the same message upon the important points of faith borne for half a century under the demonstration of the Holy Spirit, established by instruction written under that demonstration. Its stability and final triumph are trusted as God's work.

Obscure or unimportant ideas should not be made the absorbing theme or treated as present truth, because they confuse minds and divert them from Christ and the truths God has given. Common books of narrative, biography, and men's theories and speculations that contain nothing concerning present truth are side issues, and the definite mission of those who look for Christ's coming is to bring present truth to the attention of the people with time, talents, men and means, leaving that other work to thousands of others who as yet know nothing better. Fables, erroneous theories, misleading theories, and Scripture taken out of context and applied wrongly or arranged and interpreted to support false theories must not weaken the truths that formed the people as a people, for without vital personal experience in those truths people can be deceived, and unity must be based on truth, not error. The urgent work of sharing the knowledge of truth must not be displaced by secondary interests, but God's Word guides this work and keeps believers on the path God requires. Present truth is practical matters of light and truth to be presented to the people, and thinking and dwelling on those things gives spiritual nourishment, with no need to dwell upon subjects that are not light and truth.

Present truth for this time is clear, distinct, pure Bible doctrine sounded by the gospel trumpet. It prepares a people to stand against the vast confederacy of deception, and those who are not rooted and grounded in the truth as it is in Jesus will make shipwreck of their faith in the coming contest. It includes the points of faith that have been taught from the rise of the message and remain important to the present time, and believers who already know the truth still need reminders to keep their minds fresh and firm in it. Knowing present truth does not remove the need to hold it firmly in mind, for it can rest lightly on those who neglect the light given and whose conduct shows they are not living in keeping with it.

Growth Assurance and Kingdom

The chapter lays out growth by addition on the believer's part and multiplication on God's part. To be put in remembrance means to be reminded to work on God's prescribed plan by adding grace to grace in practical godliness from day to day, with no standstill but continual advancement. The sum to be added is definite: to faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge temperance, to temperance patience, to patience godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness charity, while daily increasing in the knowledge of God and of Christ. As believers add in this way, Christ works on the plan of multiplication, multiplying grace and peace in fulfilling the requirements, persevering with them, cultivating right habits, and cooperating human effort with divine grace in continuous sanctification. By that plan God elects those being prepared for heaven and fits them for the kingdom.

Giving all diligence to make calling and election sure so as never to fall secures an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of Jesus Christ. That sure calling and abundant entrance is the eternal life insurance policy everyone may have, which Christ gave His life to make possible through His grace received through obedience to the law of God. It is held fast by belief in Him and acceptance of His great sacrifice, by which believers obtain everlasting life, gain the victory, enter through the gates of the city of God, and receive an immortal crown. Seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness in this way takes heart, mind, soul, and strength and affects the entire character, securing life like life insurance papers while seeking the righteousness of Christ.

Genuine sanctification is growth in grace and character in which believers accept God's promises, practice godliness in daily life, and develop Christlike qualities through steady effort while God multiplies grace in them. Through knowledge of God and Christ, divine power supplies what is needed for life and godliness, and the promises enable believers to partake of the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world through lust. Knowing God is linked to doing His Word and diligently adding the graces, which make believers fruitful in knowing Christ, build strength to follow Him, and remedy spiritual weakness. So formed, the character is molded after Christ's similitude and grows into a holy temple for the Lord, believers become one with the Saviour, and through them light shines forth to the church and to the world.

Christ is the only hope and sole dependence, in whom is strength. Believers are to come to Him with every little trial and large perplexity and tell Him everything, trusting Him as Helper, Strength, and sympathizing Friend because He is touched with the feeling of human infirmities. The truths of the chapter are given for encouragement and comfort to all who share the same precious faith, and the chapter is full of instruction that strikes the keynote of victory. Its instruction is a remedy for spiritual weakness, to be studied more abundantly and practiced, forcing truth impressively upon the mind, giving strength to resist temptation, to refuse the dark side of circumstances and discouraging speech, and to stand nobly against evil instead of losing what enriches life.

Living and Sharing Truth

Remaining established means searching the Scriptures and studying the chapter verse by verse with prayer for God to impress the mind, reading it to the church and in the churches as an uplifting testimony, and letting its truths fill heart and mind to resist temptation and discouragement. Putting it into practice in daily life through obedience, watchfulness, prayer for the Holy Spirit, reflection on Christ's suffering, and service gives assurance and confirms hope of entering God's city, shapes character, and prepares for the kingdom. The call to remembrance comes while mercy lingers and the way is open to approach God through earnest effort and faith, with light and power promised to those who follow on to know the Lord, with angels present and the impression of the Holy Spirit to come to the human heart and be accepted, and each person must work to the point every day. The first chapter including this reminder is especially for God's people and is to be read with the purpose of obeying its teaching in both letter and spirit.

Keeping in remembrance is done by cherishing the bright chapters of personal experience with Christ and dwelling on them in testimony meetings and Christian gatherings, which pleases God and strengthens believers. Testimonies coming from personal knowledge of Christ Jesus carry the right ring that unbelievers present will recognize, because angels of God are with those who have that knowledge and impress hearts. Such remembrance calls believers to take in the Word, live the Word, and act the Word at all times and in all places, to walk in humility of mind before God, to feel necessity, to take fast hold of the Mighty One in continual dependence, and to show works at every point and not words only so they can give others an experience. Those who live on the plan of addition will have the salvation of God imparted to every humble soul and seen in large degree.

The verse calls for acting upon the light and evidence received, giving God the service of the whole mind and heart with every capability called into use. This reminding moves to decision, brings souls to come forward for prayer, and brings those long on the point of decision to take their stand to keep the Sabbath in an advance movement and decided victory. It is instruction to be obeyed by everyone who takes the name of Christian, calling for the mind to be thoroughly cultivated, for no aspirations or enterprises sanctioned by pure religion to be forbidden, and for the Christian name to be honored, with rich blessing to those who obey. Every man is to bring himself into order by reading and heeding 2 Peter 1:1-21 and walking carefully before God to honor, fear, and glorify His holy name. The reminding is to continue as long as life in this tabernacle lasts to stir up by putting in remembrance, pressing forward in obedience to the Holy Spirit instead of grumbling and hindering progress, adding to faith virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and charity while God works for man upon the plan of multiplication.

Present truth is a message to be proclaimed without delay because the world is fast ripening for the closing up of its history and the Lord's coming draws near, with the warning message to go to all nations. Those established in the truth who truly serve the Lord Jesus will be a holy, sanctified people, communicating the light of truth to all around them not only in households but outside to those not in the faith, presenting it in the most earnest manner. The continuing work presents the special truths for the last days through lectures, Bible study, worship, church services, publications, books, tracts, papers, printed reports and leaflets, literature carrying invitation and warning, house-to-house work, personal conversation and reading, in town to town, country to country, nearby cities and neighborhoods, farming settlements and new fields, to the colored people of the South, to temperance workers including the gospel Sabbath, and to those who shape laws, so hearers may understand God's law, accept the truth or carry its knowledge home to bear fruit, be warned, be prepared for the close of history and the great day of the Lord, and be saved. The last message of mercy is to be carried by humble people including the uneducated and children to those in darkness, who are to be prepared and not hindered, working in close relation to Christ and in cooperation with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit rather than relying on human sufficiency.

Sanitariums were planted as God's own providential agencies to advance present truth and save souls as well as cure bodies. Their one object and chief interest and purpose is to proclaim the truth for this time to people from all churches, rich and poor, high and low, who still need to be reached and made acquainted with it, so those who come may find the bread of heaven and the water of life and be educated in right habits of living, spiritual and physical. Their work and the conduct of every worker from head manager to lowliest are to bear witness to the truth, tell on the side of truth, and make a clear and decided impression in favor of the truth on minds of those who come for treatment. The whole institution is to be pervaded by a spiritual atmosphere, with earnestness and devotion to God's service impressing those who come, and Bible truth for the last days taught to people receiving care.

Those established in present truth are to remain firm and stand independently to strengthen others, so messengers can take the truth to people in new and unreached places rather than repeatedly laboring among those already grounded. Those already established become out of place and weaker in spirituality when they crowd together where there is already a large church, with children exposed to temptation, and unless absolutely needed there it is wise to go where truth has not yet been proclaimed and give proof of ability to work for the Master. All servants have a work in putting believers always in remembrance, with no one setting himself up in kingly power and authority because all are brethren, requiring courteous speech and kindly action, learning Christ's meekness and lowliness, complaining and criticizing less and praying far more for wisdom from on high, working together with God, lifting the standard higher, receiving the endowment of the Holy Spirit, studying the Word deeper beneath the surface, and bringing God's power into ministry with His love shining through all done and said. Present truth is to be kept alive in life and character so others see its light and rejoice, with preachers making essential points clear and distinct so people can understand and retain them, bringing out both new and familiar truths to give hearers life and power through continual nourishment from God's word, keeping the distinction clear between serving God and not serving Him, uniting on truth not error, making it interesting by earnest Christlike house-to-house work and interesting meetings, forgetting self to save souls, helping the suffering, winning souls to Christ, and living honest dealing since sharp dealing makes unbelievers despise its professors.

The first chapter is full of instruction striking the keynote of victory, to be studied more abundantly and practiced, teaching continual advancement with no standstill by adding to faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge temperance, and to temperance patience, and to patience godliness, and to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness charity, while God works on the plan of multiplication of grace and peace. If heeded and practiced, especially by youth wherever placed, this truth makes life work successful, exerts influence for righteousness, brings much prayer, roots and grounds in the truth, makes living witnesses reshaping moral character and retracing God's image, brings oneness with Christ in God, and turns the transgressed law from a yoke of bondage into the law of liberty and freedom of sonship. The instruction belongs to parents and children to study diligently and practice its virtues to keep from falling and tread securely in knowing Christ, to students learning present truth while training to care for the sick, to workers studying it to become effective and be directed to able work, to ministers feeling its solemn responsibility and watching for souls, and to those educated in Battle Creek who still need its first principles. Disobedience disqualifies from loyal citizenship in God's kingdom, while the chapter presents the privilege of securing everlasting life and the experiences fitting men and women for efficient service.

Confidence in present truth is an anchor strengthening character and giving it energy, effectiveness, and dignity, while weak grasp leaves vulnerability to unbelief and spiritually harmful company. Present truth should occupy the mind, deepen knowledge of position, and prepare believers to explain hope from Scripture and to stand in the day of the Lord, with listening to error diverting the mind from that preparation. Seeking evidence for the faith and holding firmly builds confidence, and keeping the mind from uncertain questions and dwelling on present truth prepares God's people for translation. Clearly presenting that truth can reach hearts of those gone astray, with saints growing in grace and knowledge, and dwelling on present truth and preparation needed for sinners to be saved joins with the Holy Spirit working through efforts to preach repentance, pardon, and cleansing from sin. Receiving and living present truth brings decision separating the sincere from the corrupt, while neglecting it leaves people joined to error, so the safe course is to reject deception and feed on present truth.

Education about health reform removes prejudice and prepares people to attend to present truth for the last days. Books on spiritual subjects and on health should both present truth for these last days, enlightening, arousing, and convincing people, and helping sanctify and purify churches awaiting Christ's coming in power and great glory. Writing and publishing puts present truth into writing to be shared, with difficult passages studied with prayer for true meaning. The publishing work has much to do with power, and faithful work by bookmen doubles and trebles knowledge of present truth among those not yet acquainted when books are gotten out quickly, placed in hands to be read, and circulated widely including greatly increased circulation in foreign languages, placing the cause on vantage ground, sustained by daily individual Christian experience and close touch with the Source of strength to advance rapidly and along even lines.