The Heavenly Citizens series serves as a tool to help the Christian understand not only what the Bible teaches us, but also how to study the Bible. Explaining what the Bible teaches is like giving someone a fish to eat. Teaching him how to study the Bible is like teaching someone how to fish so he can feed himself. Both approaches are essential to developing spiritual maturity.
2 Peter is the twenty-fourth volume in the Heavenly Citizens series. Apostle Peter begins with a full-length presentation for the stages of sanctification (aka the lifelong process of the believer spiritually maturing into the image of Jesus). By way of his credentials as an authority to teach on this subject, Brother Peter relays the account of being on the Mount of Transfiguration with Messiah Jesus. Additionally, Peter teaches that, as an apostle personally chosen by King Jesus, what he teaches is the inspired Word of God. The Holy Spirit inspires the Word of God, and the Holy Spirit teaches the Word of God to believers, so that they increasingly become sanctified.
The Apostle Peter next warns the believers of the dangers which face them, should they ignore their sanctification. In Old Testament days the nation of Israel was plagued with false prophets, who flourished in Israel because of a lack of a Scriptural foundation. So too, warns Peter, that believers in the Church will be plagued with false teachers, who will flourish because believers don't feed on the Word of God daily. Then Brother Peter reminds them of God's judgments on both angels and mankind, to destroy sinful angels and mankind from totally taking over heaven and earth. Peter names three such judgments: Satan's rebellion against God in heaven, Noah's Flood, and Sodom & Gomorrah.
From there the Apostle Peter goes on to reveal how the day of the Lord will be upon them at any moment, followed by a new heaven and earth. With this in view, Brother Peter instructs the believers on how they are to live on earth, so as to avoid God's judgment on themselves. They are to be holy, even as Christ Jesus is holy. To help achieve their sanctification, they should focus on their heavenly citizenship and live like they belong there.
The approach for 2 Peter, and for every volume in the Heavenly Citizens series, is to teach the student the meaning of Scripture. We also teach him or her how to study the Bible on his/her own. We do this in two ways: we provide a few rules by which to govern our Bible study, and we demonstrate by example how to study the Bible. Experience is an outstanding teacher. In our books we put into practice the rules for Bible study. By walking through the Bible with us, the reader experiences firsthand what our method of study is like.
We believe the student will come out of our studies with both an understanding of the Bible and the ability to truthfully understand the Bible on his/her own. The path lies before you. Walk through the gate and join the journey with us! And may the blessings of the Lord Jesus Christ be yours in abundance.
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