The Story: Here’s what Peter’s getting at: Where the Word of God has taken deep root in a person – in someone who has obeyed the Gospel and repented of his previous passions and ignorance, there the fruit of the Word will begin to be in evidence and continuing (cf. Jn. 15.1-17). Love is the overarching manifestation of the new life which comes from the Word of the Gospel. All our best efforts and intentions will fade like flowers, for they have no power within themselves to keep us going, especially in the face of difficulties and trials. But the Word of the Lord remains forever and continues to bear good fruit even in the midst of hardship (Ps. 1). So these believers can know that, even when life is difficult, they truly belong to the Lord because His abiding Word is in them, bearing the fruit of love to the praise of the glory of God’s grace. What a tremendous message of hope to motivate faith and ongoing obedience in the face of trial!

The Structure: In his second epistle Peter will emphasize the importance of having our faith grounded in the more sure Word of the Lord (2 Pet. 1.19-21). The Word of God draws us into the presence of His glory and fits us to go forth transformed into the image of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 3.12-18). The Word of God is sufficient to equip us for every good work (2 Tim. 3.15-17). So if we abide in God’s Word and it abides in us, nothing that happens to us in this world will be able to shake our assurance of belonging firmly and securely in the next.

Why does the Word of God abide forever when our best efforts at being good can’t hold up? How can we know when the Word of God is abiding in us, and us in it?

Each week’s studies in our Scriptorium column are available in a free PDF form, suitable for personal or group use. For this week’s study, “The Power of Grace: 1 Peter 2.1-12,” simply click here..

T. M. Moore

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.