“Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:” (2 Peter 1:10, AV) In every school that I ever attended, there have been examinations. One of the most important exams in college was a course’s final examination. In my freshmen yearContinue reading “The Examination (2 Peter 1:10)”
Author Archives: Steve Hankins, Th.D.
Blind and Nearsighted (2 Peter 1:9)
“But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.” (2 Peter 1:9, AV) Some people have a problem with their eyes. At one time I had better than 20-20 vision. Unfortunately, as I grew older, my vision has changed. IContinue reading “Blind and Nearsighted (2 Peter 1:9)”
Fruitfulness or Stagnant Ponds (2 Peter 1:8)
“For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:8, AV) When I lived with my grandmother in the country, we had some chickens, she had this idea to get a couple ducks. TheContinue reading “Fruitfulness or Stagnant Ponds (2 Peter 1:8)”
Responsibility (2 Peter 1:5-7)
“And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your 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.” (2 Peter 1:5–7, AV) In 1969, I entered Drexel Institute of Technology in Philadelphia. I went there toContinue reading “Responsibility (2 Peter 1:5-7)”
No Excuse (2 Peter 1:3-4)
“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruptionContinue reading “No Excuse (2 Peter 1:3-4)”
Multiplication (2 Peter 1:2)
“Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,” (2 Peter 1:2, AV) In the old days, we learned our multiplication tables in grade school. Multiplication was good. For instance, if you had $2.00, a lot of money when I was in school, and doubled it, youContinue reading “Multiplication (2 Peter 1:2)”
Equality (2 Peter 1:1)
“Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:” (2 Peter 1:1, ESV) Throughout history, there have been divisions between people due to race, color, gender, socio-economic status, etc. These are things thatContinue reading “Equality (2 Peter 1:1)”
Peace of God (1 Peter 5:14b)
“Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.” (1 Peter 5:14, AV) In this frantic world in which we live, we long for peace. We have recently seen war in Eastern Europe, in the Ukraine. With this particular war, we have seen the destruction of property, a tremendous loss of life, atrocitiesContinue reading “Peace of God (1 Peter 5:14b)”
Expressions of Fellowship (1 Peter 5:13-14a)
“The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son. Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity.” (1 Peter 5:13–14, AV) Prior to entering the pastorate, I noticed that some churches are so cold that you could put on a pair of ice-skates and skateContinue reading “Expressions of Fellowship (1 Peter 5:13-14a)”
Stand Firm (1 Peter 5:12)
“By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it.” (1 Peter 5:12, ESV) I spoke with an evangelist one time about preaching and communicating biblical truth. One of the things I distinctly remember himContinue reading “Stand Firm (1 Peter 5:12)”
Renewing the Heart 