“Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.”
of our God
The words “God and Savior Jesus Christ” is one of the most significant phrases to prove the deity of Christ in the New Testament. The Greek makes no mistake that “God” and “our Savior Jesus Christ” are one or the same person (Matthew 16:16; John 1:1; 20:28; Titus 2:13). The Greek makes the names “God” and “Savior” the same person (Granville Sharp Rule: one Greek article with two substantives).
Note other significant passages that reveal the deity of Christ: John 1:1; 20:28; Romans 9:5; Titus 2:13; 2 Thessalonians 1:12; Hebrews 1:8; 1 John 5:20.
and Savior Jesus Christ
The New Testament never calls Jesus “Savior and Lord;” it always calls him “Lord and Savior.” This sequence is the divine order. Experientially, we first come to Christ as Savior and later get to know Him as Lord. The emphasis of the New Testament is upon His Lordship. “Savior” occurs 16 times in the New Testament, but “Lord” occurs 663 times. All four occurrences of “Lord and Savior” appear in 2 Peter.
“For so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:11).
“For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning” (2 Peter 2:20).
“That you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior” (2 Peter 3:2).
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen” (2 Peter 3:18).
The title “Lord” primarily conveys the idea of Christ’s deity. The deity of Christ implies lordship or sovereignty over our lives. He has the right to tower over us. He has the sovereign right to rule over every aspect of our lives. Can you say, “My life belongs to you? You can do anything you desire with me?”
Peter uses the rare title “Savior” of Jesus no less than five times in this brief epistle (2 Pe 1:1, 11; 2:20; 3:2, 18). The idea of Jesus as Savior is common in the New Testament:
“For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11).
“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).
“Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins” (Acts 5:31).
“From this man’s seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior–Jesus” (Acts 13:23)
“For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body” (Ephesians 5:23).
“And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world” (1 John 4:14).
PRINCIPLE:
God, in the human form of Jesus, saved us from our sins.
APPLICATION:
Did you know that Jesus is God Almighty? He is the Son of God. He was God incognito who died on the cross.
The Savior saves people from sin and hell. He seeks you. Are you hiding from the Savior? You are not reading this study by accident. He brought you here. He brings you here by divine design. Will you, at this divine interjection, receive Christ as your personal Savior? Has it been a shock to you that Jesus is the only Savior of the world? It is not until you come into a personal confrontation with Jesus Christ that He becomes your Savior.
