Last Words – almost
Part 4 Uhhhhhh – More Ouch~!
For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your
faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control,
and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and
godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if
these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being
ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so
nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his
former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your
calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never
fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into
the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Therefore I intend
always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are
established in the truth that you have. I think it right, as long as I am in
this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off
of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. (2Pe 1:5-14)
ESV
“is so nearsighted
that he is blind”
Lit.: is blind or
short-sighted
Blind: τυφλός,
tuphlós; to envelop with smoke, be unable to see clearly. Blind
Figuratively in respect to the mind as being blind, ignorant, stupid, slow of
understanding.
- The adjective typhlós denotes human and animal blindness. It then refers to objects without light or access (cf. blind alleys) and also to what is invisible or concealed.
- In 2 Pet. 1:9 it is the unfruitful rather than the ignorant who are blind and shortsighted (cf. vv. 5-6). Rev. 3:17 complains that the Laodicean church thinks it is spiritually rich but is really blind. Only Christ (v. 18) can cure this blindness of self-deception and complacency. KTD
Nearsighted:
muōpázō; muōpásō, from múōps,
shortsighted, which is derived from múō , to shut, and ōps, the eyes. To shut
the eyes, blink, to squint like one who cannot see clearly; hence by
implication to be nearsighted. Used metaphorically in 2Pet. 1:9.
Some interpret this as saying that those referred to are so
shortsighted they may as well be blind.
Other insert the word “or” in the verse differentiating between
shortsightedness and completely blind. I
prefer the view that these folks are so shortsighted they may as well be blind.
There’s no big reason for my preference except that the
overall indication is that these people are believers and as such I have a hard
time considering them utterly blind.
They see but are unable to see clearly.
I am disgustingly short-sighted. The greatest problem I have is in recognizing
people when I am not wearing my glasses.
I’ve looked right at someone I know well and have not acknowledged them
because although I could “see” them I could not distinguish them from anyone
else at the same distance. I have often
used the phrase, “without my glasses, I’m blind.” This, I believe, is what Peter is referring
to. It is a lack of clarity, the
inability to make close distinctions, an inability to recognize things for what
they are.
Ah, but it gets worse.
“having forgotten that
he was cleansed from his former sins”
Forgotten: “ληθη
λαβων”
- Ληθη, lḗthē: from lanthánō , to forget. Forgetfulness, oblivion (2Pet. 1:9). This is the word from which "lethal" and "lethargy" are derived.
- Λαβων from λαμβάνω, lambánō
- From the basic sense 'to take,' lambánō acquires the active senses a. 'to take to oneself,' 'to receive,' 'to collect,' and b. 'to seize.' It also takes on the more passive sense 'to acquire' and middle 'to hold or grasp something or someone.' KTD
- Sometimes means to receive as merely a self-prompted action without necessarily signifying a favorable reception. In the NT, to actively take, and, partially in the passive sense, to receive.
The gist here
is that they have not seized the fact and implications of their:
Purification
(from their former sins): καθαρισμός,
katharismós; gen, to make clean.
It actually refers to the process of
purification, the sacrifice of purification.
The purification of women (Luk_2:22; Sept.: Lev_14:32;
Lev_15:13; see Lev. 12); ritual purification (Mar_1:44; Luk_5:14; Joh_2:6). The
baptism both of John and the Lord Jesus is designated as katharismós in
Joh_3:25, not that the ritual of physical baptism brought about spiritual
results or spiritual purification, but only as a parallel in its results. As
water cleanses the body in baptism, the grace it symbolizes cleanses the soul.
Its designation as a "baptism of repentance for the remission of
sins" (Mar_1:4; Luk_3:3; Act_2:38) means an identification with the
forgiveness of sins. In Heb_1:3, the word denotes the objective removal of our
sins by Jesus Christ (see Heb_9:22-23; Sept.: Exo_30:10; Job_7:21). In 2Pe_1:9,
it refers to the actual purification accomplished in man, while in Heb_1:3 to
the propitiation provided by the Lord Jesus.
- katharós, katharízō, kathaírō, katharótēs. The group denotes physical, religious, and moral cleanness or purity in such senses as clean, free from stains or shame, and free from adulteration.
- The purity required of the NT community is moral and personal. It consists of a dedication to God that renews the inner being. Purity of heart - which is far above purity of hands - is what counts before God.
- Hebrews opposes to the older ritual purity the superior moral purity of the new order (9:13). Cleansing is still needed (cf. 9:22), but only Christ's blood can achieve this with its cleansing from sin (1:3) and liberation from sinful impulses (9:14).
Now, here I see an interesting thing. The blindness suffered is a blindness to
their condition in Christ as well as their obligation in Christ.
We’ve seen Peter’s admonition to practice in order to make
one’s election and calling sure. Perhaps
(and I hold this) the biggest problem in not practicing is that we are not sure
in our election and calling. In this
state we suffer a lack of clarity – an inability to make sound distinctions.
Not only a lack of clarity, but we are constantly tormented
with a lack of assurance of which the world, the flesh and the devil all take
advantage. We don’t know, we can’t say,
so in fear we freeze in place, a stationary target.
We get caught in between our Rock and a hard place (the
Flesh). Our Rock says we are His
forever. Our flesh (along with the world
and the devil) says otherwise. We are
sure one moment and then terrified the next.
We are confident one day and hiding the next. We’re a lot like Israel in the wilderness
wandering around between Egypt and the Land of the Promise. Back and forth, back and forth………
But like Israel in the wilderness, God is with us and for
us. We are His by the Word of His
promise and NOT by anything we have or have not done.
Practice = living in the truth of our election and call. If not perfectly, at least consistently as we
are able.
Like Israel in the wilderness, these “blind” folks have seen
but they don’t see. Their shoes never
wear out and yet they doubt. They are
well fed yet they fear hunger. They are
well fed but are dissatisfied with their fare.
God consistently demonstrates His faithfulness and yet they don’t SEE
it.
Of course you never know if the bridge will support you until
you walk on it. This is the purpose of
practice. As we practice (however
poorly), we should remember it is all in His hands, under His control. He isn’t up there with a stop watch or a tape
measure. He grades not on the curve but
on the cross.
Have you ever seen an adult throw a child into the air and
catch them and then heard the child cry out, “Do it again, do it again!!?” This is a great picture of how you and I need
to work on trusting Him. As we practice,
we are (from our point of view) taking a risk, we’re walking by faith. While we’re in the air it might be a little
frightening – but – He has promised He will be there to catch us.
Now I’m not talking about some ill-considered action taken
without prayer, study and counsel. Yes,
if you step of the roof of your house, God can catch you – but when did He tell
you to step off your roof? I am talking
about practicing what Peter admonishes us to practice in the verses we’re
coming to.
I can sympathize with the believer who feels overwhelmed as
God calls them to a mission field or a new undertaking of any sort. It’s a little (to say the least)
intimidating. But that is not what Peter
is calling us to. And yet, all too many
forget they are utterly redeemed and hesitate to risk not getting it perfect.
Near-sighted so as to be blind having too much lethargy to
grasp the truth of their Redemption and live it???
Next time - - - -
