Foreword
Are you seeking victory in your Christian life? Then you have come to the right place:
“In the second letter addressed by Peter to those who had obtained ‘like precious faith’ with himself, the apostle sets forth the divine plan for the development of Christian character.”—The Acts of the Apostles, p. 529.
“The first chapter of Second Peter is full of instruction, and strikes the keynote of victory. The truth is impressively forced upon the mind by the way it is presented in this chapter. Let us more abundantly recommend the study of these words, and the practicing of these precepts.”—The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 7, p. 942.
How essential it is to develop truly Christian characters at a time in history when we soon must stand without a Mediator pleading in our behalf in the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary! With these solemn thoughts in mind, Sabbath school students around the world will be concentrating on Lessons from the Epistles of Peter (II).
“Never was there a time when it was more important that we should deny ourselves and take up the cross daily than now. How much self-denial are we willing to practice?”—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 9, p. 186.
“We are to become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. . . .
“There is no such thing in the Word of God as unconditional election—once in grace, always in grace. In the second chapter of Second Peter the subject is made plain and distinct. . . .
“The Scriptures make it plain that those who once knew the way of life and rejoiced in the truth are in danger of falling through apostasy, and being lost. Therefore there is need of a decided, daily conversion to God.
“All who seek to sustain the doctrine of election, once in grace, always in grace, do this against a plain, ‘Thus saith the Lord.’ . . .
“Those who have been truly converted have been buried with Christ in the likeness of His death, and raised from the watery grave in the likeness of His resurrection, to walk in newness of life. By faithful obedience to the truth they are to make their calling and election sure.”—The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 6, pp. 1114, 1115.
“By beholding and imitating [Christ’s] life we shall become renewed in His image. The glory of heaven will shine in our lives and be reflected upon others. At the throne of grace we are to find the help we need to enable us to live thus. This is genuine sanctification, and what more exalted position can mortals desire than to be connected with Christ as a branch is joined to the vine?”—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 306. Amen!
The General Conference Sabbath School Department
