For “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them

 2 Peter 2:1-22

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.

They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you.

They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.” 

 If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.

Why?

There are many men like peter mentioned who listen to the Gospel, but their hearts were sold to the sins and false teaching and their sins. They would rather not receive the Gospel, for their situation will be worse than before.

Paul reminds us of the consequences of falling into sin.

Be aware, don't be bound by the sis, sins are more attractive to our fleshly life.

How?

Keep going on the way of the Lord taught us. Aware the false teaching.

Make every effort to confirm your calling and election

 2 Peter 1:1-21

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Not because you must, but because you are willing

 1 Peter 5:1-14

To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another.

Standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

Why?

Suffering is difficult, but the Lord wants us to accept these sufferings. After suffering, we may be revived from the dead and receive a new life from the Lord.

After suffering, we may learn the treasure of life in the Holy Spirit.

How?

May my life could be used by the Lord and witness the glory of the Lord from my behavior.

Love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

 1 Peter 4:1-19

They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you.  But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.

love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 

So that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever.

If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 

However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 

Those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

Why?

To be a Christian, we may suffer in this world like Jesus Christ. Peter encouraged us not to be ashamed of the Spirit of glory and of God's rest on us.

Bear the name of Jesus Christ is a holy mission, do not be ashamed but praise God that we may have this mission to bear it.

How?

Do my best to walk with Jesus Christ and love others, for God is love.

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult

 1 peter 3:1-22

Wife, your beauty should not come from outward adornment, rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.  For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves.

Husbands, in the same way, be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.

For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. 

Why?

Learn from Jesus, Jesus suffered the unfair judgment and shed blood on the cross, all because Jesus loves us. Through the blood of Jesus and faith in Jesus, we may be sons of the Lord.

Respect those who suffer for the Gospel and preach the message of the Good News in the world. They are the Missionary.

How?

Keep my tongue carefully, may my words encourage others.

The stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall. They stumble because they disobey the message.

1 Peter 2:1-25

The Living Stone and chosen people. 

The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone.

The stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall. They stumble because they disobey the message.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God.

Be holy, because I am holy

 1 Peter 1:1-25

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

You were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

“All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.”

Why?

Peter described the truth of our Gospel and the meaning to all who are reborn from Jesus in faith.

Because the Lord is Holy, I should do everything to be Holy too. 

Only God's word endures forever. So be strong in faith and pray that the Lord help us walk with the Holy Spirit.

How?

The actions are to love one another deeply from the heart.