Brian Maloy

Truly, there is a LOT in this section, more than I would have preferred to squeeze into one Sunday Morning. Alas, me sitting down to organize my notes this afternoon is more important, since I sadly had to skip much. Being rather a long section of scripture, I will not copy and paste the entire passage — but just the verses that really stood out to me, that I wished I had been able to linger upon longer.

I appreciate my class remembered today what I call it when I go down a rabbit hole on a verse I’ve read many times, but never really hovered long enough to dig in, and as a result of it catching me differently, I have a “brain-tornado” of thoughts — endearing right? So I will attempt to unpack in written text, those THREE “Brain-Tornadoes” I had. Note: not BRIAN-tornadoes… those are different, BRAIN-tornadoes.

FIRST “Brain-Tornado” — v. 3

“Seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the full knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.” (2 Peter 1:3 LSB)

I won’t even downplay it. I probably spent 2/3 of my prep time yesterday thinking on this verse. It’s so commonplace, yet LOADED with implications. “Through the knowledge of Him”. This is where I lost it for a while, it surprised me! What a cool thought — that we are given these wonderful gifts for serving the Lord, and building His Kingdom/Church, through the very knowledge of Him. What does this mean? Where do we gain this knowledge of Him? Why, His very Word. The Word of God (the Bible), is the gift given to us, to continually impart this “knowledge of Him”, to prepare us for everything in life, and godliness — unbelievable.

Furthermore, the implications of this are awesome:

• Not by any other means do we gain this knowledge to live holy lives, but only through Him.
• Not by seeking mysterious knowledge, or some kind of esoteric experience — but through the knowledge of Him — amazing.

Of course, I dove a little into the theological implications (sadly ran out of time to go this deep this morning):

• God’s Divine Power as the Source The verse begins by affirming that it is God’s divine power that grants us everything we need. This means that our ability to live a godly life does not come from human effort alone but is enabled by God Himself. His power sustains, strengthens, and provides for us in ways beyond our own capabilities.
• Everything Required for Life and Godliness The phrase “all things that pertain to life and godliness” emphasizes completeness. There is nothing lacking—God has already provided the spiritual resources necessary for us to live in a way that honors Him. This includes:
  • Wisdom and guidance through Scripture.
  • Strength and perseverance through the Holy Spirit.
  • Community and encouragement through the body of Christ.
  • Grace and forgiveness through Christ’s sacrifice.
• Through the Knowledge of Him The means by which we access these provisions is through knowing God. This isn’t just intellectual knowledge—it’s experiential, relational, and transformative. The more we grow in our understanding of who God is, the more we recognize and receive His provision. This aligns with the biblical theme that true life is found in knowing God (John 17:3).
• Called to Glory and Virtue The verse also highlights that God has called us to a life that reflects His glory and virtue. This means that our purpose is not just survival or self-improvement but living in a way that mirrors God’s character—His holiness, love, and righteousness.

But I am hopefully ever practical, here are some of those practical implications for us who seek to follow Jesus:

• Confidence in God’s Provision: We don’t need to fear inadequacy—God has already given us what we need.
• Growth in Knowledge: The more we seek to know God, the more we experience His sufficiency.
• Living with Purpose: Our calling is not just to exist but to reflect God’s glory in our daily lives.

Lastly, I felt like I had to really ask — What is Godliness?

To be godly is to live reverently, loyally, and obediently toward God. Peter is helping us to understand that the genuine believer ought not to ask God for something more (as if something necessary to sustain his growth, strength, and perseverance was missing) to become godly, because he already has every spiritual resource to manifest, sustain, and perfect godly living.

Truly, overwhelming little passage of scripture. I LOVE when these surprises happen while studying His Word. Surely something I’ve read numerous times, and never really noticed. Oh how God is good.

SECOND “Brain-Tornado” — v. 16-18

“For we did not make known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, following cleverly devised myths, but being eyewitnesses of His majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased”— and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.” (2 Peter 1:16-18 LSB)

Identity of Jesus Matters! Knowing more of Jesus’ identity majorly shapes our own identity because He is the true image of God, the perfect representation of what humanity was meant to be. When we deepen our understanding of Christ—His character, His work, and His reign—it transforms how we see ourselves, our purpose, and our calling.

Examples:

• Union with Christ: Scripture teaches that believers are united with Christ (Galatians 2:20, Colossians 3:3). The more we understand who He is, the more we grasp who we are in Him—justified, adopted, and being sanctified.
• Christ as the Second Adam: In contrast to the first Adam, whose disobedience led to sin and death, Jesus is the true and better Adam, who restores what was lost (Romans 5:18-19). Our identity shifts from fallen in Adam to redeemed in Christ, giving us confidence in our standing before God.
• Reflection of His Character: As we behold Christ—His humility, love, obedience, and righteousness—we are transformed into His likeness (2 Corinthians 3:18). Our identity becomes shaped not by cultural narratives but by the holiness and grace of Jesus Himself.
• Purpose in His Kingdom: Knowing Jesus means understanding His mission. If He is the Sovereign King, our identity is that of citizens of His kingdom (Philippians 3:20), called to reflect His glory and carry out His purposes.
• Christ as Our Anchor: In a world that offers conflicting identities, Jesus remains the unchanging foundation (Hebrews 13:8). Instead of defining ourselves by temporary labels, we find our identity rooted in the eternal truth of who Christ is. I don’t know about you, but I need permanent, real, and steadfast in my life.

Every time I dig into something like this that stands out, naturally more questions come to mind. In this case, it of course felt connected to the idea of our being made in God’s image — so, How does this idea mingle with our being made in God’s image?

There’s a deep connection between our identity in Christ and our creation in the image of God (Imago Dei). How?

• Created in His Image (Genesis 1:26-27) Humanity was originally designed to reflect God’s nature—His moral purity, wisdom, and dominion over creation. However, sin distorted that image, leading to brokenness and separation from God.
• Christ as the Perfect Image (Colossians 1:15) Jesus is the true and perfect image of God, fully embodying what we were meant to be. By knowing Him, we see the ultimate model of righteousness, humility, and obedience—qualities that shape our own spiritual growth.
• Restored through Christ (Romans 8:29, 2 Corinthians 3:18) Salvation isn’t just about forgiveness—it’s about being conformed to Christ’s image. As we deepen our understanding of who He is, we are being remade to reflect His character more fully.
• Identity Rooted in Him (Galatians 2:20, Ephesians 4:24) Instead of seeking identity in self-expression or culture, believers find their true self in Christ. We are new creations, being renewed to better reflect God’s image as He originally intended.

Our being made in God’s image sets the foundation, but knowing Jesus’ identity is what enables us to recover and grow into that image more fully. This keeps our faith anchored—not in vague moral ideals, but in the living, revealed person of Christ. Praise. The. Lord.

THIRD “Brain-Tornado” — v. 19-21:

“And we have as more sure the prophetic word, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. Know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes by one’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever made by the will of man, but men being moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” (2 Peter 1:19-21 LSB)

Naturally being at the end of our lesson & reading — this one was the shortest on time, and I was saddest about it. Like I said, too many good things this week…. and if you can believe it, these are just the 3 “brain-tornados” I had, there are many more notes written in my quarterly (the study guide we use for studying each book of scripture quarter by quarter — brevity was NOT my friend this week, or maybe ever).

There are two things here I really lost it on, perhaps a “double-brain-tornado”? Too much? Okay, just two cool things I thought about a LOT.

ONE — Sola Scriptura, Latin for “Scripture alone,” is foundational because it asserts that the Bible is the sole infallible authority for faith and practice. This principle was paramount to the Protestant Reformation, challenging traditions that placed church teachings or leaders on equal footing with Scripture. It helps us maintain the purity of doctrine by ensuring that beliefs and practices are rooted in God’s revealed Word, rather than human traditions or institutional authority. It also serves as a defense against doctrinal drift, keeping believers anchored in biblical truth rather than subjective interpretations or external influences.

This is very dear to me, and I think about it a lot (particularly with my love of the Bible). In a world that is increasingly volatile, and post-modern, it seems of the utmost importance to ground us, help us remain steadfast, and have an anchor to trust.

When truth becomes subjective and culture drifts toward relativism, Sola Scriptura provides a firm foundation, an anchor in God’s unchanging revelation. It safeguards against being swayed by fleeting ideologies or emotional trends and reminds us that God’s Word is sufficient—not just for theological clarity but for stability in uncertain times.

In church leadership, this principle is crucial. It ensures that teaching and discipleship remain rooted in Scripture, rather than personal preference or cultural adaptation. And in individual faith, it reminds believers that their hope and wisdom aren’t found in human reasoning but in the eternal truth of God’s promises.

Personally it gives me personally confidence — I am not speaking my wisdom or thoughts — but scripture. I am not qualified to share 95% of what I say here online or in my Sunday School class — but I can speak the Word of God.

Sola Scriptura not only anchors doctrine but also brings clarity and conviction to teaching and discipleship. When you speak, you’re not offering personal speculation or subjective wisdom, but the unchanging truth of God’s Word. That takes the pressure off you to craft perfect responses and instead allows you to point others to Scripture, trusting that God’s Word never returns void (Isaiah 55:11).

TWO — the poetic beauty of how God’s Word truly grounds us, and the peace and grace to be found there — check out this out from v. 19

“And we have as more sure the prophetic word, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.”

I will not do this justice, and I am not going to try — I will just pray that the Holy Spirit lets this linger in your heart, helping you cherish and hold fast to the very Word of God with a deeper love and abiding hope. That verse above is awe-inspiring. Not only is it poetic and lovely, but it draws my heart and mind into the things of God, through His Word — to hold fast in the darkness.

“You do well to pay attention, as to [like] a lamp shining in a dark place”, are we not in a dark place of brokenness and evil? We too should do well to pay attention to God’s Word in such a way, as though we are clinging to a lamp, to the light, when we too are in a dark place. Further, we should hold onto that Truth, until the day dawns, when we can behold the face of our Jesus. Oh what a day that will be.

Wrap Up:

This morning was an unexpectedly loaded passage to study, 2 Peter 1:1-21. And I am enormously thankful. We were confronted with the reality that we have exactly what we need, through the power of God, and through His Word, to pursue godliness. Further, we are challenged to not allow ourselves to forget, to become indifferent, toward the importance of knowing the identity of Christ through scripture. Then it landed on a favorite topic, Sola Scriptura. Which, indeed, the whole of today led us right back to the value and need to remain and abide in scripture day by day, holding it dear in our hearts. Truly, it is the gift given to provide a way.

I would encourage us all, abide daily. If it’s a “daily bible”, with planned readings, wonderful! If it’s working through the Bible slowly, page by page over years, great! If it’s an Audio Bible that you listen to in the mornings while driving to work, fantastic (I love doing this each year). Whatever it may be, DWELL richly in God’s Word. It is a gift, one we must not forsake.

A verse that came quickly to mind, that perhaps serves as an encouragement to you as much as myself:

“Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” (Col. 3:16 CSB)