". . . to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ" (II Peter 1:1).

In this half-verse, note first that Jesus Christ is God. The original Greek supports the following word order, "the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ." Jesus is both "our God and Savior." Thomas addressed Him as "My Lord and my God" (John 20:28).

Second, the only way we can get to heaven is "through the righteousness of" this God and Savior. Our own righteousness is filthiness. The Lord not only cleanses us from sin, He gives us His perfect righteousness. "There is . . . no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1). Those "in Christ" wear His perfect robe of righteousness.

Third, this righteousness is a gift. It is not something we earn; we receive (obtain) it from the One who removes our hearts of stone and gives us hearts of flesh. With such hearts, we humble ourselves in faith before the holy God and say with the publican, "God be merciful to me a sinner" (Luke 18:13). Faith is a gift and is "not" of ourselves (Ephesians 2:8).

Fourth, Christian faith is precious. Other religions say, "Do this and do that if you want to go to heaven," but Christianity is the only "finished" religion. The work of salvation was finished two thousand years ago when Jesus cried out from the cross, "It is finished" (John19:30). Jesus paid it all; all to Him we owe.

Finally, in saying "with us," Peter acknowledges himself to be a sinner like us. He needed to place his faith in the same Person as we do. He wrote "to them that have obtained like precious faith with us." We should not, therefore, idolize or worship Peter. Particles of grace do not flow from his hands down to us. A saint he is, but his and our only hope is in the preciousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ. PGH