2 Peter 1:11
“For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.”
This could be on a poster for a works based salvation, but it is not the entire truth. It may be in the back pocket of every serious Catholic and those who believe they can earn their way into God’s kingdom, and who can argue? It’s here in black and white, Peter is very clear…If you practice these qualities you will never fall and there will be provided for you a way into heaven.” So why do some Christians believe that we are saved by faith and not by works?
First, context matters, immensely in these sorts of verses. For instance in verse 2 Peter is addressing his audience, as those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ. Peter begins this message based on the assumption of the salvation and redemption by Christ’s righteousness and faith. Peter assumes these have already understood the basis and standing before God is not based on their own righteous works. They have been bought with the blood of Jesus and already have access to the kingdom of heaven.
Second, there is validity to this passage, it’s in the bible after all, however, this passage alone is not the entirety of truth, but a part. Only in light of the sum of God’s entire word do we find the whole truth. We can pick an apple off the ground near an apple tree and know for certain we do not hold the tree in our hand, neither could we easily or quickly produce a bushel of apples from a single apple. We need to return to the tree to get what we are looking for. To understand what the bark looks like, how large the tree is, what the root system is doing, what the leaves look like. We can tell a little about an apple tree from an apple. We can tell a little truth from a little verse. The validity lies in what we can do to make our faith more effective on earth.
third, there will be those who squeak into heaven by the hair on their chinny- chin- chin. In Jude we are told some are saved from the fire and even their clothes are torched they were so close to hell. Also there will be those who are gathered, but not originally invited to the wedding supper as in the parable of the wedding feast and like the thief on the cross beside Jesus, some only in their last breathe will they confess and enter. Here Peter is saying an entrance will be richly provided for you. Perhaps not all entrances are the same.
We know there are 12 gates each gate is a pearl and each gate bears the name of a tribe from Israel. It is these gates bearing the names of those who strive with God, Israel. These scriptures and others provide a fuller picture for me of what Peter is hoping to convey to his followers about the Kingdom of God. He desires earnestly for them to practice good deeds so much he says, i want to continue to stir up these reminders as long as I live. He like a loving parent wants the best for his disciples whom he loves. He doesn’t want them to be barely snatched from the fires of hell because of a last minute confession. WE can’t say how we will enter, but we know of men in the bible who were taken up in chariot of fire, or walked with God or even Moses who sort of vanished. Don’t we want an entrance like that, richly provided for us. Also consider revelation 22: 14 “blessed are they who wash their robes, so that they may have a right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates.” and then consider that Peter is expanding on Jesus’ own words in Luke 13:
22Then Jesus traveled throughout the towns and villages, teaching as He made His way toward Jerusalem. 23“Lord,” someone asked Him, “will only a few people be saved?”Jesus answered, 24“Make every effort to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able. 25After the master of the house gets up and shuts the door, you will stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ But he will reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ 26Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ 27And he will answer, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers.’
my faith place 