2 Peter 1:9 - A Devotional Commentary

“For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his past sins.”

This is a powerful, powerful verse that I use all the time when ministering to people who gave their lives to Jesus a long time ago but are not following Him right now. The previous verses, 2 Peter 1:5-8, are Peter's version of the fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5.

When someone was genuinely born again years ago, but has been out of church, is not reading their Bible, is not spending daily time in prayer and praise, and is not teaching others in their life to do the same, they are what the church I grew up in would call backslidden. They have slid back from walking with Christ into a lifestyle that doesn't look as much like Christ as it once did.

In every instance, the person who has backslidden is living a life that has dwindled in faith, in virtue, in their daily personal knowing of Jesus, in self-control, in steadfastness, in godliness, in brotherly affection, and even in love. This verse not only diagnoses the problem, it also prescribes the solution.

The symptoms are the slipping away of the characteristics just mentioned. The cause of the symptoms is being nearsighted even to the point of blindness. A nearsighted person can only see clearly what is right in front of them. This signifies that the person is overly self-focused. They are concerned with what happened to them or what didn’t happen to them. They are concerned with what they did or what they didn't do, and what that means for what others negatively think about them or what God negatively thinks about them. This shame and guilt continue to magnify, sabotaging their faith even unto spiritual blindness.

And... what is the root cause of the nearsightedness even to the point of blindness? It is the fact that they have forgotten that they have been forgiven! In the case of the backslidden born-again Christian, they need to be reminded of Romans 4:8. Romans 4:8 says, "Blessed is the man whose sin is NEVER counted against them." Who is that man? Who is the man whose sin is NEVER counted against them? It is YOU! It is anyone who has put their faith in Jesus and has been born again. Your past, present, and future sin was counted against Jesus so it can NEVER be counted against you.

We receive that Grace by Faith. When we really receive that Grace, then it will empower complete faith—a faith that hears God, believes God, and obeys God. If they believe this word of forgiveness, their faith will be restored. They will begin to exhibit the characteristics of 2 Peter 1:5-8 as they fall back into their Loving Father's arms, giving Him the shame and guilt they have been carrying and letting Him wash every remnant of that shame and guilt from their soul.

If you are the backslidden Christian... remember Romans 4:8. Meditate on the previous paragraph. Let the Love of Jesus wash over you. Repent of your lack of belief in the forgiveness of Jesus. Fall back into your Heavenly Father's arms. Then let Him pick you back up, and like a child, hold His hand as you walk forward in obedience in the very areas that the shame and guilt caused you to fall back into. The best is yet to come!

Question:

If you’ve found yourself stuck in guilt, shame, or feeling distant from Jesus, remember: you have been fully cleansed and forgiven. What areas of nearsightedness (self-focus) do you need to surrender today to fully walk forward in obedience?

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2 Peter 1:9 - A Devotional Commentary