Gospel Foundations in 2 Peter 1:1

Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: (2 Pet 1:1 NASB)

The Christians to whom Peter wrote are defined as those "who have received a faith of the same kind as ours." Their knowledge of the facts concerning the person and work of Jesus Christ, their belief regarding those facts as true, and their trust in Jesus: these things were not manufactured by their own will-power, but were gifts from God based on His free, favorable disposition toward us.

The Christians to whom Peter wrote had "received a faith" based upon "righteousness." But it was not their own righteousness that secured this faith, rather it was "the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ." Jesus always had and will ever have a right standing before God the Father. Jesus clothes us in His righteousness that we may stand before God without the terror of condemnation as we trust in Him.

Jesus-- the One anointed by God the Father as His special servant to triumph over sin, death, and Hell on behalf of His people-- is identified in this verse as "our God and Savior." Jesus is the all-powerful One; He is one in nature with God the Father. Through Jesus all things were created and by Him all things are held together. Jesus has become our Savior; when we had lived to serve ourselves rather than serving God-- when we had broken God's commandments-- Jesus lived out a life of perfect obedience on earth, perfectly obeying God's commands on our behalf, then He died in the place of sinner. Three days later, Jesus was raised from the dead, proving that He had conquered sin, death, and Hell.

Anyone reading this, I urge you-- if you have not already done so-- turn from your disobedience, turn from your self-reliance, and cast yourself upon Jesus to receive His mercy. See Jesus today as Your God and Savior.