In the first half of this verse the apostle Peter proclaims that in those whom he addresses, and therefore in us, God's promise given through Moses at the conclusion of the covenant on Mount Sinai has been fulfilled...
In the first half of this verse the apostle Peter proclaims that in those whom he addresses, and therefore in us, God's promise given through Moses at the conclusion of the covenant on Mount Sinai has been fulfilled (Ex. 19). But there it says that the promise concerns those who keep all the commandments given by God, the law of Moses. Do we keep them? And if we recall how Jesus interprets these commandments in His Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5), our conscience should immediately accuse us. And there is no need to think that this is how things are now, while in the time of the apostles everything was in order. The books of Acts and of the apostolic letters testify that even then righteousness and sin, holiness and apostasy were mixed in people, members of the Church, just as in us. Why, then, does Peter write this?
There is one Man who did not break the law, who filled up and fulfilled all the commandments: God's Chosen One, our King and High Priest, Christ. In Him everything God promised in His covenant is accomplished, and all this becomes ours then, and only then, when we unite our life with the life of Christ, when we hand our life into His hands and allow Him to govern our life. We only need not to be "distracted" from Him, always to seek Him, to look to Him, as Peter did when he walked on the water toward Jesus (Matt. 14:29-31).
But Peter says something else as well. In this new life we have a task: to bring it to other people, to witness before them to how the Lord has changed our life, to manifest such light and such love that people may see through us the fullness of the perfection of the One who Himself is Light, Love, and Life.
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2:9 But ye - Who believe in Christ Are - In a higher sense than ever the Jews were. A chosen or elect race, a royal priesthood - "Kings and priests unto God," Rev 1:6. As princes, ye have power with God, and victory oversin, the world, and the devil: as priests, ye are consecrated to God, for offering spiritual sacrifices. Ye Christians are as one holy nation, under Christ your King. A purchased people - Who are his peculiar property. That ye may show forth - By your whole behaviour, to all mankind. The virtues - The excellent glory, the mercy, wisdom, and power of him, Christ, who hath called you out of the darkness of ignorance, error, sin, and misery.