Category Archives: 2 Peter

2 Peter, New Testament, Sermons

Remember

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Remember
June 20, 2004 Sermon by DRW Passage 2 Peter 1.1-15

Father,

As each of us enter your throne, let us glorify You by seeking Your Truth and by doing it. Help us to walk out of this room as changed people.

Amen.

I am not too sure how many people in this room remember Karen’s grandmother. She was a wonderful woman who, in the waning years of her life, was plagued with a disease called Parkinson’s Disease. She found it difficult to remember much. She had glimpses of her old self, periodically; but, overall, she couldn’t remember who she was, what she had done in life, nor who the people were that were taking care of her. She had it difficult. She was unable to understand what to do and couldn’t recognize what was happening nor who it was that loved her. I see this in out passage before us today. We have been called to remember certain things, but find it difficult to do so at times. We have been called to know who it is that loves us and to follow him, but forget who it is that loves us. We are plagued by a disease that keeps us from recognizing who we are, what has happened in our lives, and that keeps us from seeing the Lover of our souls. This disease is called sin.

Our passage sets before us great truths for us to overcome this terrible disease. There is only one cure and that is a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. Let’s read verses 1-15, making comment on the way.

1   “Simon Peter” is the Apostle Peter. The one who couldn’t say that his overwhelming passion in life was Jesus when asked in John 21. By this time in his life, he could answer the question Jesus asked with a “yes”. Yes, You are more than a friend, You are my overwhelming passion in life. I realize that at the ages most of us are at, we desire to love Jesus with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength. But, it is difficult. Be of good cheer, keep on seeking Him and you will be consumed by Him as the years go by. Be warned, forsake His Word, forsake prayer, and you will be consumed by this world as the years go by.

“To those . . . as ours.” He is writing this letter to Christians. He makes mention that their faith is as precious as the apostles faith. That is, they have the same faith, the same Lord, the same Holy Spirit, the same Father, they each have all that is necessary for living the life that God created for them to live.

2   “Grace and peace . . . Jesus our Lord” Peter is letting us know the only way for us to have growing favor before God and a relationship with God as He intended us to have it (this is encapsulated in the word “peace” or the Hebrew equivalent “shalom”). That is salvation leading to a life lived according to His plan. The only way for this to happen is we are growing in our understanding of who God is, of what Christ has done. This is the truth that James 1.22-25 presents to us as-well-as 1 John 2.3-5.

3   “His divine power” God has the ability to provide everything for us to live the life that He created for us to live. It comes only through our knowledge of Him. We need to understand that our lives need to be lived for His glory. We also need to see that whatsoever happens to us, as we seek His face, as we seek after His righteousness, according to Romans 8.28, will become good. We need to understand that all of our life’s circumstances pass through the loving hands of our God. All that we need is found in Him. We need to remember this. We need to understand this. We need to know this.

Karen and I, as-well-as Mike and Jamie, have experienced the need for this knowledge. I believe that God is a sovereign God. Which means God is in control of all things. If He is in control of all things, and, I know from Romans 8.28 and other verses, He is seeking to receive glory from my life and that only good would come, no matter the circumstance, because He is good and because evil doesn’t glorify Him, then I know that I can trust Him no matter what befalls me. I become troubled and in disrepair only when I do not focus my life on Him. When I see the circumstances: my house isn’t selling, I have no job, I won’t be able to pay the mortgage next month, and the like, I can be overwhelmed by them. When I focus on God, I see that He has a purpose for each of these things, although I may not see nor understand what it is—I still trust Him. As Job of old said: “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” I say all this to illustrate what the knowledge of God can produce.

4   read As we are growing in Christ, we begin to see the advantages that salvation bring to us. Each time we turn from sin to God we have escaped the corruption of this world. Positively, we have grown in fellowship with God that is what participate means. We will receive great promises from God. For a sampling of these promises read Ephesians 1-3, realize that these only come to us as we grow in Christ.

Before we go much further, I would like to comment on what a promise is and peruse some of the promises found in 2 Peter. A promise, according to American Heritage Dictionary, is a declaration assuring that one will or will not do something. A promise can be characterized by these three things:

1   What is promised is in the power of the one who promised

2   The one who promised can make a promise as it pleases him

3   The promise is received only from him, through no effort on our part

As we read through this book, we find a variety of promises:

1   What we need to live a godly life, the one God created us for (1.3)

2   Christians seeking after God will be fruitful in our life (1.8)

3   We have forgiveness of all sins (1.9)

4   We will receive rewards in eternity for what was done here, mostly a “well done” my good and faithful servant because you lived the life I had created for you to live (1.11)

5   Deliverance from trials or protection through trials (2.9)

6   The return of Christ to make all things right (3.4)

This is, by no means, an exhaustive list. We know there are thousands of others through Scripture.

5-7     This is a list of characteristics that each of us need to study in a way that we recognize what we are growing in and where we are lacking. We each need to read this list before God, asking Him to show us where we need Him. He asks us to work, to make an effort in our lives so this fruit will grow. Each of these characteristics must be found in our lives, must be growing. We need goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. We know from Galatians 5, these come only through the Holy Spirit. It is as we relinquish our desires and seek Him, that these things will be produced in our lives. We need to speak as John the Baptist spoke: “He must increase, I must decrease.” And as Jesus Himself spoke: “Nevertheless, not what I want but what You want.”

9   What happens to those who do not seek God, who do not live the life God created for them to live? What happens to those who fail to work to develop these qualities in their life by turning to God and His Word, and live by it? Read They become nearsighted. They become spiritually blind. They cannot see the things of God because they can only see what is in front of them, which is the world. They see only the circumstances and not the Savior. They live a life that doesn’t see God. Jesus tells us in Matthew 5.8 that only the pure in heart see God. We know from John 17 that the Word of God purifies us and from 1 Peter 1.22, that obeying that truth purifies us. Our only remedy from shortsightedness is to seek after God. This is the advice Jesus gave the church at Ephesus in Revelation 2 when He reminded them to remember and do what they know to be truth.

This person also forgets that all his sins have been forgiven the moment they became a Christian. They go forth living life as if they have not escaped the corruption of this world and are then overcome by it.

8, 10-11  What happens for those who seek after God? What happens to those who desire to live the life He created them for and then diligently seek to do His Word? Verse 8 tells us “you will not be ineffective nor unproductive”. Jesus promises us that we will bear much fruit as we abide in Him (John 15). Verse 10 lets us know that we can be sure of our salvation, that is we will not doubt if God has saved us. Verse 10 tells us that we will not fall if we are walking in His will as seen in His Word. This is the truth Jesus presents in the parable of the man building his house on the rock in Matthew 7.24-25. We have already mentioned verse 11.

In the passage before us, Peter is aware of his circumstances. He wants to remind those he has been ministering to about their privileges and duties in Christ. He so much wants to remind them, that in the four verses before us, he uses the word “remember” three times. He is actually pleading with them from a personal standpoint. He uses the word “I” over and over again. These are brothers and sisters that he loves and believes it is his obligation to tell them truths they should already know. We have seen what Peter wanted to remind his friends of Salvation (1.1-4), Growth (1.5-7), and Assurance (1.8-11).

12 I will always remind you

of these things-the things listed from verse 1 to verse 11.

even though you know them-do they know them in their head or in their heart? The actions they display will show where the Word of God is held. If they have them in their heart, this will lead them to do them.

and are firmly established in the truth-this solid foundation, the one upon the rock.

you now have-this is very keen. Philippians 3.12-16.

13 I think it is right

to refresh

your memory

as long as I live-Colossians 4.17 reminds us to do what God has equipped us to do, and to complete it.

in the tent of this body-for me it is EFCC

14 because I know that I will soon put it aside-for me it is next week

as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me-I believe that God has called me to a different, a new stage in my life.

15 And I will make every effort-I was going over the list of almost four hundred messages, three hundred CEs, and two-hundred fifty FNFs I have taught. Wow, we have come a long way haven’t we. It has been a good work, I pray that it is also a fruitful work. As I look out across this room, I see that it has been. More on that next week.

to see that after my departure

you will always be able to remember these things

I believe many of us are at the point where we do not need to know new things, we are at the point where we need to remember what we know. It is when we begin to do what we know that God will bless us with greater understanding of His Word and His purpose in our lives. The was a missionary to the Philippines who was trying to help a young convert grow. He encouraged him to memorize the Sermon on the Mount, particularly Matthew 5.3-10, what we call the Beatitudes. The young man became upset after trying to memorize these great truths after two weeks. He was unable to do so. He went back to the missionary who encouraged him to continue to memorize those 8 verses. The young man left. The missionary didn’t see him for a few months. When he did, the young man was overjoyed to quote all of Matthew 5-7 to the missionary. The man was impressed with the memory work. He asked the young man how he did it. He told him that he couldn’t memorize the passage and was getting ready to quit trying. One day, he decided to memorize it in a different way. He would do what it said. He figured if you did one verse a day he could memorize the 8 verses. His life was changed, the verses memorized, and many people were blessed.

This is where we stand today. We are trying so much to memorize the Bible or know about the Bible that we forget to do it. We want the Word of God to be so much a part of our lives that we read, listen, and memorize, but forget to do it. The CYA’s CHAT group has been studying the purposes God has created us for. In each lesson, Rick Warren reminds us that Jesus promised us that we would be blessed if we did what the Word of God said, not merely heard it. That is so important, we need to do whatever the Word of God tells us in order to be changed by it.

Turn with me to James 1.22-25. Read

My question for you today is, “What is God wanting you to do in your life?” It could be something as simple as reading His Word, being baptized, joining the prayer meeting, going on a mission trip to something as difficult as surrendering your heart, soul, mind, or strength to Him. We all have that one thing that God calls us to do. What is it that God is calling you to do? Let’s go back over that list in verses 5-7 and prayerfully choose one we know we lack and ask God to develop it in us this week. Remember, as you ask God to do this, He will but only as we seek the opportunities that He will provide for us.

For instance, if I ask God for knowledge or a way to express my knowledge, I need to be seeking those opportunities to express the knowledge He has given me in a loving and godly manner. I was listening to the radio last night on the way home for our fellowship night. The man basically said that people give up their intellect when they become Christian. I was fuming, I wanted to call in and give the announcer a piece of my mind. That wouldn’t have been

Let’s say that God has called me to self-control. What would this mean? In the area of our lifestyle, we would need to ask God to show us areas that we are doing things on our own power and then seek the Holy Spirit during those times. Do we dress appropriately, are our hobbies godly, is our entertainment pure, what bad habits do I possess, is my speech proper, how do I present myself to people? The list can go on, but you get the picture.

Each of us need to ask God what area we need to work on, to ask God for the strength to overcome that sin, and then go out and do it in His strength.

Father,

As we go from here to CE and beyond, help us to remember our salvation and how great it is, help us to remember the growth You have brought about in our lives already and the life You have called for us to live and let us grow in it, and by the fruit we see, let us gain assurance that we are following the Truth that sets us free.

Amen.

©2012 Teach for God Ministries. Used by Permission.

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Please include the following statement on any distributed copy: By David R Williamson. ©2012 Teach for God Ministries. Website: www.teach4god.com

2 Peter, New Testament, Old Testament, Psalms, Sermons

Remember

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Remember
November 27, 1993 Sermon by DRW Passage 2 Peter 1.12-18 and Psalm 77

OUTLINE

INTRODUCTION

EXPLAIN THE MOUNT EBAL AND GERIZIM STORY IN DEUTERONOMY.

DEU 11:26-29

See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a <curse>–the blessing if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today; the <curse> if you disobey the commands of the Lord your God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known. When the Lord your God has brought you into the land you are entering to possess, you are to proclaim on Mount Gerizim the blessings, and on Mount Ebal the <curses>.

Remember:

KEY TO CURSES/REMEMBERING

DEU 27:26    “<Cursed> is the man who does not uphold the words of this law by carrying them out.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”

DEU 28:15    However, if you do not obey the Lord your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these <curses> will come upon you and overtake you: use you did not obey the Lord your God and observe the commands and decrees he gave you.

DEU 28:45    All these <curses> will come upon you. They will pursue you and overtake you until you are destroyed, because you did not obey the Lord your God and observe the commands and decrees he gave you.

To receive blessings remember.

THE KEY TO RIGHTEOUS LIVING IS REMEMBERING

MIC 6:5    My people, remember what Balak king of Moab counseled and what Balaam son of Beor answered. Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of the Lord.”

ISA 64:5   You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember your ways. But when we continued to sin against them, you were angry. How then can we be saved?

To receive curses forget.

RESULT OF NOT REMEMBERING

JDG 8:33 No sooner had Gideon died than the Israelites again prostituted themselves to the Baals. They set up Baal-Berith as their god and JDG 8:34 did not remember the Lord their God, who had rescued them from the hands of all their enemies on every side.

 

WE SIN WHEN WE DON’T REMEMBER

PSA 106:6     We have sinned, even as our fathers did; we have done wrong and acted wickedly. PSA 106:7 When our fathers were in Egypt, they gave no thought to your miracles; they did not remember your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea. PSA 106:8 Yet he saved them for his name’s sake, to make his mighty power known.

ISA 46:8   “Remember this, fix it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels. ISA 46:9 Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.

Remember things like:

2CO 9:6   Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

EXO 20:8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.

EPHESIANS 2

EPH 2:11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (that done in the body by the hands of men)– EPH 2:12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.

DEU 5:15 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.

DEU 15:15    Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you. That is why I give you this command today.

DEU 16:12    Remember that you were slaves in Egypt, and follow carefully these decrees.

DEU 24:18    Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you from there. That is why I command you to do this.

DEU 24:22    Remember that you were slaves in Egypt. That is why I command you to do this.

THE NAMES OF GOD AND WHY REMEMBERING THEM

PSA 119:55   In the night I remember your name, O Lord, and I will keep your law.

1.  Forgetting

a.  CURSES (GENERAL)

DAN 9:11      All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you. “Therefore the <curses> and sworn judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against you.

i.  FALLING

PSA 119:21   You rebuke the arrogant (PRIDE), who are <cursed> and who stray from your commands.

(1)     SIN–transgressed your law

(2)     PRODIGAL–and turned away

(3)     PRIDE–refusing to obey

ii. RESTORING

REV 2:5   Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

REV 3:3   Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.

(1)     SIN TO CONFESS–the transgression

MAT 26:75    Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

(2)     PRODIGAL TO RETURN–to His way

(3)     PROUD TO BE HUMBLE–to do His Word

b. FALSE PROPHETS

i.  1 TIMOTHY

ii. 2 TIMOTHY

iii.     ACTS

c.  LIBERTY AND OBEDIENCE

They knew it all, of course: the twin themes of faith and works, grace and effort, were not new to them or to any of the early Christians. But they needed to be put in remembrance of these things, particularly in their present situation when the grace of God was being used as a cloak for license (ii.19; cf. Rom. vi.1) and the knowledge of God as a substitute for obedience (cf. 1 Jn. ii.4). Footnote

i.  2 PETER 2.19 AND ROMANS 6.1

ii. 1 JOHN 2.4

2.  Remember

CONCLUSION TO NEGATIVES

REV 22:3      No longer will there be any <curse>. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.

PURPOSE OF REMEMBERING

NUM 15:39    You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the Lord, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by going after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes. NUM 15:40 Then you will remember to obey all my commands and will be consecrated to your God.

a.  PRESENCE

i.  CONFIDENCE

EXO 32:13    Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I <promised> them, and it will be their inheritance forever.'”

ILLUSTRATION

Judy Chang and her court case Wednesday.

If God is in control and you know what He has promised, then you can rest in Him with confidence.

PSA 78:35     They remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer.

 

ii. BOLDNESS

DEU 11:25    No man will be able to stand against you. The Lord your God, as he <promised> you, will put the terror and fear of you on the whole land, wherever you go.

DEU 31:23    The Lord gave this command to Joshua son of Nun: “Be strong and courageous, for you will bring the Israelites into the land I <promised> them on oath, and I myself will be with you.”

ILLUSTRATION

Paul the Apostle and his preaching.

1 Timothy 1.7

b. PROMISE

Annie Johnson Flint’s “What God Hath Promised”

JOS 21:45     Not one of all the Lord’s good <promises> to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.

KEY TO PROMISES AND OUR RESPONSE TO THEM

2CO 1:20      For no matter how many <promises> God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.

2CO 7:1   Since we have these <promises>, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

1 JOHN 3.1-3

 

2PE 1:4   Through these he has given us his very great and precious <promises>, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

2PE 2:19  They <promise> them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity–for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.

2PE 3:4   They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he <promised>? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”

2PE 3:9   The Lord is not slow in keeping his <promise>, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

2PE 3:13  But in keeping with his <promise> we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.

1JO 2:25  And this is what he <promised> us–even eternal life.

i.  IN DARKNESS

That state where we are seeking after God but there seems to be no direction, no confirmable direction He wants us to go. Which school does He want you to attend? What major? Who should you marry? Where should I go to work? When we seek after the will of God for our lives, in these areas, He seems to turn of the lights and asks us to trust in Him and His promises. To remember what He did for us in the light and allow that to guide us through the dark.

(1)     Sarah

GEN 21:1-2   Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had <promised>. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had <promised> him.

HEB 11:11    By faith Abraham, even though he was past age–and Sarah herself was barren–was enabled to become a father because he* considered him faithful who had made the <promise>.

 

(2)     Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob

GEN 50:24    Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he <promised> on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”

HEB 11:13    All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things <promised>; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.

EXO 33:1 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I <promised> on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’

DEU 34:4 Then the Lord said to him, “This is the land I <promised> on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it.”

ROM 4:20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the <promise> of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, ROM 4:21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had <promised>.

ii. IN LIGHT

(1)     Paul the Apostle (his ministry–Philippians 1.20-21)

(2)     Peter the Apostle (his death–John 21 and 2 Peter 1.12-15)

ACT 3:21      He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he <promised> long ago through his holy prophets.

ROM 1:2  the gospel he <promised> beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures

c.  PASSION

i.  EMMAUS DISCIPLES

1TH 1:3   We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

2TI 1:5    I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. 2TI 1:6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

2TI 1:5    I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. 2TI 1:6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

PSA 106:12   Then they believed his <promises> and sang his praise.

PSA 119:50   My comfort in my suffering is this: Your <promise> preserves my life.

PSA 119:76   May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your <promise> to your servant.

PSA 119:140      Your <promises> have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them.

PSA 119:148      My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your <promises>.

PSA 119:162      I rejoice in your <promise> like one who finds great spoil.

PSA 145:13   Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is faithful to all his <promises> and loving toward all he has made.

 

SCRIPTURE READING

PSA 77     I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me. When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands and my soul refused to be comforted. I remembered you, O God, and I groaned; I mused, and my spirit grew faint. Selah You kept my eyes from closing; I was too troubled to speak. I thought about the former days, the years of long ago; I remembered my songs in the night. My heart mused and my spirit inquired: “Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again? Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time? Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?” Selah Then I thought, “To this I will appeal: the years of the right hand of the Most High.” I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds.

2 Peter, Galatians, New Testament, Sermons

Grand Canyon

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Grand Canyon
Fruit of the Spirit
October 11, 1992 Sermon by DRW Passage Galatians 5.22-23 and 2 Peter 1.3-15

As I was attempting to explain everything we have seen concerning the Fruit of the Spirit, I became overwhelmed with the material we had covered. We have spent several weeks in the chasms of God’s work within us. We have seen the carvings that He is making and has made on our lives and in our hearts. We have seen where the river of God’s power has flowed within us to create canyons of beauty. An etching of love, faith, patience, self-control, kindness, goodness, peace, joy, and gentleness. We have seen the Master at work on His billboard called our life. Taking a look back at what God has done is amazing.

We began by standing at the edge of a broad canyon when we looked into Psalm 1 and the man and woman of God. From there we began to walk down into the canyon to look at the bright and beautiful aspects that create the man and woman of God. Some, even as we were walking, were touched by the hand of God as He added an extra touch of beauty to their life in Christ. Some realized the need for repentance from pride, the desire for rest in Christ, and even the patience that God requires. God was making His announcement to the world evident in the work of these peoples lives.

But now it is time to come to the top of that canyon. We could spend the rest of our lives in the canyon looking at the make-up of that canyon and never see the entirety of it. It is a grand canyon, carved by the hand of God. When God makes something, He demands glory and praise from that which He created.

That is what we want to look at as we leave the floor of the canyon and return to the edge–once more, we look down at the whole and praise God.

LET’S PRAY:

God, creator God. Re-creator God. GOD! We praise You. We thank You. We thank You for Your Spirit You have given that we might become more like You. We praise You for bringing to us Your goodness and glory that we might be more like You. Be with us this afternoon as we hear Your word–be glorified.

Today we want to look at 2 Peter 1.3-15. The outline is on the back of your bulletin.

I.  A REMINDER OF THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT (3-7)

A. OUR APPOINTMENT

1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

1:4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

As believers, we are called into a life of godliness, a life that is from God, the divine nature, and is not tainted by the world.

To look at it another way, we have been called by the manifestation of God’s glory and goodness to live a life characterized by purity and not by the corruption in the world. It is the time that the believer is renewed by Christ as the Holy Spirit begins to restore the image of God within him.

Stop to consider the impact of these verses.

3   He has given us everything we can ever need, not necessarily what we want, but what we need. The purpose for his giving what we need: to produce Himself in us–life and like Godness. It is key to know how this divine power is given, or how we become like Christ. Can you see it? It is through our knowledge of Him. I looked at “knowledge” in this passage (verses 2 and 3) and noticed something interesting: It is knowledge that produces godliness, which receives the promises which produces the divine nature. The knowledge goes beyond mere knowing of something. It must mean the joining together intimately with the thing learned. In this case, knowledge of Christ is to become intimately acquainted with Him. As we begin to know Him, we begin to live our life as if He were always with us (He is, you know). It is a knowledge of the heart: knowing what hurts Him, what causes Him to rejoice, what He is sensitive to.

4.  We must become in practice what we already are in God’s sight. This is the promise, we can become in reality–someday–as God sees us now: participants of His divine nature.

God has called us to this. He has chosen to stop and turn and call us to Him. There is another side to the coin. It is true that salvation is free, we cannot work our way into heaven. We can only listen for His call and come. Because of His call and His great and precious promises and His divine power, we cannot sit back and be content with our faith. This is where the responsibility comes in (verses 5-7):

B. OUR ACCOUNTABILITY

1:5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;

1:6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;

1:7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

Sounds sort of like the Fruit of the Spirit. Now can you see why we could have stayed in the canyon forever looking at the intricacies of the Christian life. Instead of dwelling on these, allow me to briefly mention them, then we will press on to our second point.

Faith: this is believing in something that has worth, it is staying faithful to that no matter the cost. This is the greatest need of our age–belief in God. Here is an example: everytime we are lonely or feeling blue we are denying God. We are telling Him that we don’t believe His Word. We don’t believe Him when He tells us He will never leave us nor would He forsake us.

Goodness:Moral excellence. This is the willingness to stand out from the crowd, to stick your neck out (to be Shedrach, Meschach and Abedneggo). Not being pleased with mediocrity, only with the best. It is not striving to be like Paul, nor like Joe but it is striving to be like Christ. True moral excellence is Christlikeness. Never settle for second best when God offers the best.

Knowledge:  We discussed that above. It also means to live life wisely. In a sea of decisions, we wisely choose the best one. It is what Heb 5.14 calls the ability to distinguish bad from good; it is also the ability to distinguish the good from the best. It is in essence the practicing of the presence of God.

Self-control: Remember last week, this is the ability to allow the Spirit to control you. It knows that our Christian life is a holy war between flesh and spirit and the spirit is winning.

Perseverance:Patience–living in God’s time. Allowing God to work in you to remove anxiety and hopelessness. It calls us to look forward to the future when God’s patience will be spent and the world will be judged. It is looking to the future, and the hope that it brings. It is the ability to hang in there because we know what the payoff is, it is not merely surviving another day until He returns.

Godliness:    This is an awareness of God in every aspect of my life.

Brotherly Kindness: This means that we guard one another’s dignity and fight against gossip, slander, jealousy, prejudice for the sake of unity. It is stopping and telling that person sitting next to you, “I love you because you are my brother or sister.”

Love: This is turning to the person next to you and saying, “I love you because God loves me.” Do you see the difference. Brotherly kindness is based upon the person receiving the love; love is based upon the person giving the love.

In short, another aspect of the Fruit of the Spirit. But with this comes responsibility. The outworking of God in our lives is the assurance of our belief and salvation.

II. A REASSURANCE OF THE FAITH (8-11)

A. OUR FRUITFULNESS

1:8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We need to be productive, fruitful in our Christian walk. We need to earnestly seek the better way. We need to possess these qualities in increasing measure. We cannot be content with where we were yesterday in our Christian life, nor where we are today, not even where we think we should be tomorrow. We need to, as Paul said, press on toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Here is the principle then: Grow or die. Climb or fall. If we don’t keep growing in the fruit we will become ineffective ministers for Christ on the earth.

Let’s negate that last sentence: If we possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will cause us to be effective and productive in our knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. A sign of a true believer is growth.

How does this growth come. We saw it earlier, it is through our knowledge of Him. It is knowledge that produces godliness, which receives the promises which produces the divine nature. The knowledge goes beyond mere knowing of something. It must mean the joining together intimately with the thing learned. In this case, knowledge of Christ is to become intimately acquainted with Him. As we begin to know Him, we begin to live our life as if He were always with us (He is, you know). It is a knowledge of the heart: knowing what hurts Him, what causes Him to rejoice, what He is sensitive to.

Knowing who we are in Christ and knowing who Christ is will never be enough to glorify God. We must be productive and effective.

B. OUR FRUITLESSNESS

1:9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

Peter here is warning the believer of what will happen if he tends to forget Christ, one who is not increasing in the fruit. He is blinded by Satan (2 Co 4.4) and is also causing himself to be blinded. He tends to blink at the opportunities for growth. He will tend to close his eyes to God’s opportunities, have no eternal values, just see today having no hope for tomorrow. Worst of all, he will have forgotten his forgiveness, his repentance, his cleansing.

Let us take a look at the positive side of this. If you are increasing in the fruit, if you are productive you will be able to understand the schemes of the devil and not fall for them. You will see the opportunities God places before you. Most of all you will keep falling in love with Him day after day. Your knowledge of Him will increase. You will not think anything of waking up and saying “hello” to God. This is what John said about remembering our cleansing–he called it remembering our first love. Jesus called our salvation, knowledge and increasing intimacy with Him (John 17.3).

Have you ever climbed a mountain? Either by hiking or rapelling? If you have then you know what Peter is talking about. We need to keep climbing. Sometimes it seems as if we will never make it to the top, it seems as if the mountain keeps growing. Or if you are like Ben and run cross country, you begin to think they keep moving the finish line. But the reward comes only when we reach the top or the finish line.

We know that we strive toward the finish line, that we are truly Christians when we can see the work of God in our lives–in His fruit.

C. OUR FAITHFULNESS

1:10a Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure.

This is what Peter means. He doesn’t mean we can lose our salvation. He means that we must remain faithful to Him because of our salvation. He means, if we are saved then others will see it and we can have assurance of salvation by the fruit that God produces in us. John put it another way when he said that we who have the Son have life, those who don’t, don’t. They are both saying, if we are intimately acquainting ourselves with God we can know we have eternal life.

 

 

 

D. HIS FAITHFULNESS

1:10b For if you do these things, you will never fall,

1:11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

What is the outcome of our seeking to know Christ and have Him grow Himself in us? Look at these verses: never falling and a grand reception into heaven.

Never fall! Is it to good to be true? We are going to stumble (James 3.2) in this life but, when we follow Him, we will never fall.

He also talks of entering the eternal kingdom. Better he tells us we shall be welcomed into the eternal kingdom. Even better, he says we shall receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom. The ticker-tape parades pale in comparison. Peter is using a description of the olympians who return home after victory in the games. When they came home, they were not welcomed through the normal gate that everybody else uses. No for these they tore open a brand new gate in the wall and welcomed them richly. Jesus did they same when He died for us. When He calls us to His home He wants us to come home victoriously. He wants us all to strive for His calling in our life. He has even tore open a new gate for us. Do you remembering the curtain that tore wide open as He died. He broke open a new gate, the only gate into His presence–the gate of grace.

III. A REMINDER TO THE FAITHFUL (12-15)

A. REMEMBER

1:12 So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have.

B. REFRESHED

1:13 I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body,

1:14 because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.

1:15 And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.

©2012 Teach for God Ministries. Used by Permission.

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Please include the following statement on any distributed copy: By David R Williamson. ©2012 Teach for God Ministries. Website: www.teach4god.com