2 Peter 1:2-9 Text

v8“For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
There was a boy who was asked how old he was. Like a lightning he quickly answered, “I’m twelve, going on thirteen, and soon will be fourteen.” The person that asked said, “Boy, you’re so eager to grow up!

I know for a fact that a truly saved person wants to grow in the Lord, especially when they are new in the faith. But often, as time goes on, the enthusiasm to grow begins to fade. We settle into maintenance Christianity and we grow spiritually complacent.

The other day, I was surprised on Facebook that a Catholic cousin of mine wrote this that he believes that Jesus died, buried and rose again for his sin. I was happy to read that until he said, I might not go to church as often as I should but Jesus is my Saviour. It’s just like saying, “I’m established but I’m NOT making much progress!” It’s kind of weird because if it were a business, any established business would look for progress. If you don’t then that business will just die a natural death.

If you’re not making any spiritual progress then perhaps you’re not really saved or you’re stuck. And if you’re stuck spiritually, God wants you to grow because He wants you grow into becoming like Jesus Christ. I know it won’t happen until we see Him, but the time to grow is now. And as you grow Jesus character traits are already evident in you. Peter gives us some wise counsel about growing into godliness. Peter knows that no one would grow without deliberate discipline and effort.

It’s interesting that Peter, a man known in the gospels for his impulsiveness, and yet here, he sets forth a deliberate, disciplined approach to spiritual growth. If Peter the impulsive fisherman could become a disciplined, godly man, then anyone else can do the same. He’s saying in v3, that according to God’s divine power given to him and us all these things that pertains to life and godliness by growing in knowledge of God who called us to glory and virtue.

To grow in godliness, make sure that you have trusted in Jesus Christ and His gracious promises; that you maintain the right motivation and that you apply all diligence needed in growing in knowledge about your Saviour and what He stands for. We cannot say Jesus is my Saviour and not follow Him. If you insist and follow your own agenda and your will, where does that place Jesus? Rubber stamp? I don’t think you can make Jesus your Saviour without any intention of following His will and His footsteps.

But what are these things this verse is talking about? Three times in verses 8-10, God uses the words, “these things.” These things that God is talking about are not a pick and choose list like we find in our enumeration exam in high school. They are a combination of virtues that He wants a Christian to add to our faith. They are power to our faith. Let me show you what “these things” are before I show you their power.

The Word of God is Truth, the bedrock foundation to our faith. Without faith in the finished work of Christ to pay for our sin we are not Christians because it is only by faith that the grace of God is received. Then v5 talks of adding virtue to our faith. Virtue, which is strength through integrity, is the first thing God wants the Christian to add. Virtue is “moral excellence” because without that, we cannot have a clear conscience. If we live in known disobedience to God, He will not reveal spiritual truth to us. That’s why virtue precedes “knowledge.”

“Knowledge” follows closely, because we must grow in the Word of God to assure our conscience to be able to effectively guide all our thinking and behavior. Being proficient in the Word of God is what God is after. But knowing the truth does not help if we do not exercise temperance or “self-control” to practice the truth. That why temperance is next. But temperance only on a few occasions will not help because it will ruin our testimony.

Once you are temperate, God wants you to add patience, which is letting God do what He wants when He wants to do it. We know that God allows trials and temptations to come to grow us. So we need patience or “perseverance” when trials and temptations come.

As we persevere and grow in patience, we develop “godliness,” which refers to living in reverence to God in every situation. In other words, godliness is acting like God would act while you patiently await for Him to perform what He is going to do. But true godliness is not just a private matter between the you and God. It manifests itself in godly relationships. That’s why we need “brotherly kindness.”

God wants the Christian to add brotherly kindness to their godliness. In other words, God is telling the Christian to be kind to their brethren while you are living a godly life. The last thing, that is the glue to this whole list, is charity or self-sacrificing love. If the Christian adds charity, which is love in action, they will find themselves being able to perform this whole list.

Now, we were given a list that God wants the Christian to add to their faith, but what is the power of “these things?”
First, “these things” will cause the Christian to be fruitful in their life. In other words, if you lack fruit, you might want to see if you lack “these things.” These things added together are the key to being fruitful in all that you do. These things will give the Christian the power to have a testimony to those who they are trying to lead to Christ.

The second thing “these things” will do for the Christian is they will allow you to see ahead. Verse 9 says, “But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.” One of the greatest weaknesses of many Christians is the ability to see where certain things will take them.

When “these things” are a part of your life, you will find the ability to see things more clearly than others. You won’t see things more clearly because of your skills, but you will see where things take you more clearly because you are looking through the eyes of God.
The third thing “these things” do is they will keep the Christian from falling. What a powerful promise! There is no doubt that a Christian should fear the day when they fall into sin or false doctrine. God promises that if you have “these things” in your life, you will never fall. If “these things” will keep you from falling, “these things” should be the focus of what you add to your faith.

Folks, which one of “these things” are you lacking in your life? The ability not to fall, the ability to bear fruit and to be able to see things from afar will separate you from most “Christians”. If there is anything you should spend time studying so that you learn what to add to your life, it is the list of “these things.” Let me encourage you over the next few days to ask the Holy Spirit which one of “these things” you lack, and correct whatever area He reveals to you so that you can experience the power of “these things.”

Let us bow down our heads and we will have a little time of reflection and examination of ourselves. Please confess before God every sin in your life and let it be known to God that you have no intention of sinning the same sin again. This is important that you may be worthy to partake of this table.

(Short message about Lord’s Supper)

Let’s bow down our heads….
Pastor: Before we partake, I’d like us to spend few minutes in silent individual prayer. This will allow us to search our hearts and asked for forgiveness so that we could partake of this remembrance worthily.

1. May I invite Bro. Christian and Bro. Ray to the front, please. (Please remove cover.)
2. Pastor says: 1 Cor 11:23-24- “For I have received of the Lord that which I also delivered unto you.. That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said. Take eat…..”

3. May I ask Christian to pray for the remembrance of Christ’s broken body.
4. Pastor says: 1Corinthians 11:24 says, “And when He had given thanks, he brake it and said, take eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.”.

5. Please pass the bread.
6. You may eat of the bread whenever you are ready.
WAIT/PAUSE
7. Pastor says: 1Cor. 11:25 says, “After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying. This cup is the New Testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it. in remembrance of me.

8. May I ask Bro Ray to pray for the remembrance of Christ’s shed blood.
9. Pastor says: (Please pass the cup and please hold on to the cup so that we can drink it together.)

10. “After the same manner let us also all drink of the cup now.

11. Prayer (while the ushers collect of the empty cups, let us all stand to sing Amazing Grace #130 first and last stanza. www.biblebaptist.org.au