Trust the Process - Part 4

2 Peter 1:6–7 (NKJV)

6 (add) to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.

Please take a look at the chart of the back of your notes.

We have been following this process - called Progressive Sanctification - which is the continual change process by which we grow from being immature believers to living as mature believers.

So far, we have covered the Foundation (Faith, Virtue, and Knowledge), followed by the Hard Work section in the middle, made up of Self-Control and Perseverance.

And last week we looked at the first two concepts in the last section, labelled, “The Payoff”

(make sure you go back and watch those lessons if you missed them)

Today, we will study that final quality: LOVE!

These last three elements are the results of the Christian that has laid a solid foundation and then put in the hard work.

This is the mountain top that we all want in our lives…TRANSFORMATION!

We want to be more godly, more affectionate, and more loving…but we often lack those things because we have not been willing to implement the first things first.

1. Godliness

2 Peter 1:6 (NKJV)

6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness,

Godliness: Habitually responding in Christ-like character.

2. Brotherly Kindness

The first 6 qualities relate to a Christian’s inner life and his relationship to God, but these last 2 are about how we relate to others.

2 Peter 1:7a (NKJV)

7 to godliness brotherly kindness...

Brotherly Kindness: acting toward others as Christ would; kindly, tenderhearted, forgiving.

3. Love

2 Peter 1:7 (NKJV)

7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.

3. Love

A. Love Defined

Love: Serving God & others motivated by Agape – the highest possible motivation for a believer

So love is EXPRESSED through service!

Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (ἀγάπη)

ἀγάπη agapē: love, generosity, kindly concern, devotedness

Love is giving others what they need the most, when they deserve it the least, and with no expectation of anything in return.

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter One: Knowing and Growing (2 Peter 1:1–11)

When we have brotherly love, we love because of our likenesses to others; but with agape love, we love in spite of the differences we have.

3. Love

A. Love Defined

B. Love In Scripture

1. originates with God (Rom. 5:8)

Romans 5:8 NKJV

8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

2. is produced by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 5:5; Gal. 5:22)

Romans 5:5 (NKJV)

5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Galatians 5:22 (NKJV)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

3. is the ultimate fulfillment of the Law (Rom. 13:10)

Romans 13:10 (NKJV)

10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

4. is ultimately expressed to others by self-sacrifice (John15:13)

John 15:13 NKJV

13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.

5. is ultimately expressed to God by obedience (John 14:15)

John 14:15 NKJV

15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.

3. Love

A. Love Defined

B. Love In Scripture

C. Love Compared

Greater than knowledge (1 Cor 8:1)

1 Corinthians 8:1 (NKJV)

1 Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.

Greater than tongues (1 Cor. 13:1)

1 Corinthians 13:1 NKJV

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

Greater than prophecy (1 Cor. 13:2a)

1 Corinthians 13:2 (NKJV)

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge... but have not love, I am nothing.

Greater than faith (1 Cor. 13:2b)

1 Corinthians 13:2 (NKJV)

2 ...and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

Greater than generosity (1 Cor. 13:3a)

1 Corinthians 13:3 (NKJV)

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor...but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Greater than martyrdom (1 Cor. 13:3b)

1 Corinthians 13:3 (NKJV)

3 ...and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

3. Love

A. Love Defined

B. Love In Scripture

C. Love Compared

D. Love Explained (1 Cor. 13)

It’s important to realize that 1 Corinthians 13 is not a platitude to love or a sappy love song.

We must remember that Paul is still dealing with the problems of sin within the Corinthian church (incest, division, abuse of tongues, envy of other’s gifts, selfishness, lawsuits, abuse of the Lord’s Table, etc.)

Because of these behaviors, the name of the Lord was being disgraced.

I want to focus on the word “nothing” in this passage:

1 Corinthians 13:1–3 (NKJV)

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

“I am nothing”: οὑδείς oudeis - not even one (man, woman or thing), i.e. none, nobody, nothing

In other words, we can have the greatest pedigree in the world, we can be the top leader in our church, we can have the greatest prestige in the world…but if we don’t have love to go along with those things…they are literally worthless in God’s eyes.

It’s difficult to hear that! We want to be valued for how spiritual we are…for our prestige a church…the positions we are in...but without love NONE of that matters!

This is the same word that Pilate used to describe Jesus’ innocence:

Luke 23:14 (NKJV)

14 said to them, “You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people. And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him;

Jesus had ZERO fault, ZERO sin, ZERO guilt

This is an all-encompassing word - it leaves no room for anything to slip past - there is no possible way to receive any blessing for religious activities if they are not done in love!

“…it profits me nothing.”: οὐδείς ŏudĕis - not even one (man, woman or thing), i.e. none, nobody, nothing

This is a very similar word - as you can see almost identical definitions

John 21:3 (NKJV)

3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.

The disciples labored all night, but came up empty.

Without Christ and His love involved, we will also achieve NOTHING!

I believe that this is part of what Paul is describing in 1 Cor. 3

1 Corinthians 3:12–15 NKJV

12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

So, if we are going through the motions of Christianity (or of churchianity), and even achieve greatness in the eyes of man but we don’t have love, all those good things we did are going to literally be burned up - go up in smoke - and all that we will have are the ashes that remain (if God allows us to see the ashes).

The final evaluation of my life is whether or not God approves of it.

God will have the final say, the final opinion of my life - no one else gets to give any input at that time!

So the question is, “Why should I constantly seek the approval of others instead of seeking the approval of God?”

This is all about motive! - What is your greatest motivation for the things you do in life?

Also, if you are the kind of person who thinks that you should get to approve everyone else’s life, the truth is YOU DON’T!

Your greatest motivation should be Love!

Instead of seeking everyone’s approval for everything we do, we should be seeking God’s approval by loving everyone!

I want my ministry to count for something!

We should want what we do in this life to matter for eternity!

Matthew 22:37–40 (NKJV)

37 Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

Love is the highest calling of the Christian life!

Love is the cornerstone of the Christian life!

If we could make LOVE our highest priority, it would transform our lives.

Are you going to be NOTHING or SOMETHING for the Lord?