7 Supplements for Fruitfulness

Introduction

I. Peter’s Greeting (2 Peter 1:1-2)

2 Peter 1:1–2 ESV

1 Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: 2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

II. God’s provisions (2 Peter 1:3-4)

2 Peter 1:3–4 ESV

3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

A. God’s divine power grants to us: (v. 3)

1. everything pertaining to life and godliness

2. through the knowledge of God

a. God called us to His own glory and excellence

b. He has granted to us his precious and very great promises (v. 4)

1. partakers of the divine nature

2. having escaped the corruption in the world

III. Our responsibility (2 Peter 1:5-11)

2 Peter 1:5–7 ESV

5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.

A. Make every effort to supplement your faith with:

1. Virtue – uncommon character worthy of praise, moral excellence

2. Knowledge – comprehension or intellectual grasp of something

3. Self-control – restraint of one’s emotions, impulses, or desires

4. Steadfastness – the capacity to hold out or bear up in the face of difficulty; patience, endurance, fortitude, perseverance

5. Godliness – of awesome respect accorded to God; devoutness, piety, religion

6. Brotherly Affection – love for a fellow believer

7. Love – the quality of warm regard for and interest in another, esteem, affection, regard

2 Peter 1:8 ESV

8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

B. If you have these and increase you will keep from being:

1. ineffective

2. unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ

2 Peter 1:9 ESV

9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.

C. Lacking the supplements renders you:

1. Nearsighted as if blind

2. Forgetful of having been cleansed from sin

2 Peter 1:10 ESV

10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.

D. Be diligent to confirm your calling and election so you don’t fall

IV. Remember the Word. (2 Peter 1:12-15)

2 Peter 1:12–15 ESV

12 Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. 13 I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, 14 since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.

A. The apostle intends to remind the saints

B. He knows he will ‘put off his body’ soon

C. He will make every effort to make it possible for them to recall these things.