A New Capacity

**Turn to 2 Peter 1

Background:

Not the same book as 1 Peter...

Written- early to mid 60’s A.D.

Likely from Rome, B4 Peter was martyred

Traditionally ascribed to Peter (obviously)

Themes:

Addressing FALSE-TEACHING in CHURCH…J

JESUS NOT RETURNING & NO JUDGMENT day…

LIVE HOWEVER you want!

Imagine…JESUS had DELAYED 25-30 YRS…they thought HE’D come SOON...

PETER AFFIRMS: SAVED by GRACE.

YET, WE WORK W/ GOD for CHRISTIAN GROWTH (SANCTIFICATION)

God has made us POSITIONALLY RIGHTEOUS in CHRIST…100% grace…NOW WE WORK W/ HIM in BECOMING actually RIGHTEOUS.

Tom Schreiner says it nicely, “Peter never even considered the notion that the salvation bestowed in Christ could be untethered from moral transformation.”

GOOD WORKS/ LIFECHANGE = NECESSARY EVIDENCE.

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Read text & pray

Introduction:

“A NEW CAPACITY”---I want you to consider the AMAZING CAPACITIES of the HUMAN BODY…

Watch TV SHOW... “SURVIVING the CUT”? MILITARY SHOW on DISCOVERY +

Last week - first experience … show documents the training of advanced military members such as PARARESCUERS, ARMY DIVING force, MARINE SNIPER, amongst others …

Anyone in MILITARY knows DIFFICULTY of TRAINING…rigorous etc.

**Describe ARMY DIVE TEAM qualifying.

Tied up

Jump in pool

5 bobs

swim length of football field.

dive grab mask,

5 more bobs

Then…NEXT MISSION…SWIM 4 MILES w/ gear on etc.

(Q) Don’t these things amaze us when we hear them…?

HUMAN BEINGS JUST LIKE US…JUST SEPARATED by LOTS of DISCIPLINE & TRAINING...

***Still human!

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MORE ACCESSIBLE---MARATHON RUNNING.

**COUCH to MARATHON…GUESS how LONG!

6 MONTHS if in OK SHAPE!

WHAT SEPARATES us FROM THEM? DISCIPLINE & TRAINING

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AS HUMANS....WE HAVE POTENTIAL & CAPACITY for THESE THINGS

**Some have legitimate issues, heart & joint issues…but you get the point.

Connection: PETER shows us....THOSE in CHRIST have the CAPACITY for GODLINESS!

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ALL MANKIND: BORN DEAD in trespasses & sins! We have NO POTENTIAL for GODLINESS!

Religious PHARISEES…OUTWARDLY SPOTLESS, INWARDLY DEAD!

READ JESUS’ THOUGHTS in MATT. 23

Since born in trespasses & sins…MUST BE BORN AGAIN!.

HUMAN BODY has POTENTIAL....NOW in CHRIST WE HAVE POTENTIAL for GODLINESS

Need:

That’s why we need this text today....KNOW YOU CAN DO IT &BE CHALLENGED to PURSUE GODLINESS!

Salvation is 100% by grace…but WE WORK W/ GOD for SANCTIFICATION. He DOESN’T DO it ALL FOR US..... But WE also AREN’T ALONE

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Text:

2 Peter 1:1–11 (ESV)

Thought 1: Introduction

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.

SIMEON = HEBREW FORM of name

Peter = servant/SLAVE of Jesus & APOSTLE (special messenger)

FAITH of EQUAL STANDING = NO SEPARATION

between apostles & regular people,

& no separation between Jews & Gentiles!

OBTAINED FAITH by the RIGHTEOUSNESS of our GOD and SAVIOR, Jesus Christ.

Astonishing CLAIM for CHRIST’S DEITY! God & Savior = Jesus

Salvation is through Christ’s righteousness alone!

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(V2) GRACE & PEACE MULTIPLIED to you through KNOWLEGE of God & Christ.

Doug Moo, a biblical scholar, makes a very good point concerning knowledge. He says, “We must be careful not to sacrifice the head in favor of the heart.”

WARM & FUZZY & INTELLECTUAL!

Transition: Now, after Peter’s introduction, he’s going to lay out a very important foundational claim for this entire letter concerning the work that God has done for believers in Christ. Look at verse 3.

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Thought 2: The Christian’s New Potential in Christ

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.

V3 = Really POWERFUL, easily glossed over!

Peter here says that through God’s power and the knowledge of him, God has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness.

As one who has been BORN-AGAIN, you have the CAPACITY to LIVE a GOD-PLEASING & GODLY LIFE ending in eternal life!

“GRANTED” here means to present or bestow something as a gift or confer a benefit…& PERFECT TENSE! Past action = ongoing state.

@ SALVATION we RECEIVE CAPACITY we FORMERLY DIDN’T HAVE!

FORMERLY, NO ONE does GOOD…no one pleases God…

WHEN SAVED:

POWER of HOLY SPIRIT

GRACE of GOD

NEW HEART, replacing heart of stone

NEW NATURE, no longer slaves to sin!

YOU CAN LIVE a LIFE of VICTORY OVER SIN in Jesus Christ!

We WON’T ATTAIN 100% PERFECTION...

But we should CONTINUALLY GROW in GODLINESS!!

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(V4) THROUGH KNOWLEDGE of GOD…we have GREAT & PRECIOUS PROMISES!

ETERNAL LIFE is PROMISED to THOSE in CHRIST…God will not lie!

GOD GRANTS 2 things in v3-4:

CAPACITY for GODLINESS.

Great & Precious PROMISES

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THROUGH PROMISES —PARTAKERS of DIVINE NATURE.

BORN AGAIN from ABOVE, by Spirit of God.

GOD as FATHER

HOLY SPIRIT within us

**NO LONGER SLAVES to SIN but slaves to Christ & righteousness!

Our PROPENSITY to SIN should BE DIFFERENT THAN it was BEFORE!

**PARTAKERS of DIVINE NATURE....DOESN’T MEAN WE’RE GODS.

GOD = SEPARATE.

but we get to participate in divine nature, because of work of Christ, BECAUSE WE’VE ESCAPED the CORRUPTION of this WORLD because of SIN.

Transition: After overviewing the believers new potential in Christ, Peter moves to illustrating the things that believers should strive for by the grace of God. Look at verses five through seven.

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Thought 3: The Christian’s Mandate

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.

BECAUSE we have NEW CAPACITY & WE’VE ESCAPED CORRUPTION of the WORLD… “FOR THIS REASON” ....MAKE EVERY EFFORT.... SUPPLEMENT FAITH w/ GODLY ATTRIBUTES

The Christian faith isn’t supposed to be characterized by a bunch of spiritual couch potatoes who never do anything or grow!

We are CALLED to MORE than just going to HEAVEN WHEN we DIE.

GOD DESIRES for us to GROW into GODLINESS by intentionality!

Peter says, “MAKE EVERY EFFORT” ADD THESE THINGS to your life.

**Order isn’t important really…faith at beginning & love at end is logical though.

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(Verse 5b-7)

Begins w/ FAITH…FOUNDATIONAL Christian ATTRIBUTE…saved by grace through faith.

Virtue (moral excellence)

Knowledge (KNOWING GOD & HIS WILL for us)

Self-control

“restraint of one’s emotions, impulses, or desires” (BDAG), even to the extent of self-mastery (LSJ).

**Very INTERESTING that SELF-CONTROL is a FRUIT of the SPIRIT…when it’s you controlling you! It’s not God-control. We aren’t puppets.

GREAT EVIDENCE…GROWTH = TEAMWORK…US & HOLY SPIRIT

Steadfastness

“the capacity to hold out or bear up in the face of difficulty, patience, endurance, fortitude, steadfastness, perseverance” (BDAG).

Godliness (PIOUS & UPRIGHT LIFE)

Brotherly kindness or brotherly love

LOVE WITHIN Christian COMMUNITY.

Zenith = LOVE. THE DISTINGUISHING MARK of Christians (John 13:35).

** IN ALL of THESE, WE MAKE EVERY EFFORT, we strive!

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BEGINS W/ GRACE.... & we now have capacity. JUST HAVE to DO IT!

God gives capacity/potential & the will & power (Phil. 2:13)…but we must act.

COOKING/BAKING ANALOGY…

we HAVE all the INGREDIENTS,

we have the RECIPE,

we have the STOVE/OVEN…

but WE MUST PUT it all TOGETHER & do our part.....

***OLD BANANAS don’t turn into banana bread on their own!

This is what the Christian life looks like, it’s taking what we’ve been given and actually putting it to use with our own striving and intentionality to live out a godly & gospel-centered life!

Transition: Now, Peter is going to move in verses eight and nine to continue to show us the benefit and necessity of these qualities.

Thought 4: The Need for Fruit

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.

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

RESULT of PURSUING QUALITIES— NOT be INEFFECTIVE or UNFRUITFUL in KNOWLEDGE of our LORD.

IF WE AREN’T INTENTIONAL…WE WON’T GROW!

He’s given us all we need. Now we just have to do it!

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(v9) WHOEVER LACKS QUALITIES= nearsighted & BLIND…FORGETTING what GOD has DONE for them....CLEANSED from SINS!

Reminder, this is all POST-SALVATION!

These QUALITIES DON’T SAVE us OR KEEP US SAVED…SAVED by RIGHTEOUSNESS of CHRIST ALONE!

Transition: Now, Peter is going to finish this thought today with a final admonition. Look at verses 10 and 11.

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Thought 5: The Proving of Christ’s Work

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

11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

“THEREFORE” in light of these things…we’re to be DILIGENT to CONFIRM our CALLING & ELECTION.

CALLING = EFFECTUAL CALL to SALVATION by God...NOT our tasks, MINISTRIES, etc.

WE RESPONDED to THIS CALL when we PUT FAITH in CHRIST.

ELECTION — BEFORE the FOUNDATION of the WORLD... GOD KNEW those WHO were HIS.

GOD CHOOSING us as His people BY GRACE, NOT something we DESERVED.

** TENSION between DIVINE SOVEREIGNTY & HUMAN RESPONSIBILITY… God chose & called us, we had to respond.

REGARDLESS of ARMINIAN/CALVINIST DEBATE regarding election…POINT IS we PROVE our SALVATION by NEW LIFE.

FRUITFUL Christian LIFE = EVIDENCE to WORLD, & REASSURANCE to OURSELVES, WE’RE IN CHRIST.

** The proof is in the pudding…NO ONE can COME to CHRIST & REMAIN UNCHANGED.

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IF WE PURSUE these QUALITIES diligently, ongoing…WE’LL NEVER FALL away (Negative Sense)

CONDITIONAL (If)…reminder, these are the proof you’re in Christ!

True SAVING FAITH = PERSEVERING FAITH.

EMPHATIC DOUBLE NEGATIVE— you will NEVER, surely not FALL AWAY.

(v11) You’ll BE RICHLY PROVIDED an ENTRANCE to the KINGDOM! (Positive Sense)

Not conditional…if first condition is met, here it’s FUTURE TENSE. You WILL BE PROVIDED.

If you are in Christ you can be ASSURED of your SALVATION TODAY & that YOU’LL REMAIN STEADFAST in the FAITH!

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CONFIDENCE must always REST in CHRIST’S RIGHTEOUSNESS on our account. Our outward righteousness is merely an evidence.

Again, HUMAN RESPONSIBILITY & DIVINE SOVEREIGNTY are in TENSION but NOT CONTRADICTORY.

GOD has CHOSEN us, CALLED us…WE have to RESPOND.

GOD has EMPOWERED us, GIVEN us NEW CAPACITY…WE have to WORK @ GODLINESS.

WE CAN HAVE ASSURANCE based on Christ… & WE MUST PERSEVERE in faith

Salvation rests on Christ alone…but this doesn’t absolve us from all responsibility to live for him in this life.

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Big Idea:

Since God has given us the capacity for godliness and the great promises of the faith, because we are in Jesus Christ, we should continue to strive to live out the new reality of who we are in Christ by pursuing these evidences of our salvation.

Intention:

And so our response in worship this morning should be to continually strive to grow in Christlikeness and pursuit of the fruit of true Christian living.

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Cross:

Reminder: These things are the FRUIT, NOT ROOT of SALVATION!

PETER is CLEAR that SALVATION CAME FIRST... This is how we prove it though.

GOD GAVE us the CAPACITY & the WILL & the POWER… HE CALLED us & chose us…WE just have to RESPOND & do our part!

Works aren’t the entrance, but they are the evidence.

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The fact that it all comes “BY GRACE” SEPARATES us FROM being merely RELIGIOUS PEOPLE.

PHARISEES were OUTWARDLY RIGHTEOUS, but didn’t come from a foundation of grace, but SELF-RIGHTEOUS

GOD through the GOSPEL OFFERS a NEW HEART to replace the heart of stone.

He offers GRACE to those who couldn’t save themselves, even by their own righteousness.

He offers ETERNAL LIFE, instead of death the PAYMENT for our sins....

If you don’t know him YOU CAN BE SAVED TODAY by grace through a profession of faith…and we would love to walk you through this after the service.

For THOSE who are SAVED…we MAKE EVERY EFFORT.... we’re DILIGENT to EVIDENCE our SALVATION to the WORLD.

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Takeaways:

GOD has GIVEN CHRISTIANS the CAPACITY to please Him and GROW in CHRISTLIKENESS.

B4 CHRIST = DEAD in SINS

Christian PURSUIT of GODLINESS is NEVER FOR SALVATION but always IN LIGHT of the SALVATION they’ve RECEIVED.

CONFIRMING/ASSURING OURSELVES

EVIDENCE to WORLD.

GROWING in GODLINESS is an INTENTIONAL & DILIGENT WORK.

WE HAVE to DO OUR PART!

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Application:

MARATHON in 6 MONTHS?? LOL

LOOK @ LIST of QUALITIES…consider WHERE you NEED to GROW MOST & BY the GRACE of God, WORK at THIS.

PRAY & ASK GOD for HELP…ask for fresh filling of H.S....ask for grace

Then YOU WORK @ BEING DILIGENT to APPLY this to YOUR LIFE...

“Make every effort” “Be diligent.”

Close in prayer