Holiness in Peter's Letters (2 Peter 1:3-11)
Notes
Transcript
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 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. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Background
Background
Both 1 Peter and 2 Peter were written, most likely while Peter was in prison, in Rome, awaiting his execution under Nero. 1 Peter was probably written around 62-63 AD and 2 Peter was most likely written between 64-67 AD
1 Peter 1:1 (NIV)
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,
These areas are northwest of Palestine/Syria in what is Modern Day Turnkey
Themes,
There are a couple of themes that pop out as we read the letters.
The 1st theme is Suffering
1 Peter reminds the churches, repeatedly, in ever chapter, that they WILL suffer, or are currently suffering, because of their witness for Jesus Christ. But, this suffering is not without hope - even if they do suffer, they will be vindicated in the end by God.
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
But, the theme of Suffering is not SIMPLY because we are followers of Jesus Christ. We suffer because as followers of Jesus Christ we are set apart and different from our world. We have different standards and different responsibilities. In Short, we suffer because we are HOLY (or should be) and desire to live holy, godly, righteous, and upright minds within a devastatingly corrupt world.
So REALLY, the major theme is that the Church as a corporate body, AND individuals MUST BE HOLY!
13 Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.
1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. 2 As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. 3 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. 4 They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. 5 But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.
8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.
14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.
For Peter, suffering, is therefore, the results of HOLY, set apart, godly living within our world and it’s standards.
Now, to the passage of 2 Peter 1:3-11
Now, to the passage of 2 Peter 1:3-11
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 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. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
God’s Providence - Our Participation
God’s Providence - Our Participation
God’s Providence Our Participation
A couple of questions:
1- What does it mean to be “Holy” or “godly”?
Give reasons for your answer
2- Do you know that God asks YOU to be holy?
3- Is it fair that God asks us this?
Do you think you can be holy?
Some Answers:
Holy?
The easiest way to describe what it means to be holy is to be set apart for God and by God to be used by God and for God in our world.
It means to be the image (think reflection) of God in our world. 1 John 4:8 reminds us that God is love.
8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
If we are to reflect God then we must love God and others as God has loved us.
So, as we are set apart to be used by God and as we love God and love others as God asks us to… then we are holy.
Giant Rodents & Divine Intervention
Story of deer EVERYWHERE!
Is it FAIR, or RIGHT, or JUST that God asks, dare I saw COMMANDS, us to be holy?
Providence in Power:
2 Peter 1:3 (NIV2011) 3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
Knowledge of him
Combats Gnosticism where “special knowledg” was necessary.
Not only that, teh word for knowledge, used here, comes from the Greek work gnosis. There are 2 Greek words that are translated into English as “knowledge”. The first Greek word is eido and it carries with it the idea of FACTUAL knowledge. You read it in a book, or researched it , etc...
The other Greek word is gnosko, or gnosis and it carries the idea of EXPERIENTIAL, RELATIONAL knowledge. I KNOW this to be true because I have EXPERIENCED it!!
The word used to describe our knowledge of God, in this passage, is EXPERIENTIAL. We KNOW this to be true because WE have EXPERIENCED this truth!
God’s power is available to make us HOLY - the power that makes us holy is NOT our own power - it is God’s power that is available to us!
Romans 8:11 (NIV2011) 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
Ephesians 1:17-20 (NIV2011) 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,
THE SAME POWER THAT RAISED CHRIST FROM THE DEAD IS AVAILABLE TO US! And the PURPOSE of this Power is to make us HOLY!!
Providence in Promises:
2 Peter 1:3–4 (NIV)
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
There are over 50 verses in the Bible that have the word”promise” in them!
In the Bible, there are over 3, 573 promises
That’s an average of 9.79 promises PER DAY OF THE YEAR!
What’s the purpose of all these promises?
2 Peter 1:4 (NIV)
4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
What does that mean?
Both the power and the promises (from God) are available to make us HOLY! Everything God has promised is to lead us into a holy life! Not only does God provide the PROMISES to lead us to holiness, God provides the POWER to make HOLINESS POSSIBLE!
Hidden Promises = Hidden Providence
I was told, “The commands of God are hidden promises.”
God will not command you to do something that He will not enable you to carry out.
Think: “If God gets you/me to it, He’ll get you/me through it.”
We have God’s POWER and God’s WORD (Promises and Commands) available to make us HOLY
Promises, Commands, Power and Providence
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (NIV2011) 23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.
2 Corinthians 7:1 (NIV2011) 1 Therefore, 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 Thessalonians 4:1-3 (NIV2011) 1 As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. 3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality;
Ephesians 5:1 (NIV2011) 1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children
1 Peter 1:14-16 (NIV2011) 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
2 Peter 3:11-14 (NIV2011) 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. 14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.
Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV2011) 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Yet, now there is a PROBLEM!!!!
If God’s commands are hidden promises…
If God has given us the promises to be holy…
If God has made HIS power available to us to make us holy…
Then, why are we (or other Christians) not holy?
The problem is not with God. God has provided the power and the promise. The problem is that we fail to PARTICIPATE! Holiness is participatory, and it is NOT static!
Participation:
2 Peter 1:5-9 (NIV2011) 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 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.9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
We must do our part to practice living a holy/godly life.
Holiness is not a static thing. We must always allow God to address us. We must continue to grow in holiness and increase in our knowledge and understanding of God. Holiness is NOT a one and done deal!!
Like baking a cake. You mix wet ingredients to dry ingredients.
You mix what God has done and provided with your own effort to live a godly life.
Conclusion:
If you aren’t holy it is your own fault!
If you aren’t living a godly life, God is not to blame, but you. God has provided the Power and the Promises you must partner with God. You must participate.
Closing Questions:
1- In what ways have I failed to participate with God so that God can transform me?
2- What are things that you have done to limit God’s power in your life?
3- What can you do differently now in order to allow God to work in you?
Wrap into closing Song “Overcome”
There is a war that Satan is waging against the saints of God (oh by the way, the word saint, is an English translation of the literal Greek which means HOLY ONES! This war WILL cause us to suffer. We suffer because we collide with the values, practices, principles, and ideas of our world. We suffer because we seek to reflect God, and God’s life and light in a world that seeks to reflect darkness.
We suffer because we are set apart by God, for God’s purposes, to demonstrate God to the world.
How do we overcome? We remain faithful! We continue to grow in holiness and righteousness. We follow the example of Jesus Christ...
1 Peter 4:1-5 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. 2 As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. 3 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. 4 They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. 5 But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead
1 Peter 5:8–9 (NIV)
8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
Ultimately, we will overcome by God’s power, and our participation - our ability to live and witness about Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 3:15-17 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil
10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. 11 They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.
May we OVERCOME amidst suffering as we continue to be transformed Holy!