2. Remember, How We Live Matters
2 Peter: Remember • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Introduction
Introduction
One of the scariest passages of Scripture is Matthew 7:21-23.
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
The point Jesus was making is this: How you live matters.
The gospel is often presented as a ticket to Heaven… But in reality it’s an invitation to follow Jesus into a new way living.
Big Idea
The lie to reject: How you live doesn’t matter as along as you have faith.
The truth to remember: How you live matters because salvation is an invitation to a new way of life.
Implications
Implications
Living for God means living with God. Obedience to God is about relationship with God. (2 Peter 1:3-7).
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. 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.
Two key phrases: “partakers of the divine nature” (v. 4) and “For this very reason” (v. 5).
The reason why we live the way verse 5-7 describe is because we have been born again, God’s Holy Spirit lives in us, and living this way is how we partake of or participate in the divine nature.
In other words, the point of living for God is live in relationship with God. See John 14:15.
15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
Illustration: Atomic Habits by James Clear… I asked the Lord, “If I can do all these things to improve myself through behavior management techniques, why do I need you?” The thought came immediately back: Who said being a disciple was about self-improvement? I want to be with you.
Look at the list of qualities Peter gives in 2 Peter 1:5-7: virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love.
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.
If the goal of pursuing these virtues is human improvement, we don’t need Christianity to do that. Often, followers of other religions pursue these virtues to a greater degree than Christians.
But what if the goal of pursuing these virtues isn’t improving the self? What if the goal is partaking in the divine nature—being united to God? The most fundamental thing that the gospel can offer that no other religion or philosophy can is a relationship with God.
The Divine Dance… Come dance with me.
Living for God makes a difference. Obedience to God changes your life.
Obedience keeps you from becoming stagnant in your faith. (2 Peter 1:8-9)
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.
Warren Wiersbe’s Three Symptoms of a Stagnant Christian
Idleness: They will not work for Christ
Unfruitfulness: Their knowledge about Christ is not producing Christlike character
Spiritual Myopia: They’ve lost sight of Christ
The more I’m with Jesus, the more I’m like Jesus.
Obedience keeps you on the path of eternal life. (2 Peter 1:10-11)
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.
Jesus provides entrance to the path that leads to eternal life (v. 11).
Can I lose my salvation (see Hebrews 6:4-7)? Peter says, “If you follow Jesus every day, you never have to worry about it.”
Can I be hit by a car on the highway?
What if I mess up and sin? When Peter says you’ll never fall, he doesn’t mean you’ll never fail. We all struggle with sin, that’s why God included verses like these in the Bible: Psalm 32:5; 1 John 1:9.
5 I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Conclusion (2 Peter 1:12-15)
Conclusion (2 Peter 1:12-15)
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.
Communion
Communion
Look again at 2 Peter 1:5-7. Whenever you read lists like these, you’re supposed to use them as a sort of diagnostic or evaluation tool.
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.
Let’s take a moment to ask the Holy Spirit, “How am I doing? What do you want me to do?”