Sermon Tone Analysis

God’s Ultimate Excellence for Us - Part 1

2 Peter 1:1-4

Sermon by Rick Crandall

Grayson Baptist Church - March 3, 2013

BACKGROUND:

*Tonight we begin a study of 2 Peter, and as I was thinking about this short book, the word that came to my mind was "ultimate."

This book speaks to us about ultimate things.

Let me give you a little background.

[1] One thing I didn’t expect was an ultimate examination.

*I was surprised to learn that many modern Bible scholars have cast doubt on 2 Peter.

A.T. Robertson certainly did not question the validity of 2 Peter, but he reported that it was the "Most Doubtful New Testament Book."

*Robertson noted, "Every book in the New Testament is challenged by someone, as indeed is the (historical truth) of Jesus Christ himself and the very existence of God.

But it is true that more modern scholars deny the genuineness of 2 Peter than that of any single book in the (Bible)."

(1)

*Stanley Morris reported that: "No book of the New Testament had a more difficult time establishing its authenticity, apostolic (authority), and its deserved place in the (the recognized list of inspired books) as 2 Peter.

This was due in part to the fact that 2 Peter was not widely known very early, and, so many people in the second and third centuries A.D. were falsely writing under the name Peter." (2)

*William Barclay called 2 Peter "one of the neglected books of the New Testament."

(3)

*Well, this little book may have been neglected.

But we must not neglect it, because its four pages are packed with important truths God wants us to apply.

And this book may have been doubted, but we must not doubt it, because it surely is part of the Word of God! God wants us to study it and apply it to our lives.

*Notice what Peter said about the Old Testament Scriptures down in vs. 19-21.

This is from the KJV:

19.

We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

20.

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

21.

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

*What Peter said about the Old Testament in this letter is also true of the letter itself.

This surely is the Word of God, and we should surely take it to heart.

-But 2 Peter did get an ultimate examination.

[2] And it speaks to us about ultimate error.

*I am talking about the kind of errors we hear from false teachers.

As Peter says in chapter 2:

1.

There were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.

2. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.

3.

By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.

(2 Peter 2:1-3)

*2 Peter speaks to us about ultimate error.

[3] And about the ultimate ending.

*This includes Peter's discussion of his soon coming death, and there Peter helps us see how to get ready for our own death.

But chapter 3 also includes important information about the end of this broken world, and God’s plan for a brand new world.

*These are some of the ultimate things concerning the book of 2 Peter.

But tonight we will look at God’s ultimate excellence for our lives, and how we can get it.

Let’s begin by reading 2 Peter 1:1-4.

INTRODUCTION:

*How can we have the excellent life God wants us to have?

-- We can have it by trusting in Him, because He is excellent in every way.

In these verses Peter opens his letter by celebrating some of God’s excellent ways.

1.

And first here, we see that we can trust in God’s goodness.

*I’m talking about the goodness of God we see in vs. 1, where Peter said: "Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ."

*Believers: We have obtained our precious faith by or through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ.

Every good thing we have has come from the goodness of God! Every good thing we are has come from the goodness of God!

*As Paul said in Romans 7:18: "I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find."

But then in Romans 7:24&25a, Paul also said:

24.

O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

25.

I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. . .

*Jesus Christ is our source for righteousness.

And He is our only hope for real righteousness.

That’s why in Jeremiah 23:5&6, the prophet wrote:

5. "Behold, the days are coming,'' says the Lord, "That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; a King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.

6.

In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely; now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS."

*Our goodness can only come from the goodness of God.

As Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:21: "For He (i.e.

God the Father) made Him (i.e.

Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

Our goodness can only come from the most excellent goodness of God!

*One of the most exceptional testimonies of God’s goodness you will ever hear is from astronaut Jim Irwin.

He told about an experience he had when he went to the moon.

And Jim said: "When I looked out and saw the earth, only as big as a little marble, I thought, 'How big am I? I'm just a speck of dust, if that big compared to the universe.

And yet, this little speck has the capacity to know God!

To know the One who holds the universe, to know His love, and have His direction.'

*For the first time, I saw -- felt God's love for the earth.

I realized then that God loved that little blue marble, that little planet.

He loved all the billions of people on it, and He loved me!

I realized at that moment that my relationship with Jesus Christ was the most precious thing I had." (4)

*How can we have the excellent life God wants us to have?

-By trusting in God’s goodness.

2. And by trusting in His grace.

*It’s the grace we see in vs. 2&3, where Peter said:

2. Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,

3. as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,

*We can always trust in God’s amazing grace!

That's G.R.A.C.E.

-- God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense.

*Here’s part of what Martin Luther said about grace: "Just as the sun is not darkened by the whole world enjoying its light, and could, indeed light up ten worlds; just as 100,000 (candles) might be lit from one light and not detract from it; just as a learned man is able to make a thousand others learned, and the more he gives, the more he has, so is Christ, our Lord, an infinite source of all grace.

The fountain always runs over, full of grace."

(5)

*And I love what Jerry Bridges said about God’s grace: "Our worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God’s grace.

And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God’s grace."

(6)

*We need more and more of God’s grace in our lives, so Peter proclaimed his great desire for fellow Christians: "Grace and peace be multiplied to you. .

."

*It is very important for us to see how God’s grace and peace can be multiplied in our lives.

That’s why Peter tells us twice in vs. 2&3:

-In vs. 2: "Grace and peace be multiplied to you." (How?) "in the KNOWLEDGE of God and of Jesus our Lord."

-Then in vs. 3: "As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness."

(How?) "through the KNOWLEDGE of Him who called us by glory and virtue."

*If we want more of God’s amazing grace in our lives, we must have more knowledge of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.

We must know more about God’s love, and the price Jesus paid for our sins, more about His cross and the power of His resurrection, more about His life and His teachings.

We must take the time to examine His Word.

We must take the time to speak to Him in prayer.

*I want more of God’s grace and peace!

How about you? -- Yes, of course you do.

Well, God’s grace and peace will be multiplied in us as we get to know Him better.

But remember that it must be received by faith.

It must be received by trusting in the Giver of grace.