Spiritual Growth Brings Practical Results (2 Peter 1:8–11)

I. Fruitfulness (v. 8).

8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

A. Christian character is an end in itself, but it is also a means to an end.

The more we become like Jesus Christ, the more the Spirit can use us in witness and service. The believer who is not growing is idle (“barren”) and unfruitful. Their knowledge of Jesus Christ is producing nothing practical in their life.

The emphasis is on progressive personal growth. God does not magically infuse them in us through the Spirit. We are expected to work very hard at putting them to practice in our daily lives.

B. Many Christians know the Lord in salvation but lack the “fruit” of the Spirit and are not advancing spiritually.

Some of the most effective Christians are people without dramatic talents and special abilities, or even exciting personalities; yet God has used them in a marvelous way. Why? Because they are becoming more and more like Jesus Christ.

They have the kind of character and conduct that God can trust with blessing. They are fruitful because they are faithful; they are effective because they are growing in their Christian experience.

II. Vision (v. 9).

9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

A. Nutritionists tell us that diet can certainly affect vision and this is especially true in the spiritual realm.

The unsaved person is in the dark because Satan has blinded their mind. A person has to be born again before their eyes are opened and they can see the kingdom of God. But after our eyes are opened, it is important that we increase our vision and see all that God wants us to see.

There are some Christians who see only their own church, but who fail to see the greatness of God’s family around the world. Some believers see the needs at home but have no vision for a lost world.

B. Some congregations today are like the church at Laodicea.

They are proud that they are “rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing,” and do not realize that they are “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” (Rev. 3:17). It is a tragedy to be “spiritually nearsighted,” but it is even a greater tragedy to be blind!

If we forget what God has done for us, we will not be excited to share Christ with others. Through the blood of Jesus Christ we have been purged and forgiven! God has opened our eyes! Let’s not forget what He has done! Rather, let’s cultivate gratitude in our hearts and sharpen our spiritual vision. Life is too brief and the needs of the world too great for God’s people to be walking around with their eyes closed!

III. Security (vv. 10–11).

10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

A. The growing Christian walks with confidence because they know they are secure in Christ.

It is not our profession of faith that guarantees that we are saved; it is our progression in the faith that gives us that assurance. The person who claims to be a child of God but whose character and conduct give no evidence of spiritual growth is deceiving himself and heading for judgment.

“Calling” and “election” go together. The same God who elects His people also ordains the means to call them. The two must go together, as Paul wrote to the Thessalonians: 13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, 14 to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We do not preach election to unsaved people; we preach the Gospel. But God uses that Gospel to call sinners to repentance, and then those sinners discover that they were chosen by God!

B. Election is no excuse for spiritual immaturity or for lack of effort in the Christian life.

Some believers say, “What is going to be is going to be. There is nothing we can do.” But Peter admonishes us to “be diligent.” This means “make every effort.” While it is true that God must work in us before we can do His will (Phil. 2:12–13), it is also true that we must be willing for God to work, and we must cooperate with Him. Divine election must never be an excuse for human laziness.

The Christian who is sure of their election and calling will never “stumble” but will prove by a consistent life that they are truly a child of God. They will not always be on the mountaintop, but they will always be climbing higher. If we do “these things”, if we display Christian growth and character in our daily lives, then we can be sure we are converted and will one day be in heaven.

The Christian life begins with faith, but that faith must lead to spiritual growth—unless it is dead faith. But dead faith is not saving faith (James 2:14–26). Faith leads to growth and growth leads to practical results in life and service. People who have this kind of Christian experience are not likely to fall prey to false teachers.