Surety of Your Salvation

Introduction

Ill. Birthday-Social Security Age. Dearly beloved, there is something greater than Social Security. The eternal security of the believer. I am so thankful that I am secure in the arms of Jesus aren’t you?

John 10:27–28 “27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.”

Are there times that you question your salvation? Let’s face it. If you were transparent you would admit there are times you feel more saved than other times. Along the journey of being a Christian there are times that you sense that you live in the arms of Jesus daily and then there are other times. In fact, the Bible speaks to those times when you feel as if you are stumbling.

The word “stumble” is found in the Bible 97 times. You and I have discovered the reality that there are times of stumbling.

You may remember that Paul wrote in his letter to the church at Rome about certain actions of another can cause us to stumble.

Romans 14:21 “21 It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.”

James wrote a great deal about stumbling as it relates to our words, the things that we speak.

James 3:2 “2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.”

Let’s listen to an interesting excerpt from the word of God about a scene around the life of the apostle who God anointed in writing our text we will study this morning.

Matthew 26:30–35 “30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 31 Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32 But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.” 33 Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.” 34 Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” 35 Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And so said all the disciples.”

Oh my goodness, Paul called himself the chief of sinners, and I would call Peter the chief of stumblers.

I believe we all recognize Peter as the aggressive apostle. He was a leader among the apostles and so when you have one who swung the spiritual bat on more than one occasion for Jesus, He as well had his strikes or stumbles along his spiritual pilgrimage.

You remember that He doubted while walking on the water in Matt. 14:28-31.

In fact, on one occasion Peter rebuked Jesus after Jesus predicted His own death and Peter said, “this shall never happen to You.” You remember those words Jesus rebuffed Peter with, “get behind me Satan.” You are a stumbling block to me. You are interfering with my mission. Matt. 16:22-23.

During the Transfiguration, Peter suggested building three shelters rather than one for Jesus. Jesus, Moses & Elijah. Sleeping in Gethsemane-Jesus had asked Peter James and John to stay awake and pray and he slept.

And listen to Matthew 26:33 “33 Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.””

We know the excerpt from Matthew 26:30-35 to Peter denying Jesus after the Rooster crowed on the third occasion.

After the crucifixion and the resurrection you know that Jesus sought Peter to bring himself to reconciliation. Jesus prepared breakfast for the disciples who had been out fishing. Jesus asked Peter three different times, Peter, do you love Me? Feed my sheep.

Interestingly, after Jesus brought Peter to reconciliation and then later the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, we see the power of God working in Peter and we read after that occasion, Peter led 3,000 to Christ in his first public evangelism gathering. As far as we know Peter never again stumbled, but had undying devotion and loyalty to Jesus from that point on.

The question we must ask this morning is “what changed?”

What brought about this transformation we read of in Peter?

Today’s text comes from 2 Peter 1:2-11 as we consider the fact that God chose Peter to be the one to write to the persecuted church and to aid the early church in strengthening their faith. Peter came to a point in his life where he stayed the course. Isn’t that what we all desire? Is there anyone here this morning that doesn’t desire to be strong in your faith? We all want that do we not?

Just the fact that Peter wrote our Scriptures this morning that we study proves that the power of God working in you can make you a strong in the faith. Amen.

Turn in your Bibles this morning to 2 Peter 1:2-11.

2 Peter is located three books from the end, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, Jude, and Revelation.

Stand for the reading of God’s Word.

2 Peter 1:2-11

2 Peter 1:2–11 NKJV

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, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. 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.

Prayer

Message

After Peter’s failure in the courtyard of Caiphas where he denied Jesus three times, as we know recorded in the Word of God, Peter followed Jesus with undying loyalty for the remainder of his years.

This is the last letter that he writes from Rome. Nero had burned down Rome on purpose in order to rebuild and modernize. So, for political expediency, Nero had to place the blame elsewhere and guess who took the fall for his actions? The Christians were blamed for the fire and that ignited (no pun intended) a harsh persecution and abuse toward Christians.

1 Peter addresses the externals-Persecution and encouraging the new believer., 2 Peter addresses flourishing within the fire that when going gets tough, false teachers and heresy emerged and guiding them through it.

Peter himself would die due to the persecution as traditions hold with writings as early as Origen (184-253 AD) becoming a victim as he was awaiting his murder. Origen writes that Peter was killed on a cross upside down.

This letter acts as a last will and testament and He writes to the persecuted believer of Asia Minor that had been shaken from all the calamity of the day.

2 Peter 1:13–14 “13 Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, 14 knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me.”

Two points quickly for this text and we will press on.

A tent represents a temporary residence. Peter knew his time was at hand.

We see his motivation in writing. He wrote to stir up, to motivate, to encourage

the persecuted Christian. To drive them to keep pressing on.

Last words are lasting words, impactful words, and passionate words. Peter by the guidance of the Holy Spirit wants to impact us today with life changing wisdom from his time of walking with Jesus.

As we think about Peter’s life and as we ponder our text this morning:

Does life ever shake you in your faith?

To set a groundwork this morning let’s look first at verse 10 as a verse to begin:

2 Peter 1:10–11 (NKJV)

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.

2 Peter 1:10–11 (NASB 95)

10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; 11 for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.

I want us to begin by building the proper foundation for our study.

Who is Peter addressing here?

Notice with me, Believers-brethren.

Look with me to the introduction of 1 Peter 1:1-2

1 Peter 1:1–2 (NKJV)

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ:

Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

There are no questions in the mind of Peter that the people he was writing to in the churches of Asia Minor were not believers. They were.

One of Satan’s greatest tools in our times of waywardness is to question our salvation. As Dr. Tony Evans states and I quote, “there are times we do not feel as savish.”

Notice Peter’s address in the first verse of the opening letter:

2 Peter 1:1 “1 Simon Peter, a bondservant 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:”

Let’s be clear, our focal passage and our objective is to accomplish what 2 Peter 1:10-11 states:

Make certain that our call and election is sure

Why? So that we never stumble

To what result? Know that here is not our home and that when we go home to be with the Lord, look with me:

Heaven’s Salute

look at the end of 11 with me:

“so an entrance will be supplied abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Do you want to enter heaven with a salute,with fanfare? Do you want to to hear a large band welcoming you into heaven? Do you want to have the red carpet treatment when you enter and the Lord say, “well done good and faithful servant?”

Our aim today is to be strong in the faith.

How can we feel the power of the Holy Spirit working in our lives? How can we stay atop the spiritual mountain? How can we have the peace that passes all understanding?

How can we live out the promise and do our part to grasp the abundant life Christ promises us? Is that what you want? Is that what you desire? To enjoy the best of what Christ has to offer each of us?

Let’s drill down and see how that is accomplished.

You may want to ask this question. If the group of believers that Peter wrote to had like faith, what variables were amiss that were causing them to stumble? Let’s remember our objective. We want to make our calls and election sure, so that we will not stumble and that we will see rewards in heavens for our faithfulness down here.

Look closely:

“make your call and election sure.”

Two words to key in on.

“Make” and “sure”

Make is an action word. Make requires a response on our part. In other words, we fulfill a role in our election being sure.

Make

4160. ποιέω pŏiĕō, to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct):—abide, + agree, appoint, × avenge, + band together, be, bear, + bewray, bring (forth), cast out, cause, commit, + content, continue, deal, + without any delay, (would) do (-ing), execute, exercise, fulfil, gain, give, have, hold, × journeying, keep, + lay wait, + lighten the ship, make, × mean, + none of these things move me, observe, ordain, perform, provide, + have purged, purpose, put, + raising up, × secure, shew, × shoot out, spend, take, tarry, + transgress the law, work, yield. comp. 4238.

Sure

A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible (949. βέβαιος)

949. βέβαιος bĕbaiŏs, beb´-ah-yos; from the base of 939 (through the idea of basality); stable (lit. or fig.):—firm, of force, stedfast, sure.

Power to Execute V. 3

2 Peter 1:3 “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,”

Its important we realize that there is an equality offered us in Jesus Christ. We all have the power that he offers to live a life in Christ that would be pleasing in His sight. Yes, does Dr. Billy Graham or Dr. Chuck Swindoll or Chris Tomlin have different gifts or talents bestowed on them in Christ Jesus? Certainly.

But, based on our text this morning, we all have the same power to draw from to be all the Christian we want to be in Him.

Then, yes, they have different gifts and talent but what gives? Why does God rain down His presence when they are used of God for His glory?

Ill. Mission Projects-with the men of our church. Terry Brooks always brings 20V Dewalt Tools. Power source and the batteries for the tools work. But guess what, if he doesn’t stop to charge those batteries from time to time, they go dead.

Are there certain Christians stronger in their faith than others? Certainly. They choose to draw from God’s divine power in a greater way than the next.

Notice it comes about by:

His divine power”

1 Peter 1:5 “5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

The question you must ask and I must ask is:

How do we harness the power of God?

That is answered in the verse above and answered in verse 3.

“Through” is our pipeline by which this happens.

1 Peter 1:5 states “through faith” and 2 Peter 1:3 “through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.”

And that leads us to point #2. Remember that our objective is to make our election sure. Remember that make is an action word. That means there is effort on our part.

Practices You Exercise VV. 5-9

2 Peter 1:5–9 (NKJV)

5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

Brother Luke, I’m confused. I thought faith saved us and not works. It sounds as if I have to put some effort into my salvation to be saved.

For example, self control is listed as a fruit of the Spirit in Gal. 5:23.

Philippians 2:13 “13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”

There is a cooperation of God’s provision and our practices.

James 2:17–18 “17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”

So, if you answered that its salvation alone that saves you; you would be totally correct. The question you must ask is:

Is my aim only to be saved and get into heaven by the skin of my teeth with no fanfare there? Do I want to be saved and never truly enjoy the abundance found in the here and now by serving Jesus faithfully or :

Do you want to be strong in the Lord?

Ephesians 6:10 “10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” That introduces the whole armor of God and that is a message for another day.

2 Peter 1:9 “9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.”

Peter states that when we do not pursue intimacy with Jesus we become fogged and we forget our calling, our bond with Jesus.

One of the things I enjoy at this stage of my life is getting organized, spring cleaning if you will and neating spaces I come in contact with. I operate best being OCD today because I was so ADD when I was younger.

Has this ever happened to you? You buy something and as you are neatening and spring cleaning you discover you already have one. I know I have a couple of different shirts that I have two of because Jane or I forgot I had that one.

Why did we forget we had it? We had not come in contact with it. Out of sight, out of mind.

That is the way our faith can be.

Peter is saying that if we do not go after our faith, if we do not practice and exercise certain responsibilities in our faith that it will be lacking, it will be unfulfilling, and we will falter along the way.

“giving all diligence”

Diligence

4710. σπουδή spŏudē, spoo-day´; from 4692; “speed”, i.e. (by impl.) despatch, eagerness, earnestness:—business, (earnest) care (-fulness), diligence, forwardness, haste.

We are to be business, we are to be industrious, we are to be progressive and aggressive in adding to our faith.

We are called to add to our faith with unction.

Virtue means with manliness, valor or excellence which means to go for it, go with gusto, go with all you have.

Knowledge

7 times the word Knowledge is used in 2 Peter.

2 Peter 1:2 “2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,”

In the introduction Peter states that grace and peace will be multiplied through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

May I ask a question this morning and would you please be transparent in your answers?

Consider for a moment something you really enjoy-

yard work, home decor or home improvements, managing your finances, a hobby or interest, sports, travel, education, your career or livelihood, parenting, cooking, etc.

Ask yourself why do you enjoy it? Do you study it? Do you spend time doing it?

Ill. Putting together a charcoal grill we bought at Sam’s—lot of nuts and bolts and screws. Jane cooked out for the first time last night on it and it was good!

Why do I mention that? There was a charcoal catch pan on the bottom. We put it all together. We followed the instructions to the hilt. We attempt to pull the pan out as if we were going to empty the ashes and it would not come out. We had to keep playing with it to determine that you had to pick up and slide to get over a safety lip.

Every time you deepen your intimacy and knowledge of God spent in Word, in prayer, in worship and singing songs of praise, fellowship with the believers, etc. you learn a new nuance about God that causes you to love Him even more.

We find enjoyment in that we invest time, energy and resources.

Colossians 1:9–10 “9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;”

One area we all want knowledge is wanting to know God’s will for my life.

Where do I begin? By doing something. God hits moving targets. He will not bless you in finding your purpose in Him by sitting still. We begin to exerecise our faith where we are, with what we have, to be used for His glory and He blesses. You find and refine your purpose by doing. You find what stimulates you. You find what you are good at. But God blesses our doing, not our delays, not our debates about doing, but He blesses when we do.

In Romans, we read what happens when we do not pursue the knowledge of God.

Romans 1:28 “28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;”

Take a personal audit this morning and ask yourself this question as I ask myself this question.

Look with me at the builder blocks that come about when we invest time in pursing a deeper knowledge of God and the things of God through prayer, time in His Word, worship and the list goes on.

Peter uses a Hellenistic writing style of the day. They do not necessarily flow in this order. Its simply the fact that as we pursue intimacy with God-He rubs off on us. We become partakers of His divine nature. We begin to mimic Jesus.

Mimicking is the greatest form of flattery.

I hope and pray you can laugh about yourself. I know all my nuances better than you will ever imagine. My kids remind me all the time by mimicking me.

I walk heavy and one of our deacons walked up behind me to the restroom mimicking my heavy walk. Do you love Jesus to the point you want to be able to mimic Jesus? If you do you will develop in the areas of:

Self control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love.

2 Peter 1:8 “8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

If these characteristics are not apparent in our life, we are not fruity.

We are to be fruity in Jesus Christ.

Promises You Embrace VV. 4, 10

2 Peter 1:4 (NKJV)

4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Even in the bounds of this text God through His word has offered up many promises if we understand we have all the power needed to act out His wishes for our lives. If we will practice a pursuing knowledge of Him that we are promised a growing faith that pursues excellence by pursuing that knowledge, we will have self control, we will persevere, we will be godly, we will show brotherly kindness, we will be instruments of His love as we feel loved.

If we do those things we will be fruitful for His kingdom. And,

V. 11

His Promises

1 John 3:2 “2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”

Ephesians 4:24 “24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”

We will have bands playing and saluting when we enter Heaven. “Well done thy good and faithful servant.”

Dearly beloved in closing, if we cling to His great promises, If we realize the power is made available, and we practice in deepening our knowledge of Him, we can be partakers in His divine nature.

Speaking of mimicking, Lacey loved to mimic my antics in the workplace. One of my coworkers presented me with a business opportunity-the power and authority was made available to transact, the cash in the cash register was the means to complete the transaction. They sought my authority to make the deal. And in my manner-I would say “do business.”

God is the bank. He is the power source. The promises of God is the check the instrument of promise to back our actions. He calls us to “do business” for Him.

The question you must ask yourself this morning is how is my business practices? Have I been intimate with Jesus? Have I been studying His ways through His word? Can I respond as Jesus would respond because I do not know how Jesus would respond. I have not been studying His ways. Praying, worshipping and the list goes on.

Do you want to be like Jesus? Do you want to deepen your knowledge of Him? To enjoy self control, perseverance, brotherly kindness and love like Jesus?

If we do so, we will have crowns in heaven.

Let’s pray.