RCS CHAPEL

Transformation and sanctification

2 Peter 1:3–8 ESV

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. 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.

Context:

The apostle Peter here is writing one of His last addresses, He is currently in the city of Rome and writing to churches in Asia Minor. Peter knows that he is nearing the end of his life as the persecution experienced by Christians in the empire is escalating

Intro:

The passage that we will be looking at today the apostle is inviting the readers to become participants in the divine nature of Jesus.

This means that those who are in christ get to participate in both God’s life and love!

The apostles here is talking to people who know Jesus.

Hopefully like you and me.

He is suggesting that for us a believers we are living out a new exciting life with God that looks more like heaven then it does like

However this means we are called by the apostle level up our faith, and strive to be more like Jesus

Participating in this requires a commitment to living the life that Christ calls us to and working on developing virtue, knowledge, self control, steadfastness, love our family.

and the final piece of this equitation is love, Which scholar Tim Mackie describes as devoting themselves to the well being of others. not matter the cost or response

The apostle here is calling believers not only to give their lives to christ but also to imitate him and give us how we should do this

He states that we should Pursue:

Goodness/Virtue- a kind and good person who is concerned with the well being of others

Knowledge of God- Knowing about but also knowing personally

Steadfast/ enduring faith- a faith that is not easily shaken but rather one that runs the race fully

Godliness/ Holiness- a life that abstains from sin rejects the ways of the world an pursues Jesus

Self Control

Love

In participating in these items we are sharing in the Glory of God.

For the purpose of this sermon we are going to look at Self Control

Escaping desire

One of the first things the apostle calls believers who seek to up their faith is escaping their desires

2 Peter 1:4 ESV

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.

Through out the NT there is a call to flee from desires and reject the ways of this world. The ways of the world are sin full and also called the ways of the flesh. Peter already addressed this group saying

1 Peter 2:11 ESV

11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.

this means to keep away and avoid this translated as a verb in a present and active tense meaning this is not a one time thing but rather abstaining from sin is a practices.

these practices are

Galatians 5:19–21 ESV

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

There is a call for all of those who claim Jesus as God to flee and abstain from this as Peter calls believers to in both of this letters

one thing peter does not say is that we are victims to sin but rather we participate in sin that is why we are

1 Peter: An Introduction and Commentary 1. Abstain from Following Sinful Passions (2:11)

Such a command implies that inward desires are not uncontrollable but can be consciously nurtured or restrained—a needed rebuke to our modern society which takes feelings as a morally neutral ‘given’ and disparages any who would say that some feelings and desires are wrong

It is the christian who has turned from their sinful desires

But how do we do this? its very natural to do things that we do not want to do or know we shouldn't

Self control

starting analogy

Personal story

2 Peter 1:6 ESV

6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,

Self control is something that does not necessarily come easy to me and likely doesn't come easy to you.

Most sin comes back to Self control.

in my younger years- McDonalds Story.

One of the ways we level up is by pursing self control

How do we do this ?

Pursuing self control is not dependent on us. If you haven’t noticed it difficult to control our thoughts, our actions or sinful desires.

Lets be real here many of the ways of the flesh and the world are fun. However it is a lie. sin promises to fill a hole that only God can fill. sin is a lie and we must therefore resist it.

Luckily we dont do it on our own!

Holy spirit

The Holy spirit is what enables Christians to be self controlled

Galatians 5:22–23 ESV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Paul writes a very similar message. calling us as we all know the song to pursue the fruit of the spirit.

this is two pronged

The first portion is expressed in 2 Pet 1:3

2 Peter 1:3 ESV

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,

all of our goodness and right actions come through Gods glory and excellence!

this text states that God him self grants us the ability that pertains to goodness through knowing him

in order to level up we must first know God

this is not just know about him but rather but our hope and faith in Jesus

and we must seek after his holy spirit to equip us.

Dont take this as i just sit here and God is gonna give me self control.

The apostles dont tell us to pursue these things for no reason.

we need to the holy spirit and the spirit enables us to be controlled and resist sin.

Self control is a necessary part of the christian experience

This power comes through the divine action of Christ power on our behalf, Gods grace is the source of Godly living the only way we can live this way is by trusting into the grace of God!