Add to Your Faith (071325)

Text: 2 Peter 1:1-10

As I stated last week, it was Peter’s desire that those who read this letter would be strong Christians who were able to endure as Christians and to continue in the Truth that they had been taught.

Turn to and read 2 Peter 1:1-10.

Peter, in verses 5-7, gives us the “ingredients” for becoming a fruitful and productive Christian as we see in verse 8:

2 Peter 1:8 KJV 1900

For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Tonight, we come to “The List.”

Turn to and read 2 Peter 1:5-7.

“The List”

Faith

2 Peter 1:5 KJV 1900

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith…

It’s personal - YOUR faith

When I ask questions, I am trying to get you to think how these things are applicable to you.

You must take these things personally.

I cannot do this for you.

If you want to be a spiritually mature Christian who is fruitful and productive, it’s up to you to take the necessary steps/actions to make that happen.

I can encourage; I can help; I can point you in the right direction but when it comes right down to it you are the one who is going to have to exert the effort to make it happen.

I believe that all of us understand the fact that Peter, here in verse 5, is first of all speaking about our salvation.

“We need to know that we are saved!” - Kevin Conner

But, this is also where Christians are “stopped” in their growth to maturity. Why? Because they, for whatever reason, lack the assurance of their salvation.

There are two things to understand as we begin: 

Salvation is a gift that cannot be worked for in any way.

Ephesians 2:8–9 KJV 1900

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

In John 10:28, Christ states that He gives eternal life.

Romans 6:23 calls it “a gift.”

An individual cannot earn salvation nor can an individual be “good enough” to receive it. Salvation is given, by God, in response to our faith in His Word.

Question: How much faith do we need?

Answer: How much faith do you need to sit in a chair? Just enough to lower yourself into it!

Once you have exercised the faith to act upon Biblical truth and receive the gift of eternal life, then…

Assurance of salvation comes as you simply believe what God has said about your salvation. 

Romans 10:13 KJV 1900

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

We need to take God at His Word and believe what He says. 

Assurance of salvation is not based upon our “feelings;” it’s based upon God’s - ever truthful - Word! 

Salvation is completely, and  utterly, dependent upon God. Assurance of salvation is also completely and utterly dependent upon God.

Turn to and read 1 John 5:11-13.

 In 1 John 5:11-13 we see an important passage, "He that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son hath not life." The big question is, "Have I received Jesus Christ as my Savior?" If I have, then I can trust God to keep His Word, "He that hath the Son hath life."

There may be several reasons that people doubt their salvation. 

They may not be saved and the Holy Spirit is convicting them of their unregenerate state.

A childhood decision may seem long ago and the experience vague. 

Sin may be present in the life. 

Satan confuses us regarding salvation and living for Christ. 

They may not fully know God’s Word.

ETERNAL SECURITY 

Six Biblical Arguments to Prove It 

Love Argument—Romans 8:31-39 

Every man is either under the wrath of God or the love of God. 

Once you are put under the love of God, nothing can separate you from that love. 

Family Argument—John 1:12 

Once you receive Christ as your Savior, you are adopted into the family of God and no one can take you out of that family. 

A father might get upset and discipline his child, but he cannot kick that child out of the family once that child has been brought in or born in. 

Eternal Argument—John 3:16 

When you get saved, you get everlasting life; if everlasting life ever stops, it is not everlasting. 

The word eternal demands that it can never end once you get it. 

Grace Argument—Ephesians 2:8, 9 

Since there was not anything you could do to get salvation, what makes some think there is something to do to keep it! 

God in His infinite grace saved you and in that same grace He keeps you. 

Power Argument—John 10:27, 28 

Once we are in the hands of God, no one (not even ourselves) can take us out of that position. 

We did not have the power to save ourselves and we do not have the power to keep ourselves saved!

Omnipresent Argument—Hebrews 13:5 

The promise that God will never leave us nor forsake us is made to the Christian. Take Him at His Word.

Remember, 1 John 5:12 states that “He that hath the Son hath life,” and that Hebrews 13:5 states that “I will never thee, nor forsake thee.”

Put those two truths together and you have a powerful argument for eternal security and the assurance of your salvation!

Not only that but, according to Ephesians 1:13-14, God has given us the Holy Spirit as the “earnest” of our salvation.

Closing:

One of the problems that keep Christians from experiencing victory in their lives many times stems from the fact that they are struggling with the assurance of salvation.

Since our salvation rests upon the foundation of God’s Word than it is only reasonable that the assurance of our salvation also rests upon God’s Word.

A key help in giving us victory in this matter of the assurance of our salvation is simply to know God’s Word!

If that describes you – or possibly describes a friend or family member – let me encourage you to share these Biblical truths with them and allow your mind to meditate upon them until the Spirit of God, based upon God’s Word, gives you that solid assurance or else clearly shows you that you need to be saved.