Add To Your Faith - L1

“I Will Not Be Negligent”

Introduction - Over the next several weeks, we will be looking at an essential part of the Christian life.

In previous messages I have mentioned the important of understanding the difference between Relationship and Fellowship.

The Word ‘fellowship’ is found in the Bible whereas, the word ‘relationship’ is not found in the Word of God.

However the important concept of both is emphasized in the Word of God/

Our fellowship with the Lord follows our relationship with the Lord.

Peter the apostle, in this letter is dealing with our fellowship with the Lord and our growth in the Christian life.

He speaking to those who have already “found like precious faith…” (vs. 1-2).

His intention is to give these Christians an understanding of the normal path of the Christian life— and the pitfalls involved in the Christian life.

Now I would like to emphasize one particular phrase to set the trajectory for these few verses in the 1st chapter of this wonderful Epistle.

Let’s read them together beginning in verse 1.

Text: 2 Peter 1:1–15

“1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 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. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. 13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; 14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. 15 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.”

Let’s Pray

Peter is giving His final words in whatever time God had left for Him to encourage and exhort these Christians who would continue after He left this earth.

In verse 14, we read “14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.” (2 Peter 1:14)

That account of this is recorded in John 21.

The Lord in that chapter challenges Peter of Feed His sheep— feed the people of God.

The Lord uses not only the word for a baby lamb but also a full size sheep.

In other words, whether a new born in Christ or a mature follower of the Lord—- Peter was the feed the sheep.

At the end of that command—- the Lord tells Peter of His future binding and death in verse 18 of chapter 21.

Peter understood the urgency of the matter.

According to this passage He had some kind of understand that His time was drawing near.

And so, under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Peter takes pen in hand and gives this wonderful and necessary words for believers.

He says there in 13 verse, “I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things….”

I want us to consider this statement by Peter the apostle found in verse 13.

The title of this first lesson is “I will not be Negligent”

I. Things We Ought Not To Neglect

The word used there in the twelfth verse gives us the idea of taking lightly—-the things that God tells us we ought to take seriously.

So often, it is not that we do not know what we should be doing,

But rather it is that we takes the things of God and lower the importance of them… in other words, our priorities become skewed.

Peter says here, I have learned that there are things which God has commited to me— of which I will not be negligent.

There are particular things in the Christian life, that you and I ought to constantly attend to —

And we have here in this letter those crucial items that we must— as He states in verse 5, give “…all diligence to….”

If I could ask each child of God here tonight, what are the more important things for your life?

I imagine would get varying lists.

Whether we have ever written down a list of those things or not—- we all have in our heart and mind a direction that we are headed.

And so, Peter here is going to give a list that provides a divine direction for every child of God.

So— for every one of us— we understand first there are things we ought not to neglect.

For Peter, His Divine mission was to the feed the people of God… He is supposed to strengthen the brethren…

You and I likewise must also not be negligent of what God has given for us to do—

II. Things We Ought To Remember

It becomes evident to me, that the more you study the Word of God the more Isee how God emphasizes the same things over and over again.

This is good for you and I— because we need to keep in mind certain truth.

A. The Blessings Of The Christian Life vs. 4

Notice — what Peter mentions here concerning the walk of faith in the Christian life.

Peter reminds us that to walk in God’s ways we have been given “exceeding great and precious promises.”

There are not just great promises… but they are exceedingly great.

One of those promises is listed in chapter 3 and verse 13.

2 Peter 3:13–14 “13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.”

A great motivator in the Christian is the blessings of the Christian life.

The truth is—- if we were to search the Scriptures, we would discover that as one expositor put it there is “promise for every need.” (John Phillips)

These promises can be stood upon with the absolute assurance and confidence of the One who gave them to us.

In other word, because they are given to us by God— we rely wholly upon them.

The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 1:20 “20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.”

So we must remember and be reminded always of the blessings of the Christian life, but then secondly, we must remember:

B. The Blossoming Of The Christian Life vs. 5-8

In verses 5-8, we are given a list of areas of growth in the Christian life.

These things must be added to the base of faith that we have in Christ.

Now we will spend some time looking at each of these areas for this is profitable for you and I.

But suffice to know that the result of adding to our faith is spelled out in verse 8.

Notice it with me,

2 Peter 1:8 “8 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.”

I think the importance of this statement is seen in the design that God has for you and I as we sojourn in this world.

That is fruit-bearing.

Remember the Lord Jesus Christ stated in the book of John 15:8 “8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”

Peter reminds us of the Blessings of the Christian life—- the need for Blossoming in the Christian life, but notice thirdly— we are reminded here also of the:

C. Battle Of The Christian Life vs. 9-10

Friend— let us be reminded tonight there there are consequences for not growing in the Christian life.

There is a battle going on inside of us— and surely there is a battle taking place all around us.

The consequence of us not remembering and being guided by this truth—- is

1. Danger Of Blindness

2 Peter 1:9 “9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.”

This blindness prevents one from seeing afar off.

Remember the Faith Full View of the Christian life and one that is looking to Jesus and sees yet off in the future the expected end of the child of God.

We know one day there will be a new heaven and new earth… We know one day- Jesus is coming again and will rule and reign for a thousand years…

We know that this body that we now have is not fit for heaven or eternity —

We know that our Advesary the devil is laying snares and traps for us…

Peter says, remember if you quit moving forward in your Christian life—- you will suffer a case of blindness.

Peter reveals to us not only is someone blind if they do not add to their faith but secondly there is the:

2. Danger Of Insecurity

Now this is seen oftentimes in lives of Christians— they begin to doubt the very fact they are saved.

Peter says not only do Christians experience blindness, but they even begin to doubt they have been purged from their own sins.

So Peter says the seriousness is so much that you must give diligence to this matter.

In verse 5— He says give diligence to this…

In verse 10— He repeats the call for you and I — give diligence to this…

This is such a serious subject my friend.

He says not only is there a danger of blindness and insecurity, but thridly there is a:

3. Danger Of Instability

Verse 10 tells us that if we add to our faith— we are protected from falling in the Christian life.

What is meant here by the term falling— It is not meant— that we can lose our Salvation.

That would be terrible indeed… but that is impossible for our Salvation rests upon:

The Word of God—

God has promised and cannot lie, that everlasting life is the reality of those who believe and receive Jesus Christ as our Savior.

It rests upon the Work of God—

We understand that Jesus Christ paid our sin debt on the cross of Christ. He died for us, was buried and rose again from the grace for our Justification—- Jesus declared “It is finished…”

And it rests upon the unchanging Will of God

The will of God is that men should be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

This is God’s design— it is His will.

But what is meant here is that you and I can stumble…

We can cease to walk with our Savior in fellowship with Him…

We can become unprofitable— or in the language of this passage unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

We can become ineffective in this life..

This my friend, is the Devil’s design — He would like to see everyone of us stumble.

We see by way of introduction to this series, Peter says we must remember the blessings of the Christian life, the blossoming of the Christian life, the battle of the Christian life, but I think one last point is the we must remember the:

D. Brevity Of Life vs. 14-15

Peter reminds us, that “Knowing that shortly, I must put off this my tabernacle….” (vs. 13)

It is vitally important for us to remember that our time here on this earth is just for a moment.

The brevity of life oftentimes is not considered by us moment to moment or day by day—- and so, we are reminded that shortly… we all must step from this life into the next.

I think as we stop here for tonight, let us endeavor to continue in our journey of faith—- let us learn what all of these areas mean in verses 5-7 so that we may grow and abound in them….And at the same time avoid the great danger and pitfalls of the Christian life.

Let us not be negligent in all that God has given us to do— and let us “Add to your faith…”