The Path To The Kingdom

Text

2 Peter 3:

2 Peter 1:3–11 ESV

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, 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. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 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. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Background

2nd Peter is written by the Apostle Peter. As the title implies this is the 2nd of two epistles (letters) that he has written to the church. The letters are not very long. 1 Peter is 5 chapters long and 2nd Peter is 3 chapters long. This letter was most likely written near the end of Peter life and evidence suggests that this letter was written during his imprisonment in Rome. Like many of the other the New Testament letters theses words display the final thoughts and prayer of a man with a death sentence. Peter thinks that the words in this letter are of the upmost important for the those we are the recipients of the letter.

Grace is the foundation for growth (v.3-4)

Divine Power

Peter wastes no time in introducing the answer to the question I asked at the beginning of the sermon. He gets right to the point. The answer is “Divine Power”. Power is needed if we are going to obey and follow the commands of God. We need power if we are to live holy lives. We need power if we are to walk a live a freedom. We need power to be the people that God calls us to be. This should be freeing to heard. This explains a lot doesn’t it? If we are not changed it not primarily about effort. Its not about us not trying enough.

If I have a 200 pound barbell in front of me I shouldn’t be sad that I can’t lift it. Look at my body. It not build for that at the moment. Likewise if we don’t have power we can’t complain when are lives are a mess.

Also it must be noted that this power below to somebody. Its comes from somebody. I’m not and neither should you be interested in any other power but the power that comes from Jesus. His power can break the yoke. His power can free you from bondage. His power turns your life around. His power is able to make your life new. His power is able to sustain you. His power is able to lift you up. His power strengthens. His power is more than enough. His power is needed.

We need power and the next words in the text tells us that we have access to this power. Peter states that we have been “granted” access to this power. Like I stated in the beginning the path to the life of God starts with grace. There is some things for us to do but we should never confuse our doing with what God has already given. God in this mercy has provided us with an open door. He has unlocked the box.

Not only we have have access to His Power by his grace but it is a full and complete access.

Ever sign up for a subscription or download a trial of something. You do it so you can test it out and see what the product is about. But don’t you hate it when you try to use a key feature and it not available?

God has not provided a “trial” version of His power to us. His power didn’t come with hidden features that we can’t access. We have full access. It says :

All things that pertain to life and godliness

Now through study I come to believe that the “life” mentioned here means “eternal life”. So Jesus has provided all things for the life present and future. He has our whole live covered. There is nothing that involves your relationship to God that He doesn’t have power for. There is nothing that involves your relationship to God that He doesn’t power for. Pause for a moment and think about the areas in your walk with God that you believe that you don’t have power to overcome. That very thing God has power for it. You may have struggled with it for a long time. You may have had inconsistent success. However; the word of God says that He has power for that. More than enough power for that need.

Knowledge and Promise

Now it one thing to know that power is available to use but if we don’t know how to get it do use that good does that do? Thankfully Peter doesn’t leave us without an answer. We get access to the divine power we need for righteous living by knowing Jesus Christ and believing in faith in his promises

Now you would think that after God through His grace makes His power available to use that we would have to do something

Make every effort (v.5-7)

Make every effort

Supplement Routine

Quality assurance (v8-11)

Closing

Prayer