God's Divine Power for the Believer

Simon Peter was one of Jesus Disciples. That is the thrust of 2 Peter. God’s Divine Power to help his children share in the Divine Nature.

2 Peter 1:1 HCSB

Simeon Peter, a slave and an apostle of Jesus Christ: To those who have obtained a faith of equal privilege with ours through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.

Faith is through the Righteousness of Jesus

fulfills the law and the prophets

he does it for those that he came to save

This faith is equal to that of the apostles, (it is equal for everyone through Jesus).

The Positional Effect of Jesus Righteousness

In God’s eyes, Christians are in the position of being righteous.

But it is not because of the good work that we have done

It is made through Jesus.

But God wants for our lives to be full of right living. Jesus Righteousness belongs in the mind, heart and actions of all who trust in him for their righteousness.

How is this Righteousness possible for us?

Christians have a Divine Power for sharing in the Divine Nature

Divine Nature = Possessing his eternal life as one who has been born again with the life of God.

Divine Power = The Power of Jesus Christ, King of Kings, “All Authority” etc. He will make is so.

Through the Power of Jesus, we are made right with God, his new creation, and this power will be with us now and for eternity.

The logical outcome is that we avoid worldly corruption brought on by evil desires.

both now (sin, temptation, painful consequences of sin)

and forever (enjoy heaven and escape hell)

Everything we need for life and godliness comes through the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Remember that his righteousness has become ours

False source of life

affirmation, control, wealth, career success, parenting success, online profile and aproval

these all end up placing the sort of pressure on you (or whoever it is that you are looking to be fulfilled through) and it is a crushing pressure.

This knowledge specifically is the knowledge that you have from being in a relationship with Jesus.

more than knowing the facts & teachings (although they are great)

it is a relational knowledge that comes from walking with him day by day.

Jesus is the source of life, and the only one who is able to give life.

We are called by His own glory and goodness

Goodness = moral excellence

Glory = A response to God’s goodness.

Often times his glory appears as bright light, and God’s glory attracts people to God.

It makes us want to worship him, for who he is and what he does.

Glory belongs to God, any one that claims to have glory is either making a false claim, or it has been given them by God to point others to God.

We are called by his glory and goodness. That means that our lives are marked by these things. The power of Jesus Christ is at work in the lives of his people.

But are we obeying his voice and living for his glory?

We have a choice before us, Pursue Evil Desires or Godly Living

2 Peter 1:5–8 HCSB

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Supplement your Faith with Goodness, Knowledge, Self-control, Endurance, Godliness, Kindness and Love.

These practices all serve as a safeguard for Godly Living

A contrast to these holy practices, or virtues, is vices, or destructive habits.

Vices Glitter today, but become self inflicted pain and suffering that lead us on the path away from God.

ILLUSTRATION - Sloth (Distraction from God’s Glory)

Virtues are for Eternity

Virtues are a grace of God, (only possibly through his power), yet we must participate in them.

Daily, habitual practice of what Jesus taught. This forms a virtue in your life.

Its not a virtue though if you rely on your own strength. It’s by the grace of God that is becomes a virtue, yet your participation is vital.

You don’t get fit by buying a gym membership, or even hiring a personal trainer. It is by doing the exercises.

APPLICATION - Join a small group

We have a responsibility to submit to Jesus Christ’s divine power as we look towards eternity.

Live like you were dying.

I’m not talking about going skydiving, Rocky Mountain climbing or going 2.7 seconds on a bull named Fumanchu

I’m talking about living in light of eternity,

Peter makes it clear that he thinks his time on earth is just about over. He knows that he is about to die.

2 Peter 1:14 HCSB

knowing that I will soon lay aside my tent, as our Lord Jesus Christ has also shown me.

This is the last letter that we have of his. But I think that he lived his life looking forward towards eternity. He encourages Christians to do the same.

How do we stay strong? How can we fight lethargic apathy?

2 Peter 1:12 HCSB

Therefore I will always remind you about these things, even though you know them and are established in the truth you have.

What things should we be always reminded of?

Gospel Promises

new covenant

Jesus rest

bread of life

resurrection life

the Holy Spirit

Jesus is Coming Again

Peter had seen a picture of the future lived out on the top of Mountain

2 Peter 1:16–19 HCSB

For we did not follow cleverly contrived myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; instead, we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, a voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory: This is My beloved Son. I take delight in Him! And we heard this voice when it came from heaven while we were with Him on the holy mountain. So we have the prophetic word strongly confirmed. You will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dismal place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

What Peter is sharing with his readers is that he has seen the glory of Jesus on display. He was a witness to the majesty of the King of Kings in a way that only two others were.

Peter didn’t react so well then. He was speaking and not even knowing what he had said.

But now, decades later, and at the end of his life, Peter knows that Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He knows that Jesus is the Son of God, full of grace and truth, living with glory and goodness.

Jesus has the divine power to make those who love him holy, and to help us live lives that will bring glory to God, lives that will count today and for eternity.

Peter’s letter is to the church, and he is imploring them to look to the future, a time when Jesus will come to judge the world. He wants the church to live towards that time, with lives that are right and holy and pure, and he says that we can only do so by the divine power of Jesus Christ.

But it is possible. Just not on our own strength.

How should we respond?

We should renew our commitment to Christ, refreshing ourselves with the truth of his gospel.

We should commit to living for his glory.

We should acknowledge that we need the work of God in our life, and in our church, for any of this to be accomplished.

We close our service today by reaffirming our church Membership Covenant. (Elders please come forward).

This is a practical way to declare what we believe to be true, but to do so with the prayer and the trust that God alone can help us to live this out.

Whether or not you are a member of HBC or somewhere in your journey toward this goal, we invite you to join us in reciting our membership covenant, because all true believers should share a similar commitment to Christ and His church.