May 12, 2019 (morning)

Schreiner: So, why does he warn them if he has such confidence? He wants the readers to be diligent and endure to the end so their hope would be fully realized (6:11). In this way they would not fall prey to the sluggishness that elicited such concern (6:12) and would inherit the promises through faithful patience.

But, beloved, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and things that accompany salvation, though we are speaking in this way.

Koester says, “The warning disturbed while the promises give assurance--- but they serve the same end, which is that listeners might endure in faith.”

Calvin: We hence conclude, that not only the reprobate ought to be reproved severely and with sharp earnestness, but also the elect themselves, even those whom we deem to be the children of God.

For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.

Our lives do matter. Our love for God certainly is seen in our love for others. God sees all. Our lives are ever present to Him.

(NASB95)

14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.

15 For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing;

16 to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?

17 For we are not like many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God.

And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end,

Edwards: The Apostle, in the preceding verse, had observed the labor and diligence which had appeared in them. He here exhorts that this be continued “to the end,” in order to the full assurance of hope. The Apostle is still pursuing the advice he began the chapter with, to avoid apostasy, and to go on to perfection

(NASB95)

5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge,

6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness,

7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.

8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.

10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;

so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises

1280. Justification. The peculiar concern of faith is not that of being the condition of salvation in the promises, for [it] is the Christian’s “work and labor of love.” These things are “things that accompany salvation” as the condition of the promises of it, so that by God’s righ teousness and faithfulness […] obtained to bestowment

1689 Confession: 2. These good works, done in obedience to God’s commandments, are the fruit and evidence of a true and living faith

1689 Confession:Through good works believers express their thankfulness

1689 Confession: strengthen their assurance

1689 Confession: build up their brothers and sisters, adorn the profession of the gospel,

1689 Confession: Believers are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works ()

1689 Confession: so that they bear fruit leading to holiness and have the outcome, eternal life ()