What Manner of Persons Ought You to Be?

I. Holy and Godly (v.11)

Micah Webb / General

1.  Holy and Godly (v.11)

           A. Holy 

                       1. God Calls Upon Us as Christians to Be Holy () 

1 Peter 1:13–16 NKJV

Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

                       2. He Has Always Called Upon His People to Be Holy (; ; ) 

Leviticus 11:4 NKJV

Nevertheless these you shall not eat among those that chew the cud or those that have cloven hooves: the camel, because it chews the cud but does not have cloven hooves, is unclean to you;

Leviticus 18:1–5 NKJV

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘I am the Lord your God. According to the doings of the land of Egypt, where you dwelt, you shall not do; and according to the doings of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you, you shall not do; nor shall you walk in their ordinances. You shall observe My judgments and keep My ordinances, to walk in them: I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the Lord.

Leviticus 19:2 NKJV

“Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.

                       3. We Will Undergo Destruction Like Israel, If We Are Not Holy 

           B. Godly  

                      1. “A Godward Attitude” (Vincent)

                       2. “Reverence, Respect; Piety Towards God” (Thayer) 

                       3. When We Possess This “Godward” Attitude, Our Desire Will Be to Be Like God and to Serve Him - Thus Being Holy

                       4. Jude Said Those Who Were Ungodly (Lacking Godliness), God Would Execute Judgment On () 

Jude 15 NKJV

to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”

II. Looking (vv.12-14)

           A. Christ Will Return, It Is Certain ()

2 Peter 3:8–10 NKJV

But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.

           B. Therefore, As the People of God, We Need to Look Forward to That Day ()

1 Corinthians 1:7 NKJV

so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,

           C. As Christians, We Should Have a Fervent Desire for Christ to Come Quickly 

           D. “He’s My Savior, My Redeemer, How He Loves Me, How I Love Him; He Is Risen, He Is Coming, Lord, COME QUICKLY, Alleluia.” (Verse 4 of Alleluia)

III.  Diligent to Be Found in Peace, Spotless and Blameless (v.14)

           A. Diligent to Be Found in Peace 

                       1. Being Diligent Means to “Do Your Best” ()

Luke 15:8 NKJV

“Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?

                       2. Why Are We Diligent? 

                                   • To Be Found by Him in Peace ()

2 Peter 3:14 NKJV

Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;

                       3. Paul Told Timothy to “Be Diligent to Present Yourself Approved unto God” () 

2 Timothy 2:15 NKJV

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

                       4. Peter Has Already Called on Them to Be “Diligent” to Make Their Calling and Election Sure So That an Entrance into the Eternal Kingdom Would Be Abundantly Supplied ()

2 Peter 1:10–11 NKJV

Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

           B. Spotless and Blameless 

                       1. As Children of God We Are to Be Spotless ()

Psalm 15:2 NKJV

He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart;

                                   • The Word Rendered “Upright” or “Integrity” is Most Often Translated “Without Spot” or “Blameless” 

                       2. We Become Blameless Through the Death of Christ and His Blood ()

Colossians 1:22 NKJV

in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—

                       3. We Access That Blood Through Baptism ()

Romans 6:1–4 NKJV

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

                       4. If A Christian Had Fallen Away, They Repent, Confess Their Sins, and Pray for Forgiveness (; )

Acts 8:22 NKJV

Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.

1 John 1:9 NKJV

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

IV. Steadfast (v.17)

           A. The People Peter Was Writing to Were Undergoing Persecution (; )

1 Peter 1:6–7 NKJV

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

1 Peter 3:13–17 NKJV

And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

           B. 2 Peter Was Written Approximately 67 A.D., About Three Years After the Burning of Rome

           C. Around That Time Persecution of Christians Greatly Increased 

           D. Around This Time Peter Was Killed, Being Hung Upside Down on A Cross According to Tradition  

           E. In Light of These Circumstances, Peter Calls Upon Them to Be Steadfast 

           F. They Were, Moreover, to Be Steadfast in Shunning False Teachers ()

2 Peter 3:17 NKJV

You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked;

V. Growing (v.18)

           A. Christians Must Grow in the Grace and Knowledge of God (; )

2 Peter 1:5–11 NKJV

But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 5:9–14 NKJV

And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, called by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek,” of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

           B. Growing as A Christian Is Not Just About Putting on the Christian Graces, it is About These Characteristics Growing ()

2 Peter 1:8 NKJV

For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

           C. When We Keep Growing, We Make Our Calling and Election Sure () 

2 Peter 1:10 NKJV

Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;