Spiritual Amnesia

1 Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: 2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 3 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, 4 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. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 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. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 12 Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. 13 I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, 14 since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.

Prayer

Oh gracious God and Father, we are here joined together by the fidelity of the gospel of Christ Jesus to bask in the glory of Your presence. We thank You for the preparation of our hearts to hear and apply Your Word this day. We, with humility, because of our wretched feebleness, boldly approach You today on Your throne oh king, only through the admittance of the blessed blood of our Lord Your Son the Christ, Jesus. Lord Jesus we thank you for your mercy and grace. Your mercy that was purchased by your sacrificial death on the cross and Your grace that is extended to us because Your sacrifice was acceptable and perfect as evidenced in your resurrection. Oh God might the mystery of the Gospel kindle within us a fire of zeal for your names sake. Oh the wonder that you the most high, holy God would care for us so dearly as to send us of yourself in your son Jesus to suffer and die on our behalf so that we might live. To suffer the full measure of your wrath that we might obtain forgiveness and restoration to you. And more you send us to dwell within us your very spirit. Holy Spirit be with us now quickening our hearts and minds to grasp with all the saints what is the

breadth and length and height and depth,

19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that we may be filled with all the fullness of God.

God do this even now, this very hour… Amen

Intro

Are you suffering from spiritual amnesia?

What does spiritual amnesia look like?

Amnesia = a partial or total loss of memory

Have you ever been around someone suffering from Amnesia or Alzheimer's disease?

Message

Exposition of the Text

2 Peter 1:1–2 ESV

Simeon Peter

name change

servant

apostle

To Those

Who have obtained - by lot

faith - trust

equal standing - same quality / merit

righteousness - not YOURS

God = savior = Jesus

Have you obtained this? - If not the rest of this sermon is not for you!

The Blessing

Grace & Peace = Charis - kindness / goodwill & Peace - freedom from worry

Multiplied = Plethora - increase abundantly

knowledge = the more or less definite information

V3-4

2 Peter 1:3–4 ESV

3 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, 4 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.

His - Jesus = Divine Power - power of God…

Granted to you = officially

ALL things = life / godliness

through = knowledge

of him - who called us

to HIS = glory / excellence

Granted to you

precious / very great = promises… what promises?

partakers of divine nature = partner/associate = koinonia - fellowship

escape from corruption

This is the Gospel! = Purchase & Position | Redeemed & Reconciled |

When is the last time you have spent time marveling at the magnitude of this mystery that is the message of the Bible… The Gospel?

Do you feel the weight of His Holy Glory?

Do you comprehend the depths of your depravity?

Do you consider the fullness of the wrath that Jesus bore because of YOU?

Are you left dumbstruck by the gift of receiving justification?

Justification = Just as if I have never sinned | Just as if I had always obeyed

V5-7

2 Peter 1:5–7 ESV

5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.

For what Reason?

Because of the Gospel… Because you’re NEW… for that reason...

bring to bear with every eagerness

8-10 yrs | Shovel | 5x5x4 hole | 1 day

Iraq & Afghanistan | ring for wife

TV Show Biggest Looser

supplement your faith = support / add to / increase / furnish

virtue = morality

knowledge = different then above [possess information] = involved with

self-control = exercize the command over ones own desires and actions

steadfastness = patient endurance

godliness = right belief and practice

brotherly affection = philadelphia

LOVE = agape = selfless / servant / action

Would you be able to look Jesus in the eyes and report that you are making every effort to supplement your faith in these areas?

Do you know why we can’t!

The reason we are not growing, effective, fruitful in our walk is because we are suffering from Spiritual Amnesia!

V8-9

2 Peter 1:8–9 ESV

8 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. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.

Cartoon Character | UPA studios = 1949 = nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film (the Oscar) three times, and received the award twice = voiced by Jim Backus | Mr. J. Quincy Magoo

So nearsighted that he is Blind

nothing funny about this!

sights set on ourselves only - rather then others

sights set on this world alone - rather then that which is to come

sights set on our current condition - rather then our future glory

When we are suffering from spiritual amnesia we are ineffective and unfruitful.

2 Peter 1:10–11 ESV

10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Therefore = MORE DILIGENT

This is what I want for US today!!!

confirm your call + election = prove it!

If - then = never fall…YES PLEASE!!

Richly provided entrance.... YES & AMEN!!

2 Peter 1:12–15 ESV

12 Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. 13 I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, 14 since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.

V12-15 = What is your goal in life?

Are YOU is your LIFE a WITNESS or a whisper?

Who is writing this letter? Why might that show us his desires here?

Simon / Peter…

Matthew 26:34 ESV

34 Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.”

Matthew 26:75 ESV

75 And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

John 21:15–19 ESV

15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

Never Forget

Sept 11th 2001 = Never Forget = Jan 1 2007

The reason we are not growing, effective, fruitful in our walk is because we have forgotten the gospel, we are suffering from spiritual amnesia!

You have obtained a righteousness by faith that is full of divine power to live for Christ.

Since you have it make every effort to exercise it so that you bear much fruit.

The way to do this is to keep the gospel paramount so you never take it for granted.

If you do this, you will grow, you will prove yourself true, you will be a reminder to others.

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