Perspective Reset
Notes
Transcript
Happening this week:
Advice from a courageous yet careless Christian. Simon Peter. His parents named him Simon. Jesus named him Peter.
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.
Who in the world could possibly have a faith of equal standing as these men? Peter and John. Luke and Paul. Barnabas and Stephen. You!
Knowledge of God: This isnt just knowing about God. Just acknowledging His existence. This is a living participation in the truth. We see this in John 17:3 That they may know the one True God and Jesus whom He sent.
In Christ we have everything we need for life and godliness. Hand in hand. The point of life is godliness. Godliness allows the ‘life to the fullest’ Jesus offered. We cannot obtain (work toward or receive) godliness outside the life He has called us to.
Life of a True Believer: Full of faith! Before we can recognize a counterfeit, we must be familiar with the original.
Peter referred to himself as a servant of Jesus Christ. He uses the original doulos, better translated slave. He chose the word to best describe his submitted attitude to his Lord.
We see from his wording the life of a true believer is enabled through God’s glory and goodness.
Responsibility of the Believer: Because we have been saved, we do! add to… Similar to put on… Supplement. Like furnishing a house. Adding the necessary items to make the home livable.
This is not really a list of characteristics to master before moving onto the next.
The ultimate ‘put on’ list is the armor of God. When we recognize the enemy is attacking our mind, we dont necessarily start with the belt of truth, we go straight to the helmet of salvation!
Faith is a given. It is the beginning of this life we are called to. Without faith it is impossible to please God. The faith that brings us into a relationship with the Father is a prerequisite to everything else here. But again, we dont ‘master’ faith before moving to goodness.
But we are encouraged to fill up our houses with these pieces of furniture.
Goodness to our fellow man. Treating each other how we want to be treated. Being to them as our Lord has been to us. Reaching outside the church with help for today and hope for tomorrow! “Be warm and well fed” along with the message of reconciliation to God.
Knowledge of God through the Word of God. Thru living a life of experienced faith. Comparing those life experiences, again, back to the Word.
Self-control in the growth and maturing of our faith. We are so often pulled by our heart, deceptive as it is, toward impulsive and detrimental actions. Self-control is control by the new self, the Spirit that lives in us.
Perseverance. Steadfastness and endurance. It was said after the defeating Napoleon at Waterloo “Our men were not braver than the enemy, they were brave 5 minutes longer.” In the words of Jim Valvano when he was battling cancer “Dont give up! Dont ever give up!” There is a reward coming. When Sir Michael Faraday was dying, he was asked about his speculations for a life after death. “Speculations? I know nothing about speculations. I’m resting on certainties. I know that my Redeemer lives and because He lives, I shall live also!
Godliness. Elsewhere we are called to be holy because He is holy. Remember this is not just a characteristic of God, but it is who He is. He IS HOLY. The living creatures from Revelation 4 who are around the throne crying out HOLY HOLY HOLY. If this is the same as Isaiah saw, they are cherubim and their voice shakes the doorpost and thresholds. There is this level of worship around the throne of God because HE IS HOLY!!
Brotherly kindness within the church. Jesus told His disciples the world would know they are His because of their love for one another. Still true. When we are united, when brotherly kindness is evident to those who watch the church in this community, we testify to Jesus.
Love. Unfortunately 1 Corinthians 13 is too often relegated to valentines day and weddings. But let’s look together for a sec: is patient, is kind, is humble. It protects, trusts, hopes and perseveres.
The list we may be more familiar with is the fruit of the spirit. Comparing the two we see Peter add endurance, godliness and brotherly kindness.
v.10 Confirm your elective calling. God chose you, called you and provided the saving grace for you to believe! Now work it out with fear and trembling. Confirm it by your actions. Let these qualities grow in you. There is no tolerance for those who call themselves Christian but contradict the claim by their behavior!
v. 11 Heaven or eternal life? If we go back to v.1 we realize it doesnt matter. He is writing to those who have obtained faith. Have you?
