1.4-11
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 55:8-11
Text: 2 Peter 1:5-11 – Becoming a passionate Christian
Introduction: As you look back over nearly 2000 years of Christianity, what stands out in your mind? You could say, the growth of the early church, or maybe the dark ages, or maybe the revivals of the 19th and 20th century. Do you know what stands out about each of those periods of time? Passionate, diligent, believers in Jesus Christ. From Stephen the first Martyr, to John Calvin, and Martin Luther, to Wesley, to Spurgeon, and to Moody. Our society is in deep trouble and desperately in need of revival, so where are the passionate, diligent, believers today?
Central Idea: In order to become partakers in the divine nature of Christ it takes all the diligence a believer can muster.
Main Transition: As we get back into Peter’s second letter we cannot miss a beat. Peter jumps right in and continues the challenge to live in holy conduct and godliness. Today he lays out the pattern of Godliness, and the necessity of establishing the prominence of Godliness in our lives. All of this is seen in the evidence of how we practice Godliness. Peter’s thrust is it is hard to practice and live out holy conduct and godliness, this cannot be second on our list of priorities. It must be first, it takes all the diligence that we can muster.
I. The pattern of Godliness (5-7)
A. Because of the promises of God…
1. Peter last week said hello to those in the scattered church, but we came to understand that his message was much more than just a simple hello.
a. Peter’s concern is that Christians live out passionate Christian lives in a world that is going to make that hard.
b. But rather then just giving the command he gave the reason to do so first.
2. As Peter is about to tell us what to do he looks back to why we should do it.
a. You are protected by Christ, the Christian life is filled with hazards and few understood that like Peter who at the very moment that he was writing is awaiting a death sentence for his faith.
b. You are also a participant with Christ, you can live in holy conduct and godliness because Christ lives within you and you are a joint heir with Christ.
c. All of this is built upon a deep and intimate relationship with your master.
3. These are the promises that Peter builds the rest of the letter upon, you can accomplish holy conduct and godliness because you are given the divine power that is needed, you should because you are divinely protected
B. Qualities that affect your life
1. So in opening up the rest of the letter, Peter lists eight areas that indicate how you ought to live in holy conduct and godliness.
2. The first four are qualities that affect you personally, the word applying coupled with diligence means that it takes every bit of diligence and effort a Christian can muster, along with the enabling power of the Holy Spirit, to “escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires”
a. Faith – this is the saving faith that brings us into the family of God and is the foundation to all the rest of the qualities.
b. Moral excellence – this is outstanding goodness and virtue
c. Knowledge – This is knowledge that is practiced and lived out, we know what the Christian life should be about because we live it out. This comes from wisdom in right living.
d. Self control – This is the quality of one who has mastered his or her desires and emotions.
C. Qualities that affect the lives of others
1. So far the list is personal, but our faith is not only personal but practical so Peter continues with the list as it affects our relationship with other people.
a. Perseverance – Vincent says, “remaining behind or staying.” He says further, “not merely endurance of the inevitable, for Christ could have relieved Himself of His sufferings; but the heroic, brave patience with which a Christian not only bears but contends.
b. godliness – This is life lived in reflection of who you are before God
c. Brotherly kindness – Philo – have an affection for others
d. Love - that divine love which God is as to His nature, which is produced in the heart of the yielded believer by the Holy Spirit, and which impels him to deny himself for the benefit of the one loved.”
2. Putting this list back together, with just a simple understanding of the terms, we begin to realize that the Christian life does indeed require all the diligence a believer can muster.
Transition: Peter has called you and I out this morning. He is saying you come to church, you committed your life to Christ, prove it!! Show it in your personal life, show it in your relationship with others. If you are mistreated, persevere, if you are maligned show brotherly love.
II. Establishing prominence of Godliness (8-9)
A. If these qualities are yours…
1. Peter doesn’t stop to let that list soak in instead he keeps right on ahead.
2. Now he makes it practical to our lives, if you are diligent in living out your faith, if you are growing in your faith, these qualities are not only your possession, but they produce effective, passionate Christianity, when increased
3. The mere possession is not enough,
B. If these qualities are not yours…
1. Remember that Peter is speaking to believers as he moves from verse 8 to 9
2. Those who are not diligent in their faith are unfruitful, lacking in true knowledge, blind or short sighted, and having forgot the cost of salvation.
a. Peter is pretty harsh, but the fact remains that lukewarm Christians are worthless, if you do not progress in the qualities he mentioned you are useless.
b. If you do not apply work to your faith, you are not useable.
Application: Peter has just hammered out the picture of Christianity in general in our society. Where are all the passionate Christians that filled the church buildings no long ago? Apathy and defeat have taken their place.
Transition: Believer, Peter is direct but not out of line, this serves as a warning and a call to strive toward a diligent passionate faith. Let’s stop being lukewarm Christians where our faith takes third or fourth place in our lives, behind our jobs, our families, and our friends.
III. The practice of Godliness (10-11)
A. Show that you are called by God
1. Peter now says, in light of the results of applying or not applying the 8 qualities in your life, be diligent about your faith
2. He instructs us to make certain our calling and choosing
Illustration: When you buy a house or a piece of property there are all kinds of forms to fill out. But the important one is the Warranty deed, it is visible evidence that the house belongs to the one who purchased it. One’s godly behavior is a warranty deed for himself that Jesus Christ has cleansed him from his past sins and therefore that he was in fact called and elected by God.
3. You see God is not requiring evidence of our faith, but we question it, we need the assurance, and diligent passionate faith is our warranty deed.
4. Calling” refers to God’s efficacious work in salvation and “election” is God’s work of choosing some sinners (by His grace, not their merits) to be saved Election, of course, precedes calling.
B. Your actions will reveal your heart
1. A believer shows by his godly life and his growth in the virtues mentioned that he is one of God’s chosen. Such a believer will not fall. This word “stumble” does not suggest that a believer loses his salvation, for salvation does not depend on one’s spiritual growth.
2. The Greek word for stumble means “to trip up” or “to experience a reversal.” Certainly one who is maturing in Christ will not trip up in his spiritual life as readily as one who is immature and nearsighted.
C. A grand welcome when you get home
1. There is a grand reward for the passionate diligent servant of the Lord.
2. Remember that Peter is writing to believers, who’s faith in Christ’s death burial and resurrection for the payment of sins is what secures their entrance into heaven.
3. But for the diligent servant of the Lord, turn to Acts 7:56 Stephen, stoned for his faith in Jesus Christ, was a diligent passionate believer. Look at the welcome home, the heavens opened up and the Son of Man stood at the right hand of God. He wasn’t seated, he was standing to welcome him home.
Conclusion: The Christian life is hard word. You are called to holy conduct and godliness in a society that celebrates wickedness. Nonetheless the work that is invested will result in rewards. I remember vividly the first house that I helped to build. It took hard word, I poured blood, sweat, and tears into that project, but then I stood back on the day we finished it and said, I did that. O the joy that will fill the hearts of those who are diligent in their faith. To stand back and look out over the years of their life, and have Peter come up and say I told you so, then to have Christ Himself stand and say, well done, you are a partaker of my promises, well done good and faithful servant. Then you bowing your head low in adoration of your Master, saying Lord, I did it for you.
