Time To Grow Up

Scripture: 2 Pe 1:8-11

2 Peter 1:8–11 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. 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.

Preface

1Cor. 13:11 reads,

1 Corinthians 13:11 ESV

11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.

That scripture is literal, its metaphorical but the reader must also understand there is also irony, subtle irony there in.

The literal and metaphorical is that the scripture holds true for children of physical birth and spiritual rebirth.

How did I come up with irony? Well, truth be told, it’s my belief that it’s not physical or spiritual age but actually the things you do, the things you feed yourself, the environment you adapt, that determines not when, but if, you become a man.

In the passages just before the one that was read in your presence the apostle Peter gives 7 characteristic or attributes or qualities that would make your calling or election sure. 2 Pe 1:3-7. I’m here today brethren to tell you that becoming a real man in the spirit and image of Christ and making your call and election sure is the same thing.

Peter’s First Epistle

Peter having delivered his first epistle which deals with problems for Christians outside the church viz, unbelievers, the Roman Government and Judaizing Jews, delivers his second epistle to deal with problems inside the church viz. false teachers, who were said to have special or extra knowledge, and their damaged doctrines. Included in this epistle is a 7 characteristic formula for Christian growth. We must take note that even without these threats, the formula is what is needed for all Christians especially if according to Paul we want to grow from children to men or according to Peter we want to be effective and fruitful.

Most commentators agree that the epistle known as 2 Peter

1. Warning against being carried away with the error of the wicked.

2. Encourage Christians into a patient expectation of the Lords return

3. To show that life cannot be separated from doctrine; and

4. To encourage readers to grow their Christian character.

Let us explore these seven qualities briefly noting what the bible says about them.

Giving All Diligence Add To Your Faith, Virtue.

Let me just say something about diligence first. It is not one of the characteristic but Diligence is the key to obtaining the seven qualities. It is what we know as careful, persistent, conscientious, effort or studying hard.

Virtue

While I don’t think Peter intends for us to obtain these qualities one at a time I think he singled out virtue first. Virtue as you know is moral goodness or the desire to be morally good. He has singled out virtue because it is the containing force for the formation of all characteristics and without that force of virtue, one’s characteristics loses focus and become worldly. Virtue is what the babe in Christ should have; at, just before and after baptism; the desire to do the right thing and follow Christ. Virtue with diligence are what will soon take the babe from milk to more solid food or to spiritual adolescence.

And To Virtue, Knowledge

Peter infers, in 1 Peter, that knowledge and that is the knowledge of God and Christ can multiply grace and peace to us for obedience to Christ and sprinkling with his blood. In Phil. 3:8 Paul counts everything else as a loss because of his knowledge of Christ.

Philippians 3:8 ESV

8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

Self Control

Self control or temperance means control over anger, carnal passions, appetites and desires for worldly pleasures and selfishness, it is for the one who respects himself and considers his body to be truly the temple of the Holy Spirit. Proverbs 16:32

Proverbs 16:32 ESV

32 Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

Self Control is one of the fruits of the spirit against which, there is no law. Gal. 5:22-24 -

Galatians 5:22–24 ESV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Perseverance

You are no longer a boy not yet a man , spiritually that is, and you are showing some mettle, so the devilish flurry continues. Again based on the parable of the sower he throws his thorns at you, the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches you have no choice but to add to your self-control perseverance which is also known as steadfastness.

In his 2nd letter to the Thessalonians, Paul commends them for their perseverance in the midst of persecutions and afflictions; that is their steadfastness and unwavering faith. The apostle James indeed confirms that steadfastness is a production of testing of our faith and this we must count as joy. David asks God to vindicate him for his unwavering faith in Psalm 26:1. 1 John pointed out what happens to you when you are not steadfast (1 John 2:19) meaning they did not persevere.:

1 John 2:19 ESV

19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.

Godliness

Next, to your repertoire you add godliness to your perseverance and you become a man you have the qualifications to yield thirtyfold. Probably the stuff teachers and preachers are made off .

Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.

I don’t really want to add to that

Brotherly Kindness

But didn’t I say that there were seven qualities what happened to the last two? Here comes a warning. Well after godliness, Mr. opportune time, I call him mr opportunity, the enemy, is really grinding against you. Not only are people in the church recognizing and respecting your spiritual growth and fruitfulness but people outside the church; in your community, your job, your school any and everywhere. With the attachment of brotherly kindness and love, wow! there is no stopping you, you possess the stuff that elders and deacons are made off and Mr. opportunity is not happy at all. He is probably going to have to get two or three witnesses to bring you down. But any way the battle continues at every opportune moment.

Heb. 13:1-2

Hebrews 13:1–2 ESV

1 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Gal.6:10

Galatians 6:10 ESV

10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Prov. 19:22

Proverbs 19:22 ESV

22 What is desired in a man is steadfast love, and a poor man is better than a liar.

Love

The apostle Paul wrote Col 3:12-13

Colossians 3:12–13 ESV

12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

Verse 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Col 3:15-17

Colossians 3:15–17 ESV

15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

This tells me brethren and friends that Peter and Paul were of the same mind and the same judgment and, that is because they had the same Spirit. The same spirit that all Christians have. Let me be emphatic as the bible is emphatic, we cannot increase in the seven qualities without the Spirit.Brethren and friends spiritual growth and making your call and election sure is everything

It is valid, even important, to ask God to increase our spiritual growth and perception.

God wants us mature; He wants us built up; He wants us strong. In 1 John 2:13 we find the pattern of growth. Listen to what it says:

1 John 2:13 ESV

13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father.

These the scripture is describing are not just literally little children, young men, and fathers but are three levels, if you must, of spiritual growth.

But wait what is wrong with this picture? What’s missing? Well I’ll tell you. No child physical or spiritual is allowed to grow up straight and narrow without interference from the devil. Especially as according to Luke 4:13 to be exact he is a being of opportunity.

Luke 4:13 ESV

13 And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.

The devil doesn’t mind much you being a Christian and going to church and such because he has many distractions even within the assembly, for you. He has someone in the congregation that distracts you during the sermon to stop you from hearing the word. He gets you hook on dynamic preaching or preacher, makes anybody else boring. He gets you interested on good singing or a good song leader; soon you don’t want to come to church unless the conditions are right for you.

But you brethren you are not like I just described; you’re diligent you practice virtue and you seek knowledge of Christ and God because you want to be the ultimate spiritual man.

Why did I choose this as a lesson? I want us to keep as close a watch on our personal lives, so that we can take part of the divine nature and go from one degree of glory to another. So that we can be holy as He is holy. Why? The destined end of man is not happiness, nor health, but holiness.

And Listen, this is vital, we can become that way, not on our own efforts by the way and I’m sorry if you’re getting that impression. but it can be gotten:

1. Through the Blood for through it (Rom. 3:24,25)

Romans 3:24 ESV

24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

Romans 3:25 ESV

25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

we are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.

2. The Holy Spirit dwelling in us

3. Growing spiritually or clothing the new man

or as Col 3 puts it “ put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.”

Closing

Spiritual growth brethren and friends is a combination of God’s initiative and our response.

And our response needs to be correct.

What do I mean?

1. We can choose the lazy route. As you have probably figured out, laziness is one of the biggest impediments to spiritual growth and one of the most deceptive; deceptive; in the sense that we always seem to be busy. Ultimately, If we do not overcome laziness, none of the other impediments will be hurdled.

2. Choose to ignore the voice of the Spirit. Knowing first that we have to nurture him

3. We can banish God to the edges of our busy lives, to the borders of consciousness. Remember Martha; Jesus had this to say to her “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

4. We can limit our practice to the occasional quiet time, thinking of God now and then and rattling off prayers in a haphazard way.

And end up with spiritual lives that can be considered shallow and worldly.

Or, brethren and friends, we can respond to his inner workings and be drawn to him. As God works, we will sense a pull and call inviting us deeper. As the psalmist wrote in (Ps 42:7).

Psalm 42:7 ESV

7 Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me.

As we sense this pull, it is up to us to follow the directions and guidance of our new spiritual parents or guardians if you prefer viz the Word of God and the Spirit of God.

Spiritual growth is effortful, as such we must be reminded constantly and take solace in the tools that are at our disposal viz. the scriptures for instance - Proverbs 10:4

Proverbs 10:4 ESV

4 A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.

Pro 12:11

Proverbs 12:11 ESV

11 Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.

Pro 12:24

Proverbs 12:24 ESV

24 The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor.

Pro 13:4

Proverbs 13:4 ESV

4 The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.

There’s that word diligent again.

Epilog

Peter goes on to say that if these qualities are yours, and, don’t forget the and, -and means also-, increasing this keeps you from being ineffective and unfruitful. So if you don’t have them or have them and are not increasing you are being ineffective and unfruitful and your election and calling is so-so. I can’t say for sure.

Peter says All Christian growth begins on the attainment of a “like precious faith”; that is a faith similar to him and his fellow apostles. This faith he contends cannot be found by apostles only but is available to all through the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ. In simple English the faith is that Jesus Christ is the son of God and he died to set us free from sin through the shedding of his blood. Heb. 11:1 describes Faith this way

Hebrews 11:1 ESV

1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

and our hope is to become partakers of the divine gifts and promises of God and this we do through the blood of Christ and the Holy Spirit. And as we know brethren, we cannot access anything for without faith it is impossible to please God.

Invitation