All-Sufficient Grace

OPENING COMMENDATIONS

Sharing Christ - and - Church giving - you have responded to God’s Word!

Strawberries - something I’m good at - but what do I do with the harvest??

2 Peter

READ - 2 Peter 1:1-8 (verses 1-4 today, 5-7 next week)

AD 60-68, likely before 65 when Peter likely died

A letter to a church threatened by false teaching; likely a Gentile church

Themes:

Faithful Christian life

The saving righteousness of God

Importance of knowing God and Christ

Letter opens and closes - grace and knowledge (inclusio)

Peter - a slave and apostle

under authority (of Christ)

submissive to Lordship of Christ

the word (doulos) also implies honor, as in honored to serve Christ

Therefore: humility and honor - that’s Peter

Why this epistle? Opposition

“Christians” - false teachers

Mainly - denying the future coming of Christ

So…live the libertine lifestyle

Or…live the lifestyle, and then justify it by teaching Christ is not returning

because: Paul said we have liberty - Romans 14

and God’s grace releases us from ethics and morality - WRONG

Rejected the prophecies of the parousia - the second coming - we call this the Rapture - the “gathering together” in 2 Thessalonians

They embraced the material world, since it’s the only one we’ll experience (since Christ isn’t coming back…)

And the apostles were charged with spreading myths

If: no return of Christ, there is no future judgment, and you can live anyway you want - THAT’s NOT THE BELIEVER

The Believer’s Godliness is Rooted in Grace

All-sufficient grace

Grace defined - unmerited favor - yes, but what does that mean?

Merciful behavior ---- of a more powerful one toward another; displayed by the Lord toward humankind

In NT - spiritual gifts are described as “graces”

God’s nature is defined by His holiness

God’s activity is defined by His grace - how He expresses His divine personality, revealed toward His creation - US - “GOD IS GRACIOUS IN ACTION”

REMEMBER: Indicatives and Imperatives

Today - What we are to do is based on what God has already done, what He has provided and done - Grace is God’s initiative, (not a ‘fair’ thing)

Our faith is rooted in God’s saving righteousness - the free gift of salvation - the “grace” of salvation

ASIDE: “Righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ”

Equates Jesus with God ---> Jesus = God

Not “God and the Savior....

(John 1:1, 18; 20:28, Romans 9:5, Titus 2:13, Hebrews 1:8)

Purposes of Grace

1) Open door to salvation by faith

And the Gospel is so much more than salvation

2) Allows us to embrace and participate in divine nature

REM: We are heavenly citizens

Indicative - God gives grace, everything we need, given by God - nothing more He could have (or should have) done

Then, vv. 3-4 and following - “since God…then you.....

There is a call to Godliness - God demands it, and His grace and power supply sufficiently

3) Experience Peace

To receive God’s grace, and respond by faith - experience peace

Peter wants the grace and peace he knows to affect his readers - and YOU

Grace and peace, understood and embraced when:

believers know more about God, and experience Him more deeply

That’s the open and close of this short letter

QUESTIONS?

How do we get equipped?

What do I do about this world I live in?

What’s the point of Jesus’s return and eternal life, my incentive?

Is a Jesus-like faith really possible?

Can I really live a “godly” life? If so, how?

Equipped

Embrace grace

His Word is all-sufficient - we have everything we need for life AND godliness

through knowledge of Him, through His revelation to us

Corrupt World

We are not free from sin here, not yet

But…positionally, we believers have escaped it (v.4); we are becoming like Christ; we will be completed

(REM the false teachers were saying this is not so, this world is the best we’ll experience)

V.3 - we are called to be saved and live like it

Who is called to be saved? Everyone

John 12:32 NASB95

“And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.”

God calls the light (Jesus says we are salt and light) out of darkness; bringing to mind Genesis 1:3

The Point of Eternal Life

Not just “fire insurance”

Involves transformation - Romans 12:1-2

Romans 12:2 NASB95

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Incentives: Why do this “godly” stuff?

1 - realize what God has already provided, what He’s done

2 - Anticipation of Christ’s return

Thus, Jesus’ parables - we work, while we await His return

That, and there is no godly life without grace and salvation

Why don’t some “get it?”

Romans 1 - no one is without excuse - all see God all around them, in His revealed Creation

Some, a few, the narrow gate , yield to that calling

Some embrace the specially-revealed knowledge and perceive God’s beauty, His gracious character

Some, by faith - FOLLOW, in complete SURRENDER

Can I Really Do this?

1 - Yes, you can get saved, by faith, and faith alone

Ephesians 2:8–9 NASB95

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

2 - Yes, you can live for Him, where you are right now, and in the condition you are right now

We tend to think we need to wait to live for Him, until we are better mentally or physically

God’s not waiting to give you the opportunities - Even Paul thought he could better serve God, if only (he had the thorn removed…)

2 Corinthians 12:9 NASB95

And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

God gives grace - “He reveals His truth, not for entertainment (or to feel good), to people who have a pre-commitment to obey” H.B. Charles

POINT - Yield to God, by faith, and He reveals His truth, in abundance, to you!

Faith is amazingly possible

One must desire to obey

Then God’s truth is provided for knowledge and growth to live for Him

SO...

God says you can live for Him

God says you can do this

He’s given you all you need

And…IF you are willing:

He’ll give you the opportunities

Not seeing them? Do you want to? Start there

It takes work

God’s already done His part; “It is finished”

Now, do yours, in spite of opposition, in spite of corruption around us

Overall:

Great to be reminded of His grace

Even better to understand how it applies everywhere in life

We are not allowed to sit back and “feel good” about being saved, saying we are “Christian,” but doing nothing with it

Salvation just begins the Christian life

“GRACES - the spiritual gifts

Here, the same implication exists with salvation

Romans 12 talks of spiritual gifts (prophecy, service, teaching, giving, leading, etc.)

Gifts are given to be USED

Romans 12 - “to EXERCISE them accordingly”

Since salvation is a spiritual gift - what does that imply

Salvation is not given for you to simply enjoy, sitting back relaxed

Just like other gifts, it is intended to be used

“being partakers of the divine nature”

Living like you belong to Him, and live in His kingdom

You can do it. I know, because God says you can!