What God Has Done to Assure You Can Be Changed

What God Has Done to Assure You Can Be Changed 2 Peter 1:3-4 April 25, 2021 REMEMBER THE PURPOSE OF LETTER: To encourage Christians to grow in their faith through the knowledge of Jesus and stay true to Gospel, rejecting false teaching. Key Verse: 2 Peter 3:18 (ESV) “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” è In 2 Peter, “know” or “knowledge” is used 16 times. The Big Idea: Peter had tragic experiences in spiritual and personal failure. He also had glorious experiences of being restored and transformed by Jesus. We are called to understand and experience all that Jesus has made possible for those He saves. transformed and be conformed to the image of Christ. ü Learning what He values and expects of us (Bible) ü Understanding His heart through long conversations (prayer) ü Asking for and expecting His counsel (growing in wisdom) ü Repenting when we sin and receiving with gladness His correction and restoration (Peter’s example) 3. Glory belongs only to God. Excellence as a man has only been experienced at a level of perfection only by Jesus. Salvation leads us to see the fullness of Christ – His glory as God and excellence as Man. [v. 3] 4. Godly living is empowered and increased by knowing and trusting in the promises of God. 2 Peter 1:3-4 (ESV) 1 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. ü Forgiveness of all our sins—past, present, and future [1 John 1:7-9] ü Spiritual adoption by God the Father [Ephesians 1:4-6] ü Spiritual strength by the Holy Spirit [John 14:16] ü Peace [Philippians 4:6-7] ü Comfort in suffering and hardship [Matthew 11:28-30] ü Provision of our needs [Philippians 4:19] ü Jesus’ Return and the Hope of heaven when we die [Revelation 22:3-7] Spiritual Truth for Your Walk With Jesus: 1. All we need to live the godly life we are called to has already been given us through Jesus. 2. Only by ever-increasing knowledge of Jesus (a growing, deepening relationship) will our lives be "Even the weakest believer holds in his hands all that the mightiest saint ever possessed." Ray Stedman