Sunday Morning: May 2, 1999
Text: 2 Peter 1:10-11
"Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure [KJV - firm, of force, stedfast, sure; NASB - certain(2), firm(2), firmly grounded(1), more sure(1), steadfast(1), unalterable(1), valid(1)]: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall [fall, offend, stumble]: 11. For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."If we do these tings we will never fall or stumble and we will have an abundant entrance into the coming kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. These things were are to do are found in verses 5-7. These things are to be added to faith and they are to abound in us. 2 Peter 1:5-7 " giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue 6. knowledge temperance patience 7. godliness brotherly kindness charity."
1 Corinthians 10:12
"Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall."The word fall in this verse is not the same word as in 1 Peter 1:10 but it is a form of the same word. In the context of this verse we find the children of God suffering for the sin in their lives that caused them to perish in the wilderness. Even Moses perished in the wilderness for his rebellion before the rock. They fell and so can we.
1 Corinthians 9:27
"But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway [adokimov, disapprove]."The word castaway is approve with an a in front of it. Negative approval or put another way, disapproval. If there is no interest in a crown then there is no incentive to finish the race by any means. Some say it is the love of Christ that compels them, but if that were enough the Lord would not have added other incentives. To win a crown it takes self discipline and denying yourself to do what it takes.
2 Timothy 2:15
"Study [spoudazo, labor, diligence] to show thyself approved [dokimov, approve] unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."The word study is the same word found in 1 Peter 1:10. With the same diligence to make our calling and election sure we are to give diligence to present ourselves approved and not to be ashamed at the judgment seat of Christ. To do this it takes the study of God's word to rightly divide, or cut it straight.
James 1:12 "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried [dokimov, approve], he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him."
To stand approved before the Lord it takes endurance in time of testing. There are those who begin well and continue for a while then they become as the one in Luke 8:13 "They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe [present active], and in time of temptation fall away [offended]." These in Luke did not apply the principal presented in 2 Timothy 2:15 and they were not grounded in the Word and could be easily offended.
2 Corinthians 13:5
"Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates [adokimov, disapprove]?"The word reprobates is negative approval. If you are not in the faith you will be disapproved. What does it mean to not be in the faith. You are just not pleasing God. Christ being permanently in us from salvation is not what the Word teaches. The Holy Spirit is in us from new birth but Paul struggled with the Church at Galatia. Galatians 4:19 "My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,"
Hebrews 11:6
"But without faith (noun and not a verb) it is impossible to please him: "Colossians 1:27 " Christ in you, the hope of glory:"
To have Christ in us is to have the hope an abundant entrance into His kingdom and glory.
2 Timothy 3:8
" these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate [dokimov, approve] concerning the faith."There will be those in the family who will be disapproved because they resist the truth by associating faith with the common salvation and not associating it with pleasing God.
1 Timothy 1:19
"Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:"Only saved people who have been pleasing God by faith can make shipwreck of the faith. Before you can please God by faith, you have to have been pleasing God by being just or obedient.
1 Timothy 4:1 "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly (outspokenly, distinctly), that in the latter times some shall depart [depart, draw (fall) away, refrain, withdraw self] from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;"
Only those who are just and have been pleasing God by faith can depart from the faith.
2 Peter 1:5-9
"And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6. And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7. And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins."Without verse 4 it would not be possible to add anything to our faith. 2 Peter 1:4 " by these (promises) ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." sets the spiritual growth of those who are able to add to their faith. We have faith and love in verse 5-7 just as we have faith and hope in 1 Corinthians 13:13 "And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity." The six things that are between faith and love have to do with the one thing that is between faith and love in 1 Corinthians 13:13 and that is hope.
2 Peter 1:3
"According as his divine power hath given untous all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge [epignosiv, knowledge upon knowledge] of him that hath called us to glory and virtue (moral excellence)."
The word virtue is also translated praise in 1 Peter 2:9. Virtue is included in a list of things to think on in Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." If there be things that are worthy of commendation and recognition like that of being a good, faithful, and profitable servant in Matthew 25 we need to think on these tings and add them to our faith.
The phrase "him that hath called us to glory and virtue" gives further insight in to what we are to make sure. The kingdom will glorious and those who are praised at the judgment seat of Christ will enjoy that abundant entrance.
2 Peter 1:4
"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."There is the definite article the before the word knowledge. The article directs the reader to a distinct knowledge in the context of verse 4. This reference to a particular knowledge is that knowledge found in 2 Peter 1:3 " hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness (one of those things to be added), through the knowledge [epignosiv, knowledge upon knowledge] of him that hath called us to glory and virtue (one of those things to be added):" For us to walk worthy and be all pleasing and be fruitful to the Lord something needs to increase as found in Colossians 1:10 "That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge [epignosiv, knowledge upon knowledge] of God;"
Romans 15:14
"And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are , filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another."Knowledge is to be used to encourage ourselves in the Lord as well as other.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5
"(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5. Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;"Knowledge is part of our spiritual armor that is needed to bring our thoughts into obedience of Christ and therefore being just able to walk by faith.
2 Peter 3:17-18
"Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. 18. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ ."It is something to ponder that we can have this kind of knowledge and still be lead away with the error of the wicked. Knowing that we can be led away in error we should have more determination to grow in knowledge and grace.
1 Corinthians 9:27
"But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."Temperance has to do with self control. Controlling ourselves in the extremes of life Philippians 4:12 "I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need." Some teachers teach that gain is godliness, but the truth is in 1 Timothy 6:6 "But godliness with contentment is great gain." Self control allows a man to defer his anger and to pass over a wrong. Proverbs 19:11 "The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression."
Proverbs 16:32 "He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city."
Romans 5:3-4
"And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience [endurance]; 4. And patience, experience; and experience, hope:"Tribulation and testing can be used to strengthen our endurance. Just as the athlete endures the pain to gain the endurance needed to win the prize we too need to let the trying of our faith produce the endurance to finish the race. Hebrews 12:1 "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us run with patience [endurance] the race that is set before us," Luke 8:15 " bring forth fruit with patience." Hebrews 10:36 "For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise."
James 1:3-4
"Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience [endurance]. 4. But let patience [endurance] have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."If we endure we will past the test and stand approved, as found in verse 12, receiving a crown of life.
Colossians 1:11 "Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience [endurance] and longsuffering [passionate intensity] with joyfulness;"
We can not endure on our own strength. It take his power and might for us to endure.
Acts 10:2
"A devout [godly] man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway."The word devout is in the same family of words as the word godly, or godliness. This passage of scripture gives us some insight into the character of a godly man. One that fears God personally and then he teaches that godliness to his own house hold. A godly man is one who gives to others of his time and substance. A godly man also is one who prays and as in Luke 18:1 doesn't faint but endures.
Acts 10:7 " Cornelius he called two of his household servants (that were not devoted), and a devout [godly] soldier of them that waited on him continually;"
One of Cornelius' soldiers was devoted to him. A godly man is devoted to God waiting on him continually.
2 Peter 1:3 "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge [epignwsiv, exact knowledge] of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:"
Godliness comes to us through the deeper or exact knowledge of him that has called us. Godliness is produced by the study of the Word of the truth.
Romans 12:10
"Be kindly affectioned (with feeling) one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;"Inter personal relationship are essential in the family. Division creates strife and a house divided will not stand but fall. In the same chapter we find the extent of our affections. Romans 12:15 "Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep." Brotherly love is not promoted when one brother prefers himself over another brother. In the same chapter we have spiritual gifts and we are to exercise our spiritual gift and allow other to do the same.
1 Thessalonians 4:9-10 "But as touching brotherly love for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. 10. but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;"
Paul seems to be saying that there can not be too much brotherly love in the body of Christ. We are to add brotherly love to faith and then increase more and more in brotherly love.
1 John 3:14 "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death."
The expression of passing from death unto live is not a reference to the spirit salvation experience but the salvation of the soul. The word death is not nekrov but qanatov. The Word seems to make a distinction between these two word. The word nekrov is used of being dead in our trespasses and sin in need of being born from above. The word qanatov is used when it is referring to those who are saved and have a life that can be lost. The following verse states that if we hate our brother we do not have life for the age. 1 John 3:15 "Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him." To lose the live for the coming age is because we have perished or that we abide in death [qanatov]. We know that a murderer can be born from above and brought into the family of God, so we know that this is not talking about the common salvation.
1 John 3:18 "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth."
Not only are we to say things that will encourage our brother in the Lord, we are also to minister to his physical needs as well.
Galatians 5:6
" faith which worketh by love."You can have faith enough to do great miracles but if there is no love there faith does not work or profit you and it is impossible to please God. 1 Corinthians 13:2 " though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing."
Hebrews 10:24 "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:"
We are encouraged to provoke each other to love and good works. These good works are to be done on the bases of faith. Romans 14:23 " for whatsoever is not of faith is sin."
John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments."
Love stimulates us to be obedient to the Lord as this verse says. If we can not be obedient to His commandments we can not be just. If we are not just we can not live by faith. 1 John 4:20 "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?"
Hebrews 10:38 "Now the just (those who love God) shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him."
Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God,..."
2 Peter 1:8-9
"For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge [epignosiv, knowledge upon knowledge] (verse 1, lacking in grace and peace) of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins."The things that will keep us from falling and will help us to give diligence to make our calling and election stedfast must abound in us. This is not doing that which is our duty to do but being profitable servants abounding in faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, and love. We need to be fruitful in the knowledge will provide us with grace and peace. 2 Peter 1:2 "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord," This knowledge will help us to evaluate our present circumstances in light of that which is far off, the coming Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We often forget why we have been purged from our old sins. Being free from sin allows us to have fruit that will honor the Lord. The end of our fruitfulness is life for the coming age which is the coming kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 6:22 "But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life." 1 Peter 1:9 "Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls."