110 likes | 291 Views
Are You Really Among Those God Has Called and Chosen?. 2 PETER 1:5-11. iNTRODUCTION. Having learned of your election, you could either be “Floaters “ or” swimmers” Whatever attitude you take “will prove that you really are among those god has called and chosen” (2peter 1:10)
E N D
Are You Really Among Those God Has Called and Chosen? 2 PETER 1:5-11
iNTRODUCTION • Having learned of your election, you could either be “Floaters “ or” swimmers” • Whatever attitude you take “will prove that you really are among those god has called and chosen” (2peter 1:10) • KJV “CONFIRM YOUR ELECTION”
THE SOURCE OF GODLINESS • The source of godliness is god’s divine power ( 2peter 1:1-4 ) • Our goal is life and godliness • The source of strength to become godly is divine power • The activating connection between the goal of godliness and the source of divine power is knowing and trusting the promises of god.
The logic of godliness (v5-7) • God has given power for godliness, strive to be godly (v 3-4 then connected by 5-7 by the word-in view of all this. • This is the heart of new testament ethics. • We labour for virtue because god has already laboured for us and is at work in us. • Don’t reverse the order lest it becomes another gospel. • Phil.2:13, phil.3.12, • Take pains not to live unworthy of his love
March forward !!!!! (v 5-7) • Faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, godliness, brotherly affection, love for everyone. • List starts with faith and ends in love • True Christians do not stop pursuing growth in grace (2peter 3:18). They advance. • They apply themselves with diligence to increase in these things • Holy dissatisfaction with our present attainments
FLOATING NOT AN OPTION- SWIM • The tide of temptation is too strong (1 peter 5:8) • Christians who just float never stay in the same place . Its even an effort to stand still • We float and we could be swept and drift away into being unproductive and useless (v8) • The evidence of god’s power (given to you by faith) is making every effort (swim) to advance in the qualities of Christ. • Put into practice what you have learned (James 1:22. 2:17) • Our faith should produce good deeds (the evidence)
What happens if we just float? (v9) • Blind in two directions if we quit swimming • When looking into the future, its all haze and the promises of god are swallowed up in a blur of worldly longings (short sighted) • When looking into the past –the forgiveness given to him is forgotten –just an empty prayer and ritual… • Blindness to the past and future work of god blocks his power and leaves us weak and just floating and drifting…
What is at stake if we are just floating? • Verse 10 makes it clear “ work hard to prove that you really are among those god has called and chosen. • Blindness, powerlessness and fruitlessness may be a sign that we were never called and not among the chosen • Don’t be confused and say this is works. It is not… • Our zeal to advance to Christlikeness is thru divine power which flows thru our knowledge of god (through the spirit 2 thes 2:13).this confirms our election…
sanctification AND ASSURANCE • THE CONFIRMATION OF YOUR ELECTION IS YOUR PROGRESS IN SANCTIFICATION • God chose us to become like his son (romans 8:29). • The reassuring evidence that god has called and chosen us is our growth to become like Christ thru the process of sanctification • 2 cor 3:18-and the lord who is the spirit makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.
Therefore.. The final result (v11) • Virtue, knowledge, self control, patience, godliness, brotherly affection (v5-7)-are not our entrance fee to eternal kingdom. • They are the necessary evidence that our trust in god’s promise is genuine- they are the confirmation that we are really called and chosen by god..
Application… Are we making every effort • towards moral excellence? • to increase our knowledge of god’s character and will • To strengthen our power of self control • To enlarge capacity for patience • To cultivate a heart for god • To grow warm in our affection for our fellow believers • To stir up love even to the person we dislike • If this things are in us and increasing we will not be fruitless (v8 ) and not stumble (v10 ) and enter the eternal kingdom (v11) • 1 tim 6:12, hebrew12:1, phil 3:14)