2PETER 1: 5-11 HOWARD BUCK November 13, 2016

2 Peter 1:5-11 (ESV) 5  For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6  and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7  and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 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.

2 Peter 1:5-11 (ESV) 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.

A theologian named Berkhof defines it this way: What we are going to look at in these verses is technically called SANCTIFICATION A theologian named Berkhof defines it this way: “a work of God in which believers participate” While we are saved by faith alone through grace, growing this faith doesn’t happen automatically – we have to WORK at it!! Peter will encourage and help guide us by listing 8 virtues of this process His list starts with faith and ends with love

The for this very reason refers back to the previous verse: 1:5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, The for this very reason refers back to the previous verse: 1:4 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. Because we are partakers of the divine nature, Peter calls us to be virtuous NAS is a bit clearer using “moral excellence”

We are to supplement our faith with virtue (moral) Supplement: to increase, extend, or improve something by adding something to it Peter is saying that we must make every effort to ADD to our faith What are we adding?... Virtue: the quality of being morally good or righteous Moral: able to distinguish right from wrong and to make decisions based on that knowledge…

supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, Here is the verse again: 1:5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, (NASB ‘moral’) and virtue with knowledge, Notice our definition says: Moral: able to distinguish right from wrong and to make decisions based on that knowledge Notice what Peter said: supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, Look at the definition again, we cannot have moral excellence without the knowledge of right and wrong…

So what does Peter want us to do?... Putting this together, Peter says to have virtue, but don’t stop there, have virtue (moral excellence) WITH KNOWLEDGE. Our definition says that virtue (moral) is based on knowledge of right and wrong So what does Peter want us to do?... Increase our knowledge, our understanding of what is virtuous (moral) HOW DO WE DO DAT????? By developing an in-depth knowledge of scripture and leaning heavily on the guidance and help of the Holy Spirit!!!

Because we are partakers of the Divine Spirit which means: So, we are to supplement our faith by consistently improving our efforts to live a moral/virtuous life by the study of scripture and with the help of the Holy Spirit Why?... Because we are partakers of the Divine Spirit which means: God is IN US so act accordingly. Learn and grow in virtue!!!!!!! Wow we are moving fast, one down, only 7 to go!

Wow, now he wants us to have self-control as we grow in our 2 Peter 1:6 6  and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, (NASB) Wow, now he wants us to have self-control as we grow in our virtuous, (moral) knowledge! Self-control: (restraint) the ability to control your own behavior, especially in terms of reactions and impulses. (This disqualifies the current teacher) This is an outcropping of the work of the Holy Spirit in us but at the same time, somewhat dependent on US

Here is our key: (living) by the Spirit Romans 8:13 13  for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. Here is our key: (living) by the Spirit This should give us the ability to exercise self-control Galatians 5:22-23 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. Paul calls self-control a “fruit of the Spirit”

… and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness Perseverance: steady and continued action or belief, usually over a long period and especially despite difficulties or setbacks So, how often so we exercise self-control?... ALWAYS!! And, with what attitude?... An attitude of Godliness: devoted to or worshiping God

Brotherly affection is a warm loving affection for one another 7  and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. Brotherly = ‘Phileo’ Brotherly affection is a warm loving affection for one another Love = ‘Agape’ Remember our Greek love word study?? Agape is “God love” We are called here to love our brothers as God loves them Agape is self sacrificing

Peter’s 8 virtues for a growing Christian: Faith Moral Excellence Knowledge Self-Control Perseverance Godliness Brotherly affection Love

Martin Luther: “This life is not righteousness, but growth in righteousness. It is not healthy, but healing; not being, but becoming; not rest, but exercise. We are not yet what we shall be, but we are growing toward it. This is not the end, but it is the road.” That’s what these virtues Peter has listed are all about

IF we are truly born again Christ following Christians, 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. IF we are truly born again Christ following Christians, (a partaker of the divine nature), the virtues we just covered must be present and INCREASING in our life Otherwise, we are: “indistinguishable from an evildoer or a superficial believer” (J. MacArthur) First, the virtues are present Second, they are growing and getting better every day

At first glance, it looks like we are talking about an unbeliever: 9  For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. At first glance, it looks like we are talking about an unbeliever: he is blind this would indicate “unsaved” BUT, then Peter says: having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins IF you are cleansed, relating to sin, you are saved So, what is Peter’s point?...

To lack these qualities makes a believer: ineffective or unfruitful (verse 8) The whole point being, per verse 8, these virtues (qualities) are to be INCREASING in order to make us effective and fruitful So, it isn’t just about our increasing knowledge of God making us a better follower but, using that increasing knowledge to help make us more effective in sharing the gospel!

Because this list should be a clear separator from a non-believer: 10  Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. Confirm: Prove something to be true, to verify the truth or validity of something thought to be true or valid How does practicing and growing in these virtues confirm our calling?... Because this list should be a clear separator from a non-believer: Faith, Moral Excellence, (Biblical) Knowledge, Self-Control, Perseverance, Godliness, Brotherly affection and Love In essence living these virtues should be a validation of our TRUE faith,

SO BE IT!!! Peter ends verse 10 with: …you will never fall Never is a tough word to swallow here but, this is God’s word and if HE says practice this and you will not fall well then: SO BE IT!!!

Verse 10 assures our salvation here 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. Remember the audience here, scattered Jewish Christians that are living in near impossible situations in pagan dominated cities Here Peter seems to be trying his best to assure them (us) that the reward is worth the struggle Verse 10 assures our salvation here Verse 11 says that salvation here leads to our home, HEAVEN

Matthew 25:21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

Is that reward worth living: In Faith Seeking Moral Excellence Striving for Knowledge Exercising Self-Control Perseverance in our belief Godliness to be more Christ like Brotherly affection toward ALL Love (agape) – God’s unconditional love