PresentPastFuture The Three Tenses of The Gospel the gospel “then” Luke 19:9, Eph 3:8, 2 Tim 1:9 the gospel “now” 1 Cor 1:18, 1 Cor 15:2, 2 Cor 2:15 the gospel “to be” Romans 5:9-10, 1 Cor 3:15 1 Thess 5:8 1 Peter 1:5

PresentPastFuture The Three Tenses of The Gospel Redemption in Christ Restoration and Renewal in Christ Reunion with Christ

2 Peter 1:1-10 (NASB) 1 Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; 3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, 7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;

“Him who called us by His own…” –Every believer has a calling from God. “through the true knowledge of Him” –This is a calling to know Him intimately. “life and godliness”  “godly living” –We are called to godly living. –To be godly, is to be like Christ. This is our gospel identity. seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.2 Peter 1:3

1.We have a calling and a gospel identity in Christ which is characterized by godly living. (v3) Gospel For “Here and Now”

“divine power has granted to us everything” –Jesus has provisioned for us everything that we need for godly living. “partakers of the divine nature” –Beyond obeying commands, more than the work of the Holy Spirit, Jesus has even given Himself to us. seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. (vv3-4)

1.We have a calling and a gospel identity in Christ which is characterized by godly living. (v3) 2.Jesus has provisioned for all that we need to live a godly life. (vv3-4) Gospel For The “Here and Now”

vv5-8 gets to the heart of the process of the gospel for the present. Theologians call this process, sanctification. What is sanctification? –2 extreme positions: By own my efforts, I can be godly There is nothing I can do. Any effort on my part is wrong. It is all grace.

5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self- control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, 7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.2 Peter 1:5-8 to be like Christ, to live a godly life, is a duty

5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self- control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, 7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. 2 Peter 1:5-7 “moral excellence”, “knowledge” godly living supplies our faith with energy and vigor (from moral excellence), keen insights and understanding (from knowledge).

5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self- control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, 7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. 2 Peter 1:5-7 “self-control”, “perseverance” a pursuit of godly living changes our inward dispositions.

5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self- control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, 7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. 2 Peter 1:5-7 “godliness”, “brotherly kindness”, “love” outwardly, our relationships with other are sanctified through godly living.

5 …applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence,… 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, … 2 Peter 1:5, 8 godly living is an ongoing process – “applying” – bringing alongside, we work at it, but our efforts are subsumed by what God has already provisioned – “supply” – generously cooperate – “increasing” – growth godly living is a process of constant work, constant growth, constant confession, and constant repentance. (Sanctification)

5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self- control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, 7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.2 Peter 1:5-8 The process of sanctification yields fruit in a believer’s life.

What is sanctification? –Spiritual renovation –Sanctification is a process of spiritual restoration, empowered by the Holy Spirit and requires the full cooperation of the believer.

1.We have a calling and a gospel identity in Christ which is characterized by godly living. (v3) 2.Jesus has provisioned for all that we need to live a godly life. (vv3-4) 3.A godly life is a process of fruit bearing for Christ, characterized by constant work, constant growth, constant confession, and constant repentance. (vv5-8) Gospel For The “Here and Now”

1.We have a calling and a gospel identity in Christ which is characterized by godly living. (v3) 2.Jesus has provisioned for all that we need to live a godly life. (vv3-4) 3.A godly life is a process of fruit bearing for Christ, characterized by constant work, constant growth, constant confession, and constant repentance. (vv5-8) 4.This identity-provision-process is the core of the gospel for the present. The Core of the Gospel For The “Here and Now”

Spiritual blindness –blind to our identity in Christ –blind to the provision of God –blind to the process that God had ordained for sanctifying believers Spiritual blindness is a failure to see the connection between what you are doing and what God is doing. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. 2 Peter 1:9

1.We have a calling and gospel identity in Christ which is characterized by godly living. (v3) 2.Jesus has provisioned for all that we need to live a godly life. (vv3-4) 3.A godly life is a process of fruit bearing for Christ, characterized by constant work, constant growth, constant confession, and constant repentance. (vv5-8)

Summary –Jesus has given us everything, even Himself, to help us respond to His calling to a fruit-bearing godly life, therefore, we are to cooperate generously with Him in a process of constant work, constant growth, constant confession, and constant repentance. –This identity-provision-process core is the “now” aspect of the gospel.

Now what?

Are you living with a sense of Purpose & Vision?

Community Purpose & Vision From God:

OIF’s Purpose/Mission (why we exist): We exists to raise up an international community that is 1. Fully devoted to God, 2. Deeply committed to one another, and 3. Passionately involved in reaching all peoples with the gospel of Jesus Christ, from the universities area of Pittsburgh to the ends of the earth.

OIF’s Purpose/Mission (why we exist): “L Cubed” (L 3 ) We exist to actively: 1.Love God 2.Love One Another 3.Love All Peoples

OIF’s Vision (what we are becoming): An ever-growing international community of : 1.Prayer 2.Training 3.Outreach 4.Missions 5.Family Love

OIF’s Vision (what we are becoming): An ever-growing international community of : 1.Prayer 2.Training 3.Outreach 4.Missions 5.Family Love

A Community of Training: Where everyone is being trained up and mobilized to be godly disciples of Jesus Christ through an on-going, effective flow process growing from seekers to servant leaders.

The Flow

seeker OIF Spiritual Training Flow

seeker new believer OIF Spiritual Training Flow

seeker new believer M&M disciples OIF Spiritual Training Flow

seeker new believer m & m disciples servant leaders OIF Spiritual Training Flow

seekers new believers m & m disciples servant leaders full-time workers OIF Spiritual Training Flow

seekers new believers m & m disciples servant leaders full-time workers OIF Spiritual Training Flow helping others witnessingfollow-up equip, train, mobilize advance training specialized trainng and multiplication

Where are you in the Flow? –Which bubble are you at? –Are you going with the Flow? and are helping other to be in the Flow?