1. We have been given everything we need through Jesus!
"His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." 2 Peter 1:3
If we choose not to know, that's on us.
2. Escape the world -- participate in heaven now.
"Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires." 2 Peter 1:4
The world didn't change when Jesus came. We are the ones who are supposed to change.
"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2
Renewing your mind -- use the Bible. Conform to God's will. When we fail to do this, we are failing to develop the way God intends us to develop.
"For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love." 2 Peter 1:5-7
Check out the progression -- where are you?
Faith -- add Goodness.
Goodness -- add Knowledge.
Knowledge -- add Self-Control.
Self-Control -- add Perseverance.
Perseverance -- add Godliness.
Godliness -- add Mutual Affection.
Mutual Affection -- add Love.
Going toward these things. When we go back to God. it will all come back in line.
If you try and skip the knowledge, you will miss it all.
3. We are meant to be different than the rest of the world.
"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1
God did this to free us. But some of this is our responsibility.
"For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 1:8
"If!" Increasing measure means always increasing.
4. The Sacred Secret.
Secret means a mystery or religious secrets.
"Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly." Ephesians 3:2-3
Jesus changed all this.
"The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”
11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them." Matthew 13:10-11
If you know Jesus, the secrets of heaven are open to you.
5. We are part of the family.
"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him." 1 John 3:1
We are living in the time of Grace. Galatia church had a problem.
"I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-- 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervertthe gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse! 10 Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ." Galatians 1:6-10
This church started the right way. Then they starting adding to it. Why? To please people! If we lose sight of God and His ways, we are going to wander off the path. If we try to please people first before God, we are going to wander off the path He has for us.
6. We have a job to do -- be the hands and feet of Jesus.
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free," Luke 4:18
"But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind,forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins." 2 Peter 1:9
We are to be used by God. We have to take what He gives us and use it. A chainsaw is great but if we don't put our hands to it it is useless.
7. We have been chosen for a purpose.
"Therefore, my brothers and sisters,[a] make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 1:10-11
"His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." 2 Peter 1:3
If we choose not to know, that's on us.
2. Escape the world -- participate in heaven now.
"Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires." 2 Peter 1:4
The world didn't change when Jesus came. We are the ones who are supposed to change.
"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2
Renewing your mind -- use the Bible. Conform to God's will. When we fail to do this, we are failing to develop the way God intends us to develop.
"For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love." 2 Peter 1:5-7
Check out the progression -- where are you?
Faith -- add Goodness.
Goodness -- add Knowledge.
Knowledge -- add Self-Control.
Self-Control -- add Perseverance.
Perseverance -- add Godliness.
Godliness -- add Mutual Affection.
Mutual Affection -- add Love.
Going toward these things. When we go back to God. it will all come back in line.
If you try and skip the knowledge, you will miss it all.
3. We are meant to be different than the rest of the world.
"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1
God did this to free us. But some of this is our responsibility.
"For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 1:8
"If!" Increasing measure means always increasing.
4. The Sacred Secret.
Secret means a mystery or religious secrets.
"Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly." Ephesians 3:2-3
Jesus changed all this.
"The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”
11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them." Matthew 13:10-11
If you know Jesus, the secrets of heaven are open to you.
5. We are part of the family.
"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him." 1 John 3:1
We are living in the time of Grace. Galatia church had a problem.
"I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-- 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervertthe gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse! 10 Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ." Galatians 1:6-10
This church started the right way. Then they starting adding to it. Why? To please people! If we lose sight of God and His ways, we are going to wander off the path. If we try to please people first before God, we are going to wander off the path He has for us.
6. We have a job to do -- be the hands and feet of Jesus.
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free," Luke 4:18
"But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind,forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins." 2 Peter 1:9
We are to be used by God. We have to take what He gives us and use it. A chainsaw is great but if we don't put our hands to it it is useless.
7. We have been chosen for a purpose.
"Therefore, my brothers and sisters,[a] make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 1:10-11
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