A Proper Response To Grace Series

A PROPER RESPONSE TO GRACE

Scripture: 2Peter 1:5-15

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; 11 for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you. 12 Therefore, I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present with you. 13 I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder, 14 knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 15 And I will also be diligent that at any time after my departure you will be able to call these things to mind.

1) REQUIRES A PROPER UNDERSTANDING OF GRACE

a) (Vs 5) “For this very reason” refers to what has been said in the previous verses

i) That we have been made the recipients of Grace

(1) Through no act or merit of ours

(2) Receiving faith – as a gift of God

(3) Receiving righteousness

(4) Receiving Grace and Peace

(5) Received everything that pertains to life & Godliness

(a) All through the personal knowledge of HIM

b) What God will ask/require of us is not without reason

i) Instead it is most reasonable

(1) Our devotion, commitment and even sacrifices are “reasonable” when you have a proper understanding of what we have been given in Christ Jesus

2) REQUIRES A PROPER EVALUATION OF GRACE

a) We have been granted precious and magnificent promises

b) These very promises are what the keys by which we enter through the door of Eternal life, become partakers of the “divine nature”

i) Being born again, born from above, born of the Spirit,

c) Escape the “corruption” death and judgment brought about by the lust of the flesh

i) Not only in the final judgment but even now we are set free in Christ to serve the righteousness of God

ii) To experience Freedom and victory in Jesus Christ

d) Those who do not:

i) Understand what they have received by grace

ii) Have a proper evaluation of their worth will surely never rise to the levels of devotion, commitment and sacrifice that the gospel will call forth in their lives.

e) Only proper evaluation & understanding of what Christ has provided us will produce a proper response

3) A Proper Response Requires Due Diligence

(vs. 5 “applying all diligence”)

a) God has done His part now we must do ours

i) This is not to say that we somehow share the responsibility for our salvation

(1) We can do nothing to pay for it or to earn it

(2) It is a free gift

ii) But our part is to ensure a correct and proper response to the free Gift that we have received through the knowledge of Jesus Christ

(1) The proper response of which is as the scripture state is to “Apply all diligence”

(a) It is “Our” responsibility

(b) To make Maximum effort

(c) You cannot live the Christian life to the honor of God without effort

(d) Though God pours his divine power into every believer, the Christian himself is required to make every disciplined effort in cooperation with what God has done.

(i) Phil 2:12 .. “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling..”

(ii) Col 1:28 “Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

Vs 5. “in your faith supply”

b) Supply here means to give lavishly and generously

i) Grk wd used of a choir master who is responsible to provide everything needed for his choir

ii) Never meant to equip sparingly but rather lavishly as for a noble performance

c) “God has given us faith and all the graces necessary for godliness (vv. 3, 4). We add to those by our diligent devotion to personal righteousness. ”