Defeated Christians Forget.

Defeated Christians Forget.

2 Peter 1:3-11ESV

Defeated Christians have forgotten who they are.

How easy it is to forget what Jesus Christ has done and who we are in Him, especially when we fail. As soon as we stumble, the accuser of the brethren is right there to tell us what sorry sinners and no good Christians we are.

If we believe those lies, we end up defeated in our Christian walk.

1 Peter, was written to encourage Christians under the threat of violent persecution; 2 Peter, was written to warn those same- believers of the danger of false teachers and harmful influences.

Simon was his given name at birth; Peter was the special name given to him by Jesus. Peters revelation that Jesus was Christ, the Son of the Living God.

The apostle Peter had some strong words to say to his beloved reader. Some truths to believe. Some truths to live by.

2 Peter 1:3ESV His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and- godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,

All things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him...

Take a moment to dwell on what Peter said in this verse. As believers, we have everything required for life and godliness. Everything.

Again, 2 Peter 1:3AMP For His divine power has bestowed on us [absolutely] everything necessary for [a dynamic spiritual] life and godliness, through true and personal knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

Remember, False teachers and harmful influences were all around. Therefore, Peter gives the young church some strong-powerful words.

The Clarks Commentary states, Nothing is lacking. The toolbox is full and complete! The Spirit of power living in us gives us all the spiritual tools we need to live the holy, mature lives that Jesus expects.

Whenever, and in every circumstance, regardless of what it is. “If something begins to sputter, or just need some maintenance, we’ve got the tools to make repairs.”

Illustration- A man was watching a wood-carver carve a six foot bear out of a large chunk of wood. The man was fascinated as he watched him and he finally asked him, “How do you do that?” The wood carver said, “It really isn’t as hard as it looks. What I do is get a huge piece of wood, and I carve out everything that does not look like a bear!”

This is what God is trying to do with our lives. He wants to cut everything that does not look like Christ out of our lives.

Again, 2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has granted to us... God gives every believer permission to grow!

Go back for a moment in, 2 Peter 1:1a Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ,

The order of these titles is important. Peter considered himself first, a bondservant, and then an apostle. His standing as a bondservant was more important to him than his status as an apostle!

Back up for a moment and listen to Peter beginning this powerful letter:

2 Peter 1:1b...To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

Same playing field- To the Gentle and to the Jew, like precious faith! P.H

2 Peter 1:4ESV 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.

You have been granted by God to receive His precious and very great promises. And as if His promises aren’t enough, you are to become partakers of the divine nature...

2 Peter 1:5-7ESV 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.

As believers we are to add to our faith... Heresy and false teaching cannot get near these virtues.

Always remember, “Faith” is the bedrock foundation. Without faith we are not believers.

Peter lists some of those steps here. It’s really a sketch of the character God produces in us as we grow. He lists eight virtues that will be true of us as we grow:

Faith— trusting God, which is where it all begins; this is where all the other virtues come from.

Virtue— moral excellence, which means that we change from the inside out.

Knowledge— growth in our knowledge of God.

Self-control— the ability to restrain ourselves from sinful desires.

Steadfastness— to stay faithful not just for a short time, but over the long haul

Godliness— living a godly life.