Fully Equipped For Godly Living Series

Chico Alliance Church

Pastor David Welch

“Fully Equipped for Life and Godliness” 2 Peter 1:3-11

Review

I. Reproof for fleshly behavior 1-6

A. Reproof for a divided church 1-4

B. Reproof for a defiled church 5

C. Reproof for a defeated church 6

1. Defeated by lawsuits before unbelievers 1-8

2. Defeated by improper behavior 5:12-20

Flee immorality!

Paul reminded them that they at one time only reflected the selfish nature of the evil one but something happened.

Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. 1 Cor. 6:11

How does God transform us into temples that reflect His nature? We too must be washed, sanctified, justified.

Because Jesus paid for our sin, we can be a vessel that is cleaned by God.

By trusting Christ we can be a vessel that has been designated as something special.

By trusting Christ we can be a vessel that reflects the righteousness of Jesus.

When we attach to Jesus and He lives in us, the fruit that results is His character. Even though the members of this church struggled with living out their character, Peter recognized them as temples, vessels set aside by God to reflect his nature.

Why do we struggle so much? What causes us to stumble and sometimes fail in our walk with God? Why do the desires of the flesh seem more powerful than these new longings implanted in the core of our being? Does your Christian walk sometimes feel like you are on a roller coaster?

God’s plan for his children is far beyond.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Eph 2:10

Peter, in his second letter to a scattered bunch of believers in what is modern day Turkey, gave them the secret of a stable walk. The secret is found in Peter’s wish or prayer for their life.

I. Increased realization of God’s grace and peace

A. God’s Powerful resources 1:3

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; 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.

Peter prayed for the multiplication or increase of two essential elements.

God’s Grace or abundant power for real life. God’s Peace (calmness in difficulty)

These are a core of life. Contentment and confidence

Contentment in the plan of God.

Confidence in the provision of God.

This contentment and confidence increase the more we come to know Christ. We come to realize that the all-powerful God provided and continually makes available everything necessary for us to live a meaningful and productive life. Life has to do with quality of life. Godliness refers to one who reflects the character of God. We tap that resource as we come to know Jesus more intimately. Grace and peace increase through a deeper knowledge of Jesus. Unlimited resources for life and godliness comes through a deeper knowledge of Jesus.

"This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. John 17:3

Do we really know God that intimately? Does relationship with God really touch every other area of our life.

Does our relationship with God grow deeper? Relationships take time. Great relationships take more time. Talk, listen, understand, share, serve, think about, work with, play with.

All good relationships require these things. Grace and peace don’t come from striving. Access to unlimited resource for life and godliness don’t come from striving. God tells us to cease striving and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10) Get to know me.

More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, Philip. 3:8

The divine invitation to life and godliness comes from a radiant and pure God. Glory has to do with a radiance emitted from something of high caliber. Excellence refers to perfection.

B. God’s Precious promises

How do we get to know Jesus like this?

For by these (His glory and excellence) He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises

Out of His own glorious nature and moral integrity Christ granted us precious and magnificent promises that can be trusted.

“Magnificent” = mega, great, large, loud, high, strong, big

“Precious” = valuable, costly, honored, esteemed, dear

God decreed those promises at a point in time and they have not nor will ever be revoked. These are promises regarding the sharing of eternal life and becoming like Christ.