Living Diligent Faith

LIVING DILIGENT FAITH - 2 PETER 1:1-11

Michael K. Farrar, O.D.

God's Breath Publications: http://www.godsbreathpublications.com/

Audio Sermon: http://www.godsbreathpublications.com/living-diligent-faith/

SERMON OUTLINE:

INTRODUCTION: CHRISTIANS LIVING UNDER CORRUPT ROMAN RULE - SURROUNDED BY SIN.

PETER ENCOURAGES CHRISTIANS TO LIVE APPROPRIATELY

TODAY WE HAVE A SIMILAR ENVIRONMENT

1 Simon Peter, a BOND-SERVANT and APOSTLE of Jesus Christ,

WE ARE ALL BOND-SERVANTS - WE ALL ARE CALLED TO BE apostles & LIVE HOLY.

To those who have received a faith of the SAME KIND as ours,

WE HAVE THIS SAME KIND OF FAITH AS PETER – BELIEF IN FATHER, SON AND SPIRIT

BY THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF OUR GOD AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST:

OUR FAITH IS SUPPLIED AND SUSTAINED BY THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF JESUS CHRIST!

HERE WE SEE THE DIVINITY OF JESUS CHRIST PROCLAIMED!

2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the KNOWLEDGE of God and of Jesus our Lord;

“KNOWLEDGE HERE IS THAT ACQUIRED AT CONVERSION - INTIMATE/RELATIONAL

GRACE & PEACE INCREASE BECAUSE OF GODLY KNOWLEDGE

THE PROVISION (2 Peter 1:3) – Everything Pertaining to Life and Godliness

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.

JESUS’ DIVINE POWER IS THE SOURCE FOR ALL WE NEED FOR LIVING GODLY

AND THIS COMES THROUGHT HE RELATIONAL SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE WE ACQUIRE

THE HOLY SPIRIT GUIDES US IN THIS KNOWLEDGE & EMPOWERS US

SUSTAINS US, FREES US FROM SIN, GUIDES US, SANCTIFIES & PURIFIES US

GOD SPECIFICALLY CALLS EACH ONE OF US!

THE PROMISES (2 Peter 1:4) – His Precious and Magnificent Promises

4 For by these He has granted to us His PRECIOUS and MAGNIFICENT PROMISES,

SOME of these PROMISES - UPHELD BY HIS DIVINE WILL & CHARACCTER

FORGIVENESS OF SINS - past, present, and future

SPIRITUAL ADOPTION by God the Father

SPIRITUAL STRENGTH by the HOLY SPIRIT

COMFORT through suffering and hardship

PROVISION of our needs

HOPE OF HEAVEN

BODILY RESURRECTION

REIGNING WITH CHRIST …and MANY MORE...

GREEK WORD > PROMISES - EMPHASIZES the MAGNIFICIENT THINGS PROMISED.

so that by them you may become PARTAKERS of the DIVINE NATURE, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

BENEFITS OF OUR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP with GOD.

JUSTIFIED & SANCTIFIED!

SEALED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT – OUR COMFORTER

POWER TO OVERCOME & ENDURE

POWER TO LIVE HOLY & PURE

POSITIVE – YES TO OBEY & PARTAKE OF PROMISES NEGATIVE – WE SAY NO TO CORRUPTION

Charles Swindoll states in regards to this passage, "These two are the positive and negative aspects of putting to use the provision God has given us, relying on the promises that accompany salvation. That is, as we put away the lust that causes corruption, we increasingly partake of the divine nature. We become, quite literally, more and more like Christ in both our inner beings and our outward actions. What has been once-for-all declared by grace through faith- our righteousness before God - becomes progressively manifest in our everyday lives - our righteous behavior before God and others. The former is called "justification" (when we are declared righteous); the other is called "sanctification" (when we are made increasingly more righteous)."

TWO VISUAL AIDES CONCERNING APPLYING DILIGENCE IN OUR FAITH!

FIRST: SPIRITUAL FLOWER REFLECTING OUR OBEDIENCE AND PERSISTANCE IN OUR FAITH

2 Corinthians 2:14-15

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him (Christ) in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.”

SECONDLY: A PINION GEAR WHICH IS CRITICAL IN MOTOR VEHICLES TO ALLOW MOTION TO TAKE PLACE.

Philippains 2:12-13

“So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”

WE MUST ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT TO EMPOWER US TO LIVE LIKE CHRIST THROUGH EXPRESSING THESE SEVEN GODLY CHARACTERISTICS.

WE MUST DEMONSTRATE DILIGENCE IN OUR FAITH OR WE WILL NOT SPIRITUALLY SMELL GOOD AND…

WE WILL NOT MANIFEST GOOD WORKS.

GOD GRANTS US PRECIOUS AND MAGNIFICENT PROMISES THROUGH HIS DIVINE POWER WHICH MAKES AVAILABLE EVERYTHING NECESSARY PERTAININT TO LIFE AND GODLINESS…BUT…

…UNLESS WE APPLY DILIGENCE TO OUR FAITH…OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD WILL SUFFER…OUR SPIRITUAL MINISTRY WILL BE HINDERED…AND OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE WILL BE STUNTED.

THE PROCESS (2 Peter 1:5) – APPLY ALL DILIGENCE, IN YOUR FAITH

5 Now for this very reason also, APPLYING ALL DILIGENCE IN YOUR FAITH,”

OUR SPIRITUAL RESPONSIBILITY - WE MUST APPLY “ALL DILIGENCE” TO HOW - THINK, ACT BEHAVE AND LIVE.