The Specifics of Christian Development, Part 2
2 Peter 1:1-11
Intro
Today we are going to continue our consideration of the specifics of Christian character development. We note that Peter is very specific concerning what character qualities we should seek to develop as a Christian if we are going to progress toward Christ-likeness. He seems to list them in a particular order. Faith comes first, followed by goodness, then knowledge, to which we add self-control, then perseverance, then godliness, then brotherly kindness, and finally love.
The first three character qualities (faith, goodness, and knowledge) have to do with our relationship with God above us. The second three (self control, perseverance, and godliness) have to do with our relationship with the world around us. The last two character qualities (brotherly kindness and love) have to do with our relationship with the people around us.
Last time, we considered the first three of character qualities Peter mentions here, and noted they are linked to one another. Now let’s look at the second three which have to do with our relationship with the world around us.
I. Self-Control (v. 6)
a. Self control has to do with out purpose while we are in this world.
b. The term “self control” means literally “to take a grip of oneself.”
i. We are to take grip of ourselves in order to fulfill God’s purpose for our lives.
ii. Self-control is the opposite of self-indulgence.
iii. Rather then being driven by a desire to please self, Peter says we need to be driven to please God.
c. This is what Peter was referring to earlier in the passage in verse 4, where he mentions participating in the divine nature as opposed to being corrupted by the world through evil desires.
d. God’s purpose for the church, and consequently, His people, are worship, discipleship, fellowship, ministry, and evangelism.
i. Worship, discipleship, fellowship, ministry, and evangelism relate to knowing Christ better
ii. Ministry and evangelism relate to making Christ known to others.
e. Since discipleship is about my becoming more like Jesus, that is my ultimate purpose.
i. As we progress toward Christ-likeness, we will also fulfill the other four purposes.
ii. Worship, discipleship, fellowship, and ministry are eternal in nature.
iii. In eternity, we will worship the Lord, reflect His likeness, fellowship with fellow believers, and serve our eternal king.
iv. Evangelism is our urgent purpose – the only one of the five that we wil not be able to do in heaven.
f. The degree to which we fulfill the first four purposes determines the degree to which we experience heaven right here on earth.
i. The degree to which we fulfill the first purpose determines the number of people we take from earth to heaven.
ii. Now, when we understand, that these are God’s purposes for us as we live in this world, and surrender ourselves to fulfilling them, we will be led to live a life of self-control.
g. 1 Cor. 9:24-27 Reminds us that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize.
i. You also must run in such a way that you will win.
ii. All athletes’ practice strict self control.
iii. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.
iv. So we need to run straight to the goal with purpose in every step.
v. We need to disciples our bodies like an athlete, training it to do what it should
vi. Otherwise, we fear that after preaching to others we ourselves might be disqualified.
h. Friends, if we are going to relate as we should to the world about us, we must keep our eye on the prize – seeking to fulfill God’s purpose for us, which is living our lives committed to worshipping god, to growing in Christ, to fellowship with fellow believers, to serving others, and sharing Christ.
i. As we maintain our focus on pleasing god by living a purpose driven life, we will be enabled to develop the self control necessary to resist the desires of self and instead, partner with God.
II. Perseverance (v. 6)
a. Perseverance has to do with our problem while in this world.
b. Without the self-control necessary to fulfill God’s purpose, we will not persevere when problems come.
c. 1 Peter 5:8-10 tell us, “Be self controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”
d. Notice what Peter tells us here about problems
i. As long as we are in this world, we will have problems.
“Your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kings of sufferings.”
ii. When we have problems, the devil will seek to defeat us
1. Sometimes, the devil himself is the source of our problem, other times, other people causes us problem, or circumstances beyond our control (like a tornado) bring problems into our lives, and fairly often, we must admit the we bring problems upon ourselves.
2. Whatever the source of the problem, make no mistake about it, the devil will seek to discredit the cause of Christ through our defeat.
iii. God commands us to persevere through our problems.
“Resist him, standing firm in the faith.”
iv. God uses our problems to improve us if we persevere.
1. As the old saying goes, “we can let our problems make us bitter or make us better.
2. God wants to be free to make us better through our problems, but He can only accomplish this if we persevere.
v. Perseverance comes from staying surrendered to God’s purpose
1. “Be self-controlled and alert”
2. By staying focused on God’s purpose, we maintain the self-control required to persevere through problems and allow God to make us more like Jesus!
e. We need to remember those words given to us through Paul in Philippians 3:13-14
“One thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
i. It was because of his commitment to seeing God’s purpose fulfilled in his life, that Paul had developed the self-control necessary to “press on” no matter what.
III. Godliness (v. 6)
a. Godliness has to do with our productivity while in this world.
b. 1 Peter 1:13-16 tells us, “So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the special blessings that will come to you at the return of Jesus Christ. Obey God because you are his children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of doing evil; you didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God – who chose you to be his children – is holy. For He himself has said, ‘You must be holy because I am holy.’”
c. Notice how Peter tells us that living a purposeful, self-controlled life, will enable us to not slip into our old ways and preserve, which leads to living a life that is holy, as God is holy.
d. Holiness is the essence of godliness.
i. Holiness is the supreme attribute of God, as indicated by the constant cry of the cherubim around God’s throne: “holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty.”
ii. Holiness refers to the fact that God is completely separate and apart from His creation.
iii. He is above and superior to His creation.
iv. Therefore, to live godly lives means to live our lives as ones who are hly as God is holy – separate and apart from this world and its influences; above and superior to this world and its influences.
Closing
Now here’s where these three character qualities come together. How is the world going to ever see that the life of the Christian is one that is separate and apart from this world and its influences; above and superior to this world and it’s influence? Only as we persevere through problems – many of which are the same problems the unbeliever passes through – although we become better through them, and not bitter!
