“What Sort of People Ought You To Be…”
Growing A Christ-Like Character
Reading: 2 Peter 3:10-18
Text: 2 Peter 1:1-11
INTRODUCTION
In our lesson today we are going to consider the final words of the Apostle Peter as they are recorded in Second Peter. This letter is addressed to all the faithful and is intended to “…stir you up by way of reminder.” 2 Peter 1:13b
a.Written with an awareness that his death was imminent
2 Peter 1:14
b.Reminder that false teachers would seek to lead them astray
2 Peter 2:1-2
c.Reminder of the words of the prophets and the commandments given to them by the apostles of Jesus Christ
2 Peter 3:1-2
d.Reminder of the coming Day of the Lord 2 Peter 3:10
We are going to examine in the final words of this letter a question and a command Peter gives us:
a.Read 2 Peter 3:10-18
b.Question in v11 “…what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness…”
c.Command v18, a charge to “ grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”
[We are not left to wonder what Peter had in mind, for in 2 Peter 1:5-8 we learn...]
I. What It Means To Grow…
A. The Development Of Seven Qualities...
1. These attributes, listed in 2 Peter 1:5-7, have a foundation in faith.
2. Briefly defined...
a.Moral excellence is courage or fortitude, to enable you to profess the faith before men; Virtue
b.Knowledge is wisdom, fully knowing Christ
c.Self-control is keeping every sense under proper restraint.
d.Perseverance is bearing all trials and difficulties with an even mind, enduring in all and through all.
e.Godliness is Piety towards God, holding God in your heart.
f.Brotherly kindness is love toward the brethren
g.Love is love not based on conditions or warrants
3. Now note carefully 2 Peter 1:8
a.We must have these qualities and increasing
b.Only then can it be said that we are growing in the knowledge of Jesus Christ
4. It is more than simply increasing our intellectual knowledge of Jesus!
a.Such knowledge has a place, but it is just one of the qualities necessary
b.Peter is talking about growing in a fuller and more personal knowledge of Jesus Christ!
1)Which comes by developing the “ Christ-like” attributes listed in this passage
2)The more we grow in these qualities, the more fully we know Jesus and the closer our character comes to be like Him.
5. Peter makes it clear that it involves more than intellectual knowledge by the Greek word used for knowledge
a.The word is epignosis {ep-ig’-no-sis}, meaning “ to become thoroughly acquainted with, to know accurately, know well” (Thayer)
b.Such knowledge comes only as we demonstrate these “ Christ-like qualities” in our lives
B. In Conjunction With Each Other...
1. Notice the word “add” (or “supply”) in 2 Peter 1:5
a.Before each quality mentioned, the word is implied
b.The word in Greek is epichoregeo {ep-ee-khor-ayg-eh’-o}
1)“ Originally, to found and support a chorus, to lead a choir, to keep in tune”
2)“ Then, to supply or provide”
c.This word suggests each quality working in harmony with the others to produce an overall effect.
2. Notice also the preposition “to” (or “in”) in 2 Peter 1:5-7
a.This implies each quality is to temper and make perfect the grace that goes before it
b.To illustrate this point:
1)“to knowledge (supply) self-control” - the grace of self-control enables one to apply properly the knowledge one has
2)“ to self-control (supply) perseverance” - self-control in turn needs the quality of perseverance to be consistent day after day
3. Therefore each grace is necessary!
a.They must all be developed in conjunction with each other
b.We cannot be selective and just pick the ones we like and leave others behind
1)Don’t think that you can be faithful without being virtuous.
2)Don’t think that you can have this kind of knowledge without exercising self-control.
3)Don’t think that you can be godly without persevering.
4)Don’t think you have real love without brotherly kindness.
5)We need them all. They all work together.
C. With All Diligence...
1. Notice the repeated use of the word “diligence” - 2 Peter 1:5, 10
2. It means “earnestness, zeal, sometimes with haste”
3. To grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ requires much effort
4. We do not “accidentally” or “incidentally” develop these graces!
ILL: If we are not careful, we may be like the teacher in the following illustration: In his book Folk Psalms of Faith, Ray Stedman tells a story of a woman who had been a school teacher for 25 years. When she heard about a job that would mean a promotion, she applied for the position. However, someone who had been teaching for only one year was hired instead. She went to the principal and asked why. The principal responded, “ I’m sorry, but you haven’t had 25 years of experience as you claim; you’ve had only one year’s experience 25 times.” During that whole time the teacher had not improved.
5. We may have been Christians for a number of years; but unless...
a.We “supply” to our faith these Christ-like qualities with all “diligence” we are simply repeating the first year over and over again!
[Is the effort worth it? In the context of this passage (2 Peter 1:2-11) Peter provides five reasons why we should “give all diligence” to grow in this knowledge of Jesus Christ...]
II. Reasons To Grow…
A. Grace And Peace Are Multiplied...
1. Grace and peace are common forms of greeting in the New Testament
a.Grace - a greeting which requests God’s unmerited favor upon the person addressed
b.Peace - a greeting requesting the natural result of God’s favor
2. Note that these two blessings are “multiplied” in the knowledge of Jesus Christ - 2 Peter 1:2
a.All men experience God’s favor and its result to some degree - cf. Mt 5:45
b.But only in Christ can one enjoy the “fullness” of God’s favor and peace - Ephesians 1:3; Philippians 4:6-7 - If you desire God’s grace and peace to be “ multiplied” in your life, it is through the knowledge (epignosis) of Jesus Christ; i.e., as you become more like Him!
B. All Things Pertaining To Life And Godliness...
1. We note that God provides all things pertaining to life and godliness through the knowledge (epignosis) of Him who called us to glory and virtue - 2 Peter 1:3
a.“ Life” in this context refers to our spiritual life and well-being
b.“ Godliness” refers to the pious conduct which comes out of devotion to God
2. Only as we grow in this knowledge do we enjoy the true, full life available by God’s divine power!
a.Which includes “ exceedingly great and precious promises” - 2 Peter 1:4a
b.Which enables us to be “ partakers of the divine nature” - 2 Peter 1:4b
c.Which can free us from the “ corruption that is in the world through lust” - 2 Peter 1:4c
d.If we desire to have all that God offers related to life and godliness, it comes as we develop the Christ-like character!
C. Avoid Spiritual Blindness or shortsightedness...
1. Our spiritual eyes are darkened if we are not growing in the knowledge of Jesus! - 2 Peter 1:9a
2. Failure to so grow indicates we have forgotten why we were redeemed by the blood of Christ in the first place! - 2 Peter 1:9b
a.To have our sins forgiven, yes...
b.But also to become what He wants us to be - like His Son!
c.Unless we want to be guilty of missing the whole point, we need to grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ!
D. We Will Never Stumble...
1. Peter says “if you do these things you will never stumble” - 2 Peter 1:10
a.If you are diligent to make your calling and election sure
b.If you add to your faith these seven qualities.
c.If you have them and are continually increasing
2. This does not mean we will never sin - 1 John 1:8, 10
a.The word “ stumble” in Greek means “ to fall into misery, become wretched; cf. the loss of salvation” (Thayer)
b.We will never stumble so as to fall short of our ultimate salvation! - But this assurance is true only if we are “ giving all diligence” to grow in the knowledge of Christ and thereby “ making our calling and election sure”
E. An Abundant Entrance Into The Everlasting Kingdom...
1. This “everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” - 2 Peter 1:11
a.Eternal life in paradise.
2. What is meant by the idea of an “abundant entrance”?
a.If these qualities abound in you, you will have your entrance into heaven not merely “scarcely” or “so as by fire,” like one escaping with life after having lost all his goods, but in triumph like the conquering general.
b.By possessing and growing these seven qualities, we will be able to live victoriously in this life and joyously in the next.
Conclusion:
By growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus:
a.Grace and peace are multiplied
b.All things pertaining to life and godliness are provided
c.Spiritual blindness is avoided
d.We will never stumble
e.An abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom will be ours!
Invitation
