Supply Godliness
Be Certain of God’s Promises, Part 7
090609 PM
Text--2 Peter 1:1-11
Introduction
This lesson continues a series focused on the promises of God and our part in receiving what has been promised.
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary a promise is a legally binding declaration that gives the person to whom it is made a right to expect or to claim the performance or forbearance of a specified act.
In every promise there is the one who makes the promise and the one who receives. God has made to all who believe in His Son great and precious promises but it remains to us to be in a position to receive what has been promised. rmance or forbearance of a specified act.
1 Be Certain of God’s Promises
A. It is God’s Promise:
1. This is not a worldly contract with worldly uncertainty.
2. God sent, God approved, God guaranteed! And God is Faithful to His Promises
Joshua 21:45 Not one of the good promises which the LORD had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass.
B. Know To Whom It Is Promised
2 Peter 1:4 For by these (His power and our true knowledge of Him v3) He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature having escaped the corruption of this world by lust.
1. A “partaker” is a participant, partner, or sharer.
2. Romans 8:17 …heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ,
C. We Have a Part in the Promises.
1. “Now for this very reason…” (v5) tells us that there is action required on our part.
2. In order to become partakers in the divine nature and so inherit His precious and magnificent promises we must have “escaped the corruption that is in the world.”(v4)
a. This is accomplished first (and foremost) by faith
3. To escape the corruption that is in this world we begin in faith but grow our character as a child of God through diligent effort. 2 Peter 1:5a Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith…
4. Peter lists the spiritual characteristics that need to be a part of a believer’s life. V5-7
a. Each quality is a tile laid on the rock foundation of our faith and serve to help us stand firm in our faith.
b. Diligent effort is needed as we obey the will of God: Hebrews 10:36 “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.”
D. In Your Faith Supply…
1. Supply to your faith.
a. The Greek word translated here as supply or add, (in the imperative) is the word from which we get the English words “chorus,” “choreograph,” and “choreography.”
b. In ancient Greece the state established a chorus but the director, the chorēgys, paid the expenses for training the chorus.
c. Then the word came to be used of one who provides for or supports others or supplies something for them in abundance.
d. A believer is to “furnish, supply, or add” to his faith with these qualities.
2. Moral Excellence (aretē)
a. It is derived from the root word Aresko which means to please or be pleasing. It implies intentional, deliberate and continuous conduct that is pleasing to God
3. In your Moral Excellence, Knowledge
a. Remember we are supplying this to our faith.
b. “Knowledge” (gnosis) as used here does not refer to the knowledge of God that leads to salvation but is that knowledge that leads to wisdom and discernment that enables us to live godly lives
c. This is beyond knowing “the book.”
4. In your Knowledge, Self-Control
a. self-control, which literally means “holding oneself in”. It was used of athletes who sought self-discipline and self-restraint, even beating their bodies into submission (analogy used by Paul: 1 Corinthians 9:27).
5. In your self-control, Perseverance.
a. This word is often used in the New Testament to refer to steadfastness in the face of adversity but it extends to all aspects of our lives. Perseverance springs from faith in God’s goodness and control over all that happens in our lives.
2 In Your Perseverance, Supply Godliness
A. Godliness (GR: eusebeia - yoo-seb'-i-ah)
1. Eusebeia for was used by ancient pagans to describe a religious individual who kept in close touch with the gods.
2. Derived from eu, good and sebo, to worship; literally "good worship" meaning worship (toward God) that is good. It implies a life which promotes reverence and respect towards God.
B. Godliness requires diligence and growth v5, 8
1. We are to pursue godliness 1 Timothy 6:11
2. Our pursuit of godliness has been resourced richly
2 Peter 1:3 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.
3. Titus 2:11 - 14 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
a. Our pursuit of godliness entails a renunciation of ungodliness.
b. Our pursuit of godliness has an ultimate goal in view (appearing of Christ)
c. Our pursuit of godliness will be characterized by/produce a zeal for good works
4. Our pursuit of godliness involves determined effort
1 Timothy 4:7b On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness;
C. In Scripture, Godliness has no direct definition.
1. In several passages (Ephesians 4 and 5; Galatians 5) Paul contrasts the old life of the flesh with the new life in the Spirit giving us a clear picture of what godliness is, and isn’t.
2. God has given us a living definition.
a. 2 Peter 1:3 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.
b. Increasing our knowledge of Christ will in effect increase our Godliness.
3. So we must consider that the pursuit of godliness is not so much trying to live up to a set of carefully detailed criteria but rather a desire to grow in knowledge of Christ, to be more Christ-like (in grace, mercy, love, joy, forgiveness, peace, contentment etc.).
a. Paul wrote of this in Philippians 3
Philippians 3:12 - 14 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but 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.
b. Paul made it very clear that in his own journey of faith he had not yet attained but was still in process.
4. Supplying Godliness in our lives is to imitate Christ
a. All that He demonstrated in His life.
1) Love, Dependence on God through prayer
b. Philippians 2:5 - 8 5Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
c. Humility, Service, and Obedience to the will of God
Conclusion
In this series of lessons we are studying the qualities Peter identified that we need to ensure we can be certain we will receive the promises of God.
2 Peter 1:10 - 11 10Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; 11for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.
Invitation
Remember again one more great and precious promise: “I will come again.”
1. John 14:1-3, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”
Jesus will return to take us home with him…forever. That’s a promise!
