Supply Love
Be Certain of God’s Promises, Part 9
092009 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. Know To Whom It Is Promised
1. These words were written to fellow believers.
a. 2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:
2. 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.
b. A “partaker” is a participant, partner, or sharer.
c. Romans 8:17 …heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ,
B. It is God’s Promise:
1. This is not a worldly contract with worldly uncertainty.
a. We must not promise what we ought not, lest we be called on to perform what we cannot.
~Abraham Lincoln
b. 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.
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
d. Each quality is a tile laid on the rock foundation of our faith and serve to help us stand firm in our faith.
e. 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) means to provide all that is needed or to supply something in abundance.
b. 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 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.
6. In Your Perseverance, Supply Godliness
a. 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.
7. The first five virtues pertain to our inner self and how we relate to God. The last two relate to others.
8. In your Godliness, supply Brotherly Kindness
a. Comes from two words: Philos and Adelphos.
1) “Philos” means friend, to be friendly, a companion.
2) “Adelphos” means a brother, a fellow associate united to another by some bond.
b. Thus Philadelphia means to love our associates in Christ as family.
2 In your Brotherly Kindness, Supply Love
A. Love (GR: Agape - )
1. The Greek word agape refers to self-sacrificial love. It is the kind of love God demonstrated in saving us.
2. Such love among believers allows for weaknesses and imperfections, deals with problems, affirms others, and has a strong commitment and loyalty.
3. Such a bond will hold the believers together no matter what persecutions and suffering they may face.
B. We find exhortation to love throughout the word of God.
1. Paul commended the first century Church Faith and Love.
a. 2 Corinthians 8:7 But just as you abound in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you, see that you abound in this gracious work also.
b. Ephesians 1:15 For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints,
c. Colossians 1:4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints;
d. 1 Thessalonians 3:6 But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always think kindly of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you,
e. Philippians 1:9
And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment,
2. Love is central to our make up as Christians.
a. Faith and Love make up the breastplate of the armor of God. 1 Thessalonians 5:8
b. Love is part of the make up of the fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22
c. 1 Peter 4:8 Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.
d. 1 John 3:11 For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another;
e. John 13:35 " By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
3. It is by obedience that we give proof of our love.
a. 2 John 1:6 And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.
b. 1 John 5:2 -3 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.
c. John 14:21 " He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him."
C. Love is the characteristic which ties all together.
1. 1 Corinthians 13.
2. 1 Corinthians 13:13 But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.
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 Therefore, 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; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.
Invitation
As has been the practice for this series, one final 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, He will take us home, we will live with him…forever. That’s a promise!
