The Guidance for the Saints
2 Peter 1: 9-11
Our text today is actually a continuation of the conversation we began to consider a few weeks ago. Clearly, Peter is writing to the church – to those saved by grace and added to the body of Christ. While we are not saved by works of the flesh, service and commitment to Christ always follow genuine conversion.
Here Peter offers a strong challenge to the believers regarding their walk with the Lord. Not unlike the church in our day, it appears some had grown complacent and were neglecting their commitment to Christ. While I am convinced of the believer’s security in Christ, I also know that our conversion carries certain responsibilities. While I was completely transformed in Christ at the moment of my conversion by faith, my salvation experience is on-going. While I am sealed by the Spirit, and promised eternal life in heaven, I was not shelved and released of any responsibility following salvation. We are not saved to sit and soak in the blessings of God, certain of eternal life, without any service or growth expected. As we will discover, every believer is responsible for their growth and maturity in Christ.
As we continue to move through this challenging passage, I want to examine the admonitions Peter gave as we discuss: The Guidance for the Saints.
I. The Burden of Immaturity (9) – But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Peter warns of the effects of immaturity among believers. He spoke of:
A. The Deficiency (9a) – But he that lacketh these things… He gave a specific warning to those who lacked these things. What “things” did Peter refer? He is speaking of the varied attributes we discussed in our last study, Vvs.5-7. While the Lord provided our salvation, full and free, every believer is responsible to obtain and grow in these attributes. If these attributes are not readily found in our walk with the Lord, we are deficient in the faith and lacking those attributes necessary to fulfilling, effective Christian service. While these may be more abundant at times than others, they should always be present, in some form, in the life of the believer.
B. The Dysfunction (9a) – But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off. Failing to possess these attributes in our lives creates dysfunction within our walk with the Lord. Peter reveals a lack of these attributes affects our spiritual vision. He is not referring to receiving one’s sight at salvation, but in essence being blind to the path God has for us and failing to walk in a way that pleases Him. Apart from these essential attributes, listed in Vvs.5-7, we will not possess the vision we need, having our sight limited. We will be short-sighted in spiritual vision and fail to see the true desire of God for our lives.
No doubt we have all experienced seasons of vision problems as we walk with the Lord. Failing to walk in fellowship with Christ has immediate consequences, but we also discover that it can have detrimental implications on future endeavors as well. When our relationship with the Lord suffers, we become short-sighted, unable to see the vision God has for our future. The effects of such disobedience are rarely confined to the individual. If we lack the ability to see the vision God has for our lives and this congregation, we negatively impact the entire body!
C. The Damage (9b) – But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Finally Peter revealed an increasing danger in spiritual immaturity, resulting in a lack of vision, if left untreated. He does not imply that one loses their salvation, but their memory is also affected by spiritual immaturity. Those who fail to possess these attributes, growing in their faith, are in danger of forgetting the blessedness of salvation. They soon forget the great price that was paid for their sin. They become insensitive to the leading of the Spirit, and soon find themselves in a backslidden state.
It is impossible to adequately convey the dangers of spiritual immaturity and neglect. Once our vision begins to slip, we soon lose sight of the abundance we have received in Christ. Our passion and commitment to Him begin to slip as well. We forget all that He has done for us and the joy of receiving salvation. It is easy to become complacent and even lose one’s desire to serve the Lord and fellowship with Him. We are all responsible to grow in our faith, continually seeking to walk with the Lord and be conformed to His image.
II. The Basis for Stability (10) – Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall. Thankfully, Peter doesn’t warn of the dangers of immaturity without offering a recourse for the problem. He speaks of the basis for spiritual stability in Christ. He referred to:
A. Our Continual Relationship (10a) – Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure. He challenged the believer to make their calling and election sure. What exactly does he mean by this? This speaks of having assurance of one’s salvation. We know that salvation comes by and through a personal relationship with Christ. Truthfully, only you and the Lord are certain of your salvation. Those who neglect their walk with the Lord, failing to maintain a close relationship with Him, will often question and doubt their salvation. One of the surest ways to assure our salvation is to maintain our relationship with Christ. If we are walking consistently with Him, being sensitive to the leading of the Spirit, we will possess the necessary attributes and be assured of our salvation. (If these attributes are always absent, with no desire to obtain them or walk in fellowship with Christ, it will be impossible to be certain of salvation.)
B. Our Personal Responsibility (10a) – Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure. Here we also discover the personal responsibility for such certainty in salvation. While it is possible for others to see the evidence of spiritual fruit in the life of another, I cannot affirm anyone’s salvation but my own. We are responsible to diligently seek affirmation of salvation. Peter is not seeking to create a continual cloud of doubt over the believer, but he does seek to reveal the personal responsibility we all have in our relationship with Christ. I can’t live your life and you can’t live mine. The fruits of the spirit and attributes that affirm our salvation must be sought by the individual. I can’t affirm your salvation, but through diligent, obedient service and commitment to Christ, assurance is available!
C. Our Spiritual Resilience (10b) – for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall. I think it is important to note that Peter does not imply that we will live lives of sinless perfection. At our very best, we fail and miss the mark at times. He speaks of falling and choosing to remain down. If we live in a way that seeks to honor the Lord, striving to grow in our faith while pleasing Him, we may fall from time to time, but we will desire to get back up and continue for the Lord. There will be a consuming, inward desire to live victoriously for Christ, overcoming the sin and temptation in our lives, while we continue to conform to His glorious image.
III. The Blessing in Eternity (11) – For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Finally Peter speaks of the eternal reward provided those who strive to live faithfully for Christ. Consider:
A. The Promise – Those who live committed lives for Christ, genuinely saved by His grace, are promised entrance into the everlasting kingdom in heaven. Facing the battles of the flesh and the attacks of the enemy are difficult to endure, but the reward of heaven will make it all worthwhile. Those who are saved by grace can live with confident assurance of eternal life through Christ in heaven. This is not something we hope might happen; this is absolute certainty for the saved by grace! John 14:1-3 – Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. [2] In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. [3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
B. The Person (11) – For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. There is much that we often consider when we think of heaven and eternity. We think of being reunited with loved ones who have gone on to be with the Lord. We think of the absence of pain, suffering, disease, and death. We think of the beauty our eyes shall behold as we experience the gates of pearl, the crystal sea, the street of gold, and the mansions prepared for us. No doubt all of this will be wonderful, but it will all pale in comparison to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We will spend the endless age in the presence of the one who died to redeem us from sin, reconciling us to God, and providing eternal life. Jesus will make heaven what it is for the saved. We will praise and worship Him for eternity!
C. The Parameters (11) – For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Peter offered an interesting phrase that reveals eternal implications in heaven. All of the saved will be there; none will be missing among the innumerable gathering of the redeemed. None will have second-class status in heaven. However, the crowns and rewards received will be based on the works we have done for the Lord while in this life. Some will make it to heaven, truly saved by grace, but will have little to show for the life lived for Christ. Those who fail to obtain and portray the attributes of which Peter spoke will have little to lay at the feet of Christ. Peter encouraged the believer to live in such a way to guarantee an abundance in the everlasting kingdom. Only that which is done for Christ, from a pure heart, will endure in eternity. I want to have something to lay at His feet for all He has done for me! 1 Cor.3:13-15 – Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. [14] If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. [15] If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Conclusion: This has been a convicting passage. It challenges us to examine our hearts. Do we genuinely possess the attributes that reveal salvation in Christ? Are we earnestly living in an effort to please the Lord, or are we focused on the pleasures we desire? Have you made your calling and election sure? Only you and the Lord know with certainty of your salvation. If you are not where you need to be with the Lord, come to Him today. He is able to save by His grace, and He is willing to restore those who have back-slidden from Him.
