Introduction
In this study, we will begin to recognize and realize our position within the body of Christ. We will also discover the treasures of authority and blessings paid for and afforded to us through the redemptive work of the cross. We will, specifically, focus on the promises given in the Word through the Name of Jesus, the Blood of Jesus, the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. We must get a revelation of our inheritance through redemption. What does it mean to be redeemed? What does it mean to inherit gifts from the will of another person? We will discuss and discover these things, and more through this five-week study.
There are two reasons why we receive these, and other, promises. It is because of (1) Covenant and, (2) Inheritance. Inheritance is actually part of the covenant.
Covenant is our assurance that God will do what He says He will do. He has covenanted with us. He cannot lie. What He says He’ll do…He will do!
However, it’s important to understand, that, although God’s love is unconditional…. His promises do come with condition! God is going to love us no matter what we do. He will love us even if we disobey His will. But, His will states that He will bless us and give to us everything pertaining to life and godliness…if we obey His Word!
Textual Reference: II Peter 1:2-11
“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers (or inheritors) of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption (or depravity) that is in the world through lust. But also for this reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge (of His will), to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance (patience), to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren (useless), nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
So, Peter is reminding us that, in order to have those things pertaining to life and godliness (all things), we must give diligently to doing the will of God in our lives!
We are going to be speaking much of God’s Will! The Last (and only) Will and Testament of God, the Father. His will is for you, the believer, His child, to receive an abundance of all things pertaining to life and godliness. Notice, Peter suggests that these “benefits” have already been given (see verses 3 & 4)! The provision has already been made. In fact, it’s already been paid for. Jesus paid for far more than just our salvation on the cross! He paid for our healing, He paid for our financial blessing, and He paid for our all things that pertain to life and godliness. The debt has been paid in full! We owe nothing, but our lives…nothing more, and nothing less. We must give our lives to the cause and the purpose of the Gospel…. to obeying the will and the Word of God…in order to receive the blessings that have already been promised. Except for His love, which cannot be earned, God does require something from each of us in order to receive salvation. We must believe and receive and accept, and then we are saved. We must believe, receive and accept before we can be healed, also. This process goes for all of the blessings of God and promises of His Last (and only) Will and Testament, with the exception of love…for He will love us no matter what we decide or how we react to His will!
My five-year-old has learned to understand that I will love her, eternally, no matter what she does! Even when she obeys me, I still love her. However, there are some terms and conditions in order for her to have a few certain things in life. For example, she loves candy. And, she knows, that if she doesn’t eat a good meal, she cannot have candy. She asks all of the time. She’ll even ask for candy when she knows, full well, that her mother and I know that she hasn’t eaten all of her meal. However, it’s important that we teach her that she cannot have the “benefits” without obeying the will of the parents. We, in turn, often ask for blessing after blessing of spiritual “candy” without ever obeying the will of God, the Father, and then wonder why He won’t answer. We cannot live like a demon six days a week and then on Sunday expect God to answer our pitiful prayers! It doesn’t work that way. We spoke of covenant, and, although God has made covenant, we, too, must live up to our end of that covenant before we can receive the benefits that lie therein! God is not obligated to bless His disobeying kids! Jesus said if you love Him, you would keep His commandments (John 14:15).
I. Obedience is More Decision than Intent!
A. There is a difference in making a decision than just having good intentions! Definitions of:
a. Decision – n. 1. A final choice.
b. Intent – n. 1. Purpose; aim. 2. The state of mind with which an act is committed.
B. So, and “intention” is merely an “aim” to do something: an idea of the mind, if you will.
C. However, a “decision” is the “final result” of that intent.
D. Good intentions never got anyone anywhere doing anything! Someone once said “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.”
E. Then, it’s important to discover the importance of the Quality of your decisions, rather than the Quantity of your decisions. Integrity plays a large role in making your intent of the heart into a final decision.
F. We must not simply “intend” to obey the will of God…it must be our “final decision!”
G. When we discover this, we will become “dangerous to the devil!”
II. Obedience Is Better Than Sacrifice (I Samuel 15:22)
A. God doesn’t need our attention; He wants our obedience in worship.
B. God doesn’t need our money; He wants our obedience in giving.
C. God doesn’t need us; He wants us!
D. God wants hearts of fire, not prayers of ice!
E. God wants intimacy with us, not good intentions from us!
III. Once We Obey, We Will Then Receive
A. Believing is part of obeying. It is a command to believe.
B. Obedience Brings Benefits Through
1. The Name of Jesus
2. The Blood of Jesus
3. The Word of God
4. The Power of the Spirit
C. All four are given to every one of us, through redemption.
IV. We Are Redeemed. God’s Promises Have Been Redeemed Back to Us!
A. What Jesus did on the cross redeemed (paid for) us from our sins and back to His heart and His presence…where His promises lie.
B. Adam and Eve walked in the garden of perfection. They had everything they needed that pertained to life and godliness.
C. But it was all lost when sin separated man from God. Adam was given dominion over all the earth and everything therein. However, he gave up that birthright when he sinned. He gave it to Satan, who then became the ruler of this world. God sent His Son, Jesus, to redeem, or buy back, our birthright!
D. But God redeemed us back through the blood of Jesus. Jesus was our “coupon of redemption.”
E. Now, through Jesus, God expects us, His children, to live above our levels of mediocrity to the levels of excellency where He decided for us to be in the first place!
F. God desired to redeem us back to the Garden of Eden (which means the Presence of God).
