Two old friends met one day after many years. One attended college, and
now was very successful. The other had not attended college and never had
much ambition.
The successful one said, "How has everything been going with you?"
"Well, one day I opened the Bible at random, and dropped my finger on a
word and it was oil. So, I invested in oil, and boy, did the oil wells gush.
Then another day I dropped my finger on another word and it was gold. So,
I invested in gold and those mines really produced. Now, I’m as rich as
Rockefeller."
The successful friend was so impressed that he rushed to his hotel, grabbed
a Gideon Bible, flipped it open, and dropped his finger on a page.
He opened his eyes and his finger rested on the words, "Chapter Eleven."
Sufficient. It’s such a strange word. It’s a word that carries a variety of meanings. Let me give you the textbook definition according to Miriam-Webster:
1 enough to meet the needs of a situation or a proposed end
2 QUALIFIED, COMPETENT
It is the hallmark of our faith—the sacrifice of Jesus Christ dying on the cross was sufficient to cover our sins. Hebrews 9:28 Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Peter would proudly proclaim this about Jesus Christ--Acts 4:12
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
We claim sufficiency in our salvation—it is a work that has been done and completed—there is nothing we can do. But yet we approach life as though nothing has been done, nothing is complete, and we can get so caught up in the pressures of this world that we forget the simple truths of the gospel.
For example, Jesus has told us this simple truth--I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Yet we often reject that life, in return for the life that this world has to offer. The pressures of jobs, the pressures of bills, the pressures of relationships with our co-workers, family members. We turn to society to fix our ills, to psychology, to science, to talk radio, and when things get really bad, we turn to Oprah to fix our ills. Dr. Phil, Dr. Laura—the best wisdom this world has to offer. We turn to them first, and yet Jesus still calls out, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
I have good news for you this morning. Jesus didn’t just come to forgive sins, he came to give us life—abundant life. Starting today, we are going to look at how we can enjoy this abundant life, and we will be looking at 2 Peter 1, the first 4 verses.
This particular letter is written by Peter, but he introduces himself as Simon Peter, a reference to the fact that he was once Simon, but after he met the master, Jesus Christ, he became Peter. Matthew 16: 13-14, "When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"
They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
Simon was timid; Peter was bold. Simon would deny Christ when confronted; Peter would proclaim Christ when confronted. Simon Peter—a reminder that when Christ comes and touches our lives, we are forever changed.
Again, he introduces himself as a servant first, then an apostle. He does not wave his authority or position. He proudly proclaims, I serve Christ. The letter is written to those who have received the faith as precious as ours, which we have if we have accepted Christ. He prays for Grace and peace to be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
Notice how that statement is worded. Grace and peace be ours in abundance. Who wouldn’t want grace (GOD’S RICHES AT CHRIST’S EXPENSE)? Who wouldn’t want peace? Who wouldn’t want these in abundance? Remember what Christ said? “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
These come as we grow in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. And that is exactly what we CAN have. Abundant life.
But here, we get to verses 3 and 4, verses I’ve mentioned before, and this is how we can start the process of living the abundant life. "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness."
He (Christ) has given us everything we need for life and godliness. Either that statement is true, or it isn’t. Either we can take the Bible at its word, or we throw it all out the window. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
The question becomes, is this true? When the world comes calling with all of it’s “superior knowledge and information about life”, do we have to believe them?
This is the hope that we have. Christ has given us everything we need for life and godliness. Whether it’s struggling with your tongue, with your attitude, with your heart, with your eyes, with your finances, with your habits, Christ has given us everything we need.
Notice, it’s because of His divine power, not by our own desires. His power, not our accomplishments. His power, not our power. Listen to Paul as he struggled with sin in his life: “So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
We have this power given to us—but notice where it comes from? Through our knowledge of Him who called us. The more we know Him, the more power we tap into. The less we know, the less power, the less life we will have. Remember what Paul’s ultimate desire was? It’s found in Philippians 3: 10--I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
How do we know Christ? Through His Word and His Spirit. Do we really spend enough time in the word? I’ve asked that you read through the Bible in a year. If you don’t have a plan, there is one in the back, there’s one found in the daily bread, you can read 4 chapters a day and finish up in less than a year, you can even buy a one-year reading bible. But you have to know it.
You can know it by coming to church, and hearing it preached through sermon and song. Through fellowship as we share with one another what God is doing in our lives. We learn as we submit ourselves to what God has us to do, as we willingly yield ourselves to the Spirit.
Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
These—this refers to Christ’s glory and goodness. Through these, he has given us his very great and precious promises. Wow. Promises that are great and precious. When you sign your name making a payment with a credit card (show it), some places will have on the receipt that you promise to make a payment. I would call that a great or precious promise, would you? But it is a promise, and sometimes we keep them, sometimes we defer them, sometimes we don’t pay them at all!
But Christ’s promises never fail; promises that he would never leave us nor forsake us. Promises that we can receive a peace that passes all understanding. Promises that our God will supply all of our needs. Promises that his grace is sufficient.
We have a saying, “Promises, promises.” It carries with it the thought that they will not be kept. But here, Christ keeps his promises, great and precious promises.
And these promises will help us participate in the divine nature, and escape the corruption of this world. The more we learn of Christ, the less we rely on this world. The more we learn of Christ, the less we rely on ourselves. The hymn—turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace.
If there is a habit that is annoying you, pestering you, a sin that is entangling you and you cannot escape, you have the divine power, given to you by Christ. You don’t have to turn to the world. You don’t have to live like that anymore. You don’t have to sulk around in life—because Christ has come to give you life, and to give you life more abundant.
Sufficient. There are very few things this world has to offer that are fully sufficient. We have a sufficiency, though, a sufficiency in Jesus Christ. We have access to an abundant life, a life full and free from worry and care. Have you claimed it? Are you growing in the knowledge of Christ through reading His word and yielding to His Spirit?
The question comes down to this, “Do you want the life that Jesus has to offer, or do you want the life the world has to offer?” We forfeit so much, because we accept Jesus as savior, but then reject the life that he has brought for us. You have everything you need for life and godliness. I want you to read it with me again--His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
Do you believe it? Are you living the life Jesus has bought for you?
