Supply Self-Control Series

Supply Self-Control

Be Certain of God’s Promises, Part 5

081609 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.

Definition: A promise is a transaction between two or more persons whereby the first person undertakes in the future to render some service or gift to the others or devotes something valuable now and here to his use.

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.

1 Know The Source Of The Promise

A. It is God’s Promise:

1. This is not a worldly contract with worldly uncertainty.

2. God sent, God approved, God guaranteed!

Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

B. 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.

2 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.

A. A “partaker” is a participant, partner, or sharer.

1. Romans 8:17 …heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ,

2. His promises belong to His children:

3 Know Our Part in the Promises.

A. “Now for this very reason…” (v5) tells us that there is action required on our part.

1. 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.”

2. This is accomplished first (and foremost) with 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.”

B. In Your Faith…

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. A distinctive word which encompasses the most outstanding quality (virtue) in someone’s life.

b. 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. This is beyond knowing “the book.”

b. Remember we are supplying this to our faith.

c. “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

4 In your Knowledge, Self-Control

A. Moral excellence and spiritual knowledge are not enough for a Christian’s walk.

1. We must also make every effort to practice self-control (egkrateia); used only two other times in the NT, in Acts 24:25 (where Paul testifies to Felix); Galatians 5:23 (as part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit).

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).

b. We know from Galatians 5:22-23 that Christians have the Holy Spirit’s help to gain self-control, it still requires we “apply all diligence” to develop.

c. Don’t debate what part is the Spirit’s and what part belongs to us. Act as if the responsibility were all ours, knowing that the fruit is all His.