004 Securing the Sheep – part 4

The Desired Entrance that is Seized

2 Peter 1:1-11

September 12, 2010

I promise tonight we are going to finish our study of these first 11 verses.

And so far Peter’s main point has been especially clear.

He’s about to leave.

Wolves are on their way.

The only way the sheep will be secure is if they are truly sheep.

And so Peter is writing to call for some self-examination.

He first showed us THE DIVINE EQUIPPING THAT IS SUPPLIED

These are the things that God has given to every true believer.

Faith

Grace

Peace

Ability to Live Godly

Promises to Guide

He then showed us THE DILIGENT EXCELLENCE THAT IS SOUGHT

He told us that if God has truly granted us all these wonderful things

Then by all means seek to walk in them.

And you saw the 7 attributes that Peter said

Should be added to the faith God has given us.

Moral Excellence – Knowledge – Self Control – Perseverance – Godliness

Brotherly Kindness - Love

And as we said last week, those serve as a wonderful measuring stick

As we evaluate our Christianity.

Tonight we close this opening statement

By hearing why these qualities are so important.

The Divine Equipping that is Supplied

The Diligent Excellence that is Sought

#3 THE DESIRED ENTRANCE THAT IS SEIZED

2 Peter 1:8-11

What you immediately notice after reading those 4 verses is how they end

Peter says, (11) “for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom…will be abundantly supplied to you.”

In other words Peter is writing to let you know

How to make sure that you are granted entrance into the kingdom.

And Peter ties the entrance into the kingdom directly back

To whether or not those 7 qualities are present in your life.

And here Peter actually gives us 4 reasons

Why we should be so diligent to supply these attributes.

1) THERE IS A SAVIOR TO SERVE (8)

Now you will notice that Peter first gives two stipulations

In regard to those 7 qualities.

WHAT ARE THEY?

Those attributes must be “yours”

Those attributes must be “increasing”

One speaks of the POSSESSION of a Christian.

The other speaks of the PASSION of a Christian.

On one hand we possess those attributes because they have been given to us through the Holy Spirit which dwells in us.

Several of those attributes are actually listed as His fruit.

“Love” “Kindness” “Self-Control”

And so simply because we are in Christ, those attributes are ours.

(That is why they can be used as evaluators of true Christianity)

But we also know that for a Christian it goes much further than just possession of a few attributes. It is also about PASSION

Christians long to grow in the faith.

In fact that is how Peter closes his letter.

2 Peter 3:18 “but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”

A true Christian will automatically have the desire to be more like Christ

Each and every day.

Listen to Paul’s passion

Philippians 3:10-14 “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Paul’s passion was to be perfect, just as Christ intended.

That is also why Paul encouraged the Philippians:

Philippians 2:12-13 “So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”

True Christianity not only possesses those 7 attributes

But in fact it seeks to grow in those attributes.

Each day is a struggle to become more morally excellent.

Each day is a struggle to become more knowledgeable.

Each day is a struggle to become more controlling of self.

And so on…

Peter wanted you to make sure that those attributes are not only “yours”

But that they are also “increasing”

And there is a reason why.

“they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Just as we saw 2 expectations of Peter,

Now we see 2 reasons.

One reason Peter wants you to have those attributes

And for them to be increasing is because

He doesn’t want you to be “useless” to Jesus.

CAN A CHRISTIAN ACTUALLY BE USELESS TO JESUS?

Absolutely.

Listen to what Paul told Timothy.

2 Timothy 2:15-21 “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and they upset the faith of some. Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness." Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.”

The implication is that Hymenaeus and Philetus

Were caught up “worldly and empty chatter”

And had even upset the faith of others because of the way they talked.

Paul encouraged Timothy to cleanse himself from those things

And be a vessel of honor useful to the Master.

You see a Christian that does not model Christianity

Or encourage others to live it correctly isn’t much use to Jesus.

Christ longs for a pure bride

And only those who share in that passion are useful to Him.

I can give you another example.

Paul’s first missionary journey began as a 3 man journey.

Acts 12:25 “And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their mission, taking along with them John, who was also called Mark.”

But shortly into the journey Mark deserted.

Acts 13:13 “Now Paul and his companions put out to sea from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia; but John left them and returned to Jerusalem.”

Then as Paul was about to set on his second missionary journey,

Mark wanted to go.

Acts 15:36-40 “After some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us return and visit the brethren in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are." Barnabas wanted to take John, called Mark, along with them also. But Paul kept insisting that they should not take him along who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. And there occurred such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. But Paul chose Silas and left, being committed by the brethren to the grace of the Lord.”

And you can see that Mark was not useful to Paul

Because he had lacked perseverance.

It doesn’t necessarily mean that Mark was a bad guy,

It just means that so long as he failed to be committed he wasn’t useful.

It is worthy to note that Mark obviously changed his tune

And became a committed disciple, for at the end of Paul’s life, he wrote:

2 Timothy 4:11 “Only Luke is with me. Pick up Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service.”

And hopefully you get the idea.

Christ is looking for those who are focused on His mission,

And those who are not are not useful.

But those who do diligently supply these attributes

Are extremely useful to Jesus.

The types Jesus uses are those who:

Diligently Live their Faith Diligently Love the Truth

Diligently Limit their Selves Diligently Labor in their Self-Control

Diligently Liken themselves to God Diligently Legitimize their Godliness

Diligently Love their Brother

When you possess those qualities

It doesn’t matter what other limitations you might have.

It doesn’t matter if you are poor

It doesn’t matter if you are shy

It doesn’t matter if you don’t communicate well

It doesn’t matter if you have no experience

If those qualities “are yours and are increasing, they render you”

Useful to Jesus.

But being useless wasn’t the only issue Peter spoke of.

He said if these qualities are yours, “they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The other quality Peter refers to

Is not only being useful but also fruitful.

DON’T WE ALL WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL FOR JESUS?

When someone examines our fruit

We want it to show lives that have been changed.

Paul told the Corinthians:

2 Corinthians 3:1-3 “Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some, letters of commendation to you or from you? You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.”

Go look at those I’ve taught and see if I am a legitimate apostle.

Not only do we want to be used by Jesus,

But we also want to fruitful in our labor. We want to see results.

And that is what Peter promises here.

If you will diligently supply those 7 attributes to your faith “they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

In other words:

Diligently supplying those qualities produces enormous evidence

That you truly know Jesus,

That you are useful to Him

That you are effective in your work for Him.

That’s the first reason Peter wants you to diligently supply those qualities.

WE HAVE A SAVIOR TO SERVE

And the only way we can effectively serve Him

Is if those qualities are ours and are increasing.

So diligently supply those qualities to your faith.

There is a Savior to Serve

2) THERE IS A SANCTIFICATION TO EMBRACE (9)

Here is the negative side to that command.

Possession of those qualities indicates you truly know Jesus,

That you are useful to Him, and that you are effective in service.

BUT, the absence of these qualities

Reveals something altogether different.

It reveals blindness.

Or at the very least short-sightedness

Peter says if those qualities aren’t yours

Then that is an indicator that you have no clue

What true Christianity is all about.

If your Christian walk is absent of:

Moral Excellence, Knowledge, Self-Control, Perseverance, Godliness, Brotherly kindness, and Love

Then it is obvious that you don’t have a clue

What Jesus intended to do in your life.

A person without those qualities is blind.

And not only blind, but Peter reveals their chief mistake.

“having forgotten his purification from his former sins.”

Now some would read that and say, “Oh see, he’s a Christian because he has been purified from sin at some point in the past.”

We’re just talking about a Christian who needs to get in gear.

But I can tell you how we know that is not what Peter is referring to.

1) Because verse 11 speaks of gaining entrance into the kingdom.

Had Peter spoken of reward in heaven or treasure in heaven

Then maybe we would argue the merits of this being a Christian

Who simply needs to repent.

But the issue in Peter’s mind is

Whether or not this person is even going to enter the kingdom.

2) This is not the only place Peter refers to people returning to sin.

If we look at the next chapter in this letter

Peter reveals to us this same concept again.

Peter is speaking of false prophets:

2 Peter 2:17-22 “These are springs without water and mists driven by a storm, for whom the black darkness has been reserved. For speaking out arrogant words of vanity they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error, promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved. For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them. It has happened to them according to the true proverb, "A DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN VOMIT," and, "A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire."

Peter is not speaking of true Christians

Who got confused about the purpose of Christianity.

Peter is talking about people who claimed to be Christians

Because of momentary purity,

But their return to sin revealed that all they really were

Was a dog that acted nice for a while.

And we know where the dogs go:

Revelation 22:14-15 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.”

These were dogs and always have been dogs

And they revealed it when they returned to their vomit.

Jesus spoke of this same concept.

Matthew 12:43-45 "Now when the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find it. "Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came'; and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. "Then it goes and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation."

That is exactly the type of person Peter refers to here.

A person who lacks these 7 qualities

Is one who doesn’t truly understand Christianity.

You see we have A SANCTIFICATION TO EMBRACE

We as Christians are called to be holy.

If holiness is not on our agenda

Then we need to rethink the genuineness of our faith.

There is A Savior to Serve

There is A Sanctification to Embrace

3) THERE IS A STUMBLING TO AVOID (10)

Again we see that phrase that really opens up this passage.

“make certain about His calling and choosing you”

As we have said it is important to make sure you are indeed in the faith.

And we have talked about the dilemma in a life

If the evaluation finds that these qualities are not present.

But up until now we haven’t discussed the other side of this

And that is what it does for a life when they evaluate themselves

And find that these qualities are present.

Suppose you took the test Peter gave last week

And found that those qualities were absent.

Then obviously it is time to run to Jesus.

But suppose you took the test and found those qualities present.

WHAT DO YOU GET?

ASSURANCE

Regardless of what you feel, regardless of your emotional state,

These are definite proofs of genuine Christianity.

When you possess those 7 qualities

It is obvious that you have both been called and chosen of God.

And furthermore “as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble.”

Those who claim Christianity but who do not walk in those qualities

Are obviously prone to stumbling.

Their faith is not genuine, and therefore they are vulnerable to deception

And temptation and being drawn away and devoured.

John actually speaks of the reality of those who stumble.

1 John 2:19 “They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us.

But that is not for you when you walk in these qualities.

When you walk in these qualities you can be sure that you are His, that your faith is legitimate and that you will never stumble.

John also speaks of this reality.

1 John 3:18-20 “Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things.”

There are times that our heart will condemn us.

Our heart will lie to us after redemption, just as it did before redemption.

And so John gives us an evaluation that is not based on feeling.

Do you love your brother in deed and truth?

Then you are God’s child, and even if your heart does not agree,

Tell your heart to stop arguing because it is wrong.

And that is the same sort of assurance Peter is offering.

It is an assurance that transcends emotion.

It is an assurance that is based on fact.

If those qualities are there, then rest in the peaceful assurance

That you will never stumble, because you are truly His.

CAN I CARRY IT A LITTLE FURTHER?

TURN TO ROMANS 8

Paul gives several reasons why we can know we will never fall away.

The Help of the Spirit

(Verses 26-27)

The Determined Plan of God

(Verses 28-30)

The Justifying work of Christ

(Verses 31-34)

The Divine Love of the Redeemed

(Verses 35-39)

Paul says that love for God has been poured out in our hearts

And it is a love that will not let us leave regardless of the difficulty.

The point is that if you are a Christian,

You can know it by the qualities in your life

And if those qualities are there, “you will never stumble”.

Diligently supply those qualities in your life.

There is A Savior to Serve There is A Sanctification to Embrace

There is A Stumbling to Avoid

4) THERE IS A SALVATION TO ENJOY (11)

And this makes a perfect conclusion.

If you have faith, then you can know God gave it to you.

You can know you have true faith if it contains moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love.

And if you have those qualities then you can

Know without a doubt that you are God’s child.

You are useful to Him.

You will be fruitful as you serve Him.

Furthermore you can rest assured that you will never fall away from Him.

And therefore heaven is an absolute certainty.

You don’t have to hope you will go to heaven.

You don’t have to hope Jesus is preparing a place for you.

You don’t have to hope you will have treasure in heaven.

And so what we learn here in these first 11 verses is that

Peter wants to make sure that his sheep are secure

And he wants those who are secure to be sure of it as well.

Wednesday night I was talking to George and he mentioned how Candice has been reading her bible every morning.

He said, “That’s all the comfort I need right there. To know that she is doing it without someone having to tell her to do it.”

George was in the role of Peter wanting to know his sheep was secure.

And so he was looking for certain qualities.

But Peter also wants you to know it.

YOU ARE SECURE; PROVEN BY THOSE QUALITIES.

So don’t just claim to have faith,

Seek to live it and prove yourself a true child of God.

He has Supplied Divine Equipping

So Seek Diligent Excellence

And Seize the Desired Entrance

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.”