GOD HAS GIVEN US EVERYTHING WE NEED TO KNOW

 

2 Peter 3-7

In Jesus’ High Priestly prayer He prayed for the sanctification of His disciple and of all who would believe through their testimony, which includes you and me. “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. "I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” John 17:16-21. The greatest comfort of knowing comes through the Spirit confirming our confession by the Word of God. The more we learn of God, the more we know Him, and this opens a greater capacity to love Him more. Peter says by God’s divine power and grace we have everything we need for life and godliness. (v3) Everything is our unmistakable position, because the Holy Spirit is our sufficiency for life and godliness.

  

Life referring to……all the way to glorification which gives us great comfort to the end, the eternal security for the true believer. Jesus said, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day." John 6:35-40. Later on in John’s gospel Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one." John 10:27-30. In Jude’s letter we read this comforting truth for those who are truly His. “Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” 

Jude 24-25

Godliness is referring to…..both reverence in worship and in our active obedience to God and His Word. The child of God should never question God’s sufficiency to where or not we have everything to live out the Christian life. It’s through God’s grace and divine power to sustain us, and empower us to righteous conduct. Paul reminds us of this reality. “For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” Rom 8:24-30

 

Paul said to the church in Philippi, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Phil 1:6. This is what the believer receives from God. God has given us everything we need in the form of divine power necessary to equip us for life and godliness for His glory. (v3b-4). Two great truths stand at the forefront of all that we have been given to finish well, “the knowledge of God and the promises of God.

 

God has equipped us with “True knowledge.” The Christian can ask this question! How does one live their life to the fullest for Jesus Christ? Answer! Through the true knowledge of Him. (v3) is referring to a knowledge that is deep and genuine. This is referring to more than just a superficial knowledge of God and of His Son Jesus Christ. This knowledge is more than a superficial knowledge of His death and resurrection. We know this is true because many false professions will stand before Him lacking, because they only had a superficial knowledge of God. Jesus gives an example of this superficial knowledge. “Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great." Luke 6:46-49

 

Why is the right foundation so important? Personal saving knowledge of the Lord is the obvious beginning point for the believer, as with everything in the Christian life. This all comes through Him who called you out of darkness as John the Baptist said, “John answered, "A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.” John 3:27. What you and I hold dear to hearts comes from God; and we are a blessed people to know Him truly through His Son. This is the blessed assurance, the promises of God, as we grow in the knowledge of God through His precious Word.

 

There are two aspects to God’s call of salvation…… The General Call which goes out to everyone as Jesus said “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.” John 7:37. The general call is to be freely and universally offered. The Effectual Call is efficacious; this means it always results in salvation. As Paul said, “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” 1 Cor 1:9. The effectual call is immutable, thereby insuring one’s perseverance. Sinners are drawn by the glory and the excellence of Jesus Christ. See! When God draws sinners to Himself, they see not only Christ’s glory as God, but also His excellence as man. The gospel points us to His truth and promises….. perfect humanity, all of salvations blessings and provisions come ONLY TO THOSE who see and believe His words and acts of sinlessness, as God and man.

 

It’s this understanding of the gospel call that reminds of something very important. (v4) Knowing what we know in the gospel of His Son, we have escaped the corruption that is in the world. (v4) First, Peter says we are “partakers” this often means fellowship, or partners, through the grace of the gospel. “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Col 3:3. We are partakers in Christ through His saving grace; and we are no longer partakers in this world system? A system according to Peter is “Corrupt.”

“Corruption” is referring to something “decomposing or rotting” this corruption is usually accompanied by a terrible odor. (Like my son’s work boots) What Peter is refereeing to specifically is the world’s moral decomposition that is driven by sinful lust, or evil desires. That’s who we once were right before the gospel called you? As Paul said, “among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” Eph 2:3

What is corrupt in our society today? The simple answer is everything under the sun. The corruption that is attacking the traditional family, the way God intended it to be. The corruption that continually attacks the Biblical standard to the institution of marriage. The corruption of image-bearers being dissatisfied with their bodies and sexuality. The corruption that is trying to stir up violence and anger against one another over the pigment of your skin colour.

The corruption that is trying to replace truth with emotion, my body, and lies as it pertains to science and biology. The corruption that attacks Biblical truth and the true church to conform to their ideologies and social norms. The corruption of morals and integrity in our society both politically and socially. The corruption that has enter the church though agents of darkness spreading lies to deceive the naive.

 

But God did something to save us from this corruption. “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” Eph 2:4-7

 

Peter says “we have escaped” this depicts a successful flight from danger. In this sense we have escaped our fallen nature, the sinfulness of this decaying world system and its final destruction. We have escaped to a very great promise where no sin or corruption will ever exist. “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death." Rev 21:1-8

What Peter is reminding us is that…. We have been freed from that former bondage, our former passions and lusts that was leading us to this destruction in the Lake of Fire. We are free from the penalty of sin, the power of sin, the bondage of sin, and spiritual death. This means God’s children share in God’s nature, not deity, but nature. Peter calls them….”precious and very great promise,” (v4) This indicates we are partakers of this intrinsic value and worth; because these include all the divine promises of God found throughout His Word.

 

Spiritual life… Rom 8:9-13

Resurrection life…John 11;25

The Holy Spirit…… Acts 2:33

The abundance of grace…..John 10:10

Guidance.... John 16:13

Help….. Isa 41:10

Strength….Psalm 18:32

Instruction….. Psalm 32:8

Wisdom…. Eph 1:17-18

Heaven….John 14:1-3

Eternal rewards…. 1 Tim 4:8

 

Our genuine knowledge of God through Jesus to live godly has replaced our former corrupt nature. AS A SIDE NOTE! By the time we get to chapter 2 we will see that Peter’s entire letter is at odds with all wrong/false teaching, by what we read here is Chapter 1. Our previous corrupt nature has been replaced to supplement your faith with the very nature of God. The only way you and I are removed from this cesspool, is solely by holding fast to the strong cord of God’s Word. As God’s children this is our hope in the gospel, this is our very great promises found in God. What God has done for us, we ought to be as Peter says “make every effort”, “giving all diligence” before everything you do. (v5) “All Diligence” is with all eagerness with a side order of urgency. This means earnest application, careful study, we are to apply ourselves diligently to every word that proceeded out of the mouth of God. (As 2 Tim 2:16 speaks about) We are to diligently apply what we call the “Golden Chain” that leads you to Heaven through the sanctified life... I say this because, “True faith must grow” it’s this faith that takes, fallen and frail men and women home to Heaven.

 

Virtue…. this is referring to a moral excellence; this applies to moral heroism or courageous deeds. It’s a spiritual fearlessness, living a life worthy of honor as Paul said “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Phil 3:14. As Paul set his sights on Christ this is essential for us, to keep us from falling; our faith in Christ must lead us to live honorably.

 

Knowledge…. is referring to divine truth which is the foundation of spiritual discernment and wisdom found in Scripture. If a man or woman knows the right thing, he or she will do the right thing. This refers to truth properly understood and applied in all aspects of life and godliness. This involves diligent study and meditation on God’s Word, digging down deep to know God There is a story of a religious gathers…. where a famous actor and an elderly pastor were present. Someone from the event asked the actor to share a few words. The actor didn’t know what to do so he asked the pastor for help, he handed him his bible and the pastor said “Read Psalm 23.” So he did with his eloquent voice and after he was done, the actor said, “I would like the pastor to come and say a few words on this”. So, the pastor got up and to everyone’s surprise, he re-read Psalm 23 again and sat down. The actor leaned over to him and said, “You did much better than I, and now I understand why. I knew the Psalm, but you knew the Shepherd.”  This is the kind of knowledge you and I are to digging after diligently day by day. This is the most important kind of knowledge we should strive to possess. Why? So as to acquire the mind of Christ. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Cor 1:16

Self-control…. literally means “holding oneself in” this is referring to beating your own body into submission, self-discipline, and self-restraint. If you can’t control yourself, what hope is there of someone else doing it for you? Just as an athlete who trains abstains from certain types of food, beverages and sexual activity in order to focus all their attention and on their training. Paul exemplified this in his life and ministry, “I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” 1 Cor 9:23-27. We are to say no to ungodly passions, we are to grow up, do what is biblically right and increase in the knowledge of God.

 

Steadfastness…. is a virtue to pursue perseverance, this includes patience and endurance in doing what is right, not what you feel. Resisting temptation and enduring in the midst of trials and difficulties. If sin overtakes you don’t let it derail you, get back on track by persevering through it. You could say that perseverance is to remain strong in unwelcomed sweat and hardships. Perverse even in a life that is difficult, painful, grievous, even to the point of death. “I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.” Rev 1:9

 

Godliness….meaning reverence for God, this could be translated “true religion or true worship.” It’s a proper adornment, honor and loyalty to God. Godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds the promise for the present life and the life to come. “Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.” 1 Tim 4:7-10

Brotherly Affection….this is our horizontal virtue to show compassion and affection towards one another through Christ. Peter was a recipient of Jesus’ love though his ministry, from the time Jesus called him to Jesus restoring him on the beach. We are always to seeking restoration with one another, not running in the other direction. We are not to hold onto the hurt, but seek to do what Christ did with you and me. For Peter a prime example of this is when Jesus confronted the religious leaders question “And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets." Matt 22:35-40. Our affections for others must be warned by our own experience of Christ’s love for us.

 

Love….. the golden chain ends with this, a genuine love for the believer, this is inseparable from the love of God. As God’s children we are to devote ourselves to one another. Love to all mankind, but there is to be a special affection for Christians as of the same family. As Paul said, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” Gal 6:9-10

 

God certainly doesn’t want us to miserable

and doubting His gift of salvation.

 

Instead He desire and delights in our joy and confidence in Him. A faith must be a growing faith if we are to be useful to God on earth. May we all apply these words to our heart and life, because what is before is leads us home.