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Read: 2 Peter 1:3-8
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:3-8)
Virtue – moral goodness
a. Naaman - Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. (2 Kings 5:1)
b. Elisha – the man of God
c. Ptr. Jonah observed about how unusual it is for Naaman to take advice from a slave. God is not limited or bound by people’s status and circumstances.
d. Made clean to worship.
2. Gospel Message
a. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
b. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:3-5)
1. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
ii. Self-help. You can’t.
1. “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6)
2. as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; (Romans 3:10)
ii. Overlapping points.
iii. Our responsibility
Virtue – moral goodness
I. Introduction
i. Story of Naaman (2 Kings 5)
1. Key Figuresa. Naaman - Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. (2 Kings 5:1)
b. Elisha – the man of God
c. Ptr. Jonah observed about how unusual it is for Naaman to take advice from a slave. God is not limited or bound by people’s status and circumstances.
d. Made clean to worship.
ii. God (Online Devotion)
1. The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.” (Exodus 34:6-7)2. Gospel Message
a. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
b. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:3-5)
II. Observations
(How does moral goodness “virtue” fits in the life of a genuine follower of Jesus?)a. In cannot be;
i. Earning your way towards salvation. You can’t.1. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
ii. Self-help. You can’t.
1. “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6)
2. as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; (Romans 3:10)
b. It is;
i. Our track. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)ii. Overlapping points.
iii. Our responsibility
1. We work because God is at work. “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:12-13)
2. God cares for you so be humble and be watchful. “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:6-8)
3. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge (v.3 of him… of our Lord Jesus Christ) with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness (firm, unwavering, patience), and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness (holiness) with brotherly affection (for brothers and sisters in the faith then to our enemies), and brotherly affection with love. (2 Peter 1:5-7)
4. We will drift and bear no fruit if these are not our realities. “For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.” (2 Peter 1:8-9)
III. Application
a. “Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.” (2 Peter 1:10)b. “Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.” (2 Peter 1:12-15)
IV. Prayer
a. Father, may these realities and qualities be present in our lives as evidence to the world that we are yours. We pray that by your grace you would grant these in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Photo by: Jaime Legaspino
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