Speaker Sermon/Lesson Title Audio   Video  Text   MS Word Category Bobby Stafford Giving All Diligence (II Peter 1:5-8)       Christian Living

Giving All Diligence

Peter reminds his readers of the “exceedingly great and precious promises” that God had given them: forgiveness, salvation, a hope of eternal life in heaven along with a share in the divine nature.  Everything they needed to know about these marvelous blessings had been revealed and was available for them.  Because of these wonderful promises, spiritual growth on the part of the Christian was both natural and essential.

Text:  II Peter 1:5-8  “who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.  In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, it need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love.  Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.” NKJV

Body:

I.  The Christian Must Be Diligent  “Add to your” – Translated from a word found nowhere else in the Greek New Testament – bringing in by the side of.  Shows the relative unimportance of man’s part in his salvation compared to God’s part.  What God has done is far greater, but man’s part is absolutely essential.  Salvation truly is from God, but man does contribute to it – because God’s part is done only on condition that man does his!  In light of man’s essential role in his own salvation, he must give all diligence – hasten [be eager] with all earnestness and zeal to bring in his part.  Read II Peter 1:10. “Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;” NKJV  Those things he is to be diligent about are now listed.  Each characteristic is connected to what follows.  II Peter 1:5 “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,” NKJV

 

II.  Faith Is the Foundation  It is upon Biblical faith that all the Christian graces rest.  The way forward, the way up to heaven, is the way of faith.  The faith is “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things not seen.” NKJV  It is “Trusting obedience.”  It is assurance and conviction, support of our hopes and the proof of things we cannot see.  Even though we do not walk by sight.  (II Corinthians 5:7) “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” NKJV  Neither do we walk in darkness.  (John 8:12) “Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world.  He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” NKJV  This faith is not a blind, accept everything faith, but one to “test all things, hold fast what is good.  (I Thessalonians 5:21) “Test all things; hold fast what is good.” NKJV

This faith has as its source the Word of God.  (Romans 10:17) “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. NKJV  Ultimately, since God wrote Scripture, in God Himself.  It’s essential to find acceptance in the Father’s eyes.  (Hebrews 11”6) “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” NKJV  We must believe in His eternal existence.  “He is from everlasting to everlasting.”  (Psalm 90:2) “Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.” NKJV  In His great power –  (Jeremiah 32:17) “Ah, Lord God!  Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm.  There is nothing too hard for You.” NKJV  In His infinite wisdom –  (Romans 16:27) “to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever.  Amen. NKJV  We must also “believe He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”  That He can save us to the uttermost.  Faith is, indeed, the foundation for everything else.

 

III.  Add to Your Faith – Virtue  The English word “virtue” is derived from the Latin word vir, meaning “man” or “manhood”  Not just any man, though it is a man of strength, courage, and good character.  The Greek word translated virtue is moral excellence; the strength and courage necessary to live faithfully; the determination to “be a man” and do what’s right, regardless of the cost.  Be honorable. 

 

How is virtue seen in the lives of Christians?

A.  As purity – “in our speech”  (Proverbs 17:7) “Excellent speech is not becoming to a fool, Much less lying lips to a prince.” NKJV 

(Proverbs 8:6-8) “Listen, for I will speak of excellent things, And from the opening of my lips will come right things; For my mouth will speak truth; Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.  All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; Nothing crooked or perverse is in them.” NKJV  Excellent speech – virtuous speech  Virtue shows itself in being careful in what you say.  (Proverbs 17:27-28) “He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.  Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.” NKJV  “In our conduct”  (I Thessalonians 4:3-4) “For this is the will of God your sanctification:  that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,” NKJV

B.  As courage – strength to stand up for our convictions.  Convictions seen in the life of the apostle Paul.  (Galatians 2:11-14) “Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision.  And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.  But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, ‘If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews?’” NKJV  Recall, back in 1994, a woman the world calls Mother Teresa  [even though not a Christian in the Biblical sense] stood up for her convictions.  On a podium with Clinton and Gore and others, she rebuked America and its leaders for their policy on abortion.  “If we accept that a mother can kill even her own child, how can we tell other people not to kill each other?”  Another example –  Reggie White of the Green Bay Packers, spoke out against homosexuality.  He lost money because Campbell’s withdrew a deal for him to advertise for them.  We need to heed the words of Paul in  I Corinthians 16:13. “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.” NKJV  Yes, we must add virtue to our faith if heaven is to be our home. 

 Invitation:

God has promised us exceedingly great and precious blessings.  He has done His part in making them available to all men.  Our part, though small compared to His, is still essential.

It takes courage to step out of a crowd and confess that you now have a new Lord and Master, and allow yourself to be baptized for the remission of sins.  It also takes courage to admit wrongs in your life and ask for prayers of the congregation.

 

Bobby Stafford  Lesson 2  Series on II Peter  October 27, 2019