Get Growing
Notes
Transcript
Recap
Recap
2 Peter (The King is Coming):
Addressing FALSE TEACHING
Jesus isn’t coming
Live however...
LAX ATTITUDE towards SIN showed up in both TEACHING & their LIVES
Believers should be diligent in pursuit of godliness in light of these things!
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Last week:
GOD’S DELAY = PATIENCE & MERCY…NOT NEGLIGENCE
EVERY DAY- KINGDOM = GROWING.
GOD isn’t negligent… he’s INVOLVED:
creation itself
Noah & flood.
ONE DAY…DOOR will be SHUT… PRESENT DELAY = MERCY & PATIENCE
After introducing the cosmic effects of Christ’s 2nd coming, Peter is going to offer a final admission to godliness as he closes this letter.
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Read text & pray
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Intro
Intro
Again, PETER ADMONISHES us to PURSUE GODLINESS...
Supposed to be DILIGENT & INTENTIONAL
It’s a WORK of GOD in US, but WE also have to TAKE PART...
IN LIFE…PROCESS of GROWTH....OFTEN PAINFUL!
We have to get to the point where the pain and discomfort and frustration of remaining as is overcomes the pain and difficulty of the growth process.
ANYONE ELSE…PUT OFF DR. VISIT UNTIL YOU CAN’T ANYMORE??
…ANYONE STRUGGLE to DO YOUR PART? HOMEWORK?---EATING HEALTHIER/EXERCISE/STRETCHES, etc.
PHYSICAL THERAPY W/ FOOT…STILL STRUGGLING!
Good intentions aren’t sufficient,, it takes diligence...
Need:
Need:
Peter shows: WE MUST DO OUR PART!
GOD as the PHYSICIAN has DONE the HEAVY LIFTING!
REMOVED POWER of SIN...
New CAPACITY for GODLINESS...
RESPONSIBILITY is now ON US as believers to grow…almost LIKE the PHYSICAL THERAPIST giving HOMEWORK.
GOD WON’T FORCE US, KICKING & SCREAMING to GROW...
And so we need this text today, because we all NEED to be STIRRED at times and REMINDED that we must be DILIGENT in PURSUIT of GODLINESS.
POSITIONALLY RIGHTEOUS in Christ, by faith...
TASKED with GROWING in OUTWARD RIGHTEOUSNESS, by POWER of the HOLY SPIRIT.
As CHRISTIANS, we SHOULD all BE GROWING DAILY
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Text:
Text:
2 Peter 3:11–18 (ESV)
Thought 1: Living in Holiness & Godliness (v11-13)
Thought 1: Living in Holiness & Godliness (v11-13)
11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
PETER BEGINS by REMINDING us of the COSMIC EFFECTS of 2ND COMING
**IN LIGHT of all THESE THINGS…how should we live/WHO SHOULD WE BE...as far as GODLINESS is concerned?
INSTEAD of YOLO MENTALITY…LIVING in LIGHT of CHRIST’S COMING…FUTURE JUDGMENT...
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GOD’S DESIRE…GROW in HOLINESS as HE is HOLY…IN LIGHT of the END...
Last week: WORLD & WORKS—EXPOSED.
We’ll have to GIVE AN ACCOUNT...
HOW DID WE STEWARD WHAT GOD had ENTRUSTED TO US?
NEED to ASK the HARD QUESTIONS NOW…B4 we GIVE ACCOUNT to GOD!
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(V12) 2 THINGS WE DO as CHRIST TARRIES:
1. We AWAIT, or EAGERLY ANTICIPATE CHRIST’S 2ND COMING.
ANTICIPATING DATES/EVENTS on GOD’S CALENDAR AS we do OUR OWN...
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***CONSIDER about HOW AMAZING it is that WE CAN LOOK FORWARD to THIS DAY as BELIEVERS.
JUDGMENT DAY = TERROR to NONBELIEVERS...
ALSO, CONSUMMATION of CHRISTIAN HOPE!!
the day HE COMPLETES WHAT HE BEGAN in us…
HE’S the FINISHER of OUR FAITH...
WHAT should TERRIFY the UNGODLY, SHOULD EXCITE the CHRIST-FOLLOWER!
2. WE are to “HASTEN” the DAY of the LORD’S COMING!
Both the EAGER AWAITING & HASTENING are PRESENT TENSE, CONTINUAL THINGS..ongoing!
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PRESENT DELAY BECAUSE OF GOD’S PATIENCE…YET WE CAN HURRY IT UP!
**DOESN’T NULLIFY the SOVEREIGNTY of GOD.
GOD HAS a DATE SET…but THAT DATE has FACTORED in OUR GOOD WORKS and THINGS GOD’S PREPARED for US!
GOD is NEVER CAUGHT OFF GUARD...
B4 the TREE was PLANTED in EDEN the LAMB WAS SLAIN...
OUR ACTIVITY has been FACTORED into the DATE GOD SET, and AS SUCH we HASTEN the DAY by our obedience.
EVER WAITED on SOMEONE WHO was WAITING ON YOU??
God has tallied up your works in establishment of the day!
Again, CHRIST’S DELAY in coming is BASED ON the PATIENCE and MERCY of GOD....FOR GOD is DRAWING PEOPLE DAILY to the Savior by the power of the Holy Spirit, BUT HE USES PEOPLE LIKE YOU & ME!
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HOW??
Our PERSONAL GROWTH in GODLINESS = SALT & LIGHT
Our PRAYERS… LORD’S PRAYER EXAMPLE - God’s KINGDOM COME..His WILL BE DONE....on earth as in heaven.
PERSONAL MODEL:
in MY LIFE
in my FAMILY
in our CHURCH
in our CITY/region
in our COUNTRY/ world
It BEGINS WITH US! GOD’S RULE & REIGN being more ESTABLISHED in OUR OWN LIVES as we surrender to Him.
The CHURCH.
Established through our LIVES & RELATIONSHIPS...
OFFERINGS SUPPORT MISSIONS & MY MINISTRY HERE...
IF YOU’RE QUESTIONING GOD’S TIMING…MAYBE HE’S WAITING on YOU!
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(V12b) FINAL DAY---CREATION will be JUDGED THROUGH FIRE...
NOT LIVING for THIS WORLD…it’s ALL GOING TO BURN anyways…LIVE FOR what is ETERNAL!
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(v13) Yet, there’s HOPE in the MIDST of JUDGMENT!
NEW HEAVENS & EARTH are a PROMISE from GOD!
** GOD is a PROMISE-KEEPING GOD! God’s faithfulness isn’t questionable...
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As HUMANS we can only OFFER IMPERFECT PROMISES…NOT GUARANTEED.
WE FALL SHORT
CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND our CONTROL
BLUEY EPISODE— Library closed,...“You promised you’d always love us.”
HUMAN PROMISES NOT GUARANTEED…CAN’T FACTOR EVERYTHING IN....
Yet, despite our sinfulness, our forgetfulness, our shortcomings, or even genuine ignorance, we serve a God who has already factored all these things together beforehand.
HE has PROMISED an INCORRUPTIBLE FUTURE...
NEW CREATION…new RESURRECTION BODIES…NEW HEAVENS & EARTH- where RIGHTEOUSNESS DWELLS!!!
GOD HASN’T ABANDONED CREATION…BUT WILL BRING it TO NEW CREATION...
Transition: After mentioning the future destruction and new creation that is coming, Peter explains what believers are to do as they wait. Look at verse 14. It says,
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Thought 2: The Believer’s Diligence (v14-16)
Thought 2: The Believer’s Diligence (v14-16)
14 Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. 15 And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, 16 as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.
GROWING in GODLINESS ISN’T ACCIDENTAL…Peter again uses the SAME WORD translated “DILIGENT”
**GOD ACTED FIRST…this is STILL BY GRACE...
Yet, AFTER our SALVATION, GROWTH in GODLINESS = PROPER RESPONSE
We’re new creations, now we can manifest this! “To BECOME WHAT YOU ARE”
Kingdom of God is both NOW & NOT YET...
Positionally righteous, growth in outward righteousness.
BE DILIGENT to be FOUND....WITHOUT SPOT…WITHOUT BLEMISH… @ PEACE W/ GOD!
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(v15) the LORD’S PATIENCE = SALVATION…time of tarrying = OPPORTUNITY to REPENT & BELIEVE.
IDEAS PRESENT in PAUL’S WRITING...
REFERENCE to PAUL ALONGSIDE SCRIPTURE = BIG DEAL!…AUTHORITATIVE IMMEDIATELY!
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(V16) FUNNY/RELIEVING VERSE!....Peter says SOME of PAUL’S WRITING = DIFFICULT to UNDERSTAND
SOME PASSAGES = TOUGH for ALL OF US...
EVEN W/ HOLY SPIRIT, WE DON’T ALWAYS KNOW 100% ALL THE TIME....
IT’S OK to SAY, “I DON’T KNOW” SOMETIMES...
AS HUMANS, WE CAN’T COMPREHEND EVERYTHING ABOUT GOD & HIS BOTTOMLESS WORD...
SELAH, “FRAGILE” the RABBIT… & pawns @ cemetery??
WORKING WITH WHAT WE’VE GOT!
(V16c) SOME PEOPLE TAKE THINGS that are UNCLEAR & TWIST THEM!
False teachers in Peter’s day
Present today...
SCRIPTURE NEVER OFFERS GRACE as LICENSE to SIN...
Transition: Now, to close his writing, Peter offers one final admonishment and plea with us. Look at verse 17.
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Thought 3: Peter’s Final Admonishment (v17-18)
Thought 3: Peter’s Final Admonishment (v17-18)
17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. 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.
FOR LAST TIME, PETER REFERENCES AUDIENCE as “BELOVED”…CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY
PASTORAL NATURE!!…PETER is WRITING out of CONCERN for BELIEVERS (protecting sheep) more than to condemn false teachers.
WOLF HUNTING ISN’T JUST FOR FUN…IT’S FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE SHEEP...
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(V17-18) Two Final commands:
TAKE CARE we AREN’T CARRIED AWAY by ERROR of LAWLESS PEOPLE
We’re to GROW!
A COMMAND, NOT a SUGGESTION!
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PETER CONCLUDES LETTER w/ DOXOLOGY to Jesus Christ
Final emphasis on Lordship...
ALL GLORY to CHRIST from NOW...till DAY of ETERNITY when he comes!!
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Big Idea:
As Christians, we are to get growing, to be intentional in pursuit of our own godliness as we eagerly await and hasten the day of Christ’s coming.
Intention:
Intention:
We worship this morning by diligently pursuing greater godliness, knowledge of Jesus Christ, and greater purity by the grace of God in response to this promised end.
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Cross/Gospel:
Cross/Gospel:
At the end…GOD has PROMISED a NEW CREATION...
RIGHTEOUSNESS DWELLS...
Lion lays down with the lamb...
**CONSIDER GREAT LOVE of GOD…DIDN’T ABANDON HIS CREATION!!
EXAMPLE: OLDER MARRIED COUPLE… “Came from a generation where when something was broken we didn’t throw it away, but we fixed it.”
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COMMONPLACE TODAY to THROW THINGS AWAY…esp. marriages (not God’s plan!)
EASIER to REPLACE RATHER THAN FIX..…with material possessions sometimes this is sensible & right.
**LOVE often CAUSES PEOPLE to FIX RATHER than REPLACE
IN the BEGINNING, GOD MADE EVERYTHING GOOD!…THEN SIN ENTERED the WORLD… w/ death & destruction.
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God so loved the world…HE SENT HIS SON to REVERSE the CURSE!
DEATH & RESURRECTION of CHRIST…DEFEATED POWER of SIN....ULTIMATELY POWER of DEATH!
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IN NEW CREATION…RIGHTEOUS REIGNS...
HOW CAN ONE ATTAIN to the NEW CREATION despite being SINFUL??
DIFFERENCE is JESUS CHRIST...
NO ONE COULD ATTAIN....BUT BY GRACE YOU CAN BE SAVED!
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YOU CAN BE SAVED TODAY by the love & grace found at the cross.
If you put your faith in the Savior, profess him to be your Lord and Lord of all creation, and believe in your heart that he has been raised from the dead, you will be saved from your sin. You can experience in this life, a taste of new creation, a taste of resurrection life.
IN CHRIST = NEW CREATION…PAST SINS are CAST AWAY & forgotten.
**If you aren’t positive you’re en route to new creation…we’d love to speak with you after the service.
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Takeaways:
Takeaways:
WE’RE to “GET GROWING” as BELIEVERS...
AFTER RECEIVING GRACE…YET STILL GOD’S DESIRE of US!
We should both EAGERLY ANTICIPATE and SEEK to HASTEN CHRIST’S COMING.
We WORK W// GOD to bring His KINGDOM REIGN...hastening Christ’s return!
WHEN hitting PASSAGES that are DIFFICULT in SCRIPTURE…NEVER JUSTIFY SIN/LAWLESSNESS...
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Application:
Application:
CLOSING SERIES:
GOD’S present DELAY = PATIENCE & MERCY…ALL MUST BE SAVED B4 DOOR SHUTS
For BELIEVERS:
WE’RE TO GROW in GODLINESS & HASTEN CHRIST’S RETURN
GODLINESS:
LIST of VIRTUES in 2 Peter 1:5-7..
Something to aim at.
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HASTENING CHRIST’S COMING:
CALLED to be KINGDOM BUILDERS...
BEGINS in US!!.....GROWTH in GODLINESS = SALT & LIGHT…DRAWING PEOPLE to Christ through EXAMPLE & TESTIMONY..
PRAYER… “KINGDOM COME & WILL BE DONE” in my life & the rest...
EVANGELISM.... GROWING the KINGDOM through NEW CONVERTS...
GIVING.
CONTRIBUTING to CHURCH = MORE THAN just PAYING the LIGHT BILL...
SUPPORTING MISSIONARIES & MY MINISTRY...
Project 22:6 for the kiddos
Closing series...Doug Moo, “Eschatology leads to ethics.”....DOCTRINE INFORMS BEHAVIOR...
The last few weeks I hope you’ve been challenged to eagerly await Christ’s coming,
and to use this time of waiting to grow in godliness and hasten the day through the growth of God’s Kingdom.
So for all of us here today, I want to say, “Let’s get growing.”
Close in prayer
C.S. Lewis said, ““Prosperity knits a man to the World. He feels that he is ‘finding his place in it,’ while really it is finding its place in him.”