Supply Moral Excellence
Be Certain of God’s Promises, Part 3
080209 PM
Text--2 Peter 1:1-11
Introduction
This lesson continues a series focused on the promises of God and our part in receiving what has been promised.
Definition: A promise is a transaction between two or more persons whereby the first person undertakes in the future to render some service or gift to the others or devotes something valuable now and here to his use.
In every promise there is the one who makes the promise and the one who receives. God has made to all who believe in His Son great and precious promises but it remains to us to be in a position to receive what has been promised.
1 Know The Source Of The Promise.
A. It is God’s Promise:
1. This is not a worldly contract with worldly uncertainty.
2. God sent, God approved, God guaranteed!
Numbers 23:19 (NASB) God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?
B. And God is Faithful to His Promises
Joshua 21:45 (NASB) Not one of the good promises which the LORD had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass.
Hebrews 10:23 (NASB) Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;
God wants us to count on his promises. He wants us to stand on them.
2 Know What Has Been Promised
2 Peter 1:4a (NASB) For by these (His power and our true knowledge of Him v3) He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature…
A. A “partaker” is a participant, partner, or sharer.
1. Romans 8:17 (NASB) …heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ,
2. His promises belong to His children:
a. He promises salvation those who believe in Jesus and are baptized Mark 16:16 (NASB)
b. God has promised that all things work together for good to those who love and serve Him faithfully Romans 8:28.
c. He has promised to supply every need we have Philippians 4:19.
d. God has promised that His children will not be overtaken with temptation I Corinthians 10:13.
e. God has promised us victory over death and He first resurrected Jesus as an assurance of His promise. 1 Corinthians 15:20 - 23
These are just some of the promises found in the Word of God but hopefully these serve to illustrate His Great and Precious Promises.
3 Know Our Part in the Promises.
A. “Now for this very reason…” (v5) tells us that there is action required on our part.
1. In order to become partakers in the divine nature and so inherit His precious and magnificent promises we must “escape the corruption that is in the world.”
2. This is accomplished first (and foremost) with faith
a. 1 John 5:1 - 4 (NASB) Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith.
3. To escape the corruption that is in this world we begin in faith but grow our character as a child of God through diligent effort. 2 Peter 1:5a Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith…
4. Peter lists the spiritual characteristics that ought to be seen in the believer’s life. V5-7
a. He is not suggesting that we “add” these characteristics the way we add beads to a string. Rather, each quality is a tile laid on the rock foundation of our faith and serve to help us stand firm in our faith.
b. Diligent effort is needed as we obey the will of God: Hebrews 10:36 “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.”
4 In Your Faith, Supply Moral Excellence
A. Supply to your faith.
1. The Greek word translated here as supply or add, (in the imperative) is the word from which we get the English words “chorus,” “choreograph,” and “choreography.”
a. In ancient Greece the state established a chorus but the director, the chorēgys, paid the expenses for training the chorus.
b. Then the word came to be used of one who provides for or supports others or supplies something for them in abundance.
2. A believer is to “furnish, supply, or add” to his life with these qualities.
B. Moral Excellance
1. The first quality, moral excellence (aretē), a distinctive word in classical Greek used for virtue.
a. It was such a lofty term that it was used for moral heroism, viewed as the divinely endowed ability to excel in heroic, courageous deeds.
b. It came to encompass the most outstanding quality in someone’s life, or the proper and excellent fulfillment of a task or duty.
2. It is derived from the root word Aresko which means to please or be pleasing.
a. It implies intentional, deliberate and continuous conduct that is pleasing to God
3. Aretē is not closeted or hidden virtue, but that which is demonstrated in the normal course of living. The apostle Paul modeled the pursuit of such moral excellence: Philippians 3:14 “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus”
a. Philippians 1:27 let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ,
b. Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
4. Aretē requires courage, fortitude, and resolve to always lead a life pleasing to God.
a. 2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
b. Colossians 3:17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
c. Romans 12:6 As part of the body we must exercise our gifts accordingly.
d. Parable of the Talents Matthew 25:14-30
Conclusion
In this series of lessons we are studying the qualities Peter identified that we need to ensure we can be certain of the promises of God, that we can meet our end of the promises.
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.
Invitation
Let me mention one final precious promise: “I will come again.”
1. John 14:1-3, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”
Jesus is coming back to take us home...forever. That’s a promise!
