Add to Your Faith

2 Peter 1:3-11

Introduction

1.       The Christian life can be likened to a pilgrimage – a journey filled with new discoveries, with new wonders and with hope at the end of the road

2.       God is our guide on this pilgrimage, pointing out the dangers and pitfalls, pointing out the beauties to be enjoyed along the way

3.       Peter tells us we have everything we need and shows us what we need to emphasize in our lives – 2 Peter 1:3-11  

Discussion

1.       All things necessary for life and godliness have been given to us

a.       If you don’t have it, you don’t need it for life or godliness – the myth of “if I just had . . .”  

b.       Jesus’ quote when tempted:  Deut 8:3  

c.       What we have in the Bible – 2 Tim 3:16-17; John 16:13 all the truth that we need to know  

d.       What we do not have in the Bible  

2.       God tells us what we need beyond faith

a.       Virtue – moral excellence, integrity (combines honesty, dependability and right convictions)  

b.       Knowledge

                                                            i.      An understanding of what is true

                                                           ii.      The use of that knowledge in our personal lives and telling others so that they might be blessed  

c.       Self-control – the ability to start what we know we need to do  

d.       Perseverance – the ability to complete what we have started  

e.       Godliness – what we need to be  

f.        Brotherly kindness – what we need to do  

g.       Love – the attitude with which we need to do it  

3.       Our security lies in our continued growth

a.       We need to be born again and have a new life from God – John 3:3-5; 1 Peter 1:22-23  

b.       That life must be nourished and encouraged (through Bible reading and study, through prayer and meditation, through fellowship and sharing, through attendance at church and time alone with God)  

c.       We are not done until “the fat lady sings,” Jesus comes again, or we die – you are never too old to begin and never old enough to quit  

Conclusion

1.       These things are necessary in order to have a welcome “into the eternal kingdom”

2.       We are either getting better or we are getting worse; those who would aspire to remain just the same, will generally slip off into the worse

3.       The challenge Peter sets before every Christian:  to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus