2 Peter 1:7
Discipleship Ladder 6 & 7 (Love)
His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly
life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through
these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through
them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in
the world caused by evil desires.
5 For this very reason, make every effort to
add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and
to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to
perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection;
and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these
qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and
unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But
whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have
been cleansed from their past sins. [2 Peter 1:3 – 9 NIV]
***** Why did Peter put the ideal of “love” last? *****
(ill. TV commercial, “before there is love there is…”)
I. Love as “right
motions.”
A. Love by itself:
a. Empty of truth = useless.
b. Empty of zeal = meaningless.
B. Love for its own sake:
a. Misses the point of redemption and
healing from sin.
b. Misses the opportunity to make a
genuine difference.
II. Love as “right
motives.”
A. Two types of “love” Peter uses:
1. “Philadelphia”
a. “Brotherly” love.
b. Love that is natural in a family.
c. Towards fellow believers.
2. “Agape”
a. “Unconditional love” (technical term)
b. It is the love God demonstrated toward us.
c. Toward all.
B. Love exercised for Christ sake.
1. Clarke – “the strongest attachment to
Christ’s faith, feeling each other as a member of
your own body.”
2. Cambridge – “united in a common
belief.”
***** UNITY *****
C. Love exercised for Christianity (and
fellow believers).
1. Jesus commanded it.
John 13:34, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As
I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
2. It is our mark.
John 13:35, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
III. Love from
a “right mind-set.”
A. Reality check:
1. Selfishness kills love.
2. Insulation (not being intentional
about sharing Jesus) kills love.
B. Love is a deliberate choice.
1. Love does not just happen.
2. Duck Dynasty guy: “You don’t have to
compromise convictions to be compassionate.”
1 Peter 4:8, “Above all, show sincere love to each other, because love brings about the forgiveness of many sins.” [CEB]
IV. Love is the
“right message.”
A. “Sour godliness… is of the devil” [Wesley]
1. Sour godliness loses warmth.
2. Sour godliness loses zeal.
3. Result: we lose compassion for others
(the different, the needy, the ones we are offended by) and
we lose our zeal for being intentional about sharing Jesus with those who need
to know Him.
B. Love is the result (fruit) of
certain things, without them, love is a lie.
1 Timothy 1:5, “The goal of this command is love, which
comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”
1 Peter 1:22, “Having purified
your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love,
love one another earnestly from a pure heart.”
What’s the point?
2 Peter 1:8, “For if you possess these qualities in
increasing measure, they will keep you
from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus
Christ.”
Imagine and live a useful and meaningful life!
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