2 Peter 1:7 Discipleship Ladder 6 & 7: “love”

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!

2 Peter 1:5 Discipleship Ladder #3 (Temperance/Self-control)

2 Peter 1:5

Discipleship Ladder #3 (Temperance/Self-control)

I.             The reality of life (Peter’s failures)

                a.            Inconsistent

                b.            Incompetency

                c.             Judgmental

2.            The ideal of “temperance.” (“self-control”)

                a.            Two ideas colliding:

                                1.)           Pleomexia (plea neksea) – “Ruthless self-seeking and arrogant  assumption that others and things exist for one’s own benefit.” (Ritenbaugh)

                                2.)           Egkrateia (eng-krat'-i-ah) – “The virtue of one who masters his desires and passions, especially his sensual appetites.” (Thayer)

                b.            Virtue and knowledge leads to:

                                1.)           Mischief… sabotaging and undermining others. OR

                                2.)           Temperance (self-control)

3.            So what does “temperance” mean?

                a.            “Stability of mind and consistency of conduct.”

                b.            Wesley --  Christian temperance implies the voluntary abstaining from all pleasure which does not lead to God. … the due governance of every thought, as well as affection.”

(Ill.) “Everyone who competes practices self-discipline in everything. The runners do this to get a crown of leaves that shrivel up and die, but we do it to receive a crown that never dies.” [1 Cor. 9:25]

                c.             It means that we keep desire under control and passions in check.

4.            How is this to be accomplished?

                a.            Only under the sovereign rule of the Holy Spirit.

                                1.)           Sinful desire vs Holy Spirit

“People whose lives are based on selfishness think about selfish things, but people whose lives are based on the Spirit think about things that are related to the Spirit. ⁶ The attitude that comes from selfishness leads to death, but the attitude that comes from the Spirit leads to life and peace. ⁷ So the attitude that comes from selfishness is hostile to God. It doesn’t submit to God’s Law, because it can’t. ⁸ People who are self-centered aren’t able to please God.” [Romans 5:5 -- 8]

“For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.” [5:13]

b.            We have a responsibility to Jesus…. Can we live carelessly?

“So then, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation, but it isn’t an obligation to ourselves to live our lives on the basis of selfishness.” [Romans 8:12]

Discipleship Ladder #2 (Knowledge)

2 Peter 1:3 – 11

Discipleship Ladder #2 (Knowledge)

³ His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to^[c] his own glory and excellence,^{[d] 4} by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. ⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue,^[e] and virtue with knowledge, ⁶ and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, ⁷ and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. ⁸ For if these qualities^[f] are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. ¹⁰ Therefore, brothers,^[g] be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. ¹¹ For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 (“knowledge” 161x in 158 verses ESV)

“Knowledge”

1. acquaintance with facts, truths, or principles, as from study or investigation; general erudition:

2. familiarity or conversance, as with a particular subject or branch of learning:

3. acquaintance or familiarity gained by sight, experience, or report: [dictionary.com]

Knowledge as a negative:

                1. It may be an opportunity to sin.

Gen_2:17  but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."

                2. It is may become a burden. 

Ecc_1:18  For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

                3. It is may spin us around.

Isa_47:10  You felt secure in your wickedness, you said, "No one sees me"; your wisdom and your knowledge led you astray, and you said in your heart, "I am, and there is no one besides me."

                4. It is may destroy us.

1Co_8:1  Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that "all of us possess knowledge." This "knowledge" puffs up, but love builds up.

1Co_8:11  And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died.

                5. It is may be the occasion for arguments.

1Ti_6:20  O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called "knowledge,"

                6. It is spiritual warfare.

2Co_10:5  We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

               

The dangers of the lack of knowledge:

                1. God takes it personally.

Job_38:2  "Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?

                2. It exposes our true heart.

Pro_1:22  "How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?

Pro_1:29  Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD,

                3. It makes us impatient.

Pro_19:2  Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.

                4. It destroys us.

Hos_4:6  My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.

                5. It sends people to hell.

Luk_11:52  Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering."

What is necessary to acquire knowledge:

                1. The healthy fear of the LORD.

Pro_1:7  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

                2. Deliberate consistency.

Pro_19:27  Cease to hear instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.

Pro_23:12  Apply your heart to instruction and your ear to words of knowledge.

                3. God’s will.

Dan_2:21  He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;

                4. By asking.

2Ch_1:10  Give me now wisdom and knowledge to go out and come in before this people, for who can govern this people of yours, which is so great?"

Where do we get knowledge:

                1. Through Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

Isa_11:2  And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.

                2. Through Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

Psa_19:2  Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.

                3a. Through the Pastor.

Jer_3:15  "'And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.

                3b. Through the Pastor.

Mal_2:7  For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.

                4. Together as a church.

Col_2:2 – 3  that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, [3]  in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Why is Peter so concerned?

For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21 For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. [2 Peter 2:20 – 21]