2 Peter 1:6 Leadership Ladder #5 (Godliness)

2 Peter 1:6

Leadership Ladder #5 (Godliness)

³ We have everything we need to live a life that pleases God. It was all given to us by God’s own power, when we learned that he had invited us to share in his wonderful goodness. ⁴ God made great and marvelous promises, so that his nature would become part of us. Then we could escape our evil desires and the corrupt influences of this world.

⁵ Do your best to improve your faith. You can do this by adding goodness, understanding, ⁶ self-control, patience, devotion to God, ⁷ concern for others, and love. ⁸ If you keep growing in this way, it will show that what you know about our Lord Jesus Christ has made your lives useful and meaningful. ⁹ But if you don’t grow, you are like someone who is nearsighted or blind, and you have forgotten that your past sins are forgiven.

¹⁰ My friends, you must do all you can to show that God has really chosen and selected you. If you keep on doing this, you won’t stumble and fall. ¹¹ Then our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will give you a glorious welcome into his kingdom that will last forever. [2 Peter 1:3 – 11 CEV]

I.             Spiritual reality:

                A.            Powerless belief

2 Timothy 3:5: “having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.” [ESV]

                B.            Impotent religion

1 Timothy 3:16: “Without question, the mystery of godliness is great: he was revealed as a human, declared righteous by the Spirit, seen by angels, preached throughout the nations, believed in around the world, and taken up in glory.” [CEB]

                C.            Purposeless lives

2 Peter 3:11: “Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be? You must live holy and godly lives,” [ESV]

II.            What is “godliness?”

                A.            Wesley – A continual sense of God’s presence and providence, and a filial (noting or  having the relation of a child to a parent) fear of, and confidence in, him.

                B.            Vincent – “Worship rightly directed” … “worth – ship” reverence paid to worth.

                C.            Cambridge – “godly conduct” (behavior)

III.           Why is godliness necessary?

                A.            Life AND godliness are linked.

2 Peter 1:3: “By his divine power the Lord has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of the one who called us by his own honor and glory.” [CEB]

                                1.            God has given us ability for these things… EVERYTHING we need.

                                2.            Divine power changes us: life AND godliness.

                B.            Clarke – “A disposition indispensably necessary to salvation… but exceedingly rare among professors.” (People who profess belief/faith/salvation)

James 2:17: “In the same way, faith is dead when it doesn’t result in faithful activity.” [CEB]

James 2:24: “So you see that a person is shown to be righteous through faithful actions and not through faith alone.” [CEB]

James 2:26: “As the lifeless body is dead, so faith without actions is dead.”

***** “exceedingly rare” *****

 IV.          How to save the sinking ship…

                A.            Starts with and continues with DEPENDENCE on God.

                                1.            It is God’s power.

                                2.            It is through Jesus Christ.

                B.            Directed:

                                1.            Outward, toward others it is behavior that reflects Jesus.

1 Peter 2:21: “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.” [ESV]

                                2.            Inward, brining strict order to our thought lives.

2 Corinthians 10:5: “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” [ESV]

                                3.            Upward, toward God is worship.

Revelation 5:12: “saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” [ESV]

“The Almost Christian”

Matthew 22:36 – 39
“The Almost Christian”

[John Wesley’s 2nd “Standard Sermon.” I have modified the sermon...]

I. What is “almost” a Christian?

A. “Heathen honesty” [Discuss Augustine’s concept on humanity’s “free will” being broken to the point where it is impossible for a human to do any good without God’s grace.]

1. Living by the rules of what is socially accepted.

2. Generally much is correct: we reject murder, robbery, etc...

3. Love and basic assistance is expected.

B. “Having a form of godliness” (but denying its power)

1. On the outside... look like a Christian.

a. Act right.

b. Use the right language.

2. Abstain from things.

a. Don’t do all the “don’ts”

b. Keep the “Golden Rule.”

3. Generous and sacrificial.

a. Involved in good things.

b. Involved in evangelism and even ministry.

4. Faithful

a. In church attendance... but not in authentic worship.

b. Seem to go through the motions... but are spiritually indifferent and listless.

5. Consistent in family matters.

a. Also private devotions.

b. “Serious behavior.”

6. A seeming sincerity.

a. Internally motived to be good and do good.

b. Yet motivated to “AVOID”

Good people avoid sin from the love of virtue (what we think is right). Wicked people avoid sin from fear of punishment.

7. A real desire to serve God.

a. There is a “hearty desire” to do God’s will.

b. There is a “wanting to serve.” (Wesley considered this a mark of a false prophet.)

The uniform practice of outward religion is a from of godliness... but all this can be empty of meaning.

John Wesley’s testimony: diligent, worked hard, serious behavior, sincerity, missionary, good intentions BUT his conscious and the Holy Spirit clearly would not give him peace.

II. What is an “altogether Christian?”

A. The love of (for) God.

1. Matthew 22:26 – 28

a. Engrosses the whole heart, fulls the entire capacity of the soul.

b. It is displayed in joy and delight.

c. It is displayed in thankfulness.

2. “Crucified”

a. “Crucified to the world, and the world crucified to him.”

b. Crucified the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eye, and the pride of life.

B. The love of (for) our neighbor.

1. Matthew 22:39

2. Reflection of our love for God.

C. Faith

1. Repentance leads to love leads to good works.

2. Trust and confidence to be saved from eternal damnation by Christ.

3. Purifies the heart.

a. From all unrighteousness.

b. Brings a love that is stronger than death... for God... and people.

III. The question for us.

A. “Are you “almost” or “altogether” Christian?”

1. Is it just the outside that is Christian?

2. Are you motivated by things other than love?

B. “Are you conscious, that you never came thus far?”

1. “You have never intended to devote all your words, works, studies, business, entertainment, to God’s glory?”

2. “You have never desired to be a living sacrifice?”

C. “Is the love of God shed abroad in your heart?”

1. “Do you desire nothing but Him?”

2. “Is He your glory, your delight, your crown of rejoicing?”

The Bible vs the world

The Bible vs the world
1 Timothy 6:6 – 10, 17 – 19

A. There is a difference in what we seek.

1. World (Greek philosophy) “contentment.” [Satisfaction]

a. Anything without God is possible.
b. Everything… without God there are no limits.

2. The Bible “godliness WITH contentment is great gain”

a. Godliness understands that there are rules that go beyond selfishness.
b. Godliness imposes a certain humanity that benefits everyone.

B. Paul’s argument:

1. Observations:

a. (v 7) we brought nothing, we take nothing.
(Ill. A miserly husband made his wife promise that when he died she would put it all in his casket so he could take it all with him. At his funeral, she wrote him a check and put it in the casket….)

b. (v 9) the desire to get “rich” has consequences.

1.) “Trap” – “snare” gives the impression of something that is sudden and unexpected. It can also carry the idea of “overwhelmed.”
(Ill. How to catch a monkey: hallow out a gourd. Place food in the gourd. Secure the gourd. The monkey will reach into the gourd and be trapped because with the food in the hand it cannot get away. Even when the monkey sees you, the monkey will not let go. HUMANS, even when we know something is destructive, our pride and the blinding effect sin has on us keeps us from letting go.)
2.) “Desires” are foolish (not understanding, not using judgment) and hurtful (injurious).

2. Results of what Paul observed:

a. (v 10) Love of money = “root”

1.) A root nourishes the sin. (e.g. Hebrews 12:15 talks about the root of bitterness which leads to sexual immorality at godlessness.)
2.) Deal with the plant but NOT the root will not change the person. (It is treating the symptom but not offering a cure.)

b. (v 10) The “craving” for money is not healthy spiritually.

1.) Wandered from the faith… “stray” ignorantly or by deliberate choices.
2.) Pierced themselves with MANY “griefs.” (meaning heaviness and pain… devouring cares.)

C. The cure:

1. Attitude!

a. (v 17) “NOT be arrogant”
b. (v 17) Hope in God (sure) NOT wealth (unsure).

***** Notice there is a threat (“rich in THIS present world” as in poor in eternity) and a promise (God gives “richly”… copiously, lavishly) *****

***** Once the rood (attitude/beliefs) are dealt with (repentance, trust in what Jesus has provided through His death and resurrection); then the plant can be cured. *****

2. Action (How to be “rich”)

a. (v 18) Do good.
b. (v 18) Be generous.
c. (v 18) willing (implies pleasure) to share.

Question: Where do you want your reward?

(V 19) “lay up treasure… take hold of life… truly life”