2Peter 1:2-11
2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 ¶ And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
The New Birth
When I choose to believe…..I will receive the gift of faith.
When I choose to be honest…..I will receive the gift of repentance.
When I cry out in repentance….I will receive the gift of mercy.
When I cry out to Jesus in repentance and recognize that I am a sinner in need of a Saviour, Jesus Christ will pour out His Mercy, will cleanse me, and fill me with His Divine Nature.
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Jesus Christ places His Divine Nature within me and I am a part of His Kingdom.
When a person is born again, what is the next step or does everything stop at that point?
Does a child of God have a calling on his life?
Is the life of a Christian an easy life?
What does God want from You?
Does following Jesus require a change:
– in how I live?
-in how I do business?
-in how I respond to my employer?
-in how I do my work?
-in how I am when I am by myself?
-in where I go?
-in what I do for others?
-in how I respond to those in need?
-in what I fill my mind with?
-in who I associate with?
Did Jesus pay for my sin so that I can live for myself and so that I can have an easy ride to Heaven?
If Salvation is all about me and filling my carnal desires without any consequences, Then I have missed the mark and do not understand the finished work of Salvation.
Living for Jesus requires radical change.
When God places His Divine Nature within me, life is no longer about myself, but about bringing ultimate Glory to the very one who has placed His Nature within me.
John 15:1 ¶ I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
1John 1:5 ¶ This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
8 ¶ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
1John 2:1 ¶ My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
3 ¶ And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
1John 3:1 ¶ Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
4 ¶ Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. {is born: or, has been born}
10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
When God has placed His Divine Nature within me, what comes next?
5 ¶ And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
Give all Diligence!
-Give what ya got.
-God wants you to give everything you have.
-Give your very best.
1Corinthians 15:58 ¶ Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
1Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
Colossians 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Colossians 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
Add to your Faith…..Virtue
Faith: reliance upon Christ for salvation
Virtue: manliness, valor, excellence, praise
Add to Virtue…..Knowledge
Knowledge: knowing facts, truths, and principles of God’s Word
Add to Knowledge…..Temperance
Temperance: self-control
Add to Temperance…..Patience
Patience: cheerful or hopeful endurance, constancy, enduring, patient continuance, waiting.
Add to Patience…..Godliness
Godliness: holiness
Add to Godliness…..Brotherly Kindness
Brotherly Kindness: brotherly love (kindness), love of the brethren.
Add to Brotherly Kindness…..Charity
Charity: love, affection, and benevolence
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But he that lacketh these things is (spiritually) blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
Purged: a washing off, cleansed, and purified
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling (an invitation) and election (divine selection, chosen) sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
What does God want from you?
– He wants everything!
– He wants your Spirit, Soul, and Body.
– He wants your Mind, Will, and Emotions.
– He wants a life that is totally surrendered and is whose foundation is Jesus Christ.
– He wants to use you to further His Kingdom.
– He wants a heart that is turned to Him.
Do not hold back on God!