These Things - What Are They?

We can turn back to a reading in 2 Peter chapter 1.

2 Peter 1 · chapter mention

I want us to read from verse 8 to verse 15 just now.

! 2 Peter chapter 1 at verse 8.

2 Peter 1 · chapter mention

!

For whoever lacks these qualities is so short-sighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.

Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure.

For if you practice these qualities, you will never fall.

For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Therefore, I intend always to remind you of these qualities.

Though you know them and are established in the truth that you have,

I think it is right that as long as I am in this body to stir you up by way of reminder,

since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me.

And I will make every effort so that after my departure, you may be able at any time to recall these things.

There's a phrase, as you're reading through verse 8 to verse 10,

a couple of words that come together very often there, and it's these things, these qualities.

It's Peter repeating that again and again in a very powerful way.

And he says there in verse 12,

Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities.

So he's saying there's something very important here for us to draw attention to,

and to think to ourselves, well, what are these things,

what are these qualities that he's talking about that are so important,

and why are they so important for us?

Who of us would want to be known as a failure in the Christian life?

Who of us would want to have that marred against us,

that this person failed in their Christian life?

It's a stupid question for us,

because none of us would say that we want to be known as failures in the Christian life.

Every one of us wants, I hope, to seek to be the best Christian that we can be by the grace of God.

But yet you have in Peter himself one who at one point was seen as having failed the Lord Jesus Christ.

When you look in his own life, a life that, as you read here, seems to be coming to an end.

He's in the latter stages of his life.

In verse 14 he makes that clear for us,

Since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon.

There's this knowledge he has that his life is drawing to a close.

But yet he has learned so much in his life.

And many would probably remember him as a failure in some ways.

And especially because the night that the Lord Jesus was crucified,

he denied him three times.

And yet Peter, impulsive Peter as he often was,

he learned so much through that experience.

And especially seeing the grace of the Lord Jesus in restoring him,

in speaking to him in a very powerful way

to remind him that he was still one who loved the Lord

and who served the Lord throughout the rest of his days as well.

So you could look at Peter's life and see there were failings in it.

But by the grace of God, he was restored and kept going from strength to strength.

But how did he do it?

We live in a world that offers so much advice.

And there are books upon books written about how to be a better person.

Some of them are even written from a Christian perspective.

And you see the titles of them and you think,

well, what is that really going to tell to me?

Titles such as Think Better, Live Better, Become a Better You,

You Can, You Will.

And so they go on.

There's these titles of books that try and catch your attention

and think, well, how can I be a better person?

And so many of them are focused on ourselves.

Self-help topics.

But the reality is we cannot help ourselves.

And that's when we see the greatest book ever written before us this evening,

the Word of God.

God has given us his Word.

As we read in this chapter, we are reminded that it is the Word of God.

In verse 21,

For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man,

but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

God gave us his Word.

The Old and the New Testament, the whole Word of God is our truth to live by.

It is where we find the help of God to live as we should.

And as you think back to the shorter catechism,

they were right when they wrote,

The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament,

is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify him and enjoy him.

The Word of God is the only rule that we need to glorify and enjoy him.

And so we have this truth before us.

And it's this truth that helps us, that guards us as we go along.

And so, how can we apply this truth to ourselves?

Well, that is what Peter is doing here as he's writing to these Christians long ago.

He's writing to people who were believers,

who had trusted the Lord Jesus Christ.

But he's writing to them to encourage them,

reminding them of these things that are so important.

Peter here is giving us the secret to a godly life.

The way that we are to live.

And when you look at this chapter, there's so many things in it.

And you see in verse 10, there's like a hinge on everything there as well.

How it speaks about making your calling an election sure.

Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling an election sure.

For if you practice these qualities, you will never fall.

So we're reminded of just how important these qualities, these things are.

It's about our calling and our election.

That God is calling us.

And that God has chosen his people.

It's not saying that we can change God's mind in term of election.

We know that God has chosen a people.

But he's talking here about making or calling an election sure.

Not adding anything to that.

But living by faith in the whole counsel of God.

The whole word of God.

Living by faith, looking to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Because it's not just this passive attitude that we have to have.

Well, if we are elect, we are elect.

And there's nothing we can do about it.

That's not what Peter teaches here in light of making our calling an election sure.

Faith goes together with works.

Faith is always active.

Should always be active.

And we should always be seeking to grow in our faith.

To be growing in our knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Knowledge is something that Peter mentions throughout this letter, the second Peter.

This knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

You see it there in verse 3 it is.

His divine power is granted to us.

All things are pertained to life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us.

So we see there it is about growing in our faith.

In the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And so these things that he is speaking about, it's all about this growing in our knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

And so immediately we think, well, if Peter is writing these things,

if they are there to help us grow in our faith and in our knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ,

are we willing to listen to them?

Are we willing to receive them?

Are we willing to work on our faith in order to grow in this way,

in our knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ?

So we see Peter outlined here steps for us to help us to grow as Christians.

And as we go through these verses that we have before us,

and especially as we look,

secondly it's going to be at verse 5 and 6.

You see a list there of things that are these things.

That are these things that are so important.

But before we look at the list of these things,

I want us first to see what these things lead to.

So we're doing it a little back to front.

Verse 8 down to verse 15 makes clear what these things lead to.

And then secondly we will see what these things are.

And so there's four things that these things lead to.

Four things that these things lead to.

And so we're going to look at this first.

Four things.

Have you ever been somewhere

and you see things differently to somebody else?

You think about this time of year

when maybe you go round the shows.

The Point show's been on recently.

There'll be other shows coming up,

different parts of the island.

Many people go to all these different shows.

And things are put on display.

And prizes are handed out in different ways.

It may be for animals.

It may be sheep or cows or dogs.

These kinds of things.

You see other prizes being handed out for baking.

Other prizes handed out for crafts.

And you may be walking round with someone

who knows a lot more about, say, animals than you do.

And they're pointing out a sheep

and all the different qualities of the sheep in a pen.

And they could maybe pick out

that's the one that's likely to win.

Because they're seeing qualities in it

that the person who has no knowledge just can't see.

I would just see a sheep.

Not any qualities in that sheep, but just a sheep.

But the trained eye sees things differently.

And so it goes on in different ways.

When you look at crafts,

people will see the intricate details of crafts

that the unthrained eye just cannot see.

Or the baking, they'll taste something

that you just miss.

You don't have that trained palate

in order to see the difference in that.

We see things differently

in many different experiences.

We see that there are qualities there,

but we miss out

because we don't understand what they are.

But when you look at the qualities

that Peter is writing about here,

you see that there are qualities

that should mark out every Christian.

That you should be able to see

the qualities of faith in every Christian.

Now, we know that for some,

we look at it and we see it more clearly.

It's more evident.

And others will say the qualities

are hidden in different ways.

But everyone should have

or be seeking to be growing

in these qualities.

And that is the gift of faith

in the Lord Jesus Christ.

And when we look at the qualities

that we see here,

we're reminded of just how

they would help us

in our Christian walk.

So what these things lead to first,

we see in verse 8,

beginning there.

For if these qualities are yours

and are increasing,

they keep you from being ineffective

or unfruitful in the knowledge

of our Lord Jesus Christ.

So there's the first thing

that these qualities lead to.

Instead of being ineffective

or unfruitful in our knowledge

of Jesus Christ,

we will be growing in our knowledge

of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We all can have that sense

of being unfruitful,

but barren and bare in our hearts

and in our souls.

When we feel that there's

that distance with God,

when we're not right with God.

But these things,

these qualities,

are what can bring us closer

to God in that sense

of being fruitful,

of being fruitful

in growing in our knowledge

of the Lord Jesus Christ,

of being effective

in all of these things.

Because the more we know

the Lord Jesus Christ,

the more we are close

to the Lord Jesus Christ,

then the more we are going

to have that fruit

being born in our lives

and in our experiences.

And so who wouldn't want

to have this guarantee

of fruitfulness?

And that is what this word of God

is pointing,

is guiding us towards.

Being fruitful

and being discerning

as well as we see.

Secondly,

for whoever lacks

these qualities

is so short-sighted

that he is blind,

having forgotten

that he was cleansed

from his former sins.

So we see

there's this lack

of spiritual discernment

too if we don't have

these things,

these qualities,

we're spiritually blind.

Paul, the apostle,

he knew what it was

to be blind physically

but also spiritually.

I was so blind

to the love of God.

I was so blind

to the grace of God.

And yet when the Lord Jesus

came into his life,

when his eyes were opened,

he was amazed

that the love

that he would show

to a sinner such as him.

And these things

are what would have helped

Paul as well.

And so we see here

it is these gifts,

these things

that are able to help us

to discern

the love of God.

To see the love of God

in a more majestic way.

That second half

of verse 9 as well,

these things

remind us

of the guarantee

and the assurance

of salvation.

It says,

having forgotten

that he was cleansed

from his former sins.

How sin

attacks us

again and again

and when we're

forgetting these things,

it just weighs down

on us so heavily.

we lose that sense

of assurance

that comes through faith,

of the love of God,

that our sins

are forgiven

through him.

So we have this

lack of assurance

that can so easily

come into our hearts.

And then as you go

into verse 10,

you see the fourth thing there.

These things

give a guarantee

to us.

Therefore,

brothers,

be all the more diligent

to make your calling

and election sure.

For if you practice

these qualities,

you will never fall.

It sounds

quite a bold statement

to make

that you will

never fall.

There is always

that fear

of falling.

But what keeps us

from falling?

Practice

these things.

And that gives us

that assurance,

that guarantee

that we will not fall

from the love of God.

And so,

we have these four things

that this leads to.

That we will be fruitful,

that we will have

spiritual discernment,

that we will have

assurance in our salvation

that we will never fall

as a Christian.

So if you have

these four things

outlined to you,

who would not

want these things?

Who would not

want to have comfort

in all of these things?

And so we ask,

well,

how do we get that?

There must be

something quite

spectacular for us.

There must be

something

quite powerful.

Maybe it's hard

to get these things.

It will be out of the reach

of many of us.

Out of the reach

of the ordinary Christian.

Well,

the way Peter

is writing here,

he is reminding

that this is for all.

This is for everyone

who comes to faith

in the Lord Jesus Christ.

So if we want

to have

these assurances,

what are these things

that we need?

Well,

then we come back

to verse 5 and 6.

And here we are told

what these things are.

what these things are.

We've heard what they lead to,

but what are

these things?

Well,

it begins

with faith.

Faith is the foundation

of it all.

For this

very reason,

make every effort

to supplement

your faith.

So it begins

with faith,

but it doesn't

end

with faith.

faith.

Because faith alone,

in order to grow,

it needs to be worked.

Faith needs

to be exercised.

And so Peter

is here saying,

supplement,

add to your faith

in the sense

of growing

in your knowledge

of the Lord Jesus Christ

by practicing

these things.

So faith

is the foundation

of it all.

But then

what is

added

to faith?

Well,

we see

as we look

at verse 5,

for this very reason,

make every effort

to supplement

your faith

with virtue.

Virtue

is the first

of these things.

What is that?

What is virtue?

It's moral

uprightness.

It's holiness.

The word

literally means

excellent

living.

And that's

the way

that Peter

is writing

to us here.

And that's

the way

God

is writing

to us.

That we are

to look

for that

holiness

in our lives

at all times.

God said,

be holy,

for I am holy.

And we know

we can never

reach the holiness

of God.

He is holiness,

but we are

to seek

to live

in that way.

To know

the holiness

of God.

To know

that excellent

living.

And we all

know how

we fail

so often

in that.

When we are

falling in so

many different

ways.

But do we

let that

just grind

us down

or do we

let it

encourage us

again

to rise

up

and to

seek for

this holy

living?

We are

to live

by the

word

of God.

We are

to live

by the

promises

and the

truths

that we

have

in the

word

of God.

We are

to live

that

holy

life

depending

on God.

You think

of Psalm

25

and it's

really a

prayer.

Show me

thy ways

O Lord

thy paths

O teach

thou me.

There's

this longing

to live

this life

that is

right

with God.

So add

to your

faith

virtue.

It was

Dwight

Moody

who once

said

a holy

life

will make

the deepest

impression.

Lighthouses

blow no

horns.

They just

shine.

And so

there is

what we

are to

be as

Christians.

Holy

examples

to those

around us.

Adding

to our

faith

virtue.

And then

he goes

on.

Add

to your

faith

virtue

and

virtue

with

knowledge.

So the

second of

these

things

knowledge

and

understanding

of the

truth

and how

to live

it.

We can

all have

an

understanding

of truth

in some

way.

But

to have

knowledge

is to

add to

that virtue

of applying

it all

to our

lives.

How we

can live

with that

knowledge

of God

and seeking

to understand

his word

more and

more.

Where does

the knowledge

of God

come from?

It comes

from being

in his

word.

By seeking

to indulge

in his

word day

after day

to seek

that understanding

that we

find in

his word.

When you

go to

Psalm 119

that psalm

as a

whole

it speaks

about the

importance

of the

word of

God

in our

lives.

And at

one point

in that

psalm

in verse

67

the psalmist

says

before I

was afflicted

I went

astray

but now

I keep

your word.

So a

lack of

understanding

a lack of

knowledge

in the

word of

God

a falling

away from

the word

of God

leaves us

so often

afflicted.

But the

psalm

says no

now I

keep

your word.

Your word

is what

is guiding

me.

What is

helping me.

And so

we need

that knowledge

of the

word of

God.

Do you

have that

hunger

for God's

word?

Do you

have that

desire and

longing

for God's

word day

by day

that it

is the

word of

God

that teaches

us how

to glorify

and how

to enjoy

him

forever?

To seek

more of

that knowledge

of God

in his

word.

And then

to knowledge

is added

self-control.

And again

this is

something we

always have

to work

on in

our life

as well.

Faith is

the foundation

but again

and again

we are having

to exercise

our faith

in all of

these things.

Self-control.

So often

our lives

will go

the direction

of I'll

do as

I please.

But that

is going

away from

the word

of God.

Our lives

are not

to do

as we

please

but to

do as

God

wills.

Psalm

40

speaks of

it.

To do

thy will

I take

delight.

And it's

seeking that

delight

in God.

Otherwise

we are

seeking

delight

in

ourselves

that so

often

leads us

along

the wrong

path.

Self-control

is something

that we all

have to

work on.

And we

know it

only too

well how

often we

have to

do it.

One writer

puts it

like this.

We have

to show

self-control

on our

tongues,

our tempers

and our

temptations.

These three

areas of

life where

we have to

show self-control

our tongues,

our tempers

and our

temptations.

And we

know only

too well

how easy

it is to

lose control

in all of

these things.

In our

tongues

and how

we speak

to

others

or about

others

we have

to show

self-control.

In our

tempers

when we

start losing

control of

our temper

we have

to show

self-control

to come

back to

the word

of God.

In our

temptations

we know

the Lord's

prayer

how he

says

lead us

not into

temptation

but deliver

us from

evil.

We need

to show

self-control

and so

these things

they're all

building

together.

So we

have that

self-control

and then

add to

self-control

steadfastness.

Steadfastness

this means

endurance.

Endurance

a faith

that endures

no matter

what goes

on around

us

no matter

what we

hear that

will tempt

us away

from

believing

the word

of God

we endure

in all

situations

because we

hear so

often those

who will

cast away

God's word

how it's

false

how it's

not truth

how we

don't need

it

but yet

we are

to be

steadfast

even when

things are

going against

God's

cause

in so many

ways

we are not

to turn

and drift

with a

tide

we are

to swim

against it

to endure

to go

that direction

that the

Lord is

putting us

in and

to hold

fast

in the

faith

again

someone

describes

it as

the vine

that clings

to the

tree

when the

wind

is blowing

against

the vine

it's blowing

it against

the tree

so it's

held closely

to it

or when

the wind

is blowing

into its

face

it's

sheltering

behind

the tree

so the

wind

cannot

push it

away

and it's

that way

that we

are to

endure

by holding

fast

close

to the

Lord

when the

storm

is on

our back

we are

being pushed

closer to

him

when the

storm

is in

our face

we are

sheltering

behind

him

we are

there with

him

always

we are

showing

endurance

and remembering

the promises

of God's

word

promises

like he

says in

Hebrews

13

5

I will

never

leave

you

I will

never

forsake

you

we have

all these

promises

that help

us

to be

steadfast

and then

we add

to

steadfastness

godliness

again this

word means

just walking

in light

of the

greatness

of God

recognizing

who he

is

added on

to

holiness

as we

see the

holiness

of God

we see

godliness

we walk

in light

of his

greatness

everything

that we

are doing

we are to

do in

the fear

of the

Lord

and that

is wisdom

that is

wisdom's

beginning

the fear

of the

Lord

that we

are in

awe

of God

that we

are living

in light

of the

greatness

of God

so we

have

godliness

godliness

in the

sense of

everything

that we

do

is for

his

glory

and then

godliness

we add

brotherly

affection

brotherly

love

and again

we see

this how

it's closely

linked

to godliness

and holiness

when we

love the

Lord

with all

our heart

we love

our neighbor

as our

self

brotherly

affection

a love

for the

Lord's

people

and when

you think

of that

brotherly

affection

you think

of Peter

and how

much he

knew

of that

brotherly

affection

when he

had denied

the Lord

Jesus Christ

the Lord

didn't

reject him

he didn't

put him

away

but he

showed

that

brotherly

affection

in restoring

a brother

in his

faith

and bringing

him back

he had

denied him

three times

and yet he

asked him

that question

Simon

Peter

do you

love me

yes

Lord

you know

that I

love you

was Peter

response

Peter

here he

is in the

latter stages

of his

life

as he's

thinking of

brotherly

affection

you can

imagine him

almost

welling up

in tears

thinking of

the love

that Jesus

had shown

to him

and that's

the love

that he is

saying to

show to

others

to show

that love

to our

brothers

and sisters

in Christ

when you

know

the love

of Christ

it's a

wonderful

thing

to be able

to share

it with

others

so we

have

brotherly

affection

and then

brotherly

affection

you add

to that

love

now here

it's

slightly

different

he's talking

about

that

self

sacrificing

love

for the

Lord

that

never

ending

love

for God

that

exhibits

itself

in

everything

that we

do

the very

same

love

that God

has shown

to us

and when

it says

when God

so loved

the world

that he

gave

his only

son

when we

see the

sacrificial

love

of God

that is

what drives

us surely

then to

grow in

our knowledge

of him

who called

us from

his own

glory

who called

us to

his own

glory

and excellence

as it

says

there

earlier

on

in

verse

three

we are

looking to

grow

in our

knowledge

of him

of the

Lord

Jesus

Christ

by seeing

what he

has done

for us

the love

of God

that did

not spare

his own

son

how much

do you

love

the

Lord

these

things

are there

for us

they seem

like you

would think

they would

be very

difficult

things to

grasp

to attain

to

but really

when you

think of

faith

faith is

in many

ways

we can

over

complicate

it

it's a

simple

thing

to believe

in the

Lord

Jesus

Christ

but it's

a faith

that is

to grow

a faith

that is

to grow

through

these

things

through

these

things

that then

give us

these

comforts

and assurance

of being

fruitful

of being

discerning

of having

assurance

and of

never

falling

it is

these

things

this list

in verse

five and

six

that we

are to

put into

practice

are we

willing

to

exercise

our

faith

and how

much

do we

love

the

Lord

who

loved

us

and

gave

himself

for

us

it's

good

to see

so many

young

people

out

this

evening

I want

to tell

you a

little

story

about

a little

girl

and how

she was

put

to the

test

a story

for us

all

to

consider

a mother

wanted

to put

her

to the

test

to teach

her

a

lesson

and what

she did

was as

they were

going to

church

one

Sunday

morning

she gave

her daughter

a five

pound note

and a

one pound

coin

and she

said to

the daughter

put whichever

one you

want into

the collection

plate when

it comes

round

and keep

the other

one for

yourself

and she

left that

with her

daughter

and they

were sitting

in church

and the

collection

plate

as it

was

in that

church

it came

round

they passed

it round

and they

put into

the collection

the mother

didn't look

to see

what her

daughter

did

but after

the service

she asked

her

well what

did you

do

did you

give the

five pound

or did

you give

the one

pound

and the

daughter

replied

well

I was

going to

give

the five

pound

but then

the man

in the

pulpit

said

the Lord

loves

a cheerful

giver

and I

thought to

myself

will I

be much

more

cheerful

if I

gave the

pound

coin

and kept

the five

pound

for myself

and so

that's

what she

did

but what's

the lesson

to be learned

in that

for us

is life

about

getting

for ourselves

is the

Lord saying

that the

less we

give to

him

the more

we keep

for ourselves

the happier

we'll be

no

the Lord

is telling

us

that what's

important

in life

not just

for now

but for

all our

days

and for

all eternity

is to

recognize

that he

gave

everything

for us

and that

we are to

give all

for him

to find

out all

these

assurances

for ourselves

we are to

practice

these things

these things

that remind

us that

the most

important

thing

is to

believe

in the

Lord

Jesus

Christ

and to

seek to

have more

and more

knowledge

of him

and all

his promises

for this

very reason

Peter says

make every

effort

to supplement

your faith

to add

these things

they're all

important

it's not

faith first

and then

and then

and something

you're doing

as you're

going on

in life

but it's

all together

believe

and live

and work

on your

faith

make your

calling

an election

sure

for if you

practice

these qualities

you will

never fall

there's wonderful

promises for us

but there's

challenges

do you

believe

and are

you making

your calling

an election

sure

may the

Lord help

us to do

so let us

pray

Lord our

gracious God

we thank you

that you do

indeed exercise

our faith

and teach us

to exercise

it too

and we pray

that you will

help us

in all of

these things

that we'll

be able

to apply

them to

our own

lives

and to

our

experiences

help us

that we

would have

that desire

to grow

in our

knowledge

of the

Lord Jesus

Christ

the one

who gave

his all

for us

Lord help

us we pray

and guide us

in all of

these things

as we ask

it in

Jesus name

Amen

we're going

to conclude

by singing

to God's

praise in

Psalm 128

in the

Sing

Psalms

version

Psalm 128

page 172

we can

sing the

whole of

this

Psalm

Psalm 128

how blessed

are all

who fear

the Lord

who walk

the way

that he

has shown

success

and blessing

will be

yours

you'll eat

the fruit

that you

have grown

and so it

goes on

we'll sing

the whole

of this

Psalm

to God's

praise

Amen

How blessed

are all

who fear

the Lord

who walk

the way

that he

has shown

success

and blessing

blessing

will be

you'll eat

the fruit

that you

have grown

your wine

will be

a fruitful

wine

and

round

your table

will be

place

your children

like

young

olive

shoes

the sea

who fears

the Lord

is blessed

may you

be

behold

to behold

you

behold

Jesus

and

good

from Zion

make

God's

blessing

flow

your

children's

children

may

receive

May

God

God

of Israel

peace

be

shown

after the

benediction

I'll go to the door

to my right

we'll close

with the benediction

now may grace

mercy and peace

from God

Father

Son

and Holy

Spirit

rest upon

and abide

with you all

now and forever

more

Amen

Amen

Thank you.