Growing in Grace-Fuelled Holiness, Part 2 – 2 Peter chapter 1, verses 5 to 11
God’s work in making godly people
I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
Ezekiel 36:25-27
God says over and over, “I will”. He is the one who changes us to be like Him, not, of course, in His being, but in his character.
But it is a cooperative work
it has been said that “God provides the wind but we must raise the sail!”. He urges us to make every effort to grow in a godly character.
for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfil his good purpose.
Philippians 2:13
Why?
So that others can know God.
Then the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Sovereign Lord, when I am proved holy through you before their eyes.
Ezekiel 36:23
So that we can do good to others. True faith does good works. Empty faith is most likely no-faith.
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10
1. The pursuit of godliness
2 Peter 1:5-7 The repeated calls to effort. “make every effort to add to your faith”
- Virtue, goodness
- Knowledge of Christ
- Self control
- Patience, perseverance
- Godliness, do people notice a difference?
- Brotherly love, kindness.
- Love each other deeply.
The question is not “am I doing well in all of these?” None of us are this side of Heaven. Better to ask “am I growing at all?” Remember, God is at work, and we must keep going in patience.
2. The safeguard of godliness
2 Peter 1:8-10 “For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from” uselessness, to ourselves and to others. And keep us from doubts of our salvation, “Be all the more eager … for if you do these things you will never fall.”
3. The reward of godliness
2 Peter 1:11 “a rich welcome”. Jesus says “Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matthew 25:21)
Repeat: we don’t do these things to get favour from God. We do them because we have received the favour of God in Christ.
23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
