This is an exposition of 2 Peter 1:1-11. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, October 8, 2017.
Intro:
I’m not sure what all has led up to it but I’ve been overwhelmed lately with the fact that I’m aging. I guess it was that notice an email recently announcing my 35th class reunion from OBU! With that came the realization that as of this next spring I’ve been out of high school 40 years. Natalie Narrin asked me not long ago about a certain church in Shawnee. I said, “Natalie I don’t know, I lived in Shawnee about 1000 years ago.”
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That’s the other thing, I’ve turned into one of those “cranky old men.” I’ve even found myself, on occasion saying, “Well in my day…” It’s official get me my walker and my bottle of Metamucil.
But really, things have change through the years. For instance have you noticed we are no longer certain about what we used to be certain of and yet we are confident of what we used to be unsure of? People used to wrestle with the question of God’s acceptance. “Would God accept me? With my sin and my track record? What does the Bible say about God’s love for sinners?” Now, when you ask someone if they are a sinner they will laugh and say, “Yeah, but hey nobody’s perfect.” Today, it never enters their mind that they would not be accepted by God. That’s His job. He is supposed to forgive and forget.
In academics today we debate whether or not we can “know” anything. We are not sure that truth even exists. The same attitudes have even found their way into the church. We don’t want to be dogmatic because after all, can we really know anything? Some are even questioning God’s ability to know things. God doesn’t know the future. He can’t – the future hasn’t happened. He can predict, He is very smart but He cannot possibly know what’s going to happen because it hasn’t happened. We live in a different world. To get our bearings we need to return to the Scripture and allow God’s sure and certain Word guide us. Our text this evening is found in the opening verses of 2 Peter.
Text: 2 Peter 1:1-11
We are going to spend a few weeks walking through Peter’s second letter to the believers of Asia Minor. Written by the apostle Peter, probably from Rome sometime between A.D. 64 and 66. It is just three chapters long and if you wanted to outline it in three big chunks it could be Holiness, Heresy and Hope. Chapter one calls for the cultivation of a genuinely Christian character. Chapter two condemns false teachers. And chapter three expresses confidence in the return of the Lord.
This evening I want to us to consider the first 11 verses of chapter 1.
In this passage the apostle calls on every believer to make his calling and election sure.
From this we learn that:
Thesis: It is foundational to the Christian life for every child of God to wrestle with the question of salvation and come to the settled conviction that you are, in fact, in the faith.
The key to this section of 2 Peter is found in verse 10: …Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.
Peter is saying the same thing Paul said when he wrote, “Work out your own salvation in fear and trembling.” (Philippians 2:2)
Make sure you are a Christian.
Give careful attention as to whether or not you are in the faith.
Now that sounds so strange to us.
We are children of a “decisionistic” faith.
You walk an aisle.
You say a prayer.
You shake a hand.
There is a pronouncement.
It is a done deal.
But the truth is you can do all of that plus be baptized by immersion, attend services faithfully, give to Lottie Moon and Annie Armstrong and still be lost as a goose! Why do you suppose that there are 17 million Southern Baptist and we can only find about half of them? The truth is that group missing in action is inching towards 2/3.
Now, stay with me and hear what I’m saying.
My desire is not to create doubt.
My desire is to lead toward assurance.
But here is the thing – I can’t give anyone assurance.
Only God can grant assurance.
I know a lot of Southern Baptist preachers who think they are Roman Catholic priests. For they love to absolved people. They love to pronounce salvation. I’ve come to understand I can’t do that. But while I can’t – God can and does! And when he does – it sticks. When I used to do it – it wore off.
How do we find assurance?
Understand this is not an easy thing and there are no shortcuts.
Notice the wording of verse 10: Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure…
Diligent = labor earnestly, strive
I want to share three (3) things with you from this text.
- Assurance begins with understanding that salvation is the gracious work of God. (1:1-4)
- Assurance is bolstered by the presence of Christ-like virtues. (1:5-7)
- Assurance is confirmed by a fruitful, godly life. (1:8-11)
Conclusion:
1:9 - those who do not have these qualities - nearsighted or blind
May indicate they are lost.
Is it possible to be saved and fall into great sin and be ineffective and unfruitful? Yes.
But such a person cannot be given assurance.
Thus the call of verses 10 and 11.
Therefore it is foundational to the Christian life for every child of God to wrestle with the question of salvation and come to a settled conviction that you are, in fact, in the faith.
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