How To Avoid Shipwreck

2 Peter 1:5-11

Subject: Spiritual Growth 

Theme: diligently apply yourself to sustain spiritual growth.

Introduction:

In order to sustain growth, we must apply serious, concentrated, and laborious persistence (2Pet. 1:5-11). Verses 3 and 4 declare how God has given us all that is required for experiencing Christ’s divine life. Because He has, we must be diligent in cultivating it. God does not make us holy against our will or without our involvement. There must be desire, determination, and discipline on our part.

Peter referred back to the divine nature by beginning this new paragraph with the words “And besides this” or for this very reason. The words “giving all diligence” means to make every effort to apply zeal; it is bringing to bear our personal determination alongside the provisions and promises of God.  It takes every bit of diligence and effort a Christian can muster, along with the enabling power of the Holy Spirit, to “escape the corruption that is in the world” caused by our evil desires (2 Peter 1:4) and to bring in alongside of our faith a complement of virtue. We must work hard at cultivating the seven qualities Peter listed in verses 5-7. As a Christian does so, we become more like Christ, participating more fully in God’s “divine nature.”

Where there is life, there must be growth. The new birth is not the end; it is the beginning. God gives His children all that we need to live Christ-like lives, but we, His children, must apply ourselves and be diligent to use the “means of grace” He has provided. Spiritual growth is not automatic. It requires cooperation with God and the application of spiritual diligence and discipline. “Work out your own salvation.... For it is God which worketh in you”(Phil. 2:12–13).

Lesson:

Make Every Effort to Grow and Experience The Benefits of Spiritual Growth (1:8-10).

There is either advance or decline in the pathway of discipleship—no standing still. There is strength and security in moving forward; danger and failure in retreat. Failure to persevere in the development of Christian character leads to barrenness, unfruitfulness, blindness, shortsightedness, and forgetfulness.  When this happens we know we are not 'growing up' in the Lord.  But how can we know we are advancing?  Peter gave three solid evidences of genuine spiritual growth.

There will be Spiritual Fruitfulness: Assurance of fruitfulness in the knowledge of Christ (1:8-9).

Notice the Benefits of Fruitfulness.

                                Christian growth (1:5-7) results in spiritual effectiveness and productivity. The words “be in you” means “possessing” and emphasizes that these spiritual qualities “belong to” Christians.

                                However, Christians are to do more than merely possess these virtues. Effective and productive spirituality comes as these qualities “abound”—more than adequate measure. There is to be a growth in grace. A believer who does not progress in these seven areas is ineffective and unproductive in his saving knowledge—“full personal knowledge”—of our Lord Jesus Christ.

     Notice the Consequences of Unfruitfulness.

                                Unfortunately many Christians know the Lord in salvation, but they lack the “fruit” of the Spirit and are not advancing spiritually. They remain “infants in Christ” (1 Cor. 3:1), still in need of spiritual “milk” (Heb. 5:12-13).

                                But as Peter urged, believers should “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).

     Thus avoiding barrenness (1:8).  Only the life lived in fellowship with God can be truly effective. The guidance of the Holy Spirit eliminates barren activity and insures maximum efficiency. Otherwise, we simply going through the motions, but we are not producing anything godly.

     Thus avoiding unfruitfulness (1:8).  It is possible to have considerable knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and yet be unfruitful in that knowledge. Failure to practice what we know leads inevitably to barrenness. Inflow without outgo killed the Dead Sea, and it kills productivity in the spiritual realm as well.

     There will be Spiritual Vision: Avoidance of blindness in the knowledge of Christ (1:9).

     We can avoid blindness and shortsightedness (1:9). In contrast with a growing Christian, a carnal believer is blind and nearsighted.

                                A believer with spiritual myopia is not magnifying the grace of Christ. Since his life is not evidencing the seven characteristics listed in verses 5-7, he seems to be just like a spiritually blind (or unsaved) person (2 Cor. 4:4; John 9:39). He is not aware of what is central in life. He lacks discernment of true spiritual values. He lives in a dark world of shadows. (MacDonald)

                                The phrase cannot see afar off means “shortsighted.” It is the picture of somebody closing or squinting his eyes, unable to see at a distance.

                                There are some Christians who see only their own church, or their own denomination, but who fail to see the greatness of God’s family around the world. Some believers see the needs at home but have no vision for a lost world. –W. W. Wiersbe

                                Shortsightedness encompasses the fact that there are various degrees of impaired vision which are spoken of as blindness (1:9). Shortsightedness here specifies the form of blindness in which man lives for the present rather than the future. He is so occupied with material things that he neglects the spiritual.

     We can avoid forgetfulness (1:9). Since they lack these seven virtues, they have forgotten that they have been cleansed from their pre-conversion sins. Such Christians are spiritually immature. Though they have been cleansed from their sins, they have not grown spiritually (Titus 3:5). The truth of his redemption has lost its grip on them. He or she is going back in the direction from which they were once rescued. They are toying with sins that caused the death of God’s Son.

    There will be Spiritual Security: Assurance of salvation and greater reward (1:10-11).

     This involves confirming our calling an election (1:10).

                                Peter exhorts his readers to confirm their calling and election (1:10). These are two facets of God’s plan of salvation. Election refers to His sovereign, eternal choice of individuals to belong to Himself. Calling refers to His action in time by which the choice is made evident. Our election took place before the world was made; our call takes place when we are converted. Chronologically, there is first election, then call. But in human experience we first become aware of His call, then we realize we were chosen in Christ from all eternity.

                                We cannot make our calling and election more sure than they already are; God’s eternal purposes can never be thwarted. But we can confirm them by growing in likeness to the Lord. By manifesting the fruit of the Spirit, we can provide unmistakable evidence that we truly belong to Him. A holy life proves the reality of our salvation.

                                Peter pointed out that “calling” and “election” go together. The same God who elects His people also ordains the means to call them. The two must go together, as Paul wrote to the Thessalonians: “God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation.... Whereunto He called you by our Gospel” (2 Thes. 2:13–14). We do not preach election to unsaved people; we preach the Gospel. But God uses that Gospel to call sinners to repentance, and then those sinners discover that they were chosen by God! (Wiersbe)

                                Peter also pointed out that election is no excuse for spiritual immaturity or for lack of effort in the Christian life. Some believers say, “What is going to be is going to be. There is nothing we can do.” But Peter admonishes us to “give diligence.” This means “make every effort.” (He used this same verb in 2 Peter 1:5.) While it is true that God must work in us before we can do His will (Phil. 2:12–13), it is also true that we must be willing for God to work, and we must cooperate with Him. Divine election must never be an excuse for human laziness. –Wiersbe: The Bible Exposition Commentary

     This involves preventing a fall into sin, disgrace, and disuse (1:10).

                                Living a holy life will keep us from stumbling. It is not a question of falling into eternal perdition; the work of Christ delivers us from that. Rather, it refers to falling into sin, disgrace, or disuse. If we fail to progress in divine things, we are in danger of wrecking our lives. But if we walk in the Spirit, we will be spared from being disqualified for His service. God guards the Christian who moves forward for Him. The peril lies in spiritual idleness and blindness. –MacDonald: Believer's Bible Commentary

                                If you walk around with your eyes closed, you will stumble! But the growing Christian walks with confidence because he knows he is secure in Christ. It is not our profession of faith that guarantees that we are saved; it is our progression in the faith that gives us that assurance. The person who claims to be a child of God but whose character and conduct give no evidence of spiritual growth is deceiving himself and heading for judgment.

                                   

     This involves securing a grand entrance into Christ’s everlasting kingdom (1:11).

                                Not only is there safety in constant spiritual progress, there is also the promise of a richly-provided entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Peter refers here not to the fact of our entry but to the manner of it. The only basis of admission to the heavenly kingdom is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. But some will have a more abundant entrance than others. There will be degrees of reward. And the rewards are here said to depend on the degree of one’s conformity to the Savior. (Wiersbe)

                                In fact, the growing Christian can look forward to an abundant entrance into the eternal kingdom! The Greeks used this phrase to describe the welcome given Olympic winners when they returned home. Every believer will arrive in heaven, but some will have a more glorious welcome than others. Remember, some believers “shall be saved; yet so as by fire” (1 Cor. 3:15).

                                The word ministered in 2 Peter 1:11 is the same as the word add in 2 Peter 1:5, and it means “to bear the expenses of a chorus.”

                                When the Greek theatrical groups presented their dramas, somebody had to underwrite the expenses, which were very great. The word came to mean “to make lavish provision.” If we make lavish provision to grow spiritually (2 Peter 1:5), then God will make lavish provision for us when we enter heaven! –The Bible Exposition Commentary

                                The ultimate reward of a growing, Christ-honoring life is the personal “welcome” by the Savior into His kingdom. Stephen experienced it (Acts 7:56); Paul knew when it was imminent for him (2 Tim. 4:7-8, 18); and every believer will experience such a welcome when he enters the Lord’s presence in heaven. …The entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be supplied with richness; it will be a wonderful “welcome home.” –Walvoord: The Bible Knowledge Commentary

Conclusion:

What spiritual disciplines have helped you the most in your Christian walk?

Clearly our Father knows our weaknesses. He knows we are prone to be undisciplined in spiritual matters. We need Him to come alongside us and help us. We all should ask for Him to guide us, and give us perseverance and discipline so that we can grow in our knowledge of Him. May we never be content with less than His best. The prayer on all of our lips should be, “Show us how much more you want to teach us. May we always hear your voice and obey.”

Remember God has given us all that is required for experiencing Christ’s divine life. Because He has, we must be diligent in cultivating it. God does not make us holy against our will or without our involvement. There must be desire, determination, and discipline on our part.

“Add to your faith”: Supplement it, flesh it out. Being a Christian doesn't mean believing and then just sitting around. Now that you have faith in God's part, make every effort—that's your part.

That's disciplines.

That's regular “holy habits.”

That's pacing yourself for the cross country run to your future.

Says Henri Nouwen, “A spiritual life without discipline is impossible.” Tighten your belt. Get tough on yourself. GO FOR IT.

A woman once said to the great Paderewski, “Sir, you are truly a genius.”

“Well,” he answered, “before I was a genius, I was a drudge!”

To get there, to win—your life needs discipline, order, and arrangement.

“If one examines the secret behind a championship football team, a magnificent orchestra, or a successful business, the principle ingredient is invariably discipline” (James Dobson, Discipline of the Home).

You will only discover excellence on the other side of hard work.

(From My Sacrifice, His Fire by Anne Ortlund)