2 Peter - GROW

2 Peter - Grow

Question of the day: If you could grow in one area of your life what would that be? Or if you would like to develop skills in a certain area of your life what would that be?

Last week I ask the question at the end of the lesson, "So because we know that Jesus is coming soon, how does that impact us today? What is the life application for you and me?" and Ryan told us that Peter answers it in the next few verses.  He does.  In fact in the very first sentence, in the very first verse of today's lesson, Peter writes, "What kind of people ought you to be?" 

Remember that last week he talks about those who are trying to make us believe that He isn't coming, that life is still the same as it has always been and it always will be. He then goes on to remind us that God's word is true and his time is not our time, and that HE is coming!!!

READ: 2 Peter 3:11-18

11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.[b] That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. 16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

What kind of people ought we to be?

1.

2.

As we do what?

1.

The second part of this verse is very important and not just a cute little add on.  In fact I would suggest that it is the balancing weight.  To live holy and godly lives, um wow, is that all? I don't know about you but that is daunting, but it is quite clear.  So live this way while we are looking forward to His return.  

When I was training for the half marathon I ran with my girls, I knew I had so much training I had to do to get ready.  Everyday as the date for the marathon approached I didn't get excited and I certainly wasn't looking forward to it!  I knew I wasn't ready, I hadn't done enough!  My training got more and more frantic.  It was an awful place to be.  We are to live holy and godly lives, but look forward to his second coming?  Here is the deal, to look forward, we have to KNOW we are ready!  Ready for His return.  

Are we ready? 

Do we have that assurance? 

Is there more cleaning up, more "training" we need to do before we are ready?  Before we answer it let's move on and look at the rest of this passage. 

Peter goes on to talk about Paul.

Paul writes things that get people in trouble, and causes them to believe that the law isn't important, that they can do whatever they want. (my very rough paraphrase)

What did Paul write about that might make people think that? We just finished Ephesians and in Ephesians 2 he writes, 

"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Do you think it is possible for people to take these passages and decide that it doesn't matter what they do?

What else does Paul say that could make people believe that it doesn't matter?

"Error of the lawless and fall from your secure position."

What is Peter saying here?

How do we reconcile this?

I really believe this passage is so important, because it literally is talking about what is perhaps one of the biggest issues all Christian churches have struggled with since the beginning of the church.  This idea of grace and works.  Working our way to heaven, versus we have the free gift of grace so it doesn't matter what we do.... WHAT ?!?!

So how is Peter answering this for us?

What in 1 Peter and the first two chapter of 2 Peter also speaks to this question? 

Back in his first letter Peter starts with this,

"To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood:"

Right from the very beginning he brings both, obedience and the gift!

So are these two separate things, that have nothing to do with one another?
Are they connected?

Paul talks about how our Salvation has nothing to do with our works, yet it seems Peter is connecting them. 

Back at the beginning of this lesson I talked about preparing for the marathon.  There was a direct correlation between my readiness and my works.  Because of that I was filled with dread.  Peter clearly says we should be looking forward to Christs second coming.  Paul let's us know our Salvation is a free gift, but... BUT. So it seems we should have assurance!  We should be able to say, "I am going to heaven with my Lord and it will be soon!" 

I would really love for us to take a few moments and just look over both 1 and 2 Peter and see how these books come together and really what they are saying.

Peter writes this beautiful sentence at the end of the book,

"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen."

What does it mean to "grow in grace?"
To grow it to change.
To grow is to be more.
What does growing in grace and growing in knowledge look like?

In these two letters Peter lets us know... 

We are His children, and because we are His, He gives us all that we need to live lives that are transformed, holy and godly lives.  Living these lives isn't easy, and we will experience persecution, but we press on and we lean on Christ for our strength, remembering that He suffered more so that we can live free.  He was persecuted more so that we can live a new life, one that will serve as a testimony to the world of His amazing grace.  With this beautiful gift comes beautiful responsibility, don't squander it!  Don't settle for what the world has to offer but really LIVE! Live lives of LOVE, JOY, PEACE,.... Live holy and godly lives looking forward to the soon return of our Savior, with the assurance that HE has done everything, HE has paid the price, and because you have accepted the gift, you are ready!