2 PET 1: 5-11.TODAY WE'RE GOING TO STUDY DIVINE ATTITUDES THAT WILL RESULT IN OUR "BLESSED ASSURANCE." THESE ATTITUDES WILL HELP US BE FRUITFUL, 2 PET 1:8, WILL MAKE OUR CALLING AND ELECTION SURE, 2 PET 1:10, AND WILL RECEIVE AND ABUNDANT ENTRANCE INTO HEAVEN, 2 PET 1:11. IF WE IGNORE THOSE ATTITUDES WE WILL BECOME SPIRITUALLY BLIND, 2 PET 1:9, HAVING FORGOTTEN WE WERE CLEANSED FROM OUR OLD SINS, 2 PET 1:9. WHAT ARE THE ATTITUDES WE NEED TO HAVE?
1) FAITH
A. HEB 11:1 - THE SUBSTANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR, TH EVIDENCE OF THINGS NOT SEEN. IT'S TO PLACE YOUR CONFIDENCE IN, TRUST IN OR RELY UPON ANOTHER. HEB 11:6
B. THE IMPORTANCE OF A SAVING FAITH - 1) WE MUST BELIEVE IN GOD, HEB 11:6 AND HIS DIVINE SON, JESUS, JOHN 3:16 2) WE MUST TRUST IN GOD'S PRECIOUS PROMISES, 2 PET 1:4; ROM 4: 20-22 3) WE MUST OBEY EVERY COMMAND OF GOD, MT 7: 21-23; 2 THESS 1: 7-9.
C. HOW IMPORTANT IS A FAITH IN JESUS? WITHOUT THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO GO TO HEAVEN,
JN 3:16; 20:30-31; ACTS 16: 30-31.
1. WE HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT HE IS THE SAVIOR OF OUR SOULS - MT 1:21
2. OUR EXAMPLE TO EMULATE - 1 PET 2: 21-23; JOHN 13:13-15
3. OUR DOORWAY - JOHN 14:6
4. THE JUDGE OF OUR SOULS - ROM 2:16; 2 COR 5:10; MT 25: 31-33
D. HOW IMPORTANT IS OUR FAITH IN THE BIBLE?
1. IT IS OUR ONLY SOURCE OF ABSOLUTE TRUTH - JN 17:7, THEREFORE, BELIEF IS IMPERATIVE.
A. DIVINELY INSPIRED WORD OF GOD - 2 TIM 3: 16-17
B. THE COMPLETE, FINAL AND AUTHORITATIVE REVELATION FROM GOD - JUDE 3; JOHN 16;13
C. THE KEY TO FREEDOM FROM SIN - JOHN 8:32
D. THE GUIDE TO GODLY LIVING - 2 PET 1:3
E. THE STANDARD BY WHICH WE WILL BE JUDGED - JOHN 12:48
2) VIRTUE (MORAL EXCELLENCE, NASB)
A. THE WORD CONVEYS THE IDEA OF MORAL EXCELLENCE AND GOODNESS, PHIL 4:8; 1 PET 2:9
B. IT DESCRIBES THE DETERMINATION TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT, NO MATTER THE CONSEQUENCES
JOSHUA 1:9;
C. TODAY IT'S ALSO USED TO APPLY TO OUR HEART, MT 5:8; OUR WORDS, EPH 4:29,
OUR THOUGHTS, PHIL 4:8, AND OUR ACTIONS
D. HOW DOES THE CHARACTER OF A VIRTUOUS PERSON MANIFEST ITSELF?
1. ACTS 4: 18-20 - STANDING UP FOR JESUS DESPITE THE OPPOSITION
2. ACTS 7: 51-60 - SPEAKING UP FOR JESUS REGARDLESS OF THE COST
3. 2 TIM 4: 7-8 - DYING FOR JESUS, AS DID PAUL
E. 4 SUGGESTIONS FOR VIRTUOUS LIVING
1. LOVINGLY, YET BOLDLY, SPEAK OUT FOR CHRIST - 1 PET 3:15 2. COURAGEOUSLY ENDURE PERSECUTION - 2 TIM 3:12; MT 5: 10-12 3. CONFIDENTLY STAND UP FOR OUR CONVICTIONS - 2 TIM 1:12
4. COMPASSIONATELY BEAR THE BURDENS OF OTHERS - GAL 6:2
3) KNOWLEDGE
A. DEFINED HERE AS A KNOWLEDGE THAT IS GROWING, YET PRACTICAL IN IT'S NATURE, AND IT ONLY COMES THROUGH A DILIGENT STUDY AND APPLICATION OF GOD'S WORD. 1 PET 2:1-2.
WE SHOULD NEVER BE SATISFIED IN KNOWING JUST WE KNEW AT OUR CONVERSION.
B. WHAT IS THE TRAGEDY OF IGNORANCE? GOD'S PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PLAGUED BY IT THROUGHOUT HISTORY. HOS 4:6; ROM 10:2-3
C. WHAT WILL IGNORANCE LEAD TO?
1. FORBIDDEN LUSTS AND DESIRES - 1 PET 1:13-15
2. ERR FROM GOD'S REVEALED TRUTH - MT 22:29
3. POSSESSING A MISGUIDED ZEAL - ROM 10:3
4. "TWIST" THE SCRIPTURES - 2 PET 3:16
5. RESULT IN ETERNAL DAMNATION - 2 THESS 1:7-10; ACTS 17: 30-31
D. CONCLUSION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF KNOWLEDGE
1. UNLOCK OUR SHACKLES TO SIN - JOHN 8:32
2. INCREASE OUR SPIRITUAL STRENGTH - COL 1: 10-11
3. MULTIPLY GOD'S GRACE AND PEACE - 2 PET 1:2
4. HELP US IN OUR EFFORTS TO KNOW GOD - JOHN 6: 44-45