Aug 20, 2023 GRAND PARKWAY BAPTIST CHURCH
Neil McClendon, Lead Pastor
2 Peter 1:1-15
Making the Most of The Moment
1. Increase your understanding of God, v. 1-3
Notice the consequential nature of two things…
a) the righteousness of God
“For our sake he (God) made him to be sin who knew no sin (Jesus), so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
-2 Corinthians 5:21
b) the knowledge of God
Four things we experience through a right knowledge of God…
1) grace, v. 2
2) peace, v. 2
3) life, v. 3
Zoe refers to the absolute fullness of life, both essential and ethical, the kind of life only God can provide. Life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed, in the portion even in this world of those who put their trust in Christ, but after the resurrection to be consummated by new experiences (among them a more perfect body), and to last for ever.
4) godliness, v. 3
“Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, 24 but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”
- Jeremiah 9:23-24
2. Put yourself in spiritually formative environments, v. 4.
A spiritually formative environment is any environment that increases your understanding of and experience with the truth of the Gospel.
3. Exert yourself spiritually, v. 5
“We have been taught that grace means “you can do nothing to be saved.” Such thinking has been extended to “you can do nothing to have spiritual growth.” So spiritual transformation occurs, according to this thinking, in one of two ways – inspiration or information. Inspiration means that in one golden moment, one great experience, you will be transformed. I don’t want to criticize experience. I have had many wonderful experiences with God, but they don’t transform you. The other view, information, is the means whereby you pour truth into your head and suddenly you are transformed. Inspiration isn’t going to do it and information isn’t going to do it. The only way human character is transformed with grace is by discipline and activity.”
Dallas Willard
Virtue
Knowledge
Self-control
Steadfastness
Godliness
Brother affection
Love
Ineffective
Unproductive
4. Be around spiritually consequential people, v. 12-15
Mental worship…
1. Do you experience the fullness of the Zoe life Jesus came to give?
2. Is your experience with Christianity more about partaking or escaping?
3. How are you currently exerting yourself spiritually?
4. Who do you have in your life that stirs you up spiritually?