Well, it's an honor to come before you to bring you the Word of God. It's been an honor to be here as your intern so far. Learned many things, and I think this morning I'm learning what it's like to preach before a potluck dinner and getting all the wonderful smells, but we'll get through it together. But this morning we will be starting a series through 2 Peter. So this morning we'll be reading 2 Peter 1-15, so if you would rise as we read God's Word. 2 Peter 1-15, this is the holy and fallible Word of God. Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ. To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ. May grace and peace be multiplied to you in knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities, you will never fall. For in this way, there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Therefore, I intend always to remind you of these qualities. Though you know them and are established in the truth that you have, I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder. since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon as the Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. And I will make every effort so that after my departure, you may be able at any time to recall these things. Let us pray. Almighty Heavenly Father, we come before You, having just read Your Word, Your Word that was spoken to a specific congregation many years ago, but is also speaking to us today. We ask, Lord, that Your Holy Spirit would be with us as we seek to come to understand these wondrous truths and explore this cave of gems that You have given to us in Your Scriptures. Heavenly Father, we ask that your spirit would apply this word to our heart and that you would continue to conform us to the image of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen. Please be seated. Have you ever given thought to your final, last dying words? I know it's not a very cheerful subject to open up a sermon with, but I imagine maybe after seeing a character that you really enjoyed in a book or a movie, after you've seen them die or give their last words, many of us may have thought, what might my words, my last words be? The last words that we speak are often synonymous with our legacy. It is in those final moments that we truly express everything that we've learned in our lives, or it gives us a glimpse into our hearts. Take, for example, some famous last words. Elvis Presley, if you haven't heard of him, was a great entertainer. The king of rock and roll said as his last words, I hope I haven't bored you. It's quite ironic. P.T. Barnum said to his wife, Nancy, I want you to know that my last thoughts are of you. Winston Churchill, his last words were, I'm bored with it all. Or John Calvin, and his last words were, thou Lord bruisest me, but I am abundantly satisfied since it is from thy hand. So there are many more famous last words that we could consider, but the connection that I want us to see here is that in people's last moments, when they know it's coming, it's common for them to make known what they see as most important in life. They sum up the lessons which they've learned in just a short little statement. And so it is too with our author this morning, Peter. And Peter writes to the church on matters of first importance. That his readers would not only be firm in their calling and election, but that they would also have the qualities of spiritual growth which stems from the divine power and the divine nature which we are made to partake of. And so in our text this morning, Peter has us look, and Peter calls us to remember before he departs three things, that we are partaking of the divine nature in verses one to four, that we are to be supplementing our faith in verses five to nine, and that we are to be remembering all of these promises in verses 10 to 15. And so first, we're called to be partakers of the divine nature. Peter opens up his letter with one simple thought in mind. I am about to be put to death. What do I want the church to know before I depart? And Peter wants the church to be sure in its calling and election. In his opening, Peter makes clear not only his qualifications, but his relationship to us and our relationship to him. He says first that he is a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ. This is the same Peter who is part of Christ's inner circle with James and John and the sons of Zebedee. But notice, too, the way he addresses his readers. to those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ. The audience, the specific audience of this letter is the same as his first letter. We see that in chapter three, verse one of this letter, where he says, this is now the second letter I am writing to you, beloved, In both of them, I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of remembering." So if we look back at the first letter, Peter writes his first letter and this letter, to those who are elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontius, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. But he's also addressing us here today. And how does he address us? How does he view his relationship with us today and with the church back then? He views us as those who have obtained a faith equal to the faith of him and the other apostles. And this is interesting because I'm sure at times we have mistakenly looked at the apostles and maybe put them up on a pedestal because they held a special office in the church. Maybe gone as far as to think they were specific saints at one point in our life. All because they hold this special office. But Peter does not see himself as above anybody else. especially in the arena of righteousness. None of the apostles do, for that matter. In fact, the apostles knew full well their sin status before Christ. But they also knew the righteousness which they had attained through Christ and is only found in Christ. And so, what is it that Peter continues to remark? What does he continue to express to us as matters of first importance? He states this in verse 3. He says, that the divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence. He wants us to know the gospel. That's the last thing he wants to make sure that we know and understand is the gospel. And at this message's core, Peter wants us to know that we are to stand firm in this gospel. that we have been given all things that pertain to the benefits that we receive in Christ. And so Peter, upon reflecting on his own life, no doubt sees how he himself fell. And he fell so hard. that He Himself, this great Apostle, sinned against His beloved Savior, and that He was in need of a Savior, and that He was in need of forgiveness. Think back on the life of Peter before the death and resurrection of Christ. Matthew 26, 30 to 35, records for us And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, you will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, I will strike the shepherd and the sheep of the flock will be scattered. But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee. Peter answered him, though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away. And Jesus said to him, truly, I tell you this very night before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times. Peter said to him, even if I must die with you, I will not deny you. And all the disciples said the same. And here we see the boldness of Peter. We see how much the love he has for Christ. But in his arrogance, he forgets who Christ is. He forgets that Christ is the Son of God. Christ knows all things. And sure enough, that which Christ foretold came to pass. After Christ's arrest, Peter was given three separate opportunities, three separate questionings about his connection to Christ. And all three times, Peter denied knowing Christ, any connection to Christ. And then the rooster crowed. And then Peter saw his sin. And Peter went and wept bitterly. Peter fell. He fell away from Christ. Here Peter, in his depths, in the pit of his own sin, Just as we too find ourselves in a pit which our sins have brought us to, we need the divine power of one to grant us life and godliness, as he says in verse 3. But how do we attain this life and godliness? Well, the text tells us we attain this through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence. Christ didn't just leave Peter after he denied him three times. Peter saw his redemption firsthand. As Christ specifically deals with Peter in John chapter 21, 15 to 17, Christ comes to Peter in this event which says, when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these? And he said to him, yes, Lord, you know that I love you. And he said to him, feed my lambs. And he said to him a second time, Simon, son of John, do you love me? And he said to him, yes, Lord, you know that I love you. And he said to him, tend my sheep. He said to him a third time, Simon, son of John, do you love me? And Peter was grieved because he said this to him a third time, do you love me? And he said to him, Lord, you know everything, you know that I love you. Jesus said to him, feed my sheep. Christ takes the threefold denial that Peter made and specifically grants to Peter a threefold forgiveness. And Christ extends to Peter that which he has extended to us in his death and resurrection. As verse four states, he has granted us his precious and very great promises. These promises is nothing less than salvation, which is found only in Jesus Christ. For it is in Christ that we are made to be partakers of the divine nature, as Peter states in verse four. And what this means is not that we're to become a god or a demigod like Hercules or anything like that. No, what Peter is getting at is that through these precious promises, God. We have been, we are being conformed into the image of Christ because of that salvation which He has given to us. And this is done through the power and work of the Holy Spirit. It is through Christ that we have been given an escape from our corruption, our sin, an escape from the persecution, an escape from the false teachers of the world. And it is through Christ that we are given the ability to grow out of that sin nature. And so Peter opens up his letter, wanting the church to first stand firm, knowing that through the salvation which is found in Christ, we are being conformed to his image. As Peter is reflecting on his own life, he shows us in these opening verses, what are the matters of first importance? And that is our righteous standing before God in Christ. been given an escape from the corruption of the world, we are being conformed to the image of Christ day by day." And in order for us to fully grasp what this means, to be conformed to the image of Christ, Peter outlines the necessary building blocks which are to supplement our faith. And this brings us to our second point of supplementing our faith. Let us re-read verses 5-9. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Peter gives us a very specific command here, that we are to supplement our faith in response to being partakers of the divine nature. And now the word supplement here doesn't mean replace. We aren't to take our faith and replace it with virtue, or take our virtue and replace it with knowledge. No, the word supplementing here carries the notion of furnishing or providing. And so therefore, what Peter is calling us to do is to seek spiritual growth. Much like when someone moves into a new apartment or a new home, you grow that space by furnishing it with furniture or pictures or plants. And so we are to take our new spiritual reality, which is found in Christ, and actively pursue spiritual growth. And this will require of us to give our time and energy to this pursuit, just like good quality furniture is expensive, it's not cheap. So too it is with the good qualities of spiritual growth. As we look inward and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, it takes a great amount of effort and time what the Holy Spirit wants us to remove and causes the sins to cut out of our lives. We're also being sanctified and conformed day by day into the image of Christ. And now thankfully Peter does not just leave us here and say, go figure out spiritual growth, go figure out how to do it yourself. No, he provides for us a list of seven qualities, a list of building blocks you could say. to pursue the spiritual walk of Christ. The seven things he outlines are virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love. These building blocks, starting with faith, move to virtue. Virtue, that quality of life which leads us to leave our old self behind and live as a new creation. This product of faith which is to live honorably in life or to live above approach as Paul qualifies it in 1 Timothy 3. To virtue, we're to add knowledge, but not just any knowledge will do. Peter wants us to know someone in particular. He wants us to know God. And how do we come to know God? Well, we search the scriptures, see how he operates, come to draw closer to the promises that he has made for us. We also come to know God through faithful and diligent prayer. Prayer does not have to be some lofty, high-educated event. Prayer just, God wants genuine prayers. As we boldly approach the throne of grace, we come to grow not only in relationship with God, but also knowledge of him as we see how he has personally intervened in all of our lives. To knowledge, we're to add self-control. As we grow in knowledge and virtue, we must understand we're not to be wild or brash with this newfound spiritual reality, but we're to strive to bring ourselves to further submission under the law of God and his word. As one commentator states, the biblical concept for self-control is not mastery of ourselves by our own power, but self-control is submission to God and surrender of control to the Holy Spirit. to self-control or to add steadfastness. The race which is marked out before us requires of us strength to grow spiritually. We must be strong, but not just strong in brute strength, but strong in the sense that we are committed to the path that is before us. Another commentator is helpful as he outlines that we are to be loyal to that which we have taken up. When sin overtakes you, do not let it derail you for long. Get back on the track of steadfastness. Peter learned this experientially, as we just outlined earlier, and now he passes it on to us. steadfastness were to add godliness. Peter defines godliness in his previous letter in 1 Peter 2.12 he says, keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable so that when they speak against you as evil doers they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. We are to exhibit godliness as we engage with others. We're to exhibit godliness in a fashion which gives honor and glory to God through submission to him, our embracing of suffering, and our service to others. To godliness, we're to add brotherly affection. that brotherly affection which is emulated by Christ in the way he dealt with Peter and John that we spoke of earlier. We're to take the forgiveness that we have been given from Christ to all of our relationships. We're to be quick to reconciliation and forgiveness when we are harmed by a brother or sister, whether that brother or sister be in Christ or out of Christ. To brotherly affection, finally, we are to add love. In all these building blocks of spiritual growth, Peter has been building one on top of the other to this final building block. And in many ways, this is what's supposed to be most evident in our lives as it is on top. But we must not forget that it is supported by everything that we've listed before, with its foundation being that of faith in Jesus Christ. So this love which Peter speaks of is the love which Christ spoke to him about, which is recorded for us in John 13, 35 to 34. A new commandment I give to you, that you would love one another, just as I have loved you. So also you are to love one another. By this, all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. So how will the world know that we are Christ's disciples? How will the world know that we are growing spiritually? It is my hope that the world would know me through the growth that I have challenged myself to, and worked towards, that I might know the proper love which has been shown towards me, and that I would show that love towards others. And it's in this fashion that Christ showed it to me first. And so Peter makes clear that in these qualities, which he has spoken of, they have been given to us by the power of the Holy Spirit. And by the power of the Holy Spirit, they are increasing in us, that we may be fruitful and effective for the advance of the kingdom of God. And so we must take time out of our daily lives to pause and reflect on how we've been living. Ask ourselves, am I relying on the Holy Spirit for growth that comes from faith? Are these qualities which are in me increasing? Am I fruitful? Am I effective? If not, brothers and sisters, Peter has a serious warning for us. And if there are any here this morning who have not come to know these realities, which Peter is proclaiming, now is the time to repent and believe. And hear the warning which Peter gives for us in verse nine, for whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. And so, wanting us to not forget, Peter brings us to the close of his introduction. Peter brings us to the end that he wants us to remember these things. Let us reread this statement that he makes in verses 10 to 15. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities, you will never fall. For in this way, there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Therefore, I intend always to remind you of these qualities. Though you know them and are established by them, in truth, in the truth that you have, I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. And I will make every effort so that after my departure, you may be able to, at any time, to recall these things. Peter calls us to be diligent to confirm the calling and election which we have in Jesus Christ. And this is done as a result of practicing the qualities which he just mentioned and he just listed. It is Peter's goal to make the followers of Christ secure in their faith and to keep them from falling away and to keep us from falling away. And so what is it that you and I have to hold on to? Why should we strive to not fall away? We're told we are to hold on to the fact that we have been granted entrance into the kingdom of Jesus Christ. Think about it for a second. Think about how counter-cultural this is. for a second, that we would be allowed entrance into the kingdom of heaven. Us, the poor degenerate sinners, would be allowed entrance into the holy of holies. Yet it pleased God to elect us before the foundations of the world, that through Christ we would be allowed entrance into his kingdom. not by any merit of our own, but based entirely on the merit of Christ. And this is why we sing, to thee, O Lord, all is due, alone is due, all glory and renown. Ought to ourselves we dare not take or rob thee of thy crown. Thou wast thyself our surety in God's redemption plan. In thee, his grace was given to us, long ere the world began. And so Christians, now that Christ is in heaven and now that the apostles are long dead, you and I are able to stand firm in our calling and election, which we have been given in Jesus Christ. Do not forget that this is the same Peter, the one who fell so hard when he denied Christ. It's Peter who knows what it means to fall. But more importantly, Peter is the one who knows what it means to be redeemed. And it is for this reason, Peter, who knows his death is imminent, he's imprisoned, he's under the rule of Nero, He writes these things as a sort of last word. He writes this because he knows firsthand that these are matters of first importance. As the church continues to grow after Peter has moved on, he knows that the danger which the church, the dangers the church will face, the church will face false teachers, the church will face divisions, the church will face attacks from the devil. And so Peter wants to leave the church knowing one thing, the security of their calling and election as they have been made partakers of the divine nature. And therefore, you and I are to bring ourselves to grow spiritually as we challenge ourselves to the pursuit of spiritual growth, but that growth ultimately which is rooted in faith in Jesus Christ. We have, therefore, this constant reminder before us in the form of the Word of God this morning. Even today, still, because of the Holy Spirit, that He has preserved His Word, Peter is still constantly reminding us of these facts today. Reminding us of the divine power which is granted to us. all those things which pertain to life and godliness He's reminding us of. He's also reminding us all of that which is found in the knowledge of Him who has called us. Therefore, Christians stand firm in the calling and election that we have in Jesus Christ. He has given us great benefits freely of his own will. Let us now take them. Let us go forth. Let's foster them diligently, diligently being in the word, diligent being in prayer, and diligently communing and serving the saints. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we ask that you would apply this word to our hearts that Peter is bringing to us. Heavenly Father, I ask that you would make each and every one of us firm in the election and calling that you have given to us through your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Be with us now as we go forth during this week. I ask that you would help us to reflect these qualities which Peter outlines, and that you would continue through your Holy Spirit to Help us grow and sanctify us and conform us more day by day to the image of your Son, Jesus Christ. It is in his name we pray, amen.