Sermon Tone Analysis

As we have looked to "partake of the divine nature" what does Peter see as our role in that process

We do not automatically become more virtuous as if God infused virtue into us intravenously; we need to make plans and expend effort

We do not automatically become more virtuous as if God infused virtue into us intravenously; we need to make plans and expend effort

that is, because of what has been done for the readers (escape from corruption) is being done for them (participation in the divine nature) and will be done for them (those promises that are yet to be fulfilled, to which our author will come in 1:11), they are to grow in virtue

Faith is the foundation from which we build

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Diligence or effort is the force on all (6) of these virtues.

Each of these virtues are attained by hard work, struggle and intentionality.

But this effort is not outside of cooperation with the Holy Spirit

We have previously talked about faith, but it is worth mentioning again that the virtues are of little worth outside of the Faith we place in God and Jesus Christ

Peter asks us to “Supply”.

ESV says “supplement,” NIV and KJV render “add to”

Movement from one to the next...

Faith -> Moral Excellence

Moral excellence -> Knowledge

Read Acts

Knowledge ->Self-Control

Self-Control -> Perserverence

Perseverance -> Godliness

Godliness -> Brotherly Kindness

Brotherly Kindness -> Love

Moral Excellence - is moral uprightness, blamelessness, goodness

not stealing, not murdering, not bearing false witness, not committing adultery, not being greedy, not being gluttonous (add some more*)

These are things we need to decide to be

Knowledge - understanding of Christ and God, His purposes, character, revealed will, etc.

Self-Control - enablement to control one’s own person (my drives, emotions, personality whims, likes/dislikes) volitionally

this is the practice and success of denying yourself

There is cake, I can easily not eat it - > I am angry, I don’t have to say something unkind or respond aggressively - > I am alone with a significant other, I don’t have to go there.

Perseverance - consistent practice of the three things before

Godliness - becoming consistent in persevering in the three other things

Brotherly Love - applying the those things to the breathern

Love - applying those things to everyone

2 Peter 1:8-9

7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.

The increase of these things in your life makes you useful and fruitful in the true knowledge of Christ

Not having these things or them not increasing makes one blind at worst or near sighted at best.

(Idea is not to see what is ahead very well or at all).

He also says that this makes one as having “forgotten” purification from former sins

the idea would be that one has no concept of what you were saved for

8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

That is, in the act of Christian initiation, by which we mean that complex of repentance from our past independence of God (including our specific acts of rebellion), commitment to Christ as Lord, the expression of this commitment in baptism, and God’s sealing of this commitment through the gift of the Holy Spirit, the sins of our pre-Christian life are forgiven.

(For the initial readers of this letter our author assumes a pagan pre-Christian life.)

This is a benefit that we should be grateful for, and out of this gratitude arises the desire to grow to be more like the one who cleansed us.

If we neglect this growth and instead turn back to our former lives, then we have forgotten what was done for us and are, so the speak, slapping our divine patron in the face (cf.

Paul’s expression of this idea in Rom 6:1–14; 1 Cor 6:9–11).

9 For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.

Addressing the idea of why we need to affirm our calling

Diligence

Addressing the idea of why we need to affirm our calling and why “practice” is necessary

While in other places in the NT God is said to make the Christian steadfast or firm (1 Cor 1:8; 2 Cor 1:21), here the Christian is to confirm his or her own calling and election.

The way that this is done is through growing in virtue.

In other words, this passages states “that the ethical fruits of Christian faith are objectively necessary for the attainment of final salvation.”

11 for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.

Another helpful observation about the same thing

This teaching may sit uncomfortably with some people’s theology, but it is the other side of the coin that has on one side that God makes us firm and on this side that we make our own salvation firm.

And it is our side of the coin that the believers 2 Peter addresses need to hear, for they have among them some who think that their salvation is firm enough without their pursuing any of the virtues that our author recommends.

There is need to “make certain” the calling and choosing

James addresses this idea by saying that there is a difference in a real faith (or saving faith) and a dead faith - a faith that is not unto salvation)

stumbling is warned against.

The metaphor is walking with God through this life, with his help enabling us to travail whatever path we come to

Stumbling (God is the one who keeps us from stumbling on the path to life) without Him we inevitably will

(NASB95)

13 For You have delivered my soul from death,

Indeed my feet from stumbling,

So that I may walk before God

In the light of the living.

Check out 2:17, 20, 22, 24 below

stumbling is warned against.

The metaphor is walking with God through this life, with his help enabling us to travail whatever path we come to

Stumbling (God is the one who keeps us from stumbling on the path to life) without Him we inevitably will

Who is allowed into God’s Kingdom.

His faithful servants.

There is no question what they are about or what they are looking forward to.

There is no hint of “depart from me for I never knew you () That is his plan - and it is despite the exceptions which showcase God’s immense grace (Samson, Thief on the Cross, etc.)

“Both Jesus and Hebrews affirmed that only those whose lives are characterized by moral purity and practical holiness will “see” God.

The vision of God must not be limited to the future eschatological vision ().

To “see” the Lord is a common biblical figure meaning to encounter, experience and enjoy God and his salvation in this life.

(; ; ; ; ).” Demarest, Cross and Salvationpg.

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