September 16, 2014
NEUTRAL IS NOT AN OPTION
2 Peter 1:1–11
Kyle Thompson
Central Truth
If you have trusted Christ, then growth and fruit should be a normal byproduct of your life.
Key Verse | 2 Peter 1:8
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. (2 Peter 1:8)
2 Peter 1:1–11
Greeting
1 Simeon 1 1:1 Some manuscripts Simon Peter, a servant 2 1:1 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface and apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:
2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
Confirm Your Calling and Election
3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to 3 1:3 Or by his own glory and excellence, 4 1:3 Or virtue 4 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. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, 5 1:5 Or excellence; twice in this verse and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities 6 1:8 Greek these things; also verses 9, 10, 12 are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, 7 1:10 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated brothers) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Footnotes
[1] 1:1 Some manuscripts Simon[2] 1:1 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface
[3] 1:3 Or by
[4] 1:3 Or virtue
[5] 1:5 Or excellence; twice in this verse
[6] 1:8 Greek these things; also verses 9, 10, 12
[7] 1:10 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters
Dive Deeper | 2 Peter 1:1–11
When I was growing up, my parents bought a two-bedroom, cinder-block cabin on Lake Texoma. The cabin came with an old WWII army jeep that had some very unique features. It had no "working" brakes and would often get stuck in neutral. The cabin was a short drive from the lake, down a dirt road that ended in a 30-yard hill running straight into the water. When I was 14, my parents decided I was old enough to drive the jeep around our area. You can guess what happened next. In the summer of 1973, I tried to shift at the top of the hill, got stuck in neutral, and made a splash landing into the lake, sinking that old jeep.
Here in 2 Peter 1:1-11, God reminds us that He has given us everything we need and that growth is normative for the devoted follower of Christ. Neutrality simply is not an option. Our growth should be marked by the fruit of moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. The question is, do these characteristics of full devotion to Christ mark your life? If not, it may be that you have never moved from belief in Christ to trusting Him as the Lord of your life. Being stuck in neutral or disengaged will lead you down the path of destruction.
1 Peter 1:13 reminds me that I have to prepare my mind for action, keep sober in spirit, fix my hope completely on the grace to be brought to me at the revelation of Jesus Christ. This is something I do daily so I don't get stuck in neutral. Instead, I discipline myself to continually move forward with my life in Christ.
The jeep disaster at Lake Texoma? We were able to pull that old jeep out of the lake, but it never quite ran right after that summer. Getting it stuck in neutral led to a path of submersion and destruction. Don't let the same thing happen to you.
Discussion Questions
1. Do you understand the difference between belief in Christ and trusting Christ? Read Luke 9:23-24 to clarify.
2. As you reread verses 5-8, in what areas of your life do you see that God has grown you?
3. What areas do you see in which God needs to instill Himself and grow you?
4. Who around you has been an example of growth that God has used to encourage you? Take time today to thank God and affirm that person or persons.