2 Peter 1:3-8 -- Game On!
2 Peter 1:3-8 -- Game On!
By Pastor Lee Hemen
July 15, 2018
Sad to say but most Christians do not have a good grasp of theology. In fact for some churches they have taken arrogant pride in not being associated with any particular theology. This self-inflicted spiritual ignorance has become a disease that hinders the spiritual growth of believers. Churches and individual believers have lost their focus. When sports teams lose focus there is a cry that often is heard in the dugouts and sidelines: “Game on!” It means they are ready, willing, and able to do whatever it takes to win the game before them. I believe it is time for Christians to get their game on!
Gregory Camp wrote a song a few years back where the chorus went: “Hey now, you're an all-star, get your game on, go play. Hey now, you're a rock star, get the show on, get paid. And all that glitters is gold; only shooting stars break the mold!” Of course he was writing about living for the moment but it kind of applies for the believer who wants to shine in a sin-darken world. I believe it is time for Christians to get their game on! Let’s discover how…
READ: 2 Peter 1:3-8
When I go fishing I try to use bait or lures that will attract fish. I have learned that fish do not respond to a lure or bait because they like it, they respond because whatever is used triggers in them an instinctual response of aggression. And I have just about everything I need in my tackle box to attract fish. The Christian’s problem is they have swallowed the lie that they do not have what they need to attract the lost to Jesus. It is time to get our game on and realize…
I. Christians have everything they need to get their game on! (Vv. 3-4)
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
1. In our weakness we can think we are all alone in our faith walk. Sure we hear that Jesus is with us and his Spirit lives within us but then we get frightened, self-conscious, and forget who made the universe, who knows us intimately, and who gives us all we need. Peter reminds us that it is “His divine power [which] has given us everything we need for life and godliness”! Note that it isn’t our “divine” power; it is Jesus God who gives us everything we “need for life and godliness”! How is this done? It occurs “through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness”! Our knowledge comes when we realize our sin and his ability to cure it by “his own glory and goodness”! By Jesus’ power and holiness! Paul wrote “That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. (Ephesians 1:19-21 NIV)” WOW! In fact Jesus did not just display it to us in his death, burial, and resurrection but he freely gave that same power to us who believe! I know this to be true because God said it was and God never ever goes back on his word! Peter reminds us that “Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” Now dear gamer of God do you fully understand what Peter wrote here? Jesus God gave us freely everything we need to be in the game! In fact way much more than you have come to fully understand! We participate, are part of, in God’s divine nature and we have completely escaped our eternal death by his power and grace and the corruption of our own evil desires! WOW again! Christians have everything they need to get their game on!
EXAMPLE: Do you know who Erik Kennedy or Ryan Stiles are? They are the Equipment Managers for the Seahawks and the Mariners. Equipment managers are extremely important for a sports team, especially ones like the Mariners or Seahawks. Making sure each player has their specific guards, pads, gloves, bats, helmets and such makes sure the player can safely do the job there are hired to do with a minimum of injury. Where millions of dollars of investment in players is on the field these managers are important. Isn’t it therefore great to know that Jesus has given Christians everything they need to get their game on!
I learned in Seminary to use mnemonic devices to help me remember answers for the tests I had to take every week. Peter gives his readers a list of what God can supply to the believer that wants to get their game on to win the lost. Peter teaches us that in getting our game on…
II. Christians have the character strengths to finish the game! (Vv. 5-8)
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1. Peter gives us a litany which the Bible Knowledge Commentary states that “In this beautiful paragraph Peter orchestrates a symphony of grace. To the melody line of faith he leads believers to add harmony in a blend of seven Christian virtues which he lists without explanation or description.” However I view it as a kind of progression for us to participate in the game by the gift of his divine nature. It is “For this very reason” we are to “make every effort to add to [our] faith”. He begins with “goodness” in the NIV but it really is “valor” in the Greek which has often been lost in our day and age because it carries with it manliness or inner strength. From this we progress to “knowledge” which is the intrinsic knowledge of God, and then towards “self-control”. Being able to control one’s passions comes from knowledge of persevering towards godliness. From a godly nature comes “brotherly kindness” or more literally brotherly love. When a Christian can love another with the affection of Jesus then they can love one another sacrificially. Why would Peter list them this way? Many have speculated for thousands of years but I honestly believe Peter’s desire was that believers become like Jesus. Interestingly when Peter used the word “add” as in “add to your faith”, he was using a word where we get our words for chorus or choreograph. In ancient Greece the state established the chorus but the director, the choreographer, paid or supported the participants. A believer is to “furnish, supply, or support” his life with these virtues Peter lists and he writes why: “For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” In this Peter reminds us to get our game on by remembering that Christians have the character strengths to finish the game!
EXAMPLE: Few people like it when sports figures who get paid millions of dollars to play a child’s game act like children on or off the field. Sometimes these overpaid players can begin to think they are the most important thing rather than the team they play for. And sadly there are those who were great at the game but are now remembered for their horrendous behavior instead. Many nowadays are not prepared for the public spotlight that is squarely paced on their every action and behavior. Isn’t it wonderful to know that Christians have the character strengths to finish the game!
Conclusion:
Christians have everything they need to get their game on! Christians have the character strengths to finish the game!
----
This article is copyrighted © 2018 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.
By Pastor Lee Hemen
July 15, 2018
Sad to say but most Christians do not have a good grasp of theology. In fact for some churches they have taken arrogant pride in not being associated with any particular theology. This self-inflicted spiritual ignorance has become a disease that hinders the spiritual growth of believers. Churches and individual believers have lost their focus. When sports teams lose focus there is a cry that often is heard in the dugouts and sidelines: “Game on!” It means they are ready, willing, and able to do whatever it takes to win the game before them. I believe it is time for Christians to get their game on!
Gregory Camp wrote a song a few years back where the chorus went: “Hey now, you're an all-star, get your game on, go play. Hey now, you're a rock star, get the show on, get paid. And all that glitters is gold; only shooting stars break the mold!” Of course he was writing about living for the moment but it kind of applies for the believer who wants to shine in a sin-darken world. I believe it is time for Christians to get their game on! Let’s discover how…
READ: 2 Peter 1:3-8
When I go fishing I try to use bait or lures that will attract fish. I have learned that fish do not respond to a lure or bait because they like it, they respond because whatever is used triggers in them an instinctual response of aggression. And I have just about everything I need in my tackle box to attract fish. The Christian’s problem is they have swallowed the lie that they do not have what they need to attract the lost to Jesus. It is time to get our game on and realize…
I. Christians have everything they need to get their game on! (Vv. 3-4)
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
1. In our weakness we can think we are all alone in our faith walk. Sure we hear that Jesus is with us and his Spirit lives within us but then we get frightened, self-conscious, and forget who made the universe, who knows us intimately, and who gives us all we need. Peter reminds us that it is “His divine power [which] has given us everything we need for life and godliness”! Note that it isn’t our “divine” power; it is Jesus God who gives us everything we “need for life and godliness”! How is this done? It occurs “through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness”! Our knowledge comes when we realize our sin and his ability to cure it by “his own glory and goodness”! By Jesus’ power and holiness! Paul wrote “That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. (Ephesians 1:19-21 NIV)” WOW! In fact Jesus did not just display it to us in his death, burial, and resurrection but he freely gave that same power to us who believe! I know this to be true because God said it was and God never ever goes back on his word! Peter reminds us that “Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” Now dear gamer of God do you fully understand what Peter wrote here? Jesus God gave us freely everything we need to be in the game! In fact way much more than you have come to fully understand! We participate, are part of, in God’s divine nature and we have completely escaped our eternal death by his power and grace and the corruption of our own evil desires! WOW again! Christians have everything they need to get their game on!
EXAMPLE: Do you know who Erik Kennedy or Ryan Stiles are? They are the Equipment Managers for the Seahawks and the Mariners. Equipment managers are extremely important for a sports team, especially ones like the Mariners or Seahawks. Making sure each player has their specific guards, pads, gloves, bats, helmets and such makes sure the player can safely do the job there are hired to do with a minimum of injury. Where millions of dollars of investment in players is on the field these managers are important. Isn’t it therefore great to know that Jesus has given Christians everything they need to get their game on!
I learned in Seminary to use mnemonic devices to help me remember answers for the tests I had to take every week. Peter gives his readers a list of what God can supply to the believer that wants to get their game on to win the lost. Peter teaches us that in getting our game on…
II. Christians have the character strengths to finish the game! (Vv. 5-8)
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1. Peter gives us a litany which the Bible Knowledge Commentary states that “In this beautiful paragraph Peter orchestrates a symphony of grace. To the melody line of faith he leads believers to add harmony in a blend of seven Christian virtues which he lists without explanation or description.” However I view it as a kind of progression for us to participate in the game by the gift of his divine nature. It is “For this very reason” we are to “make every effort to add to [our] faith”. He begins with “goodness” in the NIV but it really is “valor” in the Greek which has often been lost in our day and age because it carries with it manliness or inner strength. From this we progress to “knowledge” which is the intrinsic knowledge of God, and then towards “self-control”. Being able to control one’s passions comes from knowledge of persevering towards godliness. From a godly nature comes “brotherly kindness” or more literally brotherly love. When a Christian can love another with the affection of Jesus then they can love one another sacrificially. Why would Peter list them this way? Many have speculated for thousands of years but I honestly believe Peter’s desire was that believers become like Jesus. Interestingly when Peter used the word “add” as in “add to your faith”, he was using a word where we get our words for chorus or choreograph. In ancient Greece the state established the chorus but the director, the choreographer, paid or supported the participants. A believer is to “furnish, supply, or support” his life with these virtues Peter lists and he writes why: “For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” In this Peter reminds us to get our game on by remembering that Christians have the character strengths to finish the game!
EXAMPLE: Few people like it when sports figures who get paid millions of dollars to play a child’s game act like children on or off the field. Sometimes these overpaid players can begin to think they are the most important thing rather than the team they play for. And sadly there are those who were great at the game but are now remembered for their horrendous behavior instead. Many nowadays are not prepared for the public spotlight that is squarely paced on their every action and behavior. Isn’t it wonderful to know that Christians have the character strengths to finish the game!
Conclusion:
Christians have everything they need to get their game on! Christians have the character strengths to finish the game!
----
This article is copyrighted © 2018 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.
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