ER11: Abundant Entrance to the Kingdom
I. Introduction: God’s Eternal Purpose
* God’s Eternal purpose includes forming a Kingdom of Overcoming Sons in the image of Jesus Christ
Rom 8:29 - For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
“Conformed”. Gk summorphos - to be jointly formed, fashioned like unto
* God takes every child born into His family into a process of growth with the goal of shaping and forming our character to be Christlike.
* He is able to use every circumstance in our life work towards this goal if we embrace His process and cooperate with him in our responses.
Rom. 8:28 - And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
We stop reacting to problems, and instead enquire what God is doing and how to respond to Him
* Moreover, Paul reveals that the whole of creation is eagerly awaiting this process of forming Sons into the image of Christ to be completed
* Rom. 8:18 - For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
* Rom. 8:19 - For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.
* “Earnest expectation”...intense anticipation of all of creation
* “Revealing” Gk. Apokalupsis - manifestation, revelation to take the cover of something concealed
* “Sons” Gk. Huios - mature fully grown son
II. Abundant Entrance to the Kingdom
1. Key Passage: 2 Pet.1:2-17
2Pe. 1:2 - Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,
2Pe. 1:3 - as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,
2Pe. 1:4 - by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
2Pe. 1:5 - But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,
2Pe. 1:6 - to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness,
2Pe. 1:7 - to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.
2Pe. 1:8 - For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2Pe. 1:9 - For he who lacks these things is short-sighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.
2Pe. 1:10 - Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;
2Pe. 1:11 - for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
2Pe. 1:12 - For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth.
2Pe. 1:13 - Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you,
2Pe. 1:14 - knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me.
2Pe. 1:15 - Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease.
2. Context: The Coming Kingdom
Note the following scriptures in Peter’s Teaching
* Peter describes the majestic coming of Jesus Christ in His Kingdom, and reveals that entrance into this Kingdom and the First Resurrection require that we diligently prepare ourselves
3. Peter’s Revelation of the Majesty of Christ in His Coming Kingdom
* 2Pe. 1:16 - For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.
* 2Pe. 1:17 - For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased”.
* 2Pe. 1:18 - And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.
* Peter is giving an eyewitness testimony of Jesus second coming in Kingly Majesty
* He personally saw this when he saw Jesus transfigured upon the Mount
4. Abundant Entrance into the Millennial Kingdom…if we Qualify
* 2Pe. 1:11 - for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
* Note the Conditions: “If”
* 2Pe. 1:8 - For if these things are yours and abound…
* 2Pe. 1:10 - Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;
* We enter the Coming Kingdom by qualifying for the First Resurrection, our High Calling & Hope
III. The Need for Intentional Personal Growth (Transformation)
1. “Add to your Faith”
* “Add”….to fully supply in addition to the precious faith that we have already received
* Without faith we cannot please God…we must believe that He is and that He is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek Him (Heb.11:6)
* Faith or trust in Christ and His work is the foundation of our relationship with God
* Peter is writing to Christians who have already received saving faith…He assumes they have it
* We can do nothing to add to what Christ has done. We are saved by grace alone through faith (Eph.2:8)
* However God does not intend for us to stop there. We must build upon that foundation.
* We must: “add to our faith”
* Our life is like a building (1Cor.3:9)
* We cannot just stop at the fact that we are saved and belong to God. We are on a journey to maturity.
* Without maturity we cannot enter the inheritance that Father has prepared for us(Gal.4:1)
* We must embrace His purpose for saving us…to form us into the image of His Son , Jesus Christ, who is the express image of the Father (Heb.1:3), and the firstborn of many brethren (Rom.8:29)
* We must commit to Father’s process of maturity and transformation and build a godly character according to Christ the Pattern son
* This is our Heart Journey…….Our personal Journey of Freedom and of Formation
Freedom: Freedom from wounds, attachments, addictions, reactions, and bondages in the heart that show up in our words, actions, and how we respond in relationships
Formation: Formation of the heart and character of Christ in us.
* Mat 11:28 - Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
* Mat 11:29 - Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
* Mat 11:30 - For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
* Father’s plan is to form the heart and character of Christ within us
2. Diligent Effort is Needed to make our Call and Election sure
* 2Pe. 1:10 - Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;
* “Do these things” - to consistently practice
* Peter urges Christians to exercise diligent effort to make their calling and election sure
* This implies that if we fail to be diligent in this, we may not qualify for entrance into the coming Millennial kingdom of Christ
Be diligent
* “Diligent” - to make every effort, to give care and attention to something, make sure you do what is necessary.
* Diligence means maintaining focus and an ongoing sustained effort over the course of your life
* Diligence is the difference between merely dreaming and actually realising your dreams
* Peter instructs us to apply diligence to cultivating these qualities
* “Diligence is mentioned twice, verse 5 and verse 10
* Vs.5. Giving all diligence add (build upon) your faith the list of Christ qualities
* Vs.10 Be even more diligent to make your call and election sure
* Note the emphasis place upon diligence: Giving all diligence”, “be even more diligent”
* Peter is strongly emphasising that we must be diligent, that laziness will disqualify
* Making your calling and election sure is dependent upon the formation of these qualities in your life, and also results in an abundant entrance to the Kingdom
* Pro 12:24 - The hand of the diligent will rule, But the lazy man will be put to forced labor.
3. Each Christian needs to grow
* Personal growth is not automatic. It must be intentional
* “Intentional”: Conscious, deliberate, done on purpose with an end in mind
* This requires a commitment to the ongoing process of growing and knowing God
* There is a great difference between a man under grace, and a man under authority
* 2Pe. 1:4 - by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
IV. Characteristics of Christians Not Growing
1. Peter Reveals Characteristics of Believers who are not growing
2Pe. 1:8 - For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2Pe. 1:9 - For he who lacks these things is short-sighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.
* If we do not keep growing we stagnate in our Christian life and experience.
We then draw upon our gifts, and past experience instead of leaning into God for fresh encounters with Holy Spirit and fresh revelation for the Word of God
* Failure to persevere in the development of Christian character leads to barrenness, unfruitfulness, blindness, short-sightedness, and forgetfulness.
2. Five Characteristics of Believers who are not growing:
(i). Barren Gk. Argos - without labour
Will not serve and be productive, shunning labor and service
Spiritually unemployed, living off faith and service of others
(ii). Unfruitful .... not producing the fruit it was designed to produce
Lacking the fruit of the Spirit, lacking on active and engagement in advancing the Kingdom positive Kingdom influence,
(iii). Blind Gk. Tuphlos - Opaque - to envelop with smoke so cannot see far, puff up with pride, self conceit centred, high minded, render foolish
Eg. 2Cor.4:4 - Satan has blinded the minds of them that do not believe
(iv). Can’t see afar off - short sighted, lacking vision of the Coming Kingdom, seeing only what is near, focus on personal needs and problems and not see or embrace what God is doing
(v). Bad Memory - Forgotten what God has done and why He has done it.
Deu 8:11 - "Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today,
1 Jn 2:4 - He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
1 Jn 2:5 - But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.
V. Qualities to Cultivate
7 Qualities We are to Add to our Faith
1. Virtue - “Do the Right Thing”
* Virtue - Valour, manliness, moral excellence, purity, Honourable
* Spiritual courage in a hostile world, being able to stand up for what is right in face of reactions.
* Virtue means doing what is right in God’s eyes, not what is right or best for me
* David is an example of a man displaying great courage
2. Knowledge - “Get Understanding”
* Knowledge - Gnosis...understanding gained through learning and experience
* We must continue to grow in spiritual knowledge and understanding and practice God’s Word
* Solomon is an example of a man who developed great Knowledge
Pro 2:1 - My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you,
Pro 2:2 - So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding;
Pro 2:3 - Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding,
Pro 2:4 - If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures;
Pro 2:5 - Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, And find the knowledge of God.
Pro 2:6 - For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;
3. Temperance - “Control Yourself”
* Temperance...Self-control, master passions of the senses and flesh, overcome anger and lust
* Self-control means not just controlling our actions, but also controlling our emotions, impulses, and thoughts. It means delaying instant gratification
* Self Control is a fruit of yielding to the Holy Spirit instead of our flesh (Gal.5:22-23)
* It requires emotional intelligence…awareness of self and others and managing our choices
* Joseph. is an example of a man who developed great self-control
Joseph was faced with temptation to sin secretly or to resist and to flee
* Daniel is an example of a man who developed self-control
Daniel was faced with a choice between following the crowd or following his convictions
* 1Col. 9:25 - And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.
4. Patience - “Stay the Course”
* Patience - Steadfast endurance, perseverance with a positive attitude, remain not quit
* Perseverance is the ability to bear up and press on in the face of all that seems against us
* In the Christian life we experience much opposition, difficulty and seasons where we seem to be unfruitful, or offended by people. It is easy to give up and walk away offended.
* Perseverance has two different applications
Continue doing something when it is hard to do
Wait for something or someone you believe will come
* We must realise that God works through processes and processes take time. We prefer quick results but God values process and time as tools to grow us and accomplish His work
* Job is an example of a man who developed great patience
* Patience also has the meaning “long suffering” as never giving up on someone
* Long suffering is a fruit of the Spirit, developed in us as we yield to the Holy Spirit ,not impatience
* Heb. 10:35 - Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.
* Heb. 10:36 - For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:
5. Godliness - “Fear and Respect God”
* Godliness - respect and reverence towards a God
* It is a deep awareness that Honor and glory belong to God and that He will call all men to give account of their actions
* Godliness means to have a deep respect for authority. Since all authority comes from God (Rom.13:1) we must show respect for and honor all who are in roles of authority
* Godliness show up in our conduct with practical holiness, and respect for authority.
* Daniel is an example of a man who developed great godliness
* 1Ti 4:8 - For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.
* Pro 22:4 - By humility and the fear of the LORD Are riches and honor and life.
6. Brotherly Kindness. “ Practice Kindness”
* Brotherly kindness...love and kindness to fellow Christians
* Kindness manifests itself in our words, how we treat people and in acts of generosity and care
* This particularly applies to how we treat the people of God, God’s family, the Church
* The obvious way to build and maintain relationships is to show kindness consistently
* Kindness is also a fruit of yielding to the person and influence of the Holy Spirit (Gal.5:22)
* Jonathan is an example of a man who developed great brotherly kindness
* David is a man who showed kindness
* 2Sa 9:1 - Now David said, "Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?"
* Pro 19:22 - What is desired in a man is kindness,
* Eph. 4:32 - And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
7. Love - “Sacrificial Service”
* Love - sacrificial kindness and service with no agenda or strings attached
* Real love is not a feeling or affection but an act of sacrifice.
* Real love means to desire and do what is best for others
* Love causes us to act in the opposite spirit to the world, overcoming evil with good
* John is an example of a man who developed great love
* 1 Jn 4:8 - He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
* Luke 6:35 - But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.
* Eph. 5:1 - Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.
* Eph. 5:2 - And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
VI. Key Agents of Transformation
1. The Person and Power of The Holy Spirit
* 2Pe. 1:3 - as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,
* “Divine power” Gk. ‘dunamis” The supernatural power of the Holy Spirit
* 1 Co 2:11 - For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.
* 1 Co 2:12 - Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
* The Holy Spirit reveals to us the promises of God, what God has planned for those who love Him (1Cor.2:9-10)
* The Holy Spirit empowers personal growth and transformation
Php 2:13 - for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
2Co 3:18 - But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
* Transformation requires relationship and fellowship with the Holy Spirit
2. Revelation Knowledge
* 2Pe. 1:3 - as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by(for this reason) glory and virtue,
* ‘Through” - Gk - dia -the primary channel of act
* Knowledge - Gk - epiginosis - the upon knowledge, knowledge gained through experience
* A primary assignment of the Holy Spirit is to reveal Jesus and all His character and qualities
Joh 16:13 - However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
Joh 16:14 - He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.
* Knowledge given to us by Holy Spirit is revelation knowledge…..experiential knowledge
* Revelation Knowledge is given to those who hunger for God
* Revelation knowledge brings impartation and change in our lives
* Revelation knowledge imparts (multiplies) grace and peace into our lives (vs.2)
* Revelation knowledge supplies everything we need for life and godliness
* We must hunger for Holy Spirit to give us encounters and revelation of Jesus
3. The Word of God
* 2Pe. 1:4 - by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
* “Partakers of the divine nature”…means to become
* ‘Precious”……of enormous value
* “Promises”….God solemnly commits Himself to follow a course of action
* God cannot lie about the promises that He makes. He guarantees to fulfil His part
* Tit. 1:2 - in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began,
* Heb. 6:17 - In the same way God, in His desire to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable nature of His purpose, intervened and guaranteed it with an oath,
* Heb. 6:18 - so that by two unchangeable things [His promise and His oath] in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled [to Him] for refuge would have strong encouragement and indwelling strength to hold tightly to the hope set before us.
* Heb. 6:19 - This hope [this confident assurance] we have as an anchor of the soul [it cannot slip and it cannot break down under whatever pressure bears upon it]--a safe and steadfast hope that enters within the veil [of the heavenly temple, that most Holy Place in which the very presence of God dwells], [Lev 16:2]
* Heb. 6:20 - where Jesus has entered [in advance] as a forerunner for us, having become a High Priest forever according to the order ofN1Melchizedek. [Psa. 110:4]
* The promises of God when we receive and believe them act as an anchor for our soul in times of adversity and pressure to quit
* We must read and meditate upon, embrace, and act upon the Word of God
4. Five Fold Ministry Gifts
* Jesus has provided the Five Fold Ministry gifts to the Church for the process of maturity
Eph. 4:11 - And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
Eph. 4:12 - for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
Eph. 4:13 - till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
Eph. 4:14 - that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,
* Exposure to the teaching and impartation of Fivefold Ministry gifts , especially the apostle is a an important part of our journey to maturity
5. Life Experiences
* Jas 1:2 - My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
* Jas 1:3 - knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
* Jas 1:4 - But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
* “Various trials” - tests that examine the quality of our faith and trust in Christ and His Word
* This refers to difficult experiences in life where we are experiencing difficulties, opposition, delays, injustice, betrayal, temptations, and it seems that God is far away, silent, and uncaring.
* “Works” - to produce, to fully accomplish or achieve or bring about
* “Patience” - endurance, perseverance, patient waiting for God to work
* Note the connection between painful, difficult , confusing life experiences and the development in our life of the character of Christ
* The key for the development of maturity is our faith response during these experience
VII. Three Promises to the Overcomer
1. Fruitfulness
* 2Pe. 1:8 - For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
* In the parable of the fig tree, Jesus came looking for fruit but found none (Luke13:6-9)
* Jesus is seeking fruit in our life
* Spiritual Fruit comes from abiding in Him and His words abiding in us (Jn.15:4)
* Fruit: Fruit of the Spirit, Proven Godly Character, Faithful service, Use of Opportunities
2. Stability
* 2Pe. 1:10 - Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;
“Stumble” - to fall, to descend from a higher to lower position, be overcome by fear, grief of demons, to lose authority or force, to be removed from assignment by death
“Never stumble” - this is a double negative to emphasis the certainty of this promise
* Israel is set forth as an example for us. They were saved but did not enter the promised land
* They failed because of unbelief - a pattern, or practice of refusing to believe and obey God
* Heb. 4:11 - Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.
* The word “fall” is exactly the same word used in 2Pet.1:10 - “stumble”
* It refers primarily to being saved but failing to enter the coming promised Millennial Kingdom
3. Abundant Entrance to the Kingdom
* 2Pe. 1:11 - for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
* “Abundant” - present in great quantity, filled to overflowing with wealth and honor,
* Abundant entrance to the Kingdom is closely connected to the second coming and transfiguration of Jesus Christ and the First Resurrection of overcomers
* Mat 16:27 - For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.
* Mat 16:28 - Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom."
* Mat 17:1 - Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves;
* Mat 17:2 - and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.
* Abundant entrance contrasts strongly with Paul’s teaching in 1Cor.3:15 “saved yet so as by fire”
* The presence of these qualities in abundance guarantee us entrance to the First Resurrection and the Millennial Kingdom
* Some will have a more abundant entrance than others. There will be degrees of reward. And the rewards are here said to depend on the degree of one's conformity to the Savior.
VIII. Personal Reflection and Application
1. What has the Holy Spirit been revealing to you during this study?
2. What response do you need to make personally?
3. Which of the qualities mentioned by Peter do you need to focus on in your walk with God?
* Diligence
* Virtue
* Knowledge
* Temperance
* Patience
* Godliness
* Brotherly Kindness
* Sacrificial Love
4. What are the current hindrances to developing this quality?
5. What could you do to Overcome that hindrance and grow?