ABOUNDING ABUNDANCE (2 Peter 1)

INTRODUCTION

2 Peter 1:8-11 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Many Christians live lives of barrenness and unfruitfulness. They are spiritually blind and cannot see with God’s eyes. They have no discernment. They have even forgotten how God had saved them from their sins.

Because God has given us ALL THINGS that pertain to LIFE AND GODLINESS, and because He has given us EXCEEDING GREAT AND PRECIOUS PROMISES (the more sure word of prophecy), and because He has made us PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE; therefore we should be ABOUNDING in FRUITFULNESS and in the KNOWLEDGE of our Lord Jesus Christ.

MAN’S FALLEN CONDITION

Man’s lusts lead to corruption (v. 4). We tend to live in unbelief. We are fearful and ignorant. We lack self-control, and though we have the same faults as others, we have no patience with them. Instead of being peacemakers, we escalate problems. We can easily become mean and selfish. This is what we are “IN ADAM.” In Adam we transgress; we are sinners. There is condemnation and death. (See Romans 5.)

In ourselves we have no power to fix our condition. We will always revert to the “OLD LIFE.” We can even get to the place where the “OLD LIFE” becomes “NORMAL.” We become satisfied with mediocrity. We may even fear the “LIFE IN THE SPIRIT.” We can become judgmental of others and put the blame on others for our condition. THIS IS NOT THE LIFE GOD WANTS US TO HAVE.

PETER WANTS US TO REMEMBER CERTAIN THINGS (v. 15)

·        We don’t believe in fables (v. 16).

·        The Christian life is established on true events and the sure Word of God.

·        God equips us to live the Christian life. We fail when we try to live the Christian life in the flesh.

·        If we will bound in the graces that follow faith, then we will not FALL.

·        We can live an abundant life. John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

GOD MINISTERS ABUNDANTLY UNTO THE ABOUNDING

2 Peter 1:11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

God greatly desires to bless us, but there are a couple of “if’s” in the chapter.

·        If these things be in you, and abound

·        If ye do these things

·        “These things” refer to faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity. The Holy Spirit activates these graces in us to bless others.

·        For us to do these things, we must trust in God’s Word and God’s Power in our lives.

Psalm 81:13-14 Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways! I should soon have subdued their enemies and turned my hand against their adversaries.

We allow ourselves to be defeated by many enemies: anger, bitterness, discouragement, depression, spiritual depression, isolation, hopelessness, loneliness, etc. We need not allow this to become our life. We must not become content with such a life. This is not the life that Jesus wants you to have. God desires for us to have a life of victory and a life of abounding in His service. 1 Corinthians 15:57-58 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.



I encourage you to read 2 Peter chapter 1 several times over the next week and ask God to speak to you through these words that God used Peter to write.