WEBVTT 00:00:10.029 --> 00:00:19.089 Oftentimes, people don't like to be told to pursue 00:00:19.089 --> 00:00:25.870 holiness and godliness in their lives. Now, there's 00:00:25.870 --> 00:00:31.469 various reasons for this. People don't necessarily 00:00:31.469 --> 00:00:39.329 enjoy being exhorted unto holiness of life. People 00:00:39.329 --> 00:00:44.329 don't always enjoy being exhorted to godliness 00:00:44.329 --> 00:00:47.990 and the pursuit of godliness and godly traits 00:00:47.990 --> 00:00:51.570 and godly characteristics in their life. And 00:00:51.570 --> 00:00:54.990 there are several reasons for this. I believe 00:00:54.990 --> 00:00:59.549 that some of the reasons are people think genuinely 00:00:59.549 --> 00:01:03.450 that for someone to tell them to pursue and seek 00:01:03.450 --> 00:01:06.569 out holiness and godliness, that is legalistic. 00:01:07.230 --> 00:01:12.730 And moralistic. Don't tell me that I should seek 00:01:12.730 --> 00:01:16.049 holiness in my life. God's going to do that in 00:01:16.049 --> 00:01:20.329 my life. God's going to bring that about in my 00:01:20.329 --> 00:01:24.730 life. Some people, I think, genuinely believe 00:01:24.730 --> 00:01:29.870 that it's dogmatic and arrogant for one sinner 00:01:29.870 --> 00:01:33.629 to tell another sinner that they should be holy. 00:01:35.049 --> 00:01:40.290 That they should be godly in their life. I think 00:01:40.290 --> 00:01:42.950 that there's other reasons that people don't 00:01:42.950 --> 00:01:47.129 like this. I think people have personal insecurities 00:01:47.129 --> 00:01:50.370 with their own struggles, their own difficulties, 00:01:50.650 --> 00:01:53.510 their own hardships, and their own soul. And 00:01:53.510 --> 00:01:57.189 because of those, they don't like being told 00:01:57.189 --> 00:02:01.329 that. Because of that expectation. Or because 00:02:01.329 --> 00:02:04.609 of that standard of Christian living that they're 00:02:04.609 --> 00:02:11.669 being urged onto. Maybe besetting sins. Or struggles 00:02:11.669 --> 00:02:14.849 that people cannot or are unwilling to give up 00:02:14.849 --> 00:02:18.229 or to let go of. And if I can't let go of this, 00:02:18.289 --> 00:02:20.409 if I can't overcome this in my own life, then 00:02:20.409 --> 00:02:22.949 how in the world could anybody else overcome 00:02:22.949 --> 00:02:26.210 this and have freedom from sin in such a way? 00:02:27.340 --> 00:02:31.099 Can anybody really truly walk in holiness and 00:02:31.099 --> 00:02:37.520 godliness in their life? Oftentimes I think that 00:02:37.520 --> 00:02:42.180 messy grace in antinomian theology really has 00:02:42.180 --> 00:02:46.439 crept into the church more than we like to admit. 00:02:48.120 --> 00:02:50.900 We're all sinners. You're a sinner. I'm a sinner. 00:02:51.139 --> 00:02:55.689 And it's okay to be sinners. I'm imperfect, you're 00:02:55.689 --> 00:02:58.430 imperfect, and this is the perfect place for 00:02:58.430 --> 00:03:00.949 us to come together. And it's okay to be imperfect. 00:03:01.169 --> 00:03:07.750 It's okay to not be okay. There's no standard. 00:03:08.849 --> 00:03:13.110 There's no expectation. For godliness and holiness, 00:03:13.530 --> 00:03:17.689 God is not a God that is given a holy and a righteous 00:03:17.689 --> 00:03:20.449 law that reflects His own character and His own 00:03:20.449 --> 00:03:22.930 goodness and that which He loves and that which 00:03:22.930 --> 00:03:30.550 He... A lot of times, I believe people don't 00:03:30.550 --> 00:03:33.129 like being told to pursue holiness and godliness 00:03:33.129 --> 00:03:40.650 because of emotionally driven hermeneutics. Emotionally 00:03:40.650 --> 00:03:44.449 driven ideas about what is right and what is 00:03:44.449 --> 00:03:47.930 wrong in their life, in the church, and what 00:03:47.930 --> 00:03:51.389 is expected of them in their life. For instance, 00:03:52.169 --> 00:03:55.150 I believe people rationalize away godliness and 00:03:55.150 --> 00:03:58.590 holiness because they say, well, when Paul tells, 00:03:58.909 --> 00:04:03.949 when Peter tells his readers, now for this very 00:04:03.949 --> 00:04:09.389 reason also, applying all diligence in your faith, 00:04:09.490 --> 00:04:12.530 supply, moral excellence, and so on and so on 00:04:12.530 --> 00:04:15.110 and so on. And then he even says, for if these 00:04:15.110 --> 00:04:17.589 qualities are yours and are increasing, meaning 00:04:17.589 --> 00:04:20.600 they have to be yours if you're a believer. And 00:04:20.600 --> 00:04:22.740 they have to be increasing if you're a believer. 00:04:24.720 --> 00:04:28.319 When Paul says that, he's talking to those first 00:04:28.319 --> 00:04:32.540 century Christians. He's talking to those really 00:04:32.540 --> 00:04:38.779 spiritual people. When Peter says that, he's 00:04:38.779 --> 00:04:42.579 not talking about me. He doesn't understand my 00:04:42.579 --> 00:04:47.100 life. He doesn't understand what's expected of 00:04:47.100 --> 00:04:52.750 me in my life. He doesn't understand the commitments 00:04:52.750 --> 00:04:55.730 in my life, what's required of me in my life. 00:04:55.769 --> 00:04:57.589 He doesn't understand what I'm going through 00:04:57.589 --> 00:05:00.149 and what I have to do in my life to just survive. 00:05:02.170 --> 00:05:04.970 But brothers and sisters, this applies to every 00:05:04.970 --> 00:05:08.470 single Christian, every single where, and every 00:05:08.470 --> 00:05:15.069 single time. We are the same. As Peter's readers, 00:05:15.230 --> 00:05:18.850 brothers and sisters, We are people saved by 00:05:18.850 --> 00:05:23.350 grace. We are sinners saved by grace. And that 00:05:23.350 --> 00:05:25.949 means that this exhortation and this admonition, 00:05:26.029 --> 00:05:29.649 this command on the life of the believer, is 00:05:29.649 --> 00:05:34.410 applicable to every single believer that's present 00:05:34.410 --> 00:05:40.529 in this room. There's going to be difficulties 00:05:40.529 --> 00:05:44.389 and hardships along the way, along the path of 00:05:44.389 --> 00:05:47.959 godliness. But brothers and sisters, because 00:05:47.959 --> 00:05:51.959 of all these reasons, I think that's all the 00:05:51.959 --> 00:05:56.339 more cause to teach and instruct on these things. 00:05:58.000 --> 00:06:01.060 Because of all these reasons, that's all the 00:06:01.060 --> 00:06:05.459 more cause to teach on the pursuit of godliness 00:06:05.459 --> 00:06:07.920 and holiness. Because we need it all that much 00:06:07.920 --> 00:06:11.300 more. Because we don't like it. Because we don't 00:06:11.300 --> 00:06:17.149 want to hear it. But we need to hear it. I need 00:06:17.149 --> 00:06:19.750 to hear and I need to be encouraged. I need to 00:06:19.750 --> 00:06:24.769 be exhorted to pursue Christlikeness in my life. 00:06:24.850 --> 00:06:28.029 And you, brothers and sisters, need to be exhorted 00:06:28.029 --> 00:06:31.269 unto Christlikeness in your life as those who 00:06:31.269 --> 00:06:36.550 are recipients of the blessed grace of God. So 00:06:36.550 --> 00:06:41.829 Peter encourages us to pursue a godly life in 00:06:41.829 --> 00:06:46.790 verses 5 through 11. Consider first with me the 00:06:46.790 --> 00:06:51.930 basis for pursuing a godly life. This is important 00:06:51.930 --> 00:06:56.209 that we get this right, isn't it? On what basis 00:06:56.209 --> 00:07:04.670 can a person say, pursue holiness? Pursue Christ. 00:07:05.389 --> 00:07:10.569 What is the basis? The text says now, for this 00:07:10.569 --> 00:07:17.449 very reason also. Peter's referring to what's 00:07:17.449 --> 00:07:21.689 come before. He's referring to what he's been 00:07:21.689 --> 00:07:24.050 speaking of. He's referring to what we've been 00:07:24.050 --> 00:07:27.730 examining the last several weeks. He's referring 00:07:27.730 --> 00:07:31.410 to the provisions of God for life and godliness. 00:07:31.730 --> 00:07:35.009 Do you remember in verse 3, he says, seeing that 00:07:35.009 --> 00:07:39.649 his divine power has granted to us everything 00:07:39.649 --> 00:07:43.699 pertaining to life and godliness. Brothers and 00:07:43.699 --> 00:07:45.819 sisters, God has given us graciously everything 00:07:45.819 --> 00:07:50.279 for life and godliness. That's the basis. God's 00:07:50.279 --> 00:07:53.939 work, God's provision, God's grace in the life 00:07:53.939 --> 00:07:57.259 of the believer. What he provides and what he 00:07:57.259 --> 00:08:00.180 gives and what he supplies and how he sustains 00:08:00.180 --> 00:08:04.600 for the Christian, for those with faith. It's 00:08:04.600 --> 00:08:07.379 the provisions of God. But it's not just the 00:08:07.379 --> 00:08:10.259 provisions of God that are the basis of the pursuit 00:08:10.259 --> 00:08:14.740 of a godly life. It's the promises of God. What 00:08:14.740 --> 00:08:19.160 do we see? We read in verse 4, For by these he 00:08:19.160 --> 00:08:22.519 has granted to us his precious and magnificent 00:08:22.519 --> 00:08:28.300 promises, so that by them you may become partakers 00:08:28.300 --> 00:08:31.800 of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption 00:08:31.800 --> 00:08:35.759 that is in the world by lusts. It's not just 00:08:35.759 --> 00:08:37.980 the provision of God for life and godliness, 00:08:38.080 --> 00:08:40.039 and that he's granted and he's given everything 00:08:40.039 --> 00:08:44.950 that we need. But it's the fact of the promises 00:08:44.950 --> 00:08:48.549 of the gospel and their application in the life 00:08:48.549 --> 00:08:52.070 of God's people. It's the reality, brothers and 00:08:52.070 --> 00:08:55.169 sisters, that God truly, genuinely intervenes 00:08:55.169 --> 00:08:57.350 in the life of a sinner, and then He gives them 00:08:57.350 --> 00:08:59.029 eyes to see, and He gives them ears to hear. 00:08:59.129 --> 00:09:01.870 He calls them by the gospel and by His Spirit. 00:09:02.460 --> 00:09:04.720 And that when He does that, brothers and sisters, 00:09:04.899 --> 00:09:09.460 He gives us a new heart, a new nature. He drastically 00:09:09.460 --> 00:09:12.919 changes us and He drastically transforms us so 00:09:12.919 --> 00:09:15.220 that our minds and our hearts and our longings 00:09:15.220 --> 00:09:18.220 are all renewed. They're all changed. They're 00:09:18.220 --> 00:09:21.279 all adjusted. They're reoriented towards God. 00:09:21.740 --> 00:09:26.759 And we have this desire, this longing for holiness 00:09:26.759 --> 00:09:31.110 and godliness in our life. We see... That in 00:09:31.110 --> 00:09:36.610 these promises, God provides us with certain 00:09:36.610 --> 00:09:41.929 realities so that we can pursue holiness. So 00:09:41.929 --> 00:09:46.929 that we can pursue godliness. He gives us ability 00:09:46.929 --> 00:09:54.309 to pursue it. By giving us a new nature and a 00:09:54.309 --> 00:10:00.320 new heart. Now, that does not mean... That it's 00:10:00.320 --> 00:10:04.620 just us? Because as God's grace calls us, brothers 00:10:04.620 --> 00:10:07.440 and sisters, we must never forget that God's 00:10:07.440 --> 00:10:13.240 grace sustains us and preserves us even in our 00:10:13.240 --> 00:10:18.179 pursuit of godliness and holiness. It's still 00:10:18.179 --> 00:10:21.899 of grace. The very reason that we are new creatures 00:10:21.899 --> 00:10:26.120 in Christ, the very reason that when God calls 00:10:26.120 --> 00:10:30.529 us and we believe on Christ God -given faith, 00:10:30.750 --> 00:10:33.649 that's a whole -souled movement. That's something 00:10:33.649 --> 00:10:36.889 we do. God doesn't believe for us. We believe. 00:10:37.509 --> 00:10:41.070 But why can we believe? And how do we believe? 00:10:41.929 --> 00:10:45.809 Because He has given us a new heart, and His 00:10:45.809 --> 00:10:50.250 strength by His Spirit causes us to believe. 00:10:51.149 --> 00:10:54.049 It's His energy. It's His power. It's His influence 00:10:54.049 --> 00:10:58.940 by the divine Spirit of God. My flesh... Has 00:10:58.940 --> 00:11:05.759 no power. And no ability. And no desire. To seek 00:11:05.759 --> 00:11:09.980 after a holy God. Do you know why? Because my 00:11:09.980 --> 00:11:16.000 flesh is antithetical to holiness. When I'm referring 00:11:16.000 --> 00:11:21.299 to it with reference to sin. A remnant of sin 00:11:21.299 --> 00:11:26.340 will not ever. Or indwelling sin. In a person 00:11:26.340 --> 00:11:31.480 will never seek out a holy God. Will never seek 00:11:31.480 --> 00:11:36.080 out to be like the Lord Jesus Christ. But when 00:11:36.080 --> 00:11:38.720 the work of God, the grace of God intervenes 00:11:38.720 --> 00:11:42.879 in a person's life and changes them and transforms 00:11:42.879 --> 00:11:48.110 them like we saw in Ephesians chapter 4. Like 00:11:48.110 --> 00:11:50.870 we see in Romans chapter 6 where we're dead to 00:11:50.870 --> 00:11:53.809 sin. The old man is crucified, the old man is 00:11:53.809 --> 00:11:56.470 dead, and we're alive unto God. And we can now 00:11:56.470 --> 00:12:01.289 reckon sin as dead to us? That's all because 00:12:01.289 --> 00:12:06.090 of God's grace, God's work in our life. So very 00:12:06.090 --> 00:12:12.730 clearly, we see that it's grace that is the foundation 00:12:12.730 --> 00:12:18.639 for any pursuit of godliness. in our lives. It's 00:12:18.639 --> 00:12:23.500 God's work in us that is the basis for any work 00:12:23.500 --> 00:12:27.519 in our lives. We have to remember that Peter's 00:12:27.519 --> 00:12:30.220 talking to, he's writing to who, brothers and 00:12:30.220 --> 00:12:34.799 sisters? Those who have received a faith of the 00:12:34.799 --> 00:12:38.080 same kind. Peter's not speaking to unbelievers 00:12:38.080 --> 00:12:43.759 and saying, be godly. He's not writing to unbelievers 00:12:43.759 --> 00:12:46.480 and saying, seek out holiness in Christ's likeness. 00:12:47.000 --> 00:12:50.460 No, he's writing to those with faith. He's writing 00:12:50.460 --> 00:12:54.080 to those who are believers, those who are indwelt 00:12:54.080 --> 00:12:56.899 by the Spirit of God, and those who have experienced 00:12:56.899 --> 00:12:59.559 the grace of God at work in their life. He's 00:12:59.559 --> 00:13:04.740 writing to them. There's nothing dogmatic. There's 00:13:04.740 --> 00:13:08.200 nothing legalistic. There's nothing moralistic. 00:13:08.600 --> 00:13:11.899 about a Christian, a believer, indwelt by the 00:13:11.899 --> 00:13:16.799 Holy Spirit being told to pursue holiness and 00:13:16.799 --> 00:13:19.419 godliness. In reality, brothers and sisters, 00:13:19.600 --> 00:13:25.279 we have to pursue those things. We must pursue 00:13:25.279 --> 00:13:30.820 those things. So, if one is to pursue godliness, 00:13:31.120 --> 00:13:38.970 what must precede it? Grace. Grace must precede 00:13:38.970 --> 00:13:42.370 godliness, right? But brothers and sisters, listen. 00:13:42.950 --> 00:13:50.789 What must follow grace? The pursuit of godliness. 00:13:51.409 --> 00:13:56.529 If grace comes in, godliness must be sought. 00:13:57.110 --> 00:14:01.129 If grace comes in, then brothers and sisters, 00:14:01.230 --> 00:14:06.649 godliness will be pursued. It's not as though 00:14:06.649 --> 00:14:10.350 God saves us and his work in us is ineffective, 00:14:10.730 --> 00:14:15.889 right? It's not as though God transforms us and 00:14:15.889 --> 00:14:19.149 then deserts us and leaves us to ourselves and 00:14:19.149 --> 00:14:21.590 all of a sudden it's all about the flesh and 00:14:21.590 --> 00:14:25.389 finishing with the flesh. No, brothers and sisters, 00:14:25.429 --> 00:14:29.370 the gospel is effective and powerful not just 00:14:29.370 --> 00:14:33.409 to convert us and regenerate us, but the gospel 00:14:33.409 --> 00:14:36.539 is effective. to transform us throughout the 00:14:36.539 --> 00:14:42.080 entirety of our lives in sanctification. To continue 00:14:42.080 --> 00:14:47.919 to renew us and transform us from glory to glory. 00:14:48.799 --> 00:14:53.440 This is an indiscriminate command and exhortation 00:14:53.440 --> 00:14:59.620 that Peter's giving to believers, isn't it? He's 00:14:59.620 --> 00:15:01.279 not saying if you're really, really spiritual, 00:15:01.679 --> 00:15:05.440 apply all diligence. and add these to your faith. 00:15:06.879 --> 00:15:09.080 He's not saying, if you're in the first century, 00:15:09.259 --> 00:15:12.039 then apply these to your faith. He's saying, 00:15:12.179 --> 00:15:18.740 believer, you with faith, you who have the Spirit 00:15:18.740 --> 00:15:23.279 of God, you who know Christ, you who love the 00:15:23.279 --> 00:15:25.639 Lord Jesus Christ, you who have been born again, 00:15:25.740 --> 00:15:28.879 you who have faith and repentance, pursue and 00:15:28.879 --> 00:15:33.539 seek out these things. Grace is the basis for 00:15:33.539 --> 00:15:36.399 pursuing a godly life, brothers and sisters. 00:15:36.580 --> 00:15:39.740 But we also have to consider what believers are 00:15:39.740 --> 00:15:43.679 called to pursue. When we say pursue a godly 00:15:43.679 --> 00:15:47.179 life, what exactly are we speaking of? What does 00:15:47.179 --> 00:15:50.139 the text tell us that we ought to be pursuing, 00:15:50.360 --> 00:15:53.299 that we ought to be supplying, and we ought to 00:15:53.299 --> 00:15:57.159 be diligently seeking to bring about and make 00:15:57.159 --> 00:16:00.059 a close and intimate part of our life? Well, 00:16:00.179 --> 00:16:04.200 we see in verses 5 through 7, this list, we could 00:16:04.200 --> 00:16:08.620 say, of Christian virtues and characteristics. 00:16:09.620 --> 00:16:13.580 He says, now for this very reason also, applying 00:16:13.580 --> 00:16:19.279 all diligence. In your faith, supply moral excellence. 00:16:20.059 --> 00:16:24.360 In your moral excellence, knowledge. And in your 00:16:24.360 --> 00:16:27.679 knowledge, self -control. And in your self -control, 00:16:27.940 --> 00:16:31.700 perseverance. And in your perseverance, godliness. 00:16:32.039 --> 00:16:35.779 And in your godliness, brotherly kindness. And 00:16:35.779 --> 00:16:42.080 in brotherly kindness, love. That is what Peter 00:16:42.080 --> 00:16:47.519 is exhorting his readers to seek out. To pursue. 00:16:47.879 --> 00:16:54.200 These traits that he lists. Now, when we consider 00:16:54.200 --> 00:16:58.779 these traits, Peter gives seven of them. He says 00:16:58.779 --> 00:17:03.799 in your faith, personal trust of Christ. He says 00:17:03.799 --> 00:17:06.359 moral excellence. Most likely he's speaking about 00:17:06.359 --> 00:17:12.259 moral virtue, moral goodness, integrity, and 00:17:12.259 --> 00:17:16.619 consistency, honesty, and purity in one's life 00:17:16.619 --> 00:17:20.099 in a well -rounded capacity across the board 00:17:20.099 --> 00:17:24.000 in how we see things and how we act and how we 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:27.500 talk and how we speak. Knowledge. He's speaking 00:17:27.500 --> 00:17:30.039 of the will of God and discerning the will of 00:17:30.039 --> 00:17:33.180 God. Not so much just the accumulation of knowledge. 00:17:33.839 --> 00:17:38.059 Self -control. The ability to restrain ourselves. 00:17:40.259 --> 00:17:43.339 The ability to restrain ourselves when the flesh 00:17:43.339 --> 00:17:48.220 rears its head and seeks to lash out. Self -control 00:17:48.220 --> 00:17:54.309 or temperance. Perseverance. This trait. where 00:17:54.309 --> 00:17:58.369 we press on, we continue on, we continue moving 00:17:58.369 --> 00:18:02.430 forward in spite of difficulties, we don't give 00:18:02.430 --> 00:18:04.509 up, we don't throw our hands to the side and 00:18:04.509 --> 00:18:11.329 say, I'm done. We press on. He says godliness, 00:18:11.410 --> 00:18:15.529 connecting it to what he said previously, a devout 00:18:15.529 --> 00:18:18.730 religious piety that's inwardly driven by the 00:18:18.730 --> 00:18:21.990 heart that seeks to honor the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:18:23.159 --> 00:18:27.079 brotherly kindness, talking about a familial 00:18:27.079 --> 00:18:32.119 Christian love. Now there's one that's relevant 00:18:32.119 --> 00:18:34.880 for us, isn't it, brothers and sisters? We're 00:18:34.880 --> 00:18:37.299 sitting next to brothers and sisters. We're sitting 00:18:37.299 --> 00:18:42.640 next to family. And Peter's exhorting us to love 00:18:42.640 --> 00:18:46.759 one another like brothers and sisters. Do you 00:18:46.759 --> 00:18:48.779 brothers and sisters know why I say brothers 00:18:48.779 --> 00:18:53.369 and sisters fairly often? In our conversation 00:18:53.369 --> 00:19:00.470 or from the pulpit? Because it's a term of endearment. 00:19:01.430 --> 00:19:05.150 It means I don't talk to everybody like this. 00:19:06.029 --> 00:19:09.029 It means I see you differently than I see the 00:19:09.029 --> 00:19:13.589 world. It means I know that Christ has died for 00:19:13.589 --> 00:19:15.890 you and he's died for me because you've made 00:19:15.890 --> 00:19:18.650 a profession of faith. Therefore, I recognize 00:19:18.650 --> 00:19:24.960 you as a brother or a sister. in Christ. That 00:19:24.960 --> 00:19:29.079 changes how we relate to one another. That changes 00:19:29.079 --> 00:19:33.000 how we look at one another. Peter's saying, pursue 00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:37.500 that out. He's saying that that is what we ought 00:19:37.500 --> 00:19:40.440 to be seeking in our lives. And then he culminates 00:19:40.440 --> 00:19:46.539 the list with love. Unselfish, self -denying, 00:19:46.640 --> 00:19:52.069 sacrificial love. That love which puts others 00:19:52.069 --> 00:19:56.109 first. Now this is the last one, but we also 00:19:56.109 --> 00:19:58.670 know this is often one of the most difficult 00:19:58.670 --> 00:20:06.569 of them. It's the determination to do good to 00:20:06.569 --> 00:20:11.390 our fellow man. Regardless of what it costs us. 00:20:12.130 --> 00:20:15.990 Regardless of how difficult it is. We will do 00:20:15.990 --> 00:20:22.160 good to our fellow man. Now, I think there's 00:20:22.160 --> 00:20:24.339 a few things it's important we recognize about 00:20:24.339 --> 00:20:28.299 this list that Peter has given us. I think we 00:20:28.299 --> 00:20:30.740 need to recognize that there's no significant 00:20:30.740 --> 00:20:35.119 order or progression in them. Other than the 00:20:35.119 --> 00:20:38.700 fact that it starts with faith and ends with 00:20:38.700 --> 00:20:43.079 love. Other than that, I think they're just connected 00:20:43.079 --> 00:20:47.970 and linked together. But it is significant. that 00:20:47.970 --> 00:20:53.349 every single quality listed is in accompaniment 00:20:53.349 --> 00:21:00.150 to faith. That means that these other qualities 00:21:00.150 --> 00:21:07.630 are the product, are the fruit, the result of 00:21:07.630 --> 00:21:13.109 faith. That means that when I seek out moral 00:21:13.109 --> 00:21:19.579 excellence, it has to be in That means that when 00:21:19.579 --> 00:21:24.460 I persevere, it needs to be in faith. That's 00:21:24.460 --> 00:21:28.059 what distinguishes it and separates it from carnality, 00:21:28.140 --> 00:21:34.039 from carnal effort and carnal exertion. The fact 00:21:34.039 --> 00:21:39.000 and the reality that these, in a sense, are all 00:21:39.000 --> 00:21:43.039 an accompaniment and the fruit of faith, and 00:21:43.039 --> 00:21:47.589 they all work toward love. All of these things 00:21:47.589 --> 00:21:52.329 serve the purpose of loving our fellow man and 00:21:52.329 --> 00:21:57.789 the church of the living God in particular. These 00:21:57.789 --> 00:22:00.829 are universal and necessary qualities according 00:22:00.829 --> 00:22:05.869 to 2 Peter verse 8. For if these qualities are 00:22:05.869 --> 00:22:08.769 yours and are increasing, they render you neither 00:22:08.769 --> 00:22:11.130 useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge 00:22:11.130 --> 00:22:14.670 of our Lord Jesus Christ. Christians will... 00:22:14.890 --> 00:22:21.130 have these qualities. Those with faith will enjoy 00:22:21.130 --> 00:22:26.190 these blessed graces in their life. And these 00:22:26.190 --> 00:22:32.289 things must spring from grace. The reason being, 00:22:32.430 --> 00:22:36.150 these are not things that we work up, we create, 00:22:36.349 --> 00:22:39.920 or we bring about on our own. These are part 00:22:39.920 --> 00:22:43.440 of all those things pertaining to life and godliness 00:22:43.440 --> 00:22:47.700 that God has given to the believer. He's already 00:22:47.700 --> 00:22:53.720 given us the seed, we could say, in faith of 00:22:53.720 --> 00:23:01.240 brotherly love. Of moral excellence. So it's 00:23:01.240 --> 00:23:04.579 not like we're producing this. We're exerting 00:23:04.579 --> 00:23:08.180 these things. We're working with the grace of 00:23:08.180 --> 00:23:11.220 God that's inside of us to bring them out and 00:23:11.220 --> 00:23:13.839 to manifest them and make them more evident in 00:23:13.839 --> 00:23:17.440 our lives. They're from God. They're not from 00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:21.019 the flesh. This is part of being made partakers 00:23:21.019 --> 00:23:27.079 of the divine nature. These are distinctly Christian 00:23:27.079 --> 00:23:34.339 virtues. He's not talking about worldly morality. 00:23:36.009 --> 00:23:39.470 Peter's talking about godliness and holiness 00:23:39.470 --> 00:23:45.390 in the life of a believer. This means, and this 00:23:45.390 --> 00:23:50.109 shows us, brothers and sisters, what God wants 00:23:50.109 --> 00:23:54.930 his people to seek after. This shows us what 00:23:54.930 --> 00:23:59.190 God wants us to pursue in our lives, doesn't 00:23:59.190 --> 00:24:04.650 it? And what do they have to do with? Who we 00:24:04.650 --> 00:24:10.089 are? And how we live. Why? Because of the grace 00:24:10.089 --> 00:24:14.210 of God. God is telling us, Peter is telling us, 00:24:14.309 --> 00:24:18.289 that there is a particular manner of life that 00:24:18.289 --> 00:24:22.230 believers in Jesus Christ are to be looking to 00:24:22.230 --> 00:24:25.750 be like. That they are to be seeking out and 00:24:25.750 --> 00:24:29.210 pursuing in their lives. It's this life characterized 00:24:29.210 --> 00:24:34.789 by these realities. These traits and these characteristics. 00:24:35.920 --> 00:24:40.000 It shows us what God values in the life of his 00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:45.759 people. God values and God wants his people to 00:24:45.759 --> 00:24:53.759 seek out moral excellence, perseverance, knowledge, 00:24:54.059 --> 00:24:59.799 brotherly love, and that self -sacrificial, self 00:24:59.799 --> 00:25:05.240 -denying love, that agape love. He wants us to 00:25:05.240 --> 00:25:08.400 be people who are characterized by self -control 00:25:08.400 --> 00:25:16.180 and all these traits. It's important for us to 00:25:16.180 --> 00:25:20.440 understand, brothers and sisters, God's primary 00:25:20.440 --> 00:25:27.000 concern for your life and for my life, as those 00:25:27.000 --> 00:25:29.299 who have been recipients of the grace of God, 00:25:29.380 --> 00:25:35.849 is not what you do in life. Meaning, you're a 00:25:35.849 --> 00:25:41.089 bus driver. You're a pastor, a preacher. You're 00:25:41.089 --> 00:25:44.470 a school teacher. You're a real estate agent. 00:25:44.670 --> 00:25:48.230 You're a dentist. You're a tech worker, a farmer. 00:25:48.329 --> 00:25:52.569 It doesn't matter. Listen, that's not God's primary 00:25:52.569 --> 00:25:55.549 concern in your life. His primary concern is 00:25:55.549 --> 00:25:59.549 not your wealth, your finance, your place, your 00:25:59.549 --> 00:26:04.710 affluence, or your position in life. Do you know 00:26:04.710 --> 00:26:07.609 what God is preeminently concerned about in your 00:26:07.609 --> 00:26:13.690 life? Do you know what God is preeminently concerned 00:26:13.690 --> 00:26:17.630 about with your soul? With your life that He 00:26:17.630 --> 00:26:23.910 has given you? Godliness. Holiness in your life. 00:26:24.089 --> 00:26:29.589 Who you are and how you live unto His glory. 00:26:30.970 --> 00:26:35.069 That's His concern. For his people who have been 00:26:35.069 --> 00:26:40.869 given his grace. He wants them to live in such 00:26:40.869 --> 00:26:44.569 a way that they adorn their faith with these 00:26:44.569 --> 00:26:51.109 blessed realities. In a sense, he wants his people 00:26:51.109 --> 00:26:57.009 to beautify the gospel of Jesus Christ with their 00:26:57.009 --> 00:27:02.660 very lives. To show off. What the gospel has 00:27:02.660 --> 00:27:06.039 done to them to show off what the gospel is doing 00:27:06.039 --> 00:27:08.680 to them. That means, brothers and sisters, we 00:27:08.680 --> 00:27:12.460 say something about the gospel in our self -control 00:27:12.460 --> 00:27:17.799 or our absence of self -control. That means that 00:27:17.799 --> 00:27:22.180 you say something in your life about God and 00:27:22.180 --> 00:27:26.619 the gospel and your love or your absence of love. 00:27:27.339 --> 00:27:29.900 And your brotherly love or the absence and neglect 00:27:29.900 --> 00:27:33.000 of brotherly love. And your perseverance or your 00:27:33.000 --> 00:27:36.220 despair. You say something about the gospel of 00:27:36.220 --> 00:27:39.319 Jesus Christ and its power and its effect in 00:27:39.319 --> 00:27:46.019 your very souls. What is your life saying about 00:27:46.019 --> 00:27:50.660 the gospel? What is your pursuit of godliness 00:27:50.660 --> 00:27:54.180 and holiness in your life? How does your treatment 00:27:54.180 --> 00:27:56.599 of your brothers and sisters, how does that talk 00:27:56.599 --> 00:28:01.640 about the gospel? What does it say about what 00:28:01.640 --> 00:28:06.240 Christ has done on the cross? And the power of 00:28:06.240 --> 00:28:10.140 the Spirit of God at work in you. We're always 00:28:10.140 --> 00:28:15.299 saying something. Everybody's always saying something. 00:28:15.740 --> 00:28:19.099 And the way they talk, and the way they dress, 00:28:19.609 --> 00:28:21.869 and the way they look, and how they act, and 00:28:21.869 --> 00:28:26.710 how they treat others, and what they do. Everybody's 00:28:26.710 --> 00:28:30.970 always saying something. They're either beautifying 00:28:30.970 --> 00:28:34.730 the gospel of Jesus Christ, or they're saying 00:28:34.730 --> 00:28:36.849 something else about the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:28:38.690 --> 00:28:43.549 Our lives should be living reflections of the 00:28:43.549 --> 00:28:46.970 efficacious power of the gospel at work in our 00:28:46.970 --> 00:28:51.319 very souls. Our lives should be living testimonies 00:28:51.319 --> 00:28:54.440 to the work of Christ and his grace and his mercy 00:28:54.440 --> 00:28:58.480 and the transforming power of that grace and 00:28:58.480 --> 00:29:03.119 that mercy in our lives. That's what Peter wants 00:29:03.119 --> 00:29:07.559 us to do. He wants us to pursue a life that glorifies 00:29:07.559 --> 00:29:11.779 God by reflecting the blessed gospel in our lives. 00:29:12.920 --> 00:29:15.000 That's what we need to seek out, brothers and 00:29:15.000 --> 00:29:21.009 sisters. For morality's sake. But because we 00:29:21.009 --> 00:29:24.990 want to honor our Lord. If you're a believer, 00:29:25.109 --> 00:29:28.690 I know you want to honor the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:29:29.589 --> 00:29:32.809 I know you have the desire and the longing to 00:29:32.809 --> 00:29:37.170 please your Heavenly Father. This is how we do 00:29:37.170 --> 00:29:40.809 it. We seek out and we pursue these realities. 00:29:41.170 --> 00:29:43.849 And brothers and sisters, this is a life of joy. 00:29:45.740 --> 00:29:48.759 This is the life of contentment. This is the 00:29:48.759 --> 00:29:51.480 life of satisfaction and fulfillment. This is 00:29:51.480 --> 00:29:53.980 the life of peace. You know, a lot of times, 00:29:54.000 --> 00:29:59.400 the Puritans get really, really bad reps. Now, 00:29:59.480 --> 00:30:02.880 there was a small minority of Puritans that should 00:30:02.880 --> 00:30:10.740 get a bad rep. Very small. The mass of the Puritans. 00:30:12.059 --> 00:30:15.799 Yes, they pursued godliness. And they pursued 00:30:15.799 --> 00:30:18.960 holiness. But listen, brothers and sisters, they 00:30:18.960 --> 00:30:25.099 were very, very happy people. They were very, 00:30:25.200 --> 00:30:29.940 very joyful people. They loved the Lord Jesus 00:30:29.940 --> 00:30:34.059 Christ. They desired to please Him and honor 00:30:34.059 --> 00:30:37.940 Him. They experienced a deep joy in their souls 00:30:37.940 --> 00:30:42.740 that we may know nothing about at times. Why? 00:30:44.129 --> 00:30:47.829 Because they were so consecrated to the very 00:30:47.829 --> 00:30:54.549 purpose of being godly and holy. If we want to 00:30:54.549 --> 00:30:58.130 experience true joy in our lives, if you want 00:30:58.130 --> 00:31:00.930 contentment and peace in your life, if you want 00:31:00.930 --> 00:31:02.910 to know what it means to be happy in your soul 00:31:02.910 --> 00:31:07.490 and not miserable all the time, then you need 00:31:07.490 --> 00:31:09.730 to seek out the Lord Jesus Christ and to imitate 00:31:09.730 --> 00:31:14.740 Him and to be like Him. and to find satisfaction 00:31:14.740 --> 00:31:20.299 and peace and hope and confidence in him by faith. 00:31:23.559 --> 00:31:26.859 This is very different from what the world tells 00:31:26.859 --> 00:31:30.880 us to go after, isn't it? What does the world 00:31:30.880 --> 00:31:35.400 tell us to do? What does the world tell us to 00:31:35.400 --> 00:31:39.460 seek out? This is especially relevant for young 00:31:39.460 --> 00:31:43.369 people. What does the world and the culture say 00:31:43.369 --> 00:31:49.829 to go after in your life? What you value. What's 00:31:49.829 --> 00:31:53.769 important to you. What makes you feel good? What 00:31:53.769 --> 00:31:57.549 guarantees your success in life? What gives you 00:31:57.549 --> 00:32:00.269 the most affluence and influence in life? Where 00:32:00.269 --> 00:32:02.549 are you going to have the most impact on society 00:32:02.549 --> 00:32:05.509 and culture? What's going to give you the best 00:32:05.509 --> 00:32:09.230 position and best place? What's going to satisfy 00:32:09.230 --> 00:32:14.920 your... wants the most. That's not what Peter 00:32:14.920 --> 00:32:19.099 tells us to go after. Peter says to go after 00:32:19.099 --> 00:32:23.880 that which God values. Peter says seek out and 00:32:23.880 --> 00:32:27.099 pursue that which is dear to the very heart of 00:32:27.099 --> 00:32:30.400 the Lord Jesus Christ. Holiness and godliness. 00:32:31.640 --> 00:32:34.940 Those are the things that Christians ought to 00:32:34.940 --> 00:32:38.740 pursue and seek out with all their very being. 00:32:40.240 --> 00:32:46.759 Those things that God tells us to go after. Now 00:32:46.759 --> 00:32:49.660 consider how we are to pursue godliness. This 00:32:49.660 --> 00:32:53.980 one is fairly simple from the text. How do we 00:32:53.980 --> 00:32:58.339 go after these things? The text says in verse 00:32:58.339 --> 00:33:02.640 5, now for this very reason also, applying all 00:33:02.640 --> 00:33:12.289 diligence and your faith supply. I'm sorry. In 00:33:12.289 --> 00:33:19.809 your faith, supply moral excellence. Believers 00:33:19.809 --> 00:33:26.769 must apply all diligence in their pursuit of 00:33:26.769 --> 00:33:35.269 a godly life. We know what we are to seek. We 00:33:35.269 --> 00:33:37.210 know what God wants us to go after, don't we, 00:33:37.269 --> 00:33:41.799 brothers and sisters? Knowing that, understanding 00:33:41.799 --> 00:33:46.079 who God wants us to be, how ought we to then 00:33:46.079 --> 00:33:53.880 live? How ought we to prioritize our life, our 00:33:53.880 --> 00:34:02.200 energy, our time, our days? We have to live in 00:34:02.200 --> 00:34:07.119 such a way that we're wise and not unwise. Peter 00:34:07.119 --> 00:34:10.889 is very clear. He says that we have to make every 00:34:10.889 --> 00:34:13.809 effort. What does he mean by this? Every single 00:34:13.809 --> 00:34:15.889 one of us clearly understands what this means. 00:34:17.030 --> 00:34:19.130 Every single one of us knows what it means to 00:34:19.130 --> 00:34:21.829 apply all diligence. And do you know how I know 00:34:21.829 --> 00:34:23.670 every single person already understands this? 00:34:24.449 --> 00:34:27.369 Because the people I know in this room are very 00:34:27.369 --> 00:34:31.750 hard workers. And if they say to their child, 00:34:31.909 --> 00:34:37.079 or to an employee, or to a staff member, Or to 00:34:37.079 --> 00:34:40.199 somebody they're supervising or overseeing, somebody 00:34:40.199 --> 00:34:43.480 they're in charge of, and they say, now, apply 00:34:43.480 --> 00:34:50.719 all diligence in this task. Apply all diligence 00:34:50.719 --> 00:34:56.519 in this function, in this capacity, in this duty, 00:34:56.539 --> 00:35:02.079 in this role. What do you mean by that? Do you 00:35:02.079 --> 00:35:09.610 mean it's okay? Let it fall to the wayside. Neglect 00:35:09.610 --> 00:35:13.110 it. And then take up the opportunity when you 00:35:13.110 --> 00:35:17.590 get a chance and whenever you feel like it. No. 00:35:19.289 --> 00:35:21.710 I certainly don't mean that whenever I tell my 00:35:21.710 --> 00:35:26.289 child that. Does it mean, brothers and sisters, 00:35:26.429 --> 00:35:31.289 give it a half -hearted effort and then stop? 00:35:33.110 --> 00:35:37.760 No. Brothers and sisters, it means make every 00:35:37.760 --> 00:35:43.519 effort and take every opportunity to reach that 00:35:43.519 --> 00:35:51.000 goal which is included in the command. Do everything 00:35:51.000 --> 00:35:54.559 within your power to see that this comes about. 00:35:56.619 --> 00:36:02.440 Give it everything you've got. Because that's 00:36:02.440 --> 00:36:05.309 what I want. Because that's what's good for you. 00:36:05.510 --> 00:36:10.389 Because that's what I long for your life. Brothers 00:36:10.389 --> 00:36:14.329 and sisters, we have a Heavenly Father who loves 00:36:14.329 --> 00:36:18.389 us and cares more for us than we can ever fathom. 00:36:19.170 --> 00:36:22.469 And He longs for us to know what it's like to 00:36:22.469 --> 00:36:26.409 be holy and godly in our life. And He says, apply 00:36:26.409 --> 00:36:32.179 all diligence in this matter. Take every opportunity. 00:36:32.420 --> 00:36:35.320 Make every effort. That means give all the time 00:36:35.320 --> 00:36:36.960 that you have and all the time that you can. 00:36:37.239 --> 00:36:40.239 Empty yourself. Give yourself to this purpose 00:36:40.239 --> 00:36:47.239 in your life. I want you to do this. That's what 00:36:47.239 --> 00:36:50.480 we ought to hear in this calling and this exhortation. 00:36:50.519 --> 00:36:54.420 It's a command, a call, an exhortation, an admonition 00:36:54.420 --> 00:36:58.920 of love, brothers and sisters. Our Father in 00:36:58.920 --> 00:37:03.500 heaven loves us dearly, and He knows that we 00:37:03.500 --> 00:37:06.340 need to be holy and godly in our life so that 00:37:06.340 --> 00:37:09.880 we enjoy contentment and peace and love, and 00:37:09.880 --> 00:37:16.940 we know Him more than we do now. We have to give 00:37:16.940 --> 00:37:20.199 it everything we've got. This includes activity 00:37:20.199 --> 00:37:26.139 and the will. We can't apply all diligence. without 00:37:26.139 --> 00:37:31.000 exercising some resolve in our minds, in our 00:37:31.000 --> 00:37:35.139 wills. I think Peter's telling us, when it comes 00:37:35.139 --> 00:37:40.739 to matters of your faith, be strong -willed. 00:37:41.820 --> 00:37:45.780 I think he's telling us, be a go -getter when 00:37:45.780 --> 00:37:49.500 it comes to growing in grace. Give yourself to 00:37:49.500 --> 00:37:52.639 this purpose. Do everything that you possibly 00:37:52.639 --> 00:37:56.480 can. To achieve this goal. To seek it out. And 00:37:56.480 --> 00:38:01.380 to go after it. But he also says. That the way 00:38:01.380 --> 00:38:05.119 that we pursue this. Is that believers must supply. 00:38:05.219 --> 00:38:09.280 Or they must add. These qualities to their faith. 00:38:10.940 --> 00:38:15.780 This is why he says in verse 5. Supplying all 00:38:15.780 --> 00:38:23.230 diligence. Now this word. assumes the presence 00:38:23.230 --> 00:38:29.289 of these qualities already. And he's calling 00:38:29.289 --> 00:38:34.389 us to exercise and practice these things. It 00:38:34.389 --> 00:38:38.429 was used in Greek literature for various different 00:38:38.429 --> 00:38:42.269 purposes, but the primary use was for a patron 00:38:42.269 --> 00:38:46.150 or a benefactor that loved music and orchestra. 00:38:47.719 --> 00:38:49.920 That they would come alongside that orchestra 00:38:49.920 --> 00:38:52.059 and that team and they would provide funding 00:38:52.059 --> 00:38:54.340 or donations or they would furnish instruments 00:38:54.340 --> 00:38:56.760 so that the orchestra could be well -rounded 00:38:56.760 --> 00:38:59.099 and make the most beautiful music that it could 00:38:59.099 --> 00:39:04.360 potentially make. Peter's saying supply diligence 00:39:04.360 --> 00:39:09.139 and effort. Supply these qualities in such a 00:39:09.139 --> 00:39:16.400 way that you show off the gospel in your life. 00:39:17.019 --> 00:39:21.980 And the beauty of the gospel in your life. That 00:39:21.980 --> 00:39:27.840 we show off the work of the Lord. Now, the reality 00:39:27.840 --> 00:39:36.400 is, brothers and sisters, that we go after, we 00:39:36.400 --> 00:39:38.940 seek after, we pursue, and we give diligence 00:39:38.940 --> 00:39:43.260 to those things which matter most in our lives. 00:39:49.000 --> 00:39:54.019 We apply all diligence to those things which 00:39:54.019 --> 00:40:00.719 matter most to us. We apply all diligence to 00:40:00.719 --> 00:40:03.739 those things our heart's affections are set on 00:40:03.739 --> 00:40:11.000 the most. We make time for those things which 00:40:11.000 --> 00:40:17.199 matter most. We open up our schedule. We control. 00:40:19.440 --> 00:40:24.980 We persevere in those things. We do everything 00:40:24.980 --> 00:40:27.840 necessary to accomplish those goals in our lives 00:40:27.840 --> 00:40:30.940 because they matter to us, because they're meaningful 00:40:30.940 --> 00:40:36.599 to us. Brothers and sisters, we are called to 00:40:36.599 --> 00:40:40.039 give all diligence and all activity and all exertion, 00:40:40.059 --> 00:40:44.900 everything in our power and our control, to lay 00:40:44.900 --> 00:40:49.320 hold. of Christ more in our lives. Everything. 00:40:50.880 --> 00:40:56.380 That is to be our priority and our values. We 00:40:56.380 --> 00:40:58.679 are to go after that which God loves the most. 00:41:00.320 --> 00:41:03.980 We are to go after those things which He's telling 00:41:03.980 --> 00:41:06.340 us to go after. And that means that we may have 00:41:06.340 --> 00:41:08.559 to neglect or lay aside some of the things we 00:41:08.559 --> 00:41:13.460 like so much. If we want to lay hold of Christ 00:41:13.460 --> 00:41:16.699 more and more in our lives and to be closer and 00:41:16.699 --> 00:41:20.280 closer to Him in union by faith and have the 00:41:20.280 --> 00:41:23.039 Spirit of God working more in us than brothers 00:41:23.039 --> 00:41:26.059 and sisters, let other things that are of lesser 00:41:26.059 --> 00:41:29.280 value fall to the wayside that you might lay 00:41:29.280 --> 00:41:33.059 hold of Christ more and more in your life. Let 00:41:33.059 --> 00:41:37.440 go of those things in the pursuit. of holiness 00:41:37.440 --> 00:41:40.480 and godliness in your lives to honor the Lord 00:41:40.480 --> 00:41:46.360 Jesus Christ. There are certain things in our 00:41:46.360 --> 00:41:50.380 lives that are going to have no eternal impact 00:41:50.380 --> 00:41:54.699 on our very souls. There are certain things in 00:41:54.699 --> 00:41:57.659 our lives that we will never take with us when 00:41:57.659 --> 00:42:01.880 we die. Listen, brothers and sisters. There are 00:42:01.880 --> 00:42:05.119 eternal things which have eternal impacts on 00:42:05.119 --> 00:42:08.679 our souls and on those around us. Give yourselves 00:42:08.679 --> 00:42:13.619 to those realities. Those things which will perpetually 00:42:13.619 --> 00:42:19.900 remain because they are of God. What other things 00:42:19.900 --> 00:42:24.900 fall to the wayside? What matters most to you? 00:42:26.099 --> 00:42:31.489 What's most important to your soul? Now, in our 00:42:31.489 --> 00:42:34.730 pursuits of those things that mean so much to 00:42:34.730 --> 00:42:38.590 us in our lives, we use every method and every 00:42:38.590 --> 00:42:42.590 means to obtain them, don't we? Lawful methods 00:42:42.590 --> 00:42:48.010 and lawful means. God forbid no one in here would 00:42:48.010 --> 00:42:53.010 use unlawful methods to obtain that which they 00:42:53.010 --> 00:43:00.389 want in life. But if we want... To pursue godliness 00:43:00.389 --> 00:43:03.909 in our life. If we want to grow in grace and 00:43:03.909 --> 00:43:07.090 knowledge, and to know the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:43:07.429 --> 00:43:09.210 you know how we do that, brothers and sisters? 00:43:10.789 --> 00:43:14.050 We take advantage of the means that God has given 00:43:14.050 --> 00:43:19.670 to us to bring those things about. The Word of 00:43:19.670 --> 00:43:24.469 God. We have to be people that live in the Word. 00:43:26.280 --> 00:43:30.639 We have to be people that love the Word, that 00:43:30.639 --> 00:43:32.900 read the Word and study the Word and look to 00:43:32.900 --> 00:43:35.699 the Word for leadership and guidance in our lives. 00:43:36.679 --> 00:43:39.639 We have to make our decisions and make our determinations 00:43:39.639 --> 00:43:43.739 in life based on the Word. But brothers and sisters, 00:43:43.880 --> 00:43:48.440 God has also given us prayer. We must lay hold 00:43:48.440 --> 00:43:51.199 of prayer and go to the Lord in prayer and seek 00:43:51.199 --> 00:43:54.829 Him out in prayer and use the means. But brothers 00:43:54.829 --> 00:43:56.849 and sisters, He's also given us the local church. 00:43:57.449 --> 00:44:00.670 The people of God where we've covenanted together 00:44:00.670 --> 00:44:04.489 to walk together as one people in unity and love. 00:44:07.010 --> 00:44:12.329 He's given us the ordinances. These are the means 00:44:12.329 --> 00:44:17.150 by which we grow in godliness and holiness in 00:44:17.150 --> 00:44:23.769 our lives. I want to end. by reading something. 00:44:24.710 --> 00:44:27.489 This is the Canons of Dort. It's such a good 00:44:27.489 --> 00:44:31.570 section on what we're speaking of. It says this, 00:44:31.929 --> 00:44:37.090 For grace is conferred by means of admonition, 00:44:37.170 --> 00:44:39.469 such as the one we're reading about in 2 Peter 00:44:39.469 --> 00:44:45.150 1, verses 5 -11, an admonition. For grace is 00:44:45.150 --> 00:44:48.750 conferred by means of admonitions, and the more 00:44:48.750 --> 00:44:53.239 readily we perform our duty. the more clearly 00:44:53.239 --> 00:44:57.880 this favor of God working in us usually manifests 00:44:57.880 --> 00:45:01.619 itself. And the more directly His work is advanced. 00:45:02.079 --> 00:45:06.840 To Him alone all the glory, both for the means 00:45:06.840 --> 00:45:10.500 and for the saving fruit in efficacy, is forever 00:45:10.500 --> 00:45:14.760 due. Amen. Do you know what it's saying there, 00:45:14.800 --> 00:45:18.440 brothers and sisters? It's saying that the more 00:45:18.440 --> 00:45:21.099 we give ourselves to pursuing godliness and holiness, 00:45:21.849 --> 00:45:25.289 the more the grace of God powerfully works in 00:45:25.289 --> 00:45:28.730 our souls. The more we seek to be like Christ, 00:45:28.809 --> 00:45:32.190 the more His grace works in our very hearts. 00:45:35.570 --> 00:45:43.710 Be a people that don't feel as though we have 00:45:43.710 --> 00:45:48.150 to dogmatically pursue holiness and godliness. 00:45:49.130 --> 00:45:51.289 Brothers and sisters, be a people that recognize 00:45:51.289 --> 00:45:56.469 God wants us to be holy and godly and to know 00:45:56.469 --> 00:46:02.210 Christ more because he loves us dearly. He cares 00:46:02.210 --> 00:46:06.429 for us dearly. And he knows what is best for 00:46:06.429 --> 00:46:07.090 our souls.