Lesson 7
Second Peter
Warning against dangers
facing the Church
Review: Rabbit
trail of Rom 5:3-4
"knowing
that our tribulation brings about; or produces";
*** What we have here is a major indicator of what a mature
or advancing Christian is!
The extent
of maturity is demonstrated by how we deal with pressure.
Prosperity
is not good soil for growing, advancing believers; but pressure is!
- In the context here we have 3 categories of fruit that
pressure produces;
#1 perseverance
#2 proven
character
#3 hope
Hope ->
pressures -> perseverance -> proven character -> hope which is
strengthened
* The idea here is that the pressures/suffering inaugurates
a chain of linked virtues;
1 Pet
1:6-7; speaks
of various trials -> proof or demonstration of faith -> being tested
and approved by fire [increasingly
greater tests]
what
results is praise, glory, honor directed
toward Jesus Christ!
Then there
is Jas. 1:2-4 know
that the testing of your faith -> patient endurance -> leads to maturity [being all that God
desires and expects]
Objective: BECOMING A SPIRITUALLY WELL BALANCED
BELIEVER.
Rom 5:3
says And not only this, [that
is rejoicing in the glory of God] but we also exult [rejoice, have joy] in our tribulations,
What we are
to rejoice in is what the pressures produce!
5:4 The fruit is threefold:
The fruit: #1 = perseverance hu`pomonh,
- It speaks of steadfast adherence to a course of action in
spite of the
difficulties and testing one might experience in life.
In other
words the one who does not have patient endurance and therefore is unstable is constantly running
from one situation to another, always
reacting, never dealing with anything therefore is unstable, flip-flopping on
everything.
#2 Patient endurance leads to proven
character, dokimh,
- this means to be approved/accepted after
being tested, to be tested and found to
be genuine or reliable;
- When you face the tests/pressures of life and bear up under their load
by utilizing the divine operating resources you have; then you are approved/accepted by God.
#3
Proven character leads to hope evlpisj our confident expectation in our future glory is reinforced, strengthened.
What conclusions should we be able to make:
I am here
in this situation:
(1) by God's appointment,
(filtered through his Sov before you
experience it)
(2) I'm in
His keeping,
(3) I'm under His
training, and
(4) its all for His timing.
Summary of Romans
5:3-4 (Truth is consistent with
the thrust of 2 Pet 1:5-7)
1. Must learn very quickly as
believers that between salvation and glory there are going to be tribulations!!
- REM: your in the midst of a spiritual
conflict (INNER - the battle for ruler-ship of the soul, the influence of your
thinking and EXTERNAL - pressure from many sources; which will increase as we
fast approach the end of the C/A.
2. The sin nature tends to
rejoice in overt blessing but NOT in suffering and tests.
(tendency
to rejoice in others' suffering / tests but not one's own)
3. Only those believers who are
plus DVPT, having BD forming their frame of reference and use it are able to
exalt in their CHP'S - tribulations; to have and know the reality of a mental
attitude of joy in the middle of the test.
- Must learn to F/R the situation - A/BD; recognizing that the Lord will
provide what I need to work thru the test.
(point of 1 Cor
10:13)
4. When we face that test (O/A)
head on and apply truth we will develop patient endurance and build proven
character.
5. Patient endurance here
indicates having a relaxed mental attitude under pressure and having confidence
respecting your niche, the place where God has put you.
6. When you adjust to where God
wants you to be, utilizing the discernment gained from the Word, and you hang
in there, regardless of the CHP'S and the human viewpoint advice that says
quit, move on, you develop this Christian character, this proven character.
7. This proven character manifests itself by the absence of complaining,
nagging, hitting the panic button, and the absence of a frantic search for
happiness.
8. Our entire history from
salvation to maturation is a daily challenge to field the common human problems
that will come, the results of which being tallied by God and is parlayed into your hope, your eternal
reward given at the JSC.
9. This hope is only realized
when your faith, the truth in you, your resident BD is tested and the result -
this hope will never disappoint, or put you to shame now or at the JSC.
We left vs:6 in the middle of it
and we have one more virtue that is linked in the chain to patient endurance.
1:6
and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your
self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness,
godliness (euvse,beia)
- speaks of a
manner of life characterized by reverence toward God and respect for the
beliefs and practices related to Him
#1 - 1:3-8 speaking of the one who
lives their life in the expectation, hope and pursues epignosis,
a full knowledge of the truth
#2 - 2:9 will be provided the
resources the spiritual assets to handle temptation
#3 - 3:11-14 the one who lives their life in the
light of His return
So the bottom line is that
godliness refers to a life of active obedience to the standards of God and
therefore is a synonym for the advancing believer who lives life applying the
truths of the Word.
1:7 and in your godliness,
brotherly kindness,
(filadelfi,a) love of the
brethren, other believers; this speaks
of a fervent practical caring of others
- This is not just love, but the love, that reflects
an attitude first towards God, we love God and are occupied with His Son Jesus
Christ!