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Introduction:
“What must I do to be saved?” Hear, believe, confess, repent
and be baptized (Romans
10:17; 10:9-10; Acts 2:38). When someone obeys this, he is saved. End of story!
Right? Wrong! This is only the beginning of salvation. We now ask,
“Now that I am a Christian, what must I do to be saved?” Peter
answers this question in II
Peter 1:5-11. As you look forward to the new year, let this
passage be a plan for growth. Discussion: I.
Strengthen
your foundation: Faith. A.
We already
have faith. It was part of what made us Christian to begin with (Romans
10:9-10). B.
II Peter 1:8
says these qualities must be increasing. Thus, we may not say,
“I have faith so I am saved.” We must have a growing faith.
This also applies to all the characteristics we will examine in
this lesson. C.
II Peter 1:10
says we must be diligent about these characteristics. The term
translated “diligence” is elsewhere translated eager (Ephesians
4:3) and strive (Hebrews
4:11). We must exert will and action in these characteristics
to be saved. Growth is not accidental. We must purpose and plan to
grow. D.
II Peter 1:10
says these attributes are practices, not just states of mind. We
must not just have faith, we must practice faith. That is, we must
do those things which increase faith (Romans
10:17) and those things which demonstrate faith (Romans
1:5). So are all the attributes diligent practices. II.
Build onto
your foundation: Virtue. A.
Virtue is
simply the idea of doing what is right because it is right, no
matter the consequences. It is described by Paul in Ephesians
4:17-32, laying aside of the old man and putting on the new
man. Your path of virtue has already begun. In baptism, you built
on to and made perfect your faith through obedience to God’s
command (James 2:22-24;
Colossians 2:12). Now you must add to that virtue. B.
Remember
God’s word is the standard for what is right (II
Timothy 3:16-17). If God’s word does not authorize the work,
that course of action is not virtuous, no matter what anyone else
says or what you may think. As a Christian, if you would be saved,
you must follow God’s pattern of virtue. III.
Don’t be
destroyed: Knowledge. A.
Under the
old covenant, God declared, “My people are destroyed for lack of
knowledge” (Hosea 4:6,
ESV). Jesus told the Sadducees, “You are wrong, because you know
neither the Scriptures…” (Matthew
22:29, ESV). Jesus also said, “You will know the truth, and
the truth will set you free” (John
8:32, ESV). B.
We are
seeing an upward cycle. Our faith comes by hearing (Romans
10:17). That is, we began with some knowledge, which led to
faith. Our faith produced virtue. To know what was virtuous, we
had to study our Bibles (II
Timothy 3:16-17). This study increased our knowledge. This
increased knowledge, produced greater faith, etc. Upward we go on
the cycle. C.
More than
just reading the Bible, you must learn it. Hide it in your heart,
that you might not sin against God (Psalm
119:11). Additionally, more than knowing it, you must use it. Jesus’ stands as a shining example of using knowledge in Matthew
4:1-11. Jesus responded to each temptation from His knowledge
of the scripture, three times saying, “It is written.” Now
that you are a Christian, if you would be saved you must increase
your knowledge. Remember, this, like faith, is to be done with
diligence. Don’t wait for Sundays and Wednesdays to gain
knowledge. Knowledge is a daily endeavor. IV.
Standing on
your own two feet: Self-control. A.
Self-control
is an issue of responsibility and accountability. Self-control is
realizing that you are where you are today because of choices you
made yesterday. And you will be where you will be tomorrow because
of the choices you make today. Self-control means not blaming
anyone else for your choices. Self-control means taking the growth
you have in faith, virtue and knowledge and living it because you
have decided to live it. Not because someone is forcing you to
live it. Self-control means you control yourself. B.
This is a
growth process. New Christians may seek others’ help, having
them keep a direct watch over their personal goals of faith,
virtue and knowledge. Perhaps for a while, they will meet with a
brother to study and pray on a regular basis. As the new Christian
grows in self-control the reliance on older Christians for
accountability shrinks. C.
Self-control
does not mean we do not lean on God. Rather, our self-control is
based on surrendering to God, not leaning on our own understanding
but trusting God’s way as the right way and choosing that way
always (Proverbs 3:5;
Matthew 7:13-14). Now that you are a Christian, if you would
be saved, you will realize you do what you want to do. You will
make your choices. You will take responsibility for your choices.
You will learn from your mistakes, confessing your sins to God,
accepting His grace. V.
Keep on
keepin’ on: Steadfastness. A.
Steadfastness
is endurance even in the face of the greatest suffering. It is
determining to continue to serve God until the end (James
5:7-8). But steadfastness is much more than serving God
throughout the day to day humdrum activities. It means serving God
even through hardship. B.
Steadfastness
means serving God even though we must sacrifice some of the
pleasures of this life (Hebrews
11:24-26). It means not being distracted by the things of the
world (Colossians 3:1-2).
It means facing hatred and persecution but continuing anyway
without soft-peddling the gospel (II
Timothy 3:12). To see an example of true perseverance read Hebrews
11:35-38. C.
If you would
be saved, persevere in the face of the hardships and trials that
await you (I Timothy 6:12). VI.
Growing in
your relationship with God: Godliness A.
You became a
Christian because you feared God. You became a Christian because
of your attitude towards who He is and what He does. Growing in
godliness, means growing in that relationship. B.
The term
translated “godliness” (eusebeia) is a contraction of two
terms, one meaning “good” (eu) and the other meaning
“reverence” (sebomai). It is reverence for and piety towards
God. However, as learned earlier, this, like faith, is not just an
attitude. Godliness is to be our diligent practice. C.
What would
be the ultimate way of practicing piety towards God? Imitation!
Paul commanded us to imitate Christ (I
Corinthians 11:1). Peter said we are to be holy, because God
is holy (I Peter 1:16). D.
Now that you
are a Christian, if you would be saved you must be godly. That is,
have a devotion and piety toward God that is demonstrated by
living as God would. While I do not want to promote fads, the
question that was so popular a few years ago, “What would Jesus
do?” is a great guide for this aspect. VII.
Growing in your relationship with other Christians:
Brotherly affection A.
When we
enter a relationship with God, we are placed in a relationship
with others (I John 1:7).
If you would be saved, you must grow in your relationship with
those others. B.
The term
translated “brotherly affection” (philadelphia) is also a
contraction of two words. One meaning “friend” (philos), the
other meaning “brother” (adelphos). Thus, we are to be friends
with our brothers. As in our physical families, in Christ, we do
not choose who are brothers are. But, in all relationships, we
choose who our friends are. Peter says we must choose to be
friends with our brethren (Romans
12:10). C.
We typically
make friends with those who have the same interests, same desires
and same goals as we do. What greater similarity could we have
than going to heaven and taking others with us? D.
How do you
treat a friend? With kindness and patience. You help them overcome
their problems. You accept help from them with your problems. You
work through relational difficulties. You speak well of them. You
spend time with them. Look at all your brethren. How do you treat
them? Be a friend to them. E.
Now that you
are a Christian, if you would be saved, you must be a friend to
your brethren. By the way, notice this is not waiting around for
your brethren to be friends with you. You be a friend. VIII.
Growing in
your relationship with all mankind: Love. A.
Now that you
are a Christian, your outlook and action toward everyone changes.
This love encompasses the previous two points (Matthew
22:36-39; Luke 10:25-28) and adds everybody else in your
changing relationships. In fact, Jesus’ parable in Luke
10:30-37 about the good Samaritan is an illustration of this
love. The love was demonstrated between enemies: a Samaritan and a
Jew. B.
This love is
an unconditional love. We are to love all no matter what they have
done. They do not have to be pretty, rich or even friendly. They
just have to be there. God is our model for love (Matthew
5:43-48). C.
This love is
described in I Corinthians
13:4-7. An enlightening exercise is to take each of the
attributes of love and see if you can honestly apply them to
yourself. Instead of saying “Love is patient”, can you insert
your name? “(Insert name) is patient.” Take the exercise a
step further. Instead of thinking nebulously about your overall
character. Ask yourself these questions about particular
relationships. “(Insert name) is patient with (insert the name
of someone with whom you have a relationship).” D.
Now that you
are a Christian, if you would be saved, you must love, just as God
loved you. Conclusion:
Grow in these qualities, then "there will be richly
provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ” (II Peter 1:11, ESV). If you are not a Christian yet, we go back to the original question of, “What must I do to be saved?” Do you remember what we learned in the introduction of this lesson? Hear the gospel, believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and He was raised from the dead, confess this faith, repent of your sins and be baptized for the remission of those sins (Romans 10:17; 10:9-10; Acts 2:38). Why not begin salvation’s road now?
Glory
to God in the church by Christ Jesus
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