2 Peter 1:5-11

Our Father, at this time our prayer is simple, but we cannot pray without giving thanks again for the Lord Jesus, and we ask that we may be given help by the Holy Spirit to understand the Word of God, not only to hear its instruction, but that our lives may be changed as a result, and we may become more like the one we follow and worship, even our Lord Jesus Christ. We give thanks for this time together, pray for preservation and wisdom, help in every way we ask in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen. Thanks Phil, and again thank you one and all for your presence, and thank you for the privilege and honor of being here, and I pass on greetings from our home assembly in Karoi, Queensland, to the assembly here at Garnevillo, and to every assembly and Christian represented.

Let's take our Bibles again and turn to 2nd Peter, and I'm going to link in with what our brother has already brought before us in relation to the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. 2nd Peter chapter 1, 2nd Peter chapter 1, and we'll read from verse number 5. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge temperance, and to temperance patience, and to patience godliness, and to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness charity. And if these things be in you and abound, they make you that you shall be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

It's an interesting statement to make. In the close of verse 8, if I had been writing, possibly I would have said something like, if these things be in you, speaking of the seven ingredients that we've just noted, you will not be barren nor unfruitful in your Christian life, or you will not be barren or unfruitful in the things of God. But he says, if these things be in you and abound, you will not 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 you do these things you shall never fall. For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Peter was a man who walked with the Lord for three and a half years, spent time with the Lord Jesus. He was certainly a man, as we are familiar with in the Scriptures, that learnt much from the Lord Jesus. He had much to learn, but we're thankful, as we read the Scriptures, that Peter did learn and put into practice what he learned.

And coming to the end of his life now, and seeing that his life is shortly to close on planet Earth, he wants to leave the believers with this information concerning true growth in the life of a Christian. And so we've read together of these seven ingredients that Peter speaks of. There's much that we could say about the letters of Peter.

They're among the general epistles that our brother has already read from, reading from Hebrews, first and second Peter. And in the general epistles Jude and John, first John, James, we find they have a unique place in the canon. But I don't want to spend too much time going into some of those details, because I want to look at particularly these instructions from Peter that we've had in relation to growth in the Christian life.

Peter was a man who often spoke using similes or metaphors. In fact, you can go through his epistles and you'll notice he speaks about not being barren nor unfruitful. He speaks of, in this epistle, men making merchandise of you, turning the Christian into just a commodity.

He speaks of brute beasts, blemishes, spots, wells without water, clouds that are carried with the tempest. And he goes through his epistles using often illustrative language, many times many similes. And in this, I believe it's no different.

What I feel Peter is doing here is using language that we will understand. It seems with the reading of these verses that we've taken together that Peter has clearly growth in mind. But we could think of the growth of a plant or the growth of a tree, whether Peter had some botanical knowledge, I'm not sure, he was a fisherman.

But maybe he did, because as he writes under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, we see this picture that he's drawing for us of a plant or a tree as the seed goes into the ground. You would know I'm speaking in the presence of farmers here, and I'm not a farmer, so I'm ignorant as to many of these things. But you would know the basic happenings of a seed when it's placed into the ground.

I would have thought that when a seed goes into the ground, it would put up its shoot first. But I learned not too long ago that when a seed goes into the ground, it first puts down the embryonic root, searching for moisture. Then it puts up the shoot, looking for light.

That's exactly how Peter starts here. He speaks about the root of virtue that is needed. In verse 5, he says, besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith.

Beside what? Well, you have to read through the first four verses to understand that Peter has spoken already of the fact that we have been granted like precious faith, and gifted the multiplication of grace and peace. And we've been given every resource by God for a life of godliness, with the guarantee through those precious promises that have been given to us by God Himself. And having noted the responsibility of God in the life of a believer, he now turns to the Christian, and he says there is a requirement from God, then in light of what God has done, that we should live in relation to what God has accomplished.

And so he outlines immediately for us seven ingredients, but he states at the outset that we should give great diligence in relation to adding these ingredients into our Christian life. I'm very thankful for what our brother has brought before us already. He has noted of the diligence that is necessary in the life of a believer.

If we're going to see anything of godliness, if we're going to flourish in our Christian lives and make progress as Christians, there needs to be a diligent application of the Word of God in my life. And so, as we have seen already, that was omitted from the lives of Adam and Eve right at the beginning. And our brother has brought before us, if we're honest, we would acknowledge that there have been times in our lives that we've failed in relation to this as well.

But let us be stimulated again today in the conference, and understand what Peter wants these believers to know, to give diligence in relation to adding these seven ingredients into our faith. The first four ingredients are inward, and the last three are outward, and I think that there is a necessary order in relation to what Peter speaks of here. I think, beloved brothers and sisters, that I have a tendency to start with the outward, but what God wants me to understand in relation to this is that if I'm going to make progress in my Christian faith, if I'm going to truly grow, it has to begin inwardly.

And so Peter speaks about the root of virtue that goes down. The thought there really is to have depth, integrity, value to the Christian life. And beloved saints, this root of virtue is so needed.

Is there true depth to my Christian faith? Or is there superficiality? And Peter says here, virtue. He's spoken of this before, using this word. I think it's only used four times in the New Testament.

Three times Peter uses it, and Paul uses it once in the letter to the Philippians. But Peter has already referenced this word in his first epistle when he speaks about showing forth the praises of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath called us, showing forth the praises of Him who hath called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. The praises, the virtue.

I mentioned at the outset of this message, and we'll see it again as we come to that lovely verse, the end of verse 8, how that these features are all seen, these qualities are all seen in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ, in the person of God's beloved Son. And so Peter speaks here about having virtue in our Christian life, with a view to producing fruit. But he says that not only is virtue first and necessary, that the roots of our Christian lives may go down as we seek for moisture.

He says there is to be knowledge. I want you to note that between each of these necessary ingredients, there is this linking verb. And to.

And to. And to. Add to your faith virtue.

And to virtue knowledge. And to knowledge temperance. And to temperance patience, etc.

What we learn from this, beloved brothers and sisters, is that these ingredients are tied together. This is not a pick-and-mix. This is not select just some maybe that suit me, or some that may be a favorable to me.

But this is necessary that they are simultaneously worked upon in my Christian life. They're all necessary. And so he says to virtue knowledge.

And we can understand this, can't we? If there is to be ever, if there ever is to be depth to my Christian life, I must have a knowledge of the Word of God. I cannot advance as a Christian without a knowledge of God's Holy Word. Without a knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

That's what we read. If I'm going to advance in these ingredients, if they're going to be implanted into my very being, I will have to take note of the Lord Jesus Christ. And so I'm thankful for what our brother has already started with.

And I'm looking forward to what is before us in relation to the person, the manhood of our Lord Jesus. For we glean from Him. And so he says, add to your faith, knowledge.

He does not use the word full knowledge here. We'll come back to that point in a moment. But he wants us to add to our virtue.

Add to virtue knowledge. And Peter speaks much of knowledge in his writings. The knowledge of God.

The knowledge of Him who called us through glory and virtue, etc. And Peter himself walked with the Lord for those three and a half years. What a privilege this man had as he would learn from the Master Himself.

Aren't we exhorted to do that? You remember the exhortation of our Lord Jesus. The invitation to take my yoke upon you and learn from me. For I am meek and lowly in heart.

And this flows on to the third ingredients. We're to learn of the Lord Jesus Christ. The thought there in Matthew 11 verse 28.

To learn from Him. To be yoked together with Him. Is that what flows out from the Lord Jesus may flow into me.

The Greek word that is used is apo. Away from. That it's not to remain where it is.

But it comes from the Lord Jesus. And He says to learn of me. And so there is to be a necessity of knowledge.

But if there is the root of virtue and the shoot of knowledge, there is to be the trunk of temperance. And we can think of this in light of a tree. Add to knowledge temperance.

Self-control. That they, it may give me strength in my Christian life. Beloved brothers and sisters, if there is ever a necessity for self-control, there is a necessity for self-control as we gain knowledge.

We just last week buried a brother in his late 80s. And what was mentioned at the funeral was the fact that this man was both firm and gentle. What a combination of qualities.

To be both firm and gentle. And as we increase in knowledge, He wants us to add to our faith temperance. Paul speaks of that doesn't he? But those that are striving for the mastery are to be temperate in all things.

He speaks about elders in an assembly being temperate. Self-control. Self-control in my life in view of pastimes and pleasures.

Temptation. Self-control in my relationship with my fellow believers. Self-control when there is no one around before God.

And so Peter says add to your faith virtue and to virtue knowledge and to knowledge temperance. And this will, this will enable me to to be strengthened in my Christian life. And to temperance, patience.

That cheerful steadfast endurance. As I thought of patience beloved, I thought of the branches of a tree that spread out and give that tree balance. If the shoot, if the root has gone down the virtue and the shoot goes up seeking for light, knowledge from the Word of God, and the Christian life is strengthened with self-control, then patience will give me balance.

And the Bible speaks much about this kind of patience. It's mentioned in the Hebrew epistle in chapter 12. This endurance in the light of difficulties and trials.

James speaks about those who are happy which endure. He speaks about the patient endurance of Job. Remember beloved, the crown of life for those who remain standing under pressure.

And so Peter says he instructs us to add to temperance patience and to patience godliness. These last three ingredients now outward and I thought of the leaves of the tree. Godliness.

What is godliness? Well, some say God likeness. We could think of Christ likeness. Interestingly the first time that this word is used in the New Testament is in Acts chapter 2, 3 when Peter is preaching.

And you remember when he was preaching to that great multitude and they were amazed at the healing of that of that lame man. And the great crowd that had gathered astounded at what had taken place and Peter says why do you look at us as though by our own power or holiness, that's the word, as though by our own holiness we have accomplished this. There was something that was seen that day.

They took note of these men and the lives that they lived. Brothers and sisters I wonder what people see when they look at my life. Do they see the person of the Lord Jesus Christ? Do they see these ingredients? Do my family see these ingredients? Does my wife see this? Virtue, integrity, depth of moral character, moral virtue, knowledge, self-control, temperance, patience, godliness.

Oh yes to be more like the Lord Jesus. And so he says add to your faith godliness, to patience godliness, and to godliness brotherly kindness. And we could think of the buds of a tree.

Brotherly kindness. The expectation of fruit are in the buds. The features of new life are seen in each one of us as believers.

Brotherly kindness. How necessary that is as we live together as saints. And to brotherly kindness, love, the very fruit of the tree is seen in charity and love.

And so he builds this picture for us of the seed that's put into the ground, and the root that goes down, and the shoot that comes up, and the growth, the strength given to that tree, the self-control, and then the the branches of patience, and the leaves of godliness, and the buds of brotherly kindness, and the fruit of charity. I've thought often about this, the necessity for brotherly kindness and love to flourish among us. I don't think my brother will mind, but it was of a great help to me once Phil, when you mentioned in your ministry something in relation to this which I've never forgotten.

You know ministry should be taken from the Word of God and put into practice. And I remember our brother saying on one occasion, that when we have difficulty with another believer, and we're to esteem those more highly than ourselves, one way to do this is to think of the worst thing about yourself, and think of the best thing about your fellow believer. I found that a great help brother, and I remember having great difficulty on one occasion with a Christian who I felt had heard had been unjust.

Maybe I was wrong, but that's how I felt at least. And this dear Christian man, I saw him one day cooking a barbecue for the Saints, and the flesh within me wanted to respond in relation to what I thought had been unjust. And that thought in the ministry that you had given came to me, and I remember looking at that man and thinking, well he's cooking the barbecue for the Saints and I'm not.

He's doing something for these Saints here. And when I thought of the worst thing about myself, and I wouldn't tell you what it is from this platform, and I thought of this man serving the Saints, it was then easy to esteem him better than myself. And so Peter says, add to your faith brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness, love.

And if these things be in you and abound, they shall make you neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Brothers and sisters, Peter has an expectation for the Saints that these things won't only be added to our faith, but they will live, they will exist continuously within us. This is the thought that lies behind verse 8, if these things be in you and abound, if they exist within you and they increase, they flow out, this will have an effect in the lives of others too.

They shall make you neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Barren. Well, maybe that's an unfortunate rendering of what the word is in the original, because that word barren is is only used eight times in the New Testament, and every other time it's translated either, well six times it's translated idle.

Once Titus, Paul writes to Titus and he speaks about the Christians who were slow bellies or lazy, so the thought really is idleness or laziness. You can see what Peter's saying here, can't you? To add these ingredients into our faith takes effort, and if we are busy desiring and adding these things to our faith, we will not be lazy Christians, and we will not be without fruit, unfruitful. Spiritual laziness will produce nothing for God, and brothers and sisters, the Christian life, it takes time and effort.

This tree, I was thinking of the picture of this tree early again this morning, and reminding myself that fruit, it doesn't just happen instantaneously, it takes time, it takes growth. There needs to be the roots going down, the moisture taken up into the tree, and the growth of the tree, and the buds, the branches, and the buds, and the fruit is seen, and fruit will be seen in the lives of believers as we take in these ingredients, and they exist within us, and we live in the light of them, and so Peter says you will not be without fruit, but interestingly in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. I mentioned at the beginning that's not what I would have written.

I'm sure I would have said something like, if these things exist within you, you will not be barren, you will not be a lazy Christian, and you will not be unfruitful in your Christian life, or in the things of God, or in your activities, but he says in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. You see, how can I practically add these things to my faith? Sometimes I feel I'm at fault for giving instruction maybe, and not really explaining how this can be practically applied in our lives. Well, how they can be practically applied? How can I glean knowledge concerning the Lord Jesus Christ? Well, let me just take the Gospels and read about Him.

Read about the lovely life of that perfect man. Let me learn more from the Hebrew epistle. Let me go into the Old Testament and see in pictures, type, shadows, the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, and learn more of Him, and from Him, the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And as I do so, I will truly be able to sing that hymn, not I but Christ, be honored, loved, exalted. Not I but Christ be seen, be known, be heard. Not I but Christ in every look and action.

Not I but Christ in every thought and word.