BIG IDEA:
FOUR BENEFITS OF CONSISTENT SPIRITUAL GROWTH
I. (:8) FRUITFUL LIFE AND MINISTRY
De Haan: “A Gratifying Effectiveness”
A. Qualification to Pursue
1. Possession of these qualities — “if these qualities are yours”
2. Growth in these qualities — “and are increasing”
B. Disqualification to Avoid
1. they render you neither useless — good for nothing
2. nor unfruitful — like a big thorn bush instead of an orange tree
C. Relationship to Refine
“in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ”
Paine: “This is a statement of the direction in which Christian conquest bears. The alternative is then mentioned. It is blindness and spiritual myopia, and a weakened sense of spiritual reality and life.”
II. (:9) FOCUSED VISION
In contrast to:
A. Coming Up Short
“For he who lacks these qualities”
B. Lacking Clear Vision
1. “is blind”
2. “or short-sighted”
Cobb: ” talking not to 2 different types of people here, but to 1 person who is both blind and short-sighted”
C. Overlooking the Point of the Atonement
“having forgotten his purification from his former sins”
Green: “Peter may have in mind here the public confession and vows taken by converts at their baptism (cf. Acts ii. 38, xxii. 16). Their old sins would then be those committed before they became Christians, the cleansing of which would be an essential corollary of being made a partaker of the divine nature. The man who makes no effort (verse 5) to grow in grace is going back on his baptismal contract. This could be the start of apostasy.”
III. (:10) FIRM ASSURANCE
A. Growth in Assurance of Salvation Requires Diligent Obedience
“Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you”
Piper: The confirmation of your election is your progress in sanctification. God predestined all the elect to be conformed to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29). Therefore, the reassuring evidence of our election is Christ-likeness.”
B. Future Stability Requires Diligent Obedience
“for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble”
Eerdman: “This does not mean that the Christian will never sin, but that such patient effort toward progress will safeguard him against faults and failings, and will assure the completion of his journey to the heavenly city.”
IV. (:11) FUTURE REWARD
“for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you”
Paine: “Here is an intimation that heaven’s society will not be classless. Good stewardship of Christ’s riches will bear eternal proceeds. The Christian, endowed with wealth through Christ’s provision, invests and saves for future wealth (cf. I Tim 6:19).”