"THE RESULTS OF NOT GROWING SPIRITUALLY"  

                                                                2ND PETER 1:1-4

 INTRODUCTION:

           IN THE EPISTLES OF PETER, PETER IS TRYING TO INDOCTRINATE THE JEWISH BELIEVERS IN THE REALITY OF WHAT SALVATION IS AND WHAT IT BRINGS.

           IN THESE VERSES WE FIND 7 THINGS THAT EVERY BELIEVER HAS IN COMMON.

           THESE THINGS ARE "INHERENT" WHICH MEANS "INBORN", A RIGHT OR PRIVILEGE THAT COMES WITH SALVATION.

      (1). WE HAVE A LIKE "PRECIOUS FAITH", VERSE 1.

      (2). WE HAVE AN UNQUESTIONABLE STANDING, VERSE 1.

      (3). WE HAVE THE "GRACE" TO ENDURE, VERSE 2.

      (4). WE HAVE THE "PEACE" TO TRUST, VERSE 2.

      (5). WE HAVE THE "POWER" TO OVERCOME, VERSE 3.

      (6). WE HAVE THE REALITY OF A CHANGED LIFE, VERSE 4.

      (7). WE HAVE AN ETERNAL HOME IN HEAVEN, VERSE 4.

           A.  SALVATION IS BY GRACE

            SALVATION IS UNIFORM IN ITS NATURE AND ATTRIBUTES.

      1. EVERY BELIEVER IS SAVED THE SAME WAY.

 ACTS 15:11 "BUT WE BELIEVE THAT THROUGH THE GRACE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST WE SHALL BE SAVED, EVEN AS THEY."

           THERE EXISTS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN JEWISH AND GENTILE BELIEVERS, FOR BOTH HAVE THEIR HEARTS PURIFIED "BY FAITH".

           SALVATION IS BY FAITH ALONE.     SALVATION IS "THROUGH THE GRACE OF THE LORD".

 ROMANS 10:11-13, (11) "FOR THE SCRIPTURE SAITH, WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH ON HIM SHALL NOT BE ASHAMED."

 (12) "FOR THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE JEW AND THE GREEK: FOR THE SAME LORD OVER ALL IS RICH UNTO ALL THAT CALL UPON HIM."

 (13) "FOR WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED."

           THE KEY ELEMENT IN SALVATION IS AGAIN SEEN TO BE FAITH.     SALVATION IS NOT APPROPRIATED TO THE SINNER'S LIFE UNTIL THERE IS A HEARTFELT BELIEF IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.

           THE WORD "WHOSOEVER" IS USED TO INDICATE THE UNIVERSALITY OF GOD'S OFFER OF SALVATION.     SALVATION IS OFFERED TO ALL!

           GOD'S PREREQUISITE TO SALVATION IS FAITH, NOT RACIAL DISTINCTION.     THEREFORE THE CALL TO SALVATION IS TO WHOEVER WILL BELIEVE.

           THE LORD GOD IS RICH IN HIS ATTITUDE TOWARD ALL SINNERS AND READY TO RECEIVE ANYONE WHO CALLS ON HIM FOR SALVATION.

      2. EVERY BELIEVER IS ETERNALLY SAVED.

 JOHN 10:28 "AND I GAVE UNTO THEM ETERNAL LIFE; AND THEY SHALL NEVER PERISH, NEITHER SHALL ANY MAN PLUCK THEM OUT OF MY HAND."

          JESUS CHRIST IS THE SHEPHERD AND HE KNOWS HIS SHEEP AND GIVES THEM ETERNAL LIFE.     HE PROMISES THAT THEY "SHALL NEVER PERISH".     NO ONE OR ANYTHING CAN TAKE THESE SHEEP OUT OF CHRIST'S HAND.

     3. EVERY BELIEVER IS INSTILLED BY GOD WITH ALL THAT THEY NEED TO GROW AND PROSPER SPIRITUALLY.

 2ND PETER 1:3 "ACCORDING AS HIS DIVINE POWER HATH GIVEN UNTO US ALL THINGS THAT PERTAIN UNTO LIFE AND GODLINESS, THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIM THAT HATH CALLED US TO GLORY AND VIRTUE.

           "HATH GIVEN": MEANS "TO FREELY GIVE"; THE STRESS IS "FREENESS" OF THE GIFT.

           THE CONTEXT OF THE GIFT IS EXPRESSED IN THE WORDS,"ALL THINGS THAT PERTAIN UNTO LIFE AND GODLINESS".

           EVERYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH LIFE OR SERVING GOD HAS BEEN FREELY GIVEN SO THAT WE LACK NOTHING.

           "THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIM": EXPRESSES THE MEANS THROUGH WHICH HE GIVES US THESE THINGS; IT IS THROUGH KNOWING HIM.

           THEREFORE, THERE IS NO EXCUSE OF REMAINING A BABE IN CHRIST.

           B. SPIRITUAL GROWTH IS DIFFERENT!

               GROWTH IS LEFT UP TO THE BELIEVER!

           IN THESE VERSES, WE FIND SOME THINGS THAT MUST BE ADDED.     THESE ARE THINGS THAT COME AFTER SALVATION.

            WE HAVE BOTH OBLIGATION AND OPPORTUNITY TO COME TO SPIRITUAL MATURITY.     SOME DO AND SOME DO NOT!

           SOME HAVE LESS OPPORTUNITY THAN OTHERS IN SOME AREAS BECAUSE OF A LACK OF BIBLICAL TEACHING IN MANY PULPITS.

           TWO OF THE MOST PREVALENT PROBLEMS CONCERNING A LACK OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH ARE:

           A. MANY SPIRITUAL BABES OPPOSE THEMSELVES BY CHOOSING CARNALITY OVER SPIRITUALLY.

 2ND TIMOTHY 2:24-26, (24) "AND THE SERVANT OF THE LORD MUST NOT STRIVE; BUT BE GENTLE UNTO ALL MEN, APT TO TEACH, PATIENT.:

 (25) "IN MEEKNESS INSTRUCTING THOSE THAT THEMSELVES; IF GOD PERADVENTURE WILL GIVE THEM REPENTANCE TO THE ACKNOWLEDGING OF THE TRUTH."

 (26) "AND THAT THEY MAY RECOVER THEMSELVES OUT OF THE SNARE OF THE DEVIL, WHO ARE TAKEN CAPTIVE BY HIM AT HIS WILL."

           "THE SERVANT" HERE REFERS PRIMARILY TO A PASTOR BUT COULD BE APPLIED TO TEACHERS, MISSIONARIES, OR WITNESSES FOR CHRIST.

            "MUST NOT STRIVE" HERE MEANS "QUARREL" OR "ARGUE" WITH EMOTIONS HEATED.

USUALLY THERE WILL BE MORE HEAT (ANGER) THAN LIGHT (LOVE).     IT IS A SIN FOR ANYONE TO LOSE PATIENCE AND ESPECIALLY A PASTOR.

           REPENTANCE IS NOT SORROW FOR SIN, THAT IS, CONTRITION.     SORROW LEADS TO REPENTANCE, 2ND CORINTHIANS 7:9-10.

           REPENTANCE IS NOT CHANGING DIRECTION OR YOUR WAYS OF LIVING, THAT IS A RESULT OF SALVATION.

           REPENTANCE IS CHANGING ONE'S MIND FROM FALSE IDEAS TO THE "ACKNOWLEDGING OF THE TRUTH."

           THE SAME GOD WHO GIVES US THE DISCOVERY OF THE TRUTH DOES BY HIS GRACE BRING US TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF IT, OTHERWISE OUR HEARTS WOULD CONTINUE IN REBELLION AGAINST IT.

           B. MANY SPIRITUAL BABES WILLFULLY REJECT THE WORD OF GOD BY NOT HEARING, OR HEEDING IT.

 HEBREWS 5:12-14, (12) "FOR WHEN FOR THE TIME YE OUGHT TO BE TEACHERS, YE HAVE NEED THAT ONE TEACH YOU AGAIN WHICH BE THE FIRST PRINCIPLES OF THE ORACLES OF GOD; AND ARE BECOME SUCH AS HAVE NEED OF MILK, AND NOT OF STRONG MEAT."

 (13). "FOR EVERY ONE THAT USETH MILK IS UNSKILLFUL IN THE WORD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR HE IS A BABE."

 (14) "BUT STRONG MEAT BELONGETH TO THEM THAT ARE OF FULL AGE, EVEN THOSE WHO BY REASON OF USE HAVE THEIR SENSES EXERCISED TO DISCERN BOTH GOOD AND EVIL."

           PAUL IS SAYING THAT THESE BELIEVERS HAVE NOT BEEN LISTENING, THEY HAVE NOT, THEREFORE, BEEN GROWING.

           THEIR CONDITIONS IS DUE TO POOR, LAZY HEARING.     THEY ARE IMMATURE.

     1. WHEREAS THEY SHOULD NOW BE TEACHERS, THEY STILL NEED TO BE TAUGHT.

     2. WHEREAS THEY SHOULD BE READY TO UNDERSTAND NEW AND DIFFICULT TEACHINGS FROM GOD'S WORD, THEY CAN ONLY HANDLE THE "MILK".

     3. THEY HAVE NOT ADVANCED BEYOND THE "FIRST PRINCIPLES OF THE ORACLES OF GOD."

           THOSE WHO ARE IMMATURE ARE AS BABIES WHO CAN ONLY DIGEST MILK. 

           THEY ARE "UNSKILLFUL", INEXPERIENCED IN OR UNACQUAINTED WITH THE "WORD THAT INSTRUCTS THEM IN HOW TO LIVE A LIFE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.

           BY CONTRAST, THE STRONG CHRISTIAN IS THE ONE WHO BY CONSTANT APPLICATION OF GOD'S WORD TO THEIR LIFE HAS THEIR SPIRITUAL SENSES "EXERCISED".     THE STRONG CHRISTIAN CAN DISCERN TRUTH FROM ERROR.

          MATURITY WILL NOT BE ATTAINED BY PERSONAL EFFORT AS MUCH AS BY PERSONAL SURRENDER TO GOD, WHO ALONE CAN ACCOMPLISH THE NEEDED PERFECTION.

           I GET THE IMPRESSION THAT THESE BABES IN CHRIST WANT NOTHING BUT "MILK" OR LIGHT SERMONS THAT NEVER GET INTO THE MEAT OF GOD'S WORD.

           C. RESULTS OF NOT GROWING SPIRITUALLY

      1. YOU WILL BE UNFRUITFUL

           A. FRUITFULNESS SHOULD NOT BE OPTIONAL.

 JOHN 15:8 "HEREIN IS MY FATHER GLORIFIED, THAT YE BEAR MUCH FRUIT; SO SHALL YE BE MY DISCIPLES."

           B. FRUITLESSNESS IS DANGEROUS.

JOHN 15:2 "EVERY BRANCH IN ME THAT BEARETH NOT FRUIT HE TAKETH AWAY: AND EVERY BRANCH THAT BEARETH FRUIT, HE PURGETH IT, THAT IT MAY BRING FORTH MORE FRUIT."

           JUST AS THE HUSBANDMAN DISPOSES OF BRANCHES THAT BEAR NO FRUIT, SO THE FATHER JUDGES THOSE WHO BEAR NO SPIRITUAL FRUIT, "HE PURGETH IT".

           THE "HUSBANDMAN" PRUNES THE BRANCHES WHICH BEAR FRUIT IN ORDER TO BEAR "MORE FRUIT".     IN LIKE MANNER, GOD THE FATHER CLEANSES CHRISTIANS WHO ARE BEARING FRUIT TO BRING THEM TO BEAR MORE FRUIT.

      2. YOU WILL BE SPIRITUALLY BLIND.

           A. LACK OF DILIGENCE IN GROWTH BRINGS ABOUT CARNALITY.

MATTHEW 6:20-24, (20) "BUT LAY UP FOR YOURSELVES TREASURES IN HEAVEN, WHERE NEITHER MOTH NOR RUST DOTH CORRUPT, AND WHERE THIEVES DO NOT BREAK THROUGH NOR STEAL:"

 (21) "FOR WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS THERE WILL YOUR HEART BE ALSO."

 (22) "THE LIGHT OF THE BODY IS THE EYE: IF THEREFORE THINE EYE BE SINGLE, THY WHOLE BODY SHALL BE FULL OF LIGHT."

 (23) "BUT IF THINE EYE BE EVIL, THY WHOLE BODY SHALL BE FULL OF DARKNESS. IF THEREFORE THE LIGHT THAT IS IN THEE BE DARKNESS, HOW GREAT IS THAT DARKNESS!"

 (24) "NO MAN CAN SERVE TWO MASTERS: FOR EITHER HE WILL HATE THE ONE, AND LOVE THE OTHER; OR ELSE HE WILL HOLD TO THE ONE, AND DESPISE THE OTHER. YE CANNOT SERVE GOD AND MAMMON."

           THE ATTENTION OF THE BELIEVER MUST BE DIRECTED TOWARD THE THINGS OF GOD AND "TREASURES IN HEAVEN".

           THE TWO KINDS OF TREASURES ARE CONDITIONED BY THEIR PLACE (EITHER UPON EARTH OR IN HEAVEN).

           THE CONCEPT OF TREASURES IS ONE OF REWARDS FOR FAITHFUL SERVICE.

           IF ONE WERE AS CONCERNED ABOUT SPIRITUAL BENEFITS OF HIS OR HER LIFE AS THEY WERE ABOUT THE MATERIAL POSSESSIONS, THEIR MOTIVATIONS WOULD BE PURE INDEED.

           THE CONCEPT IN VERSES 22-23 IS BASED ON THE ANCIENT IDEA THAT THE EYES WERE THE WINDOWS THROUGH WHICH LIGHT ENTERED THE BODY.     IF THE EYES WERE IN GOOD CONDITION THE BODY COULD RECEIVE SUCH LIGHT.

            IF A MAN'S SPIRITUAL SIGHT IS HEALTHY AND HIS AFFECTIONS DIRECTED TOWARD HEAVENLY TREASURE, HIS WHOLE PERSONALITY WILL BE WITHOUT BLEMISH.

           THE PHRASE "IF ..... THINE EYE BE SINGLE" INDICATES DEVOTION TO ONE PURPOSE; TO A SINGLE, FIXED VISION OR GOAL.

           TOTAL LOYALTY TO GOD CANNOT BE DIVIDED BETWEEN HIM AND LOYALTY TO ONE'S MATERIAL POSSESSIONS.

          DOUBLE MINDNESS IS AN ATTEMPT TO SIT ON THE FENSE IN RELATIONSHIP TO SPIRITUAL MATTERS.

          THERE IS NO HALFHEARTED SERVICE FOR GOD.     IT IS EITHER ALL OR NOTHING.

           JESUS GIVES THE BELIEVER NO OPTION BETWEEN LOVING GOD AND LOVING THE WORLD.

          THE REGENERATED HEART IS ONE WHICH SO LONGS FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS AND DESIRES THE THINGS OF HEAVEN THAT IT LIVES ABOVE THE TEMPORAL THINGS OF THE EARTH.

       3. YOU WILL LACK ASSURANCE.

 ISAIAH 32:17 "AND THE WORK OF RIGHTEOUSNESS SHALL BE PEACE; AND THE EFFECT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS QUIETNESS AND ASSURANCE FOR EVER."

           IF THERE IS ANY HOPE FOR THE FUTURE OF THE BELIEVER IT IS TURNING OVER THEIR LIFE TO GOD."

 HEBREWS 6:11-12, (11) "AND WE DESIRE THAT EVERY ONE OF YOU DO SHOW THE SAME DILIGENCE TO THE FULL ASSURANCE OF HOPE UNTO THE END."

 (12) "THAT YE BE NOT SLOTHFUL, BUT FOLLOWERS OF THEM WHO THROUGH FAITH AND PATIENCE INHERIT THE PROMISES."

           THE BELIEVER MUST BE DILIGENT THAT THEY MIGHT GROW AND MATURE IN ORDER TO KNOW THE FULL ASSURANCE OF THEIR ETERNAL LIFE, OR SO AS TO REALIZE THE FULL ASSURANCE OF HOPE UNTIL THE END.

           THE BELIEVER MUST NOT BECOME SLOTHFUL OR SLUGGISH ABOUT HEARING THE WORD OF GOD, THEREFORE AVOID SLUGGISHNESS CHARACTERIZING THEIR WHOLE LIFE.

           THEY NEED TO BECOME "FOLLOWERS" OF THOSE SAINTS WHO DEMONSTRATES "FAITH AND PATIENCE".

           TO FOLLOW INVOLVES MUCH MORE THAN TRAILING AFTER ANOTHER, IT ALSO MEANS TO FOLLOW ANOTHER BELIEVER'S EXAMPLE.

           THIS WILL INCREASE THE BELIEVER'S ASSURANCE AS THEY GROW IN FAITH.

            CONCLUSION:

 2ND JOHN 1:8 "LOOK TO YOURSELVES, THAT WE LOSE NOT THOSE THINGS WHICH WE HAVE WROUGHT, BUT THAT WE RECEIVE A FULL REWARD."

            "LOOK TO YOURSELVES" SIMPLY MEANS "WATCH OUT".     THIS IS A WARNING AGAINST LISTENING TO FALSE (WORLDLY) TEACHINGS.

           IT IS THE BELIEVERS OF THIS FALSE WORLDLY TEACHINGS THAT STAND TO LOSE ALL THE BLESSINGS OF CHRISTIANITY, IF THEY LISTEN.

           IT IS BELIEVERS IN CHRIST AND HIS WORD WHO WILL RECEIVE THE REWARD, THE GIFT OF SALVATION BY GRACE AND GLORIFICATION, THE FINAL COMPLETION OF SALVATION.

           AMEN!