WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.540 Good morning. My name is Matthew Capone, and I'm the pastor here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church, 00:00:08.540 --> 00:00:10.939 and it's my joy to bring God's word to you today. 00:00:11.259 --> 00:00:13.980 A special welcome if you're new or visiting with us. 00:00:14.040 --> 00:00:18.260 We're glad that you're here, and we're glad that you're here not because we're trying to fill seats, 00:00:19.120 --> 00:00:22.059 but because we're following Jesus together as one community. 00:00:22.059 --> 00:00:26.560 And as we follow Jesus together, we become convinced that there's no one so good. 00:00:26.559 --> 00:00:30.039 They don't need God's grace, and no one's so bad that they can't have it. 00:00:30.099 --> 00:00:36.000 And that's why we come back week after week to hear what God has to say to us in his word. 00:00:36.100 --> 00:00:40.340 We're continuing our study on the book of 2 Peter, and you'll remember that the book of 2 Peter 00:00:40.340 --> 00:00:47.759 is a letter written by a man named Peter in the 60s A.D. to a church somewhere in the Roman Empire. 00:00:48.099 --> 00:00:54.140 And Peter writes this letter because he has one goal, one desire. He wants these people to grow. 00:00:54.140 --> 00:01:00.359 We find out in the first few verses of the book that he wants grace and peace to be multiplied to them 00:01:00.359 --> 00:01:01.799 in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. 00:01:01.880 --> 00:01:04.900 And then we find out in the very last verse, chapter 3, verse 18, 00:01:04.900 --> 00:01:10.019 that he commands them to grow in the grace and knowledge of their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 00:01:10.159 --> 00:01:12.579 And this growth has those two components to it. 00:01:12.599 --> 00:01:18.400 He wants them to grow in grace, and he also wants them to grow in knowledge. 00:01:18.400 --> 00:01:22.920 We looked before in verses 1 through 7. 00:01:23.320 --> 00:01:29.719 We saw that God uses his word as an instrument of his power to play a song of obedience in our lives. 00:01:29.800 --> 00:01:34.100 And last week, we looked at what that song of obedience was, and we saw that it was things like this, 00:01:34.180 --> 00:01:38.219 knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, brotherly affection, love. 00:01:38.939 --> 00:01:41.740 We saw at the very end that our obedience is a standing ovation. 00:01:41.739 --> 00:01:49.379 It's our response to God's grace in Jesus Christ, that his grace comes first, followed by our obedience. 00:01:49.579 --> 00:01:52.199 We're going to continue that discussion of obedience this morning, 00:01:52.339 --> 00:01:58.379 and we're going to ask, as I mentioned before, the question of what role our obedience plays in our salvation. 00:01:59.599 --> 00:02:03.340 What role does our obedience play in our salvation? 00:02:03.519 --> 00:02:04.859 We're told different things in Scripture. 00:02:05.039 --> 00:02:09.659 In Ephesians, chapter 2, verses 8 and 9, one of our most precious verses as Christians, 00:02:09.659 --> 00:02:12.939 we know that our salvation is by grace through faith alone. 00:02:13.039 --> 00:02:15.199 So there's nothing that we do that can add to it. 00:02:15.280 --> 00:02:17.340 It's through what Jesus did, not what we do. 00:02:18.259 --> 00:02:24.400 And yet we're also told in the book of James, chapter 2, that faith without works is dead. 00:02:25.960 --> 00:02:29.979 And so there is some sort of relationship between faith and works. 00:02:30.060 --> 00:02:30.539 What do we do? 00:02:30.599 --> 00:02:33.120 Is it enough to become a Christian too just? 00:02:33.180 --> 00:02:34.680 As some people say, say a prayer. 00:02:35.639 --> 00:02:37.539 Does that make us a Christian? 00:02:37.539 --> 00:02:41.039 And how do we increase and grow in confidence in our faith? 00:02:41.099 --> 00:02:46.319 How do we know that we belong to Jesus Christ, what some people refer to as assurance? 00:02:46.539 --> 00:02:51.319 What is the relationship between our obedience and our salvation? 00:02:51.439 --> 00:02:54.639 It's with that question that we turn now to 2 Peter, chapter 1. 00:02:54.699 --> 00:02:56.299 We're going to start in verse 8. 00:02:56.719 --> 00:03:02.419 And I invite you to turn there with me now, either near the end of your worship guide or in your Bible or on your phone. 00:03:02.419 --> 00:03:05.299 No matter where you turn, remember that this is God's Word. 00:03:05.300 --> 00:03:11.400 And God tells us that his Word is more precious than gold, even the finest gold, 00:03:11.939 --> 00:03:16.719 and that it is sweeter than honey, even honey that comes straight from the honeycomb. 00:03:17.420 --> 00:03:20.000 And so that's why we read now, starting at verse 8. 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:29.400 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:03:30.219 --> 00:03:38.819 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 00:03:39.759 --> 00:03:44.780 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election. 00:03:44.780 --> 00:03:48.479 For if you practice these qualities, you will never fall. 00:03:49.439 --> 00:03:58.979 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 00:04:00.340 --> 00:04:03.840 I invite you to pray with me as we come to this portion of God's Word. 00:04:03.840 --> 00:04:10.980 Our Father in heaven, we thank you again for your Word that you've provided to us. 00:04:11.060 --> 00:04:16.939 We know that you use knowledge to grow us up in grace and in our faith. 00:04:17.040 --> 00:04:23.199 We ask that you would do that this morning, that you would use these words by the power of your Spirit, 00:04:23.280 --> 00:04:27.319 and you would honor your promise that your Word does not return to you void, 00:04:27.420 --> 00:04:30.740 but instead it accomplishes everything you mean for it to. 00:04:30.740 --> 00:04:38.100 And so we ask that you would do that this morning, that you would accomplish in our lives great encouragement from your provision in Jesus Christ, 00:04:38.800 --> 00:04:43.280 and great challenge that our response to it would be one of obedience. 00:04:43.920 --> 00:04:50.259 We ask these things grateful that we don't have to earn them or deserve them, but we can ask them in Jesus' name. 00:04:51.120 --> 00:04:51.360 Amen. 00:04:51.360 --> 00:04:51.480 Amen. 00:04:54.759 --> 00:04:59.340 I have mentioned to you before that I was born in Texas, 00:04:59.339 --> 00:05:04.579 and shortly after that my family moved to Southern Maryland right outside Washington, D.C., 00:05:04.579 --> 00:05:11.699 and it was right after we moved and my parents bought a house that my grandfather also was moving and he needed to downsize. 00:05:11.799 --> 00:05:16.899 And so he passed off many of his things that he'd accumulated over his life to his sons. 00:05:17.559 --> 00:05:21.159 And so my father, as one of his sons, was able to receive some of these things, 00:05:21.199 --> 00:05:24.239 and one of the things he received was a Troy-built tiller, 00:05:25.039 --> 00:05:28.299 which, of course, is what you use if you're going to till up the ground to plant a garden. 00:05:28.300 --> 00:05:32.199 Now, my dad aspired to be something of a green thumb, loved the earth, 00:05:32.259 --> 00:05:37.439 and so in our backyard of the house that he'd just bought, he began to create this garden. 00:05:37.560 --> 00:05:39.420 He tilled up the soil and set out a portion. 00:05:39.680 --> 00:05:41.960 Now, at the same time, I was very young at this point. 00:05:42.020 --> 00:05:44.120 I was probably three, four, five years old. 00:05:44.840 --> 00:05:48.019 It was around the time my parents decided it was time to give us an allowance, 00:05:48.180 --> 00:05:50.420 and so I think it was something like a dollar a week. 00:05:51.300 --> 00:05:54.319 Now, they also required certain things of us. 00:05:54.319 --> 00:05:57.279 We had probably peanut butter jars with holes cut in the top, 00:05:57.420 --> 00:06:01.339 and of this dollar, we had to give certain things 10% to tithe, 00:06:01.399 --> 00:06:05.579 so we took our dimes to church, and we also had to save 10%, 00:06:05.579 --> 00:06:06.879 so we had to put a dime in the savings. 00:06:07.740 --> 00:06:11.639 But we had some money to spend on very exciting things like flashlights 00:06:11.639 --> 00:06:14.000 and Toy Army soldiers from Walmart, 00:06:14.379 --> 00:06:17.519 and we also had money potentially to spend on the garden, 00:06:17.620 --> 00:06:19.759 and we would receive the Burpee Seed Catalog. 00:06:19.759 --> 00:06:23.459 Now, some of you are too young to know this, understand this, 00:06:23.519 --> 00:06:26.039 but it used to be a time when you didn't order things on the Internet. 00:06:26.860 --> 00:06:32.360 You would send in these cards, right, from magazines with money or a check, 00:06:32.779 --> 00:06:34.379 of course, things from ancient times. 00:06:36.159 --> 00:06:38.560 And so we would go through the catalog, 00:06:38.699 --> 00:06:40.199 and I, as a young child, was very excited 00:06:40.199 --> 00:06:44.019 because I found something in this Burpee Seed Catalog that appealed to me. 00:06:44.519 --> 00:06:46.620 Now, there are all sorts of things that adults would find interesting. 00:06:46.620 --> 00:06:49.740 However, they featured a special deal. 00:06:49.879 --> 00:06:52.620 You could buy a mystery pack of seeds. 00:06:54.899 --> 00:06:58.060 And these, I assume, were the seeds that were swept off the floor, right, 00:06:58.079 --> 00:06:58.959 and they just put them in a bag. 00:06:59.060 --> 00:07:01.199 You had no idea what was in the pack. 00:07:01.439 --> 00:07:03.000 What was most exciting, however, 00:07:03.399 --> 00:07:07.480 was that the mystery pack of seeds was a grand total of one cent. 00:07:08.699 --> 00:07:10.660 And so I did not have a lot of money, 00:07:11.060 --> 00:07:12.560 but this was in the budget. 00:07:12.560 --> 00:07:17.639 And so I gave my one penny to my dad. 00:07:17.819 --> 00:07:18.759 It was a great investment. 00:07:19.540 --> 00:07:23.620 And he taped it with Scotch tape to the order form that he was sending in. 00:07:24.360 --> 00:07:26.199 And then I waited excitedly, right, 00:07:26.220 --> 00:07:29.040 as a young child for my mystery pack of seeds to come in the mail. 00:07:30.120 --> 00:07:32.420 And as a young child, right, I did not know. 00:07:32.540 --> 00:07:34.519 I didn't know how to recognize different seeds. 00:07:34.600 --> 00:07:37.480 I didn't know what seed was going to be what sort of plant. 00:07:37.540 --> 00:07:39.480 And so my dad gave me a little portion of the garden 00:07:39.480 --> 00:07:41.540 where I got to spread my mystery seeds out. 00:07:43.080 --> 00:07:46.240 And I had to wait, right, to find out what I had. 00:07:47.460 --> 00:07:51.180 I had to wait until there was some sort of growth 00:07:51.180 --> 00:07:55.759 to know what sort of plants I had because it was a mystery. 00:07:56.759 --> 00:07:58.460 And so the point is this. 00:07:59.300 --> 00:08:01.259 It is not until there's growth 00:08:01.259 --> 00:08:04.139 that you know what you're dealing with. 00:08:06.279 --> 00:08:08.839 It is not until there's growth that you know 00:08:08.839 --> 00:08:10.480 what you're dealing with. 00:08:10.539 --> 00:08:12.980 The fruit shows you 00:08:12.980 --> 00:08:15.420 what kind of plant you have. 00:08:17.000 --> 00:08:17.959 It's the fruit 00:08:17.959 --> 00:08:19.639 that shows you 00:08:19.639 --> 00:08:21.099 what kind of plant you have. 00:08:21.180 --> 00:08:23.079 That's what we see here in verse 10. 00:08:23.240 --> 00:08:23.779 We're told, 00:08:23.779 --> 00:08:26.319 Be all the more diligent to confirm 00:08:26.319 --> 00:08:28.199 your calling and election. 00:08:28.619 --> 00:08:30.379 Now this sounds like a contradiction, right? 00:08:30.459 --> 00:08:31.319 Calling and election. 00:08:31.319 --> 00:08:32.500 That's talking about the fact 00:08:32.500 --> 00:08:34.720 that God is the one who chooses. 00:08:35.100 --> 00:08:38.059 So how can we confirm someone else's choice? 00:08:38.879 --> 00:08:40.319 Well, what he's telling us 00:08:40.319 --> 00:08:41.519 is that the fruit 00:08:41.519 --> 00:08:43.519 is what reveals 00:08:43.519 --> 00:08:46.039 what kind of plant we are. 00:08:48.039 --> 00:08:49.419 Peter is encouraging 00:08:49.419 --> 00:08:50.620 these people 00:08:50.620 --> 00:08:53.379 to pursue obedience and holiness. 00:08:53.379 --> 00:08:55.120 Remember, we saw that last week 00:08:55.120 --> 00:08:55.840 in verse 5. 00:08:55.939 --> 00:08:56.899 We were told to make 00:08:56.899 --> 00:08:58.080 every effort 00:08:58.080 --> 00:08:59.720 to supplement our faith 00:08:59.720 --> 00:09:00.820 with all of these things. 00:09:00.899 --> 00:09:01.600 Virtue, knowledge, 00:09:01.740 --> 00:09:03.360 self-control, steadfastness. 00:09:04.460 --> 00:09:04.759 Fruit 00:09:04.759 --> 00:09:06.799 does not make us 00:09:06.799 --> 00:09:07.519 Christians. 00:09:09.899 --> 00:09:10.460 Fruit 00:09:10.460 --> 00:09:11.620 reveals 00:09:11.620 --> 00:09:13.139 that we are Christians. 00:09:14.659 --> 00:09:15.720 Fruit does not 00:09:15.720 --> 00:09:16.639 make us Christians. 00:09:16.860 --> 00:09:17.559 It reveals 00:09:17.559 --> 00:09:18.779 that we are Christians. 00:09:18.980 --> 00:09:19.820 Faith has 00:09:19.820 --> 00:09:20.480 fruit. 00:09:22.340 --> 00:09:22.879 Faith 00:09:22.879 --> 00:09:24.439 always leads 00:09:24.439 --> 00:09:25.340 to fruit. 00:09:27.340 --> 00:09:28.460 And so we saw 00:09:28.460 --> 00:09:29.039 last week 00:09:29.039 --> 00:09:30.320 pursue obedience 00:09:30.320 --> 00:09:31.740 as a response 00:09:31.740 --> 00:09:32.939 to God's grace, right? 00:09:33.000 --> 00:09:33.919 I pointed out to you 00:09:33.919 --> 00:09:34.539 in verse 5, 00:09:34.659 --> 00:09:35.600 for this reason, 00:09:35.700 --> 00:09:36.279 for everything 00:09:36.279 --> 00:09:37.179 that God has done 00:09:37.179 --> 00:09:38.299 for you in Jesus Christ, 00:09:38.700 --> 00:09:39.379 pursue obedience. 00:09:39.580 --> 00:09:40.259 We now see 00:09:40.259 --> 00:09:41.379 a second reason. 00:09:41.919 --> 00:09:43.059 Pursue obedience 00:09:43.059 --> 00:09:43.980 to grow 00:09:43.980 --> 00:09:44.939 in confidence 00:09:44.939 --> 00:09:46.360 in your faith. 00:09:46.360 --> 00:09:46.419 faith. 00:09:48.419 --> 00:09:49.700 You're going to grow 00:09:49.700 --> 00:09:50.600 in joy 00:09:50.600 --> 00:09:51.840 and in confidence 00:09:51.840 --> 00:09:53.100 as you see 00:09:53.100 --> 00:09:53.700 the fruit 00:09:53.700 --> 00:09:54.620 of God's work 00:09:54.620 --> 00:09:55.899 in your life. 00:09:55.980 --> 00:09:56.639 And so it looks 00:09:56.639 --> 00:09:57.560 something like this, 00:09:57.639 --> 00:09:57.800 right? 00:09:57.919 --> 00:09:59.060 Maybe you're someone 00:09:59.060 --> 00:09:59.899 who struggles 00:09:59.899 --> 00:10:00.419 with anger 00:10:00.419 --> 00:10:01.039 and you remember 00:10:01.039 --> 00:10:01.620 that time 00:10:01.620 --> 00:10:02.659 several years ago 00:10:02.659 --> 00:10:03.879 you were so angry 00:10:03.879 --> 00:10:04.539 that you punched 00:10:04.539 --> 00:10:05.700 a hole in the wall 00:10:05.700 --> 00:10:07.860 and then you had 00:10:07.860 --> 00:10:08.340 to go and get 00:10:08.340 --> 00:10:09.480 the drywall replaced. 00:10:10.960 --> 00:10:11.920 And you've looked 00:10:11.920 --> 00:10:12.680 over time 00:10:12.680 --> 00:10:13.560 and you see 00:10:13.560 --> 00:10:14.720 how you've grown 00:10:14.720 --> 00:10:15.500 since then. 00:10:15.759 --> 00:10:16.700 You've had to seek 00:10:16.700 --> 00:10:18.120 help from other Christians. 00:10:18.340 --> 00:10:18.980 You've repented 00:10:18.980 --> 00:10:19.620 of that sin. 00:10:19.700 --> 00:10:20.200 You've asked 00:10:20.200 --> 00:10:20.840 for accountability. 00:10:21.060 --> 00:10:21.500 You've looked 00:10:21.500 --> 00:10:22.400 at the ways 00:10:22.400 --> 00:10:22.920 in which God 00:10:22.920 --> 00:10:24.680 provides in His word 00:10:24.680 --> 00:10:26.340 that He will bring justice 00:10:26.340 --> 00:10:27.160 so you don't have to. 00:10:29.020 --> 00:10:30.320 God will be with you. 00:10:30.320 --> 00:10:32.379 And so now 00:10:32.379 --> 00:10:33.600 you still struggle 00:10:33.600 --> 00:10:34.520 with your anger, right? 00:10:36.020 --> 00:10:37.140 And you don't punch 00:10:37.140 --> 00:10:38.280 holes in the wall anymore. 00:10:39.720 --> 00:10:41.020 And so you can say this, 00:10:41.140 --> 00:10:42.720 wow, God is really 00:10:42.720 --> 00:10:44.460 at work in my life. 00:10:44.780 --> 00:10:46.120 He is doing something. 00:10:47.620 --> 00:10:49.300 New things are starting 00:10:49.300 --> 00:10:50.400 to spring up. 00:10:52.020 --> 00:10:52.900 Maybe you're someone 00:10:52.900 --> 00:10:53.600 who struggles 00:10:53.600 --> 00:10:54.640 with self-righteousness. 00:10:54.720 --> 00:10:55.200 Your tendency 00:10:55.200 --> 00:10:56.260 is to see 00:10:56.260 --> 00:10:57.560 the speck 00:10:57.560 --> 00:10:58.700 in someone else's eye 00:10:58.700 --> 00:10:59.280 and ignore 00:10:59.279 --> 00:10:59.980 the log 00:10:59.980 --> 00:11:00.980 in your own eye. 00:11:01.039 --> 00:11:01.839 And you love 00:11:01.839 --> 00:11:02.539 talking about 00:11:02.539 --> 00:11:03.519 other people's failures. 00:11:05.879 --> 00:11:07.100 And then you realize 00:11:07.100 --> 00:11:07.839 that's the way 00:11:07.839 --> 00:11:08.980 that you cope 00:11:08.980 --> 00:11:10.000 with covering over 00:11:10.000 --> 00:11:11.439 your own shame. 00:11:13.120 --> 00:11:14.059 And as you grow 00:11:14.059 --> 00:11:14.679 in understanding 00:11:14.679 --> 00:11:15.179 the gospel, 00:11:15.319 --> 00:11:15.939 you realize 00:11:15.939 --> 00:11:16.579 that Jesus 00:11:16.579 --> 00:11:17.419 is the one 00:11:17.419 --> 00:11:18.500 who covers your shame. 00:11:19.539 --> 00:11:20.519 And so you don't 00:11:20.519 --> 00:11:21.079 have to do it 00:11:21.079 --> 00:11:21.899 by repeating 00:11:21.899 --> 00:11:22.579 others' shame. 00:11:22.659 --> 00:11:23.600 You have new humility. 00:11:23.740 --> 00:11:25.120 You talk to others 00:11:25.120 --> 00:11:26.559 about your shame 00:11:26.559 --> 00:11:29.120 rather than 00:11:29.120 --> 00:11:30.240 about others 00:11:30.240 --> 00:11:31.240 and their shame. 00:11:32.940 --> 00:11:34.139 And so you look back 00:11:34.139 --> 00:11:34.560 and you say, 00:11:34.720 --> 00:11:35.039 wow, 00:11:35.620 --> 00:11:37.340 God really is 00:11:37.340 --> 00:11:38.340 at work in my life. 00:11:38.500 --> 00:11:39.620 God really is 00:11:39.620 --> 00:11:40.440 doing something. 00:11:40.620 --> 00:11:41.460 New things 00:11:41.460 --> 00:11:42.759 are springing up. 00:11:43.759 --> 00:11:44.960 You have joy 00:11:44.960 --> 00:11:46.220 that comes from that, 00:11:46.259 --> 00:11:46.460 right? 00:11:46.659 --> 00:11:47.639 Maybe you're struggling 00:11:47.639 --> 00:11:48.279 with an addiction. 00:11:48.460 --> 00:11:49.480 You finally worked up 00:11:49.480 --> 00:11:50.060 the courage 00:11:50.060 --> 00:11:50.779 and the humility 00:11:50.779 --> 00:11:51.820 to ask for help. 00:11:53.460 --> 00:11:54.379 You've not made it 00:11:54.379 --> 00:11:54.960 all the way, 00:11:55.080 --> 00:11:55.639 but you've made it 00:11:55.639 --> 00:11:56.679 to 30 days sober. 00:11:58.500 --> 00:11:58.980 Wow, 00:11:59.179 --> 00:12:00.419 God really is 00:12:00.419 --> 00:12:00.840 at work. 00:12:01.159 --> 00:12:02.199 God really is 00:12:02.199 --> 00:12:02.939 doing something 00:12:02.939 --> 00:12:04.080 in my life. 00:12:04.199 --> 00:12:05.080 New things 00:12:05.080 --> 00:12:06.299 really are 00:12:06.299 --> 00:12:07.059 springing up. 00:12:08.799 --> 00:12:09.600 Maybe you're someone 00:12:09.600 --> 00:12:10.899 who loves money 00:12:10.899 --> 00:12:13.939 and you resent 00:12:13.939 --> 00:12:14.980 ever having 00:12:14.980 --> 00:12:15.740 to give it away. 00:12:17.419 --> 00:12:18.299 You resent 00:12:18.299 --> 00:12:18.799 the idea 00:12:18.799 --> 00:12:19.220 that God 00:12:19.220 --> 00:12:19.960 would make a claim 00:12:19.960 --> 00:12:20.259 on it 00:12:20.259 --> 00:12:21.299 or other people 00:12:21.299 --> 00:12:22.419 who are in need 00:12:22.419 --> 00:12:23.779 would need it. 00:12:23.779 --> 00:12:25.839 but then slowly, 00:12:27.480 --> 00:12:28.480 little by little, 00:12:28.600 --> 00:12:29.600 you begin to realize 00:12:29.600 --> 00:12:30.199 that God 00:12:30.199 --> 00:12:30.799 is the one 00:12:30.799 --> 00:12:31.860 who cares for you 00:12:31.860 --> 00:12:32.860 and protects you. 00:12:34.240 --> 00:12:35.079 And you haven't 00:12:35.079 --> 00:12:35.720 let your grip 00:12:35.720 --> 00:12:36.899 off all the way, 00:12:37.000 --> 00:12:37.659 but it's loosening. 00:12:38.980 --> 00:12:40.000 You find yourself 00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:40.579 one day 00:12:40.579 --> 00:12:41.579 giving something 00:12:41.579 --> 00:12:42.579 and not resenting it. 00:12:43.980 --> 00:12:44.839 And you're able 00:12:44.839 --> 00:12:45.279 to say, 00:12:45.480 --> 00:12:45.839 wow, 00:12:46.139 --> 00:12:47.519 God really is 00:12:47.519 --> 00:12:48.500 at work in my life. 00:12:48.779 --> 00:12:49.679 He is 00:12:49.679 --> 00:12:50.559 doing something. 00:12:51.819 --> 00:12:52.740 New things 00:12:52.740 --> 00:12:53.980 are springing up. 00:12:56.180 --> 00:12:57.039 That's the incentive 00:12:57.039 --> 00:12:57.860 Peter is giving 00:12:57.860 --> 00:12:58.940 these people here 00:12:58.940 --> 00:13:00.560 that they, 00:13:00.879 --> 00:13:01.639 as they confirm 00:13:01.639 --> 00:13:02.180 their calling 00:13:02.180 --> 00:13:02.600 and election, 00:13:02.799 --> 00:13:03.320 they are going 00:13:03.320 --> 00:13:04.320 to have the joy 00:13:04.320 --> 00:13:05.080 and confidence 00:13:05.080 --> 00:13:05.720 that comes 00:13:05.720 --> 00:13:06.980 from seeing God 00:13:06.980 --> 00:13:07.500 at work 00:13:07.500 --> 00:13:08.299 in their lives. 00:13:09.279 --> 00:13:10.200 They know 00:13:10.200 --> 00:13:11.259 God's power 00:13:11.259 --> 00:13:12.240 in a way 00:13:12.240 --> 00:13:12.960 they did not 00:13:12.960 --> 00:13:13.620 know it before. 00:13:13.759 --> 00:13:14.740 They know the truth 00:13:14.740 --> 00:13:16.560 of 2 Corinthians 5, 00:13:16.860 --> 00:13:17.500 verse 17, 00:13:17.659 --> 00:13:18.259 that if we are 00:13:18.259 --> 00:13:18.740 in Christ, 00:13:18.860 --> 00:13:20.399 we are a new creation. 00:13:20.399 --> 00:13:23.079 The old 00:13:23.079 --> 00:13:24.059 has passed away, 00:13:24.139 --> 00:13:24.620 the new 00:13:24.620 --> 00:13:25.439 has come. 00:13:27.419 --> 00:13:28.120 That's what 00:13:28.120 --> 00:13:28.699 it means 00:13:28.699 --> 00:13:29.379 to make their 00:13:29.379 --> 00:13:29.919 calling 00:13:29.919 --> 00:13:30.899 and election 00:13:30.899 --> 00:13:31.299 sure 00:13:31.299 --> 00:13:32.480 to confirm it. 00:13:34.579 --> 00:13:35.340 They are 00:13:35.340 --> 00:13:35.919 increasing 00:13:35.919 --> 00:13:36.919 in their 00:13:36.919 --> 00:13:37.419 confidence 00:13:37.419 --> 00:13:38.840 and their joy 00:13:38.840 --> 00:13:39.819 seeing the 00:13:39.819 --> 00:13:40.459 reality 00:13:40.459 --> 00:13:41.259 of their faith, 00:13:41.659 --> 00:13:42.139 seeing that 00:13:42.139 --> 00:13:42.860 it's a genuine 00:13:42.860 --> 00:13:43.659 faith because 00:13:43.659 --> 00:13:44.960 it leads 00:13:44.960 --> 00:13:45.559 to something. 00:13:45.559 --> 00:13:49.059 God hasn't 00:13:49.059 --> 00:13:49.779 just saved 00:13:49.779 --> 00:13:50.079 them, 00:13:50.219 --> 00:13:50.639 brothers and 00:13:50.639 --> 00:13:50.879 sisters. 00:13:51.099 --> 00:13:51.719 He has not 00:13:51.719 --> 00:13:52.419 just saved 00:13:52.419 --> 00:13:53.139 us from 00:13:53.139 --> 00:13:53.539 sin, 00:13:53.599 --> 00:13:54.000 but He is 00:13:54.000 --> 00:13:54.379 at work 00:13:54.379 --> 00:13:55.479 in our 00:13:55.479 --> 00:13:56.000 lives, 00:13:56.139 --> 00:13:56.699 removing, 00:13:58.239 --> 00:13:59.000 sanctifying, 00:14:00.179 --> 00:14:00.659 creating 00:14:00.659 --> 00:14:01.219 holiness 00:14:01.219 --> 00:14:02.299 in us. 00:14:05.299 --> 00:14:06.279 And so 00:14:06.279 --> 00:14:06.859 we don't 00:14:06.859 --> 00:14:08.959 reach perfection 00:14:08.959 --> 00:14:09.419 now, 00:14:10.099 --> 00:14:11.419 but we 00:14:11.419 --> 00:14:11.759 grow. 00:14:12.799 --> 00:14:13.319 Plants 00:14:13.319 --> 00:14:14.059 grow slowly, 00:14:14.159 --> 00:14:14.319 right? 00:14:14.320 --> 00:14:14.580 They don't 00:14:14.580 --> 00:14:15.140 just spring 00:14:15.140 --> 00:14:15.780 from seeds. 00:14:15.879 --> 00:14:16.180 If you want 00:14:16.180 --> 00:14:16.900 to see a 00:14:16.900 --> 00:14:17.879 plant grow 00:14:17.879 --> 00:14:18.320 immediately, 00:14:18.400 --> 00:14:18.640 you'll have 00:14:18.640 --> 00:14:19.100 to watch 00:14:19.100 --> 00:14:20.340 a time-lapse 00:14:20.340 --> 00:14:20.780 video. 00:14:23.560 --> 00:14:24.360 And yet, 00:14:24.580 --> 00:14:25.240 there's 00:14:25.240 --> 00:14:25.680 growth. 00:14:26.740 --> 00:14:27.020 And so 00:14:27.020 --> 00:14:27.680 Peter continues 00:14:27.680 --> 00:14:28.200 to tell us 00:14:28.200 --> 00:14:28.580 the same 00:14:28.580 --> 00:14:28.920 thing he 00:14:28.920 --> 00:14:29.260 told us 00:14:29.260 --> 00:14:29.840 last week. 00:14:29.920 --> 00:14:30.200 In verse 00:14:30.200 --> 00:14:30.580 five, 00:14:30.660 --> 00:14:31.160 last week 00:14:31.160 --> 00:14:31.620 he told us 00:14:31.620 --> 00:14:32.800 make every 00:14:32.800 --> 00:14:33.240 effort. 00:14:34.740 --> 00:14:35.120 We talked 00:14:35.120 --> 00:14:35.500 about the 00:14:35.500 --> 00:14:35.760 Olympic 00:14:35.760 --> 00:14:36.300 athletes, 00:14:36.420 --> 00:14:36.560 right? 00:14:36.620 --> 00:14:36.980 It's because 00:14:36.980 --> 00:14:37.260 of their 00:14:37.260 --> 00:14:38.200 love for 00:14:38.200 --> 00:14:38.680 the sport 00:14:38.680 --> 00:14:39.200 that they 00:14:39.200 --> 00:14:39.660 work so 00:14:39.660 --> 00:14:40.000 hard. 00:14:40.160 --> 00:14:40.340 Verse 00:14:40.340 --> 00:14:40.900 ten, 00:14:41.020 --> 00:14:41.360 here we 00:14:41.360 --> 00:14:41.720 see the 00:14:41.720 --> 00:14:42.300 same thing. 00:14:42.720 --> 00:14:43.420 Be all 00:14:43.419 --> 00:14:43.879 the more 00:14:43.879 --> 00:14:44.459 diligent. 00:14:45.699 --> 00:14:46.639 Be zealous 00:14:46.639 --> 00:14:47.479 for these 00:14:47.479 --> 00:14:47.860 things, 00:14:47.939 --> 00:14:48.139 right? 00:14:48.559 --> 00:14:49.099 I've given 00:14:49.099 --> 00:14:49.459 you some 00:14:49.459 --> 00:14:50.099 examples of 00:14:50.099 --> 00:14:50.620 the weapons 00:14:50.620 --> 00:14:51.139 of war 00:14:51.139 --> 00:14:51.559 that we 00:14:51.559 --> 00:14:52.219 use as 00:14:52.219 --> 00:14:52.459 God's 00:14:52.459 --> 00:14:52.759 at work 00:14:52.759 --> 00:14:52.979 in our 00:14:52.979 --> 00:14:53.219 lives. 00:14:53.279 --> 00:14:53.539 We have 00:14:53.539 --> 00:14:54.319 confession 00:14:54.319 --> 00:14:54.939 and repentance. 00:14:55.179 --> 00:14:55.459 We have 00:14:55.459 --> 00:14:56.059 the help 00:14:56.059 --> 00:14:56.860 of other 00:14:56.860 --> 00:14:57.279 believers 00:14:57.279 --> 00:14:57.659 as they 00:14:57.659 --> 00:14:58.240 walk with 00:14:58.240 --> 00:14:58.379 us. 00:14:58.439 --> 00:14:58.620 We have 00:14:58.620 --> 00:14:59.319 the power 00:14:59.319 --> 00:14:59.979 of God's 00:14:59.979 --> 00:15:00.979 word as 00:15:00.979 --> 00:15:01.299 he's at 00:15:01.299 --> 00:15:01.639 work in 00:15:01.639 --> 00:15:02.199 our lives. 00:15:03.360 --> 00:15:04.299 We have 00:15:04.299 --> 00:15:05.259 this community 00:15:05.259 --> 00:15:06.000 that's before 00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:06.339 us. 00:15:07.019 --> 00:15:07.579 Some of you 00:15:07.579 --> 00:15:07.819 in this 00:15:07.819 --> 00:15:08.159 congregation 00:15:08.159 --> 00:15:08.860 have experienced 00:15:08.860 --> 00:15:09.199 that. 00:15:09.279 --> 00:15:09.399 You've 00:15:09.399 --> 00:15:09.839 experienced 00:15:09.839 --> 00:15:10.579 that in 00:15:10.579 --> 00:15:11.059 life groups 00:15:11.059 --> 00:15:11.500 and Bible 00:15:11.500 --> 00:15:11.799 studies. 00:15:11.939 --> 00:15:12.079 You've 00:15:12.079 --> 00:15:12.679 gone to 00:15:12.679 --> 00:15:13.079 the Band 00:15:13.079 --> 00:15:13.419 of Brothers 00:15:13.419 --> 00:15:13.879 study at 00:15:13.879 --> 00:15:14.559 7 a.m. 00:15:14.579 --> 00:15:15.359 on Saturdays. 00:15:15.620 --> 00:15:15.899 You've 00:15:15.899 --> 00:15:16.399 taken the 00:15:16.399 --> 00:15:16.899 risk of 00:15:16.899 --> 00:15:17.339 sharing 00:15:17.339 --> 00:15:18.059 things with 00:15:18.059 --> 00:15:18.679 other men 00:15:18.679 --> 00:15:19.359 and you 00:15:19.359 --> 00:15:19.959 have seen 00:15:19.959 --> 00:15:20.439 the way 00:15:20.439 --> 00:15:20.939 that God 00:15:20.939 --> 00:15:21.259 is at 00:15:21.259 --> 00:15:21.439 work. 00:15:21.539 --> 00:15:21.899 He has 00:15:21.899 --> 00:15:22.759 used that 00:15:22.759 --> 00:15:23.500 in powerful 00:15:23.500 --> 00:15:24.019 ways. 00:15:25.419 --> 00:15:26.179 I mention 00:15:26.179 --> 00:15:26.679 that by the 00:15:26.679 --> 00:15:27.139 way because 00:15:27.139 --> 00:15:27.939 God is at 00:15:27.939 --> 00:15:28.639 work in a 00:15:28.639 --> 00:15:29.459 powerful way 00:15:29.459 --> 00:15:30.019 right now in 00:15:30.019 --> 00:15:30.419 our men's 00:15:30.419 --> 00:15:30.939 Bible study 00:15:30.939 --> 00:15:31.719 on Saturdays. 00:15:33.039 --> 00:15:33.620 I've been 00:15:33.620 --> 00:15:34.259 hearing stories 00:15:34.259 --> 00:15:34.599 about the 00:15:34.599 --> 00:15:35.399 way that God 00:15:35.399 --> 00:15:36.059 is changing 00:15:36.059 --> 00:15:36.859 lives and 00:15:36.859 --> 00:15:37.500 bringing people 00:15:37.500 --> 00:15:38.079 to new 00:15:38.079 --> 00:15:38.740 places in 00:15:38.740 --> 00:15:39.179 their walk 00:15:39.179 --> 00:15:39.699 with him 00:15:39.700 --> 00:15:42.140 as they 00:15:42.140 --> 00:15:42.740 are more 00:15:42.740 --> 00:15:43.200 and more 00:15:43.200 --> 00:15:43.800 diligent 00:15:43.800 --> 00:15:44.879 right? 00:15:45.440 --> 00:15:46.400 Be all 00:15:46.400 --> 00:15:47.060 the more 00:15:47.060 --> 00:15:47.660 diligent to 00:15:47.660 --> 00:15:48.320 confirm your 00:15:48.320 --> 00:15:49.340 calling and 00:15:49.340 --> 00:15:49.759 election. 00:15:51.620 --> 00:15:52.460 God has 00:15:52.460 --> 00:15:53.080 given us 00:15:53.080 --> 00:15:53.660 the tools. 00:15:54.100 --> 00:15:54.640 He is the 00:15:54.640 --> 00:15:55.300 one at work 00:15:55.300 --> 00:15:56.140 and so we 00:15:56.140 --> 00:15:57.320 pursue what 00:15:57.320 --> 00:15:57.840 he's presented 00:15:57.840 --> 00:15:58.420 to us. 00:15:59.640 --> 00:16:00.520 There is a 00:16:00.520 --> 00:16:01.600 joy as I 00:16:01.600 --> 00:16:02.200 mentioned before 00:16:02.200 --> 00:16:02.840 that comes 00:16:02.840 --> 00:16:03.800 when you see 00:16:03.800 --> 00:16:04.240 that God's 00:16:04.240 --> 00:16:04.600 at work. 00:16:04.600 --> 00:16:04.639 work. 00:16:06.240 --> 00:16:06.879 I mentioned 00:16:06.879 --> 00:16:07.139 a couple 00:16:07.139 --> 00:16:07.560 weeks ago 00:16:07.560 --> 00:16:07.920 that I was 00:16:07.920 --> 00:16:08.659 preparing for 00:16:08.659 --> 00:16:09.080 a hike. 00:16:10.379 --> 00:16:10.899 James and 00:16:10.899 --> 00:16:11.340 I, James 00:16:11.340 --> 00:16:11.759 Dunlap and 00:16:11.759 --> 00:16:12.060 I went on 00:16:12.060 --> 00:16:12.420 that hike 00:16:12.420 --> 00:16:12.940 on Friday 00:16:12.940 --> 00:16:15.220 and we 00:16:15.220 --> 00:16:15.960 had to be 00:16:15.960 --> 00:16:17.240 very diligent 00:16:17.240 --> 00:16:19.019 and in fact 00:16:19.019 --> 00:16:19.440 we had to 00:16:19.440 --> 00:16:20.139 make every 00:16:20.139 --> 00:16:21.500 effort because 00:16:21.500 --> 00:16:21.980 we decided 00:16:21.980 --> 00:16:22.180 we were 00:16:22.180 --> 00:16:22.379 going to 00:16:22.379 --> 00:16:22.860 hike up 00:16:22.860 --> 00:16:23.259 Lodgett 00:16:23.259 --> 00:16:23.639 Peak which 00:16:23.639 --> 00:16:23.899 is just 00:16:23.899 --> 00:16:24.340 west of 00:16:24.340 --> 00:16:24.580 the Air 00:16:24.580 --> 00:16:25.100 Force Academy 00:16:25.100 --> 00:16:25.379 and we 00:16:25.379 --> 00:16:25.779 did this 00:16:25.779 --> 00:16:26.120 after we 00:16:26.120 --> 00:16:26.440 had already 00:16:26.440 --> 00:16:26.759 hiked 00:16:26.759 --> 00:16:27.460 many miles 00:16:27.460 --> 00:16:28.600 and I 00:16:28.600 --> 00:16:28.940 will tell 00:16:28.940 --> 00:16:29.200 you it 00:16:29.200 --> 00:16:29.600 was very 00:16:29.600 --> 00:16:30.019 painful. 00:16:30.019 --> 00:16:34.120 And 00:16:34.120 --> 00:16:35.340 when we 00:16:35.340 --> 00:16:35.720 got to 00:16:35.720 --> 00:16:36.240 the top 00:16:36.240 --> 00:16:37.379 we did 00:16:37.379 --> 00:16:38.059 not regret 00:16:38.059 --> 00:16:38.539 what had 00:16:38.539 --> 00:16:39.079 come before. 00:16:40.399 --> 00:16:41.159 There was 00:16:41.159 --> 00:16:41.980 a joy 00:16:41.980 --> 00:16:43.220 that came 00:16:43.220 --> 00:16:43.579 from having 00:16:43.579 --> 00:16:44.079 reached that 00:16:44.079 --> 00:16:44.399 point. 00:16:45.079 --> 00:16:45.600 And we 00:16:45.600 --> 00:16:46.220 didn't come 00:16:46.220 --> 00:16:46.819 to the top 00:16:46.819 --> 00:16:47.000 at the 00:16:47.000 --> 00:16:47.279 beginning, 00:16:47.399 --> 00:16:47.539 right? 00:16:47.600 --> 00:16:48.240 We're slowly 00:16:48.240 --> 00:16:49.199 working step 00:16:49.199 --> 00:16:49.720 by step 00:16:49.720 --> 00:16:50.340 by step 00:16:50.340 --> 00:16:51.819 each step 00:16:51.819 --> 00:16:52.199 just as 00:16:52.199 --> 00:16:52.799 painful as 00:16:52.799 --> 00:16:53.059 the one 00:16:53.059 --> 00:16:53.379 before. 00:16:54.500 --> 00:16:55.220 And we 00:16:55.220 --> 00:16:55.500 were able 00:16:55.500 --> 00:16:55.759 to get 00:16:55.759 --> 00:16:56.019 to the 00:16:56.019 --> 00:16:56.299 top 00:16:56.299 --> 00:16:56.879 and see 00:16:56.879 --> 00:16:57.240 the view. 00:16:58.980 --> 00:16:59.460 Peter 00:16:59.460 --> 00:17:00.860 is exhorting 00:17:00.860 --> 00:17:01.660 these people 00:17:01.660 --> 00:17:02.440 to work 00:17:02.440 --> 00:17:03.240 to get 00:17:03.240 --> 00:17:03.560 to the 00:17:03.560 --> 00:17:03.860 top 00:17:03.860 --> 00:17:04.480 and see 00:17:04.480 --> 00:17:05.039 the view 00:17:05.039 --> 00:17:05.779 of everything 00:17:05.779 --> 00:17:06.319 that God 00:17:06.319 --> 00:17:07.019 has provided 00:17:07.019 --> 00:17:07.640 for his 00:17:07.640 --> 00:17:08.559 people in 00:17:08.559 --> 00:17:09.079 his word 00:17:09.079 --> 00:17:09.519 through their 00:17:09.519 --> 00:17:10.000 obedience. 00:17:12.019 --> 00:17:12.720 And so 00:17:12.720 --> 00:17:13.039 they should 00:17:13.039 --> 00:17:13.880 be all 00:17:13.880 --> 00:17:14.620 the more 00:17:14.620 --> 00:17:15.079 diligent. 00:17:15.240 --> 00:17:15.460 They are 00:17:15.460 --> 00:17:16.019 making 00:17:16.019 --> 00:17:17.640 every effort. 00:17:20.480 --> 00:17:21.120 There's an 00:17:21.120 --> 00:17:21.600 encouragement 00:17:21.600 --> 00:17:22.400 here then 00:17:22.400 --> 00:17:22.860 but there 00:17:22.860 --> 00:17:23.600 is also 00:17:23.600 --> 00:17:24.840 a warning. 00:17:26.120 --> 00:17:26.740 We're told 00:17:26.740 --> 00:17:27.420 in verse 10 00:17:27.420 --> 00:17:27.960 to be all 00:17:27.960 --> 00:17:28.220 the more 00:17:28.220 --> 00:17:28.720 diligent to 00:17:28.720 --> 00:17:29.200 confirm 00:17:29.200 --> 00:17:29.680 our 00:17:29.680 --> 00:17:30.799 calling 00:17:30.799 --> 00:17:31.660 and election 00:17:31.660 --> 00:17:32.279 and we're 00:17:32.279 --> 00:17:33.180 told if 00:17:33.180 --> 00:17:33.960 we do 00:17:33.960 --> 00:17:34.559 these things 00:17:34.559 --> 00:17:34.860 you will 00:17:34.860 --> 00:17:35.500 never fall. 00:17:35.600 --> 00:17:35.920 Now when we 00:17:35.920 --> 00:17:36.360 come to the 00:17:36.360 --> 00:17:37.019 word fall 00:17:37.019 --> 00:17:38.080 in the Bible 00:17:38.080 --> 00:17:38.620 there's two 00:17:38.620 --> 00:17:39.259 different meanings 00:17:39.259 --> 00:17:39.740 that it has. 00:17:39.920 --> 00:17:40.920 Sometimes when 00:17:40.920 --> 00:17:41.559 writers of the 00:17:41.559 --> 00:17:42.039 Bible talk 00:17:42.039 --> 00:17:42.640 about falling 00:17:42.640 --> 00:17:43.200 they're talking 00:17:43.200 --> 00:17:43.799 simply about 00:17:43.799 --> 00:17:44.180 a Christian 00:17:44.180 --> 00:17:44.700 sinning. 00:17:46.220 --> 00:17:47.180 Sometimes when 00:17:47.180 --> 00:17:47.559 they talk 00:17:47.559 --> 00:17:48.200 about falling 00:17:48.200 --> 00:17:48.759 they're talking 00:17:48.759 --> 00:17:49.120 about what 00:17:49.120 --> 00:17:49.400 we would 00:17:49.400 --> 00:17:50.340 call apostasy. 00:17:50.840 --> 00:17:51.440 They're talking 00:17:51.440 --> 00:17:52.039 about someone 00:17:52.039 --> 00:17:52.920 abandoning 00:17:52.920 --> 00:17:53.420 Christianity 00:17:53.420 --> 00:17:54.299 leaving the 00:17:54.299 --> 00:17:54.620 faith. 00:17:55.080 --> 00:17:55.840 Here Peter 00:17:55.840 --> 00:17:56.860 is talking 00:17:56.860 --> 00:17:57.319 about the 00:17:57.319 --> 00:17:57.799 second one. 00:17:57.940 --> 00:17:58.660 He is talking 00:17:58.660 --> 00:17:59.560 about someone 00:17:59.560 --> 00:18:00.740 abandoning the 00:18:00.740 --> 00:18:01.000 faith. 00:18:01.180 --> 00:18:01.519 Leaving 00:18:01.519 --> 00:18:02.140 Christianity 00:18:02.140 --> 00:18:02.660 behind. 00:18:02.820 --> 00:18:03.320 Deciding 00:18:03.320 --> 00:18:04.259 God is not 00:18:04.259 --> 00:18:04.640 for them. 00:18:04.720 --> 00:18:05.140 Now that is 00:18:05.140 --> 00:18:05.940 not immediately 00:18:05.940 --> 00:18:06.720 clear in 00:18:06.720 --> 00:18:07.320 verse 10 00:18:07.320 --> 00:18:08.240 but one of 00:18:08.240 --> 00:18:08.900 our principles 00:18:08.900 --> 00:18:09.440 of biblical 00:18:09.440 --> 00:18:10.019 interpretation 00:18:10.019 --> 00:18:10.660 is that we 00:18:10.660 --> 00:18:11.560 use clear 00:18:11.560 --> 00:18:12.380 passages to 00:18:12.380 --> 00:18:12.880 interpret 00:18:12.880 --> 00:18:13.440 unclear 00:18:13.440 --> 00:18:13.980 passages. 00:18:15.060 --> 00:18:15.420 And so we're 00:18:15.420 --> 00:18:15.880 going to see 00:18:15.880 --> 00:18:17.000 in chapter 2 00:18:17.000 --> 00:18:17.940 when we talk 00:18:17.940 --> 00:18:18.320 about the 00:18:18.320 --> 00:18:19.019 false teachers 00:18:19.019 --> 00:18:19.500 that we are 00:18:19.500 --> 00:18:20.200 talking about 00:18:20.200 --> 00:18:20.700 people who 00:18:20.700 --> 00:18:21.440 claim to be 00:18:21.440 --> 00:18:22.380 Christians but 00:18:22.380 --> 00:18:22.800 are not. 00:18:22.860 --> 00:18:23.100 We're going to 00:18:23.100 --> 00:18:23.880 see that especially 00:18:23.880 --> 00:18:25.019 in verses 20 and 00:18:25.019 --> 00:18:25.460 21. 00:18:26.139 --> 00:18:26.740 And in 00:18:26.740 --> 00:18:27.400 verse 11 00:18:27.400 --> 00:18:27.920 in this 00:18:27.920 --> 00:18:28.480 passage it 00:18:28.480 --> 00:18:29.000 is also 00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:29.980 clarified for 00:18:29.980 --> 00:18:30.279 us. 00:18:30.879 --> 00:18:31.379 We're told 00:18:31.379 --> 00:18:32.119 confirming their 00:18:32.119 --> 00:18:32.720 election there 00:18:32.720 --> 00:18:33.359 will be richly 00:18:33.359 --> 00:18:34.019 provided for 00:18:34.019 --> 00:18:34.319 you an 00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:34.980 entrance into 00:18:34.980 --> 00:18:35.519 the eternal 00:18:35.519 --> 00:18:36.079 kingdom of 00:18:36.079 --> 00:18:36.599 our Lord and 00:18:36.599 --> 00:18:37.240 Savior Jesus 00:18:37.240 --> 00:18:37.740 Christ. 00:18:38.240 --> 00:18:38.559 By 00:18:38.559 --> 00:18:39.200 implication 00:18:39.200 --> 00:18:40.220 logically what's 00:18:40.220 --> 00:18:40.700 the opposite 00:18:40.700 --> 00:18:41.160 of that? 00:18:42.319 --> 00:18:42.900 Not 00:18:42.900 --> 00:18:43.619 receiving an 00:18:43.619 --> 00:18:44.519 entrance into 00:18:44.519 --> 00:18:44.960 the eternal 00:18:44.960 --> 00:18:45.879 kingdom of 00:18:45.879 --> 00:18:46.420 our Lord and 00:18:46.420 --> 00:18:46.980 Savior Jesus 00:18:46.980 --> 00:18:47.440 Christ. 00:18:47.980 --> 00:18:48.400 And so 00:18:48.400 --> 00:18:49.019 Peter is 00:18:49.019 --> 00:18:49.579 telling us 00:18:49.579 --> 00:18:50.160 there are 00:18:50.160 --> 00:18:51.259 people who 00:18:51.259 --> 00:18:52.359 seem to be 00:18:52.359 --> 00:18:53.119 Christians on 00:18:53.119 --> 00:18:53.779 the outside 00:18:53.779 --> 00:18:55.879 but actually 00:18:55.879 --> 00:18:56.859 do not have 00:18:56.859 --> 00:18:57.839 faith in 00:18:57.839 --> 00:18:58.599 Jesus Christ. 00:18:58.979 --> 00:18:59.359 These are the 00:18:59.359 --> 00:19:00.019 same people we're 00:19:00.019 --> 00:19:00.719 told about in 00:19:00.719 --> 00:19:01.459 verses 8 and 00:19:01.459 --> 00:19:01.819 9. 00:19:01.959 --> 00:19:02.899 We want to be 00:19:02.899 --> 00:19:03.619 verse 8. 00:19:04.259 --> 00:19:04.579 We want to 00:19:04.579 --> 00:19:05.339 stay far away 00:19:05.339 --> 00:19:05.699 from being 00:19:05.699 --> 00:19:07.059 ineffective or 00:19:07.059 --> 00:19:08.079 unfruitful. 00:19:08.519 --> 00:19:08.739 Why? 00:19:08.879 --> 00:19:09.839 Because verse 9 00:19:09.839 --> 00:19:10.919 whoever lacks 00:19:10.919 --> 00:19:11.799 these qualities is 00:19:11.799 --> 00:19:12.759 so nearsighted that 00:19:12.759 --> 00:19:13.599 he is blind 00:19:13.599 --> 00:19:14.819 having forgotten 00:19:14.819 --> 00:19:15.319 that he was 00:19:15.319 --> 00:19:16.039 cleansed from 00:19:16.039 --> 00:19:16.459 his former 00:19:16.459 --> 00:19:16.839 sins. 00:19:16.959 --> 00:19:17.719 Again Peter is 00:19:17.719 --> 00:19:18.359 talking about 00:19:18.359 --> 00:19:19.279 people who 00:19:19.279 --> 00:19:20.159 claim to be 00:19:20.159 --> 00:19:21.059 Christians but 00:19:21.059 --> 00:19:22.199 actually are 00:19:22.199 --> 00:19:22.619 not. 00:19:22.619 --> 00:19:23.599 Now he says 00:19:23.599 --> 00:19:23.959 that they were 00:19:23.959 --> 00:19:24.339 cleansed. 00:19:24.399 --> 00:19:25.000 This is probably 00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:25.779 a reference here 00:19:25.779 --> 00:19:26.359 to baptism. 00:19:26.819 --> 00:19:27.319 In other words 00:19:27.319 --> 00:19:28.059 Peter is saying 00:19:28.059 --> 00:19:29.059 there are people 00:19:29.059 --> 00:19:29.699 who have the 00:19:29.699 --> 00:19:30.479 sign of 00:19:30.479 --> 00:19:30.859 cleansing. 00:19:31.459 --> 00:19:32.259 They have been 00:19:32.259 --> 00:19:32.679 baptized. 00:19:34.039 --> 00:19:34.539 They do not 00:19:34.539 --> 00:19:35.599 live a life 00:19:35.599 --> 00:19:36.359 of cleansing. 00:19:37.699 --> 00:19:38.659 The box and 00:19:38.659 --> 00:19:39.479 the contents 00:19:39.479 --> 00:19:40.479 don't match. 00:19:41.939 --> 00:19:42.879 The most basic 00:19:42.879 --> 00:19:43.719 things about the 00:19:43.719 --> 00:19:44.679 gospel they don't 00:19:44.679 --> 00:19:45.119 understand. 00:19:45.239 --> 00:19:45.599 You could think 00:19:45.599 --> 00:19:46.299 about it this way. 00:19:46.699 --> 00:19:48.859 I could go to 00:19:48.859 --> 00:19:49.579 an army surplus 00:19:49.579 --> 00:19:50.399 store over on 00:19:50.399 --> 00:19:52.059 B Street and I 00:19:52.059 --> 00:19:52.559 could buy all 00:19:52.559 --> 00:19:53.259 the uniforms I 00:19:53.259 --> 00:19:53.500 want. 00:19:55.000 --> 00:19:55.899 I could dress 00:19:55.899 --> 00:19:56.619 up in those 00:19:56.619 --> 00:19:57.519 uniforms and I 00:19:57.519 --> 00:19:58.000 could walk 00:19:58.000 --> 00:19:58.700 around town. 00:20:00.319 --> 00:20:01.259 That does not 00:20:01.259 --> 00:20:01.740 make me a 00:20:01.740 --> 00:20:02.240 service member. 00:20:04.079 --> 00:20:05.220 I might appear 00:20:05.220 --> 00:20:05.839 to be in the 00:20:05.839 --> 00:20:06.259 military. 00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:07.839 I might fool 00:20:07.839 --> 00:20:08.720 some people. 00:20:09.399 --> 00:20:10.359 I have the 00:20:10.359 --> 00:20:11.819 appearance I 00:20:11.819 --> 00:20:12.240 have no 00:20:12.240 --> 00:20:12.700 substance. 00:20:14.599 --> 00:20:15.359 I have the 00:20:15.359 --> 00:20:16.679 appearance I 00:20:16.679 --> 00:20:17.440 have no 00:20:17.440 --> 00:20:17.859 substance. 00:20:18.039 --> 00:20:18.539 This is what 00:20:18.539 --> 00:20:19.319 Peter is saying 00:20:19.319 --> 00:20:20.440 about these 00:20:20.440 --> 00:20:20.860 people. 00:20:21.820 --> 00:20:22.920 They do not 00:20:22.920 --> 00:20:24.019 have lives that 00:20:24.019 --> 00:20:25.140 reflect the 00:20:25.140 --> 00:20:26.140 salvation of 00:20:26.140 --> 00:20:26.720 Jesus Christ. 00:20:26.820 --> 00:20:27.240 And so he's 00:20:27.240 --> 00:20:28.039 reminding us that 00:20:28.039 --> 00:20:29.680 obedience is a 00:20:29.680 --> 00:20:30.320 sign. 00:20:32.779 --> 00:20:33.299 Obedience 00:20:33.299 --> 00:20:34.460 contributes nothing 00:20:34.460 --> 00:20:35.539 to our salvation 00:20:35.539 --> 00:20:36.400 and it earns us 00:20:36.400 --> 00:20:37.380 nothing from God. 00:20:38.880 --> 00:20:40.340 And those who God 00:20:40.340 --> 00:20:41.720 saves will grow in 00:20:41.720 --> 00:20:42.080 obedience. 00:20:44.080 --> 00:20:45.000 Our obedience 00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:46.299 earns us nothing 00:20:46.299 --> 00:20:47.180 from God. 00:20:47.180 --> 00:20:48.759 it contributes 00:20:48.759 --> 00:20:49.900 in no way to 00:20:49.900 --> 00:20:50.600 our salvation. 00:20:51.560 --> 00:20:52.680 And those who 00:20:52.680 --> 00:20:53.680 are saved will 00:20:53.680 --> 00:20:55.140 grow in 00:20:55.140 --> 00:20:55.640 obedience. 00:20:55.860 --> 00:20:56.539 And so we have 00:20:56.539 --> 00:20:57.279 an encouragement 00:20:57.279 --> 00:21:00.140 here to 00:21:00.140 --> 00:21:00.980 confirm our 00:21:00.980 --> 00:21:01.740 belonging to 00:21:01.740 --> 00:21:02.519 Jesus Christ 00:21:02.519 --> 00:21:03.340 through our 00:21:03.340 --> 00:21:03.680 obedience. 00:21:05.160 --> 00:21:06.680 We also have a 00:21:06.680 --> 00:21:08.019 serious warning. 00:21:08.279 --> 00:21:09.200 It is a call 00:21:09.200 --> 00:21:10.340 to self 00:21:10.340 --> 00:21:10.940 examination. 00:21:12.519 --> 00:21:13.620 Are you 00:21:13.620 --> 00:21:14.500 a Christian? 00:21:14.500 --> 00:21:18.059 Do you 00:21:18.059 --> 00:21:19.019 see signs 00:21:19.019 --> 00:21:19.680 of God 00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:20.440 being at 00:21:20.440 --> 00:21:21.259 work in 00:21:21.259 --> 00:21:22.019 your life? 00:21:23.980 --> 00:21:24.759 Am I 00:21:24.759 --> 00:21:25.119 growing? 00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:26.740 Is there 00:21:26.740 --> 00:21:27.200 fruit? 00:21:27.500 --> 00:21:27.660 Right? 00:21:27.779 --> 00:21:28.140 Remember, 00:21:28.539 --> 00:21:29.720 it is the 00:21:29.720 --> 00:21:31.460 fruit that 00:21:31.460 --> 00:21:31.940 shows you 00:21:31.940 --> 00:21:32.400 what kind of 00:21:32.400 --> 00:21:32.779 plant you 00:21:32.779 --> 00:21:33.059 have. 00:21:34.759 --> 00:21:35.940 It is not 00:21:35.940 --> 00:21:36.640 until there's 00:21:36.640 --> 00:21:37.940 growth that 00:21:37.940 --> 00:21:39.180 you know what 00:21:39.180 --> 00:21:39.660 you're dealing 00:21:39.660 --> 00:21:40.059 with. 00:21:40.559 --> 00:21:40.960 And so I'll 00:21:40.960 --> 00:21:41.440 put it this 00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:41.640 way. 00:21:41.700 --> 00:21:42.259 If you do 00:21:42.259 --> 00:21:43.180 not desire 00:21:43.180 --> 00:21:44.519 and seek 00:21:44.519 --> 00:21:45.160 to grow 00:21:45.160 --> 00:21:45.820 in holiness, 00:21:46.980 --> 00:21:48.140 you should 00:21:48.140 --> 00:21:49.259 not expect 00:21:49.259 --> 00:21:50.500 verse 11 00:21:50.500 --> 00:21:51.360 to have an 00:21:51.360 --> 00:21:52.000 entrance into 00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:52.539 the eternal 00:21:52.539 --> 00:21:53.180 kingdom of 00:21:53.180 --> 00:21:53.580 our Lord 00:21:53.580 --> 00:21:53.980 and Savior 00:21:53.980 --> 00:21:54.720 Jesus Christ. 00:21:57.720 --> 00:21:58.580 It is 00:21:58.580 --> 00:21:59.460 possible to 00:21:59.460 --> 00:22:00.320 call yourself 00:22:00.320 --> 00:22:00.920 a Christian 00:22:00.920 --> 00:22:04.039 and yet it 00:22:04.039 --> 00:22:04.860 is clear by 00:22:04.860 --> 00:22:05.660 your behavior 00:22:05.660 --> 00:22:06.340 that you have 00:22:06.340 --> 00:22:07.160 no reason to 00:22:07.160 --> 00:22:07.620 believe you 00:22:07.620 --> 00:22:07.840 are. 00:22:07.839 --> 00:22:09.220 God 00:22:09.220 --> 00:22:09.839 will 00:22:09.839 --> 00:22:10.379 be 00:22:10.379 --> 00:22:10.839 to 00:22:10.839 --> 00:22:11.599 God 00:22:11.599 --> 00:22:11.839 to 00:22:11.839 --> 00:22:12.399 look at 00:22:12.399 --> 00:22:17.019 our lives 00:22:17.019 --> 00:22:17.659 and ask 00:22:17.659 --> 00:22:18.119 is there 00:22:18.119 --> 00:22:18.439 fruit? 00:22:18.539 --> 00:22:18.939 Not that 00:22:18.939 --> 00:22:19.220 there's 00:22:19.220 --> 00:22:19.759 perfection, 00:22:20.439 --> 00:22:20.980 not that 00:22:20.980 --> 00:22:21.240 we've 00:22:21.240 --> 00:22:21.699 arrived, 00:22:22.839 --> 00:22:24.259 but we 00:22:24.259 --> 00:22:24.980 see God 00:22:24.980 --> 00:22:25.419 at work 00:22:25.419 --> 00:22:26.119 doing what 00:22:26.119 --> 00:22:26.500 he has 00:22:26.500 --> 00:22:26.959 promised 00:22:26.959 --> 00:22:27.519 to do 00:22:27.519 --> 00:22:28.539 for those 00:22:28.539 --> 00:22:29.199 who have 00:22:29.199 --> 00:22:29.819 faith in 00:22:29.819 --> 00:22:30.139 him. 00:22:30.679 --> 00:22:31.379 It is not 00:22:31.379 --> 00:22:32.199 because salvation 00:22:32.199 --> 00:22:32.919 is by works, 00:22:32.959 --> 00:22:33.480 it isn't, 00:22:33.939 --> 00:22:34.720 but because 00:22:34.720 --> 00:22:35.620 those God 00:22:35.620 --> 00:22:36.319 saves, 00:22:37.220 --> 00:22:37.539 God 00:22:37.539 --> 00:22:38.299 sanctifies. 00:22:40.000 --> 00:22:41.319 Those God 00:22:41.319 --> 00:22:42.000 saves, 00:22:42.500 --> 00:22:42.779 he 00:22:42.779 --> 00:22:43.779 sanctifies. 00:22:44.920 --> 00:22:45.460 Hebrews 00:22:45.460 --> 00:22:46.600 chapter 12 00:22:46.600 --> 00:22:47.160 tells us 00:22:47.160 --> 00:22:47.480 this, 00:22:47.720 --> 00:22:48.440 strive for 00:22:48.440 --> 00:22:49.240 peace with 00:22:49.240 --> 00:22:49.799 everyone 00:22:49.799 --> 00:22:51.120 and for 00:22:51.120 --> 00:22:51.860 the holiness 00:22:51.860 --> 00:22:53.380 without 00:22:53.380 --> 00:22:55.100 which no 00:22:55.100 --> 00:22:56.519 one will 00:22:56.519 --> 00:22:57.000 see the 00:22:57.000 --> 00:22:57.279 Lord. 00:22:59.759 --> 00:23:00.480 Holiness 00:23:00.480 --> 00:23:01.259 is 00:23:01.259 --> 00:23:02.319 necessary. 00:23:02.319 --> 00:23:05.579 those God 00:23:05.579 --> 00:23:06.419 saves, 00:23:06.879 --> 00:23:07.439 he also 00:23:07.439 --> 00:23:08.079 sanctifies. 00:23:10.799 --> 00:23:11.559 If we 00:23:11.559 --> 00:23:11.980 do not 00:23:11.980 --> 00:23:12.819 see fruit 00:23:12.819 --> 00:23:13.240 in our 00:23:13.240 --> 00:23:13.720 lives, 00:23:14.480 --> 00:23:15.019 it may 00:23:15.019 --> 00:23:15.659 be a sign 00:23:15.659 --> 00:23:16.019 to us 00:23:16.019 --> 00:23:16.319 that we 00:23:16.319 --> 00:23:16.799 are just 00:23:16.799 --> 00:23:17.119 going 00:23:17.119 --> 00:23:17.460 through the 00:23:17.460 --> 00:23:17.819 motions. 00:23:20.480 --> 00:23:21.359 It may 00:23:21.359 --> 00:23:22.059 be a sign 00:23:22.059 --> 00:23:22.500 to us 00:23:22.500 --> 00:23:22.879 that we 00:23:22.879 --> 00:23:23.720 have had 00:23:23.720 --> 00:23:24.819 all the 00:23:24.819 --> 00:23:25.700 words of 00:23:25.700 --> 00:23:26.079 faith, 00:23:26.879 --> 00:23:27.559 and it's 00:23:27.559 --> 00:23:28.019 time for 00:23:28.019 --> 00:23:28.299 us to 00:23:28.299 --> 00:23:28.759 actually 00:23:28.759 --> 00:23:29.419 embrace 00:23:29.419 --> 00:23:30.099 faith, 00:23:30.200 --> 00:23:30.539 actually 00:23:30.539 --> 00:23:31.259 time for 00:23:31.259 --> 00:23:32.220 us to 00:23:32.220 --> 00:23:33.360 repent of 00:23:33.360 --> 00:23:33.920 our sins, 00:23:34.000 --> 00:23:34.660 to recognize 00:23:34.660 --> 00:23:35.339 that there 00:23:35.339 --> 00:23:35.759 are many 00:23:35.759 --> 00:23:36.680 reasons people 00:23:36.680 --> 00:23:37.140 are at the 00:23:37.140 --> 00:23:37.480 church, 00:23:38.140 --> 00:23:38.940 community, 00:23:39.440 --> 00:23:39.839 fellowship, 00:23:40.380 --> 00:23:41.059 access to 00:23:41.059 --> 00:23:41.480 all sorts 00:23:41.480 --> 00:23:41.960 of things, 00:23:41.960 --> 00:23:42.779 but there 00:23:42.779 --> 00:23:43.680 is only one 00:23:43.680 --> 00:23:44.200 reason that 00:23:44.200 --> 00:23:44.539 matters, 00:23:45.500 --> 00:23:46.140 that we 00:23:46.140 --> 00:23:46.779 acknowledge that 00:23:46.779 --> 00:23:47.059 we are 00:23:47.059 --> 00:23:47.620 sinners in 00:23:47.620 --> 00:23:48.100 the sight of 00:23:48.100 --> 00:23:48.940 God with 00:23:48.940 --> 00:23:49.799 no hope 00:23:49.799 --> 00:23:50.640 outside of 00:23:50.640 --> 00:23:51.120 his mercy, 00:23:51.880 --> 00:23:52.380 and that it 00:23:52.380 --> 00:23:52.839 is only 00:23:52.839 --> 00:23:53.279 through the 00:23:53.279 --> 00:23:54.660 death and 00:23:54.660 --> 00:23:55.460 resurrection of 00:23:55.460 --> 00:23:56.100 Jesus Christ 00:23:56.100 --> 00:23:56.559 that we 00:23:56.559 --> 00:23:57.460 have any 00:23:57.460 --> 00:23:57.799 hope. 00:23:58.960 --> 00:23:59.500 There is 00:23:59.500 --> 00:23:59.839 great 00:23:59.839 --> 00:24:00.940 encouragement in 00:24:00.940 --> 00:24:01.539 this passage, 00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:02.440 and there 00:24:02.440 --> 00:24:03.220 is great 00:24:03.220 --> 00:24:03.820 challenge. 00:24:04.880 --> 00:24:06.140 Are you 00:24:06.140 --> 00:24:07.380 a Christian? 00:24:10.519 --> 00:24:11.640 Chapter 2, 00:24:12.600 --> 00:24:13.200 especially in 00:24:13.200 --> 00:24:14.080 verses again 20 00:24:14.080 --> 00:24:14.600 and 21, 00:24:14.779 --> 00:24:15.080 we're going to 00:24:15.080 --> 00:24:15.799 meet those who 00:24:15.799 --> 00:24:16.519 claim to be 00:24:16.519 --> 00:24:17.900 Christians but 00:24:17.900 --> 00:24:18.500 are not, 00:24:18.600 --> 00:24:19.200 and Peter is 00:24:19.200 --> 00:24:20.059 going to detail 00:24:20.059 --> 00:24:21.480 for us the 00:24:21.480 --> 00:24:22.580 judgment that 00:24:22.580 --> 00:24:23.000 they are going 00:24:23.000 --> 00:24:23.480 to face. 00:24:23.480 --> 00:24:30.339 when I was 00:24:30.339 --> 00:24:32.700 ordained back 00:24:32.700 --> 00:24:33.579 in 2018, 00:24:34.380 --> 00:24:36.039 my parents 00:24:36.039 --> 00:24:37.140 gave me this 00:24:37.140 --> 00:24:37.640 calligraphy 00:24:37.640 --> 00:24:38.099 print that 00:24:38.099 --> 00:24:39.400 now hangs in 00:24:39.400 --> 00:24:40.380 my office in 00:24:40.380 --> 00:24:40.779 the back, 00:24:41.360 --> 00:24:42.120 and at the 00:24:42.120 --> 00:24:42.660 bottom it has 00:24:42.660 --> 00:24:43.480 my full name 00:24:43.480 --> 00:24:43.920 and then it 00:24:43.920 --> 00:24:45.420 has the 00:24:45.420 --> 00:24:46.140 date, I 00:24:46.140 --> 00:24:46.339 think it's 00:24:46.339 --> 00:24:46.880 May 20, 00:24:47.039 --> 00:24:47.920 2018, and 00:24:47.920 --> 00:24:48.259 it has the 00:24:48.259 --> 00:24:48.680 name of our 00:24:48.680 --> 00:24:48.960 church. 00:24:48.960 --> 00:24:50.860 And above 00:24:50.860 --> 00:24:51.559 it there's a 00:24:51.559 --> 00:24:53.079 drawing, and 00:24:53.079 --> 00:24:53.480 it's of a 00:24:53.480 --> 00:24:55.120 tree, and 00:24:55.120 --> 00:24:55.519 within the 00:24:55.519 --> 00:24:56.140 branches of 00:24:56.140 --> 00:24:56.779 the tree are 00:24:56.779 --> 00:24:58.039 written the 00:24:58.039 --> 00:24:59.279 words of 00:24:59.279 --> 00:24:59.880 John chapter 00:24:59.880 --> 00:25:00.740 15, verse 00:25:00.740 --> 00:25:01.140 5. 00:25:01.779 --> 00:25:02.600 I am the 00:25:02.600 --> 00:25:03.059 vine, you 00:25:03.059 --> 00:25:03.319 are the 00:25:03.319 --> 00:25:03.700 branches, 00:25:03.880 --> 00:25:04.680 whoever abides 00:25:04.680 --> 00:25:05.360 in me and 00:25:05.360 --> 00:25:06.059 I in him, 00:25:06.900 --> 00:25:07.700 he it is that 00:25:07.700 --> 00:25:08.259 bears much 00:25:08.259 --> 00:25:10.000 fruit, for 00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:10.620 apart from 00:25:10.620 --> 00:25:12.140 me you can 00:25:12.140 --> 00:25:12.680 do nothing. 00:25:12.680 --> 00:25:15.640 And it's a 00:25:15.640 --> 00:25:17.019 reminder to 00:25:17.019 --> 00:25:17.680 me, right, 00:25:17.920 --> 00:25:18.660 every time I'm 00:25:18.660 --> 00:25:19.360 in my office, 00:25:20.019 --> 00:25:22.460 that God is 00:25:22.460 --> 00:25:23.039 the one who's 00:25:23.039 --> 00:25:23.420 at work. 00:25:27.460 --> 00:25:28.680 If we have 00:25:28.680 --> 00:25:29.660 any hope of 00:25:29.660 --> 00:25:30.120 growing in 00:25:30.120 --> 00:25:32.240 obedience, it's 00:25:32.240 --> 00:25:33.560 because of 00:25:33.560 --> 00:25:34.080 Jesus. 00:25:35.380 --> 00:25:36.180 He is the 00:25:36.180 --> 00:25:37.299 vine, we 00:25:37.299 --> 00:25:37.519 are the 00:25:37.519 --> 00:25:37.860 branches. 00:25:39.299 --> 00:25:39.980 So we 00:25:39.980 --> 00:25:40.480 don't whip 00:25:40.480 --> 00:25:41.620 up obedience, 00:25:41.860 --> 00:25:42.380 we don't pull 00:25:42.380 --> 00:25:43.240 ourselves up by 00:25:43.240 --> 00:25:43.920 our bootstraps. 00:25:44.020 --> 00:25:44.560 Instead, we 00:25:44.560 --> 00:25:46.240 recognize God 00:25:46.240 --> 00:25:46.920 is the one at 00:25:46.920 --> 00:25:47.340 work in our 00:25:47.340 --> 00:25:47.640 lives. 00:25:47.700 --> 00:25:48.280 Remember, that's 00:25:48.280 --> 00:25:49.000 the logic of 00:25:49.000 --> 00:25:49.500 all of this. 00:25:49.880 --> 00:25:50.540 We don't look 00:25:50.540 --> 00:25:51.280 to our works to 00:25:51.280 --> 00:25:51.680 see if we've 00:25:51.680 --> 00:25:52.380 earned salvation, 00:25:52.500 --> 00:25:53.040 we look to 00:25:53.040 --> 00:25:53.720 our works because 00:25:53.720 --> 00:25:54.340 those God 00:25:54.340 --> 00:25:54.900 saves, he 00:25:54.900 --> 00:25:55.380 sanctifies. 00:25:56.440 --> 00:25:56.880 And so we 00:25:56.880 --> 00:25:58.000 turn back again 00:25:58.000 --> 00:25:58.580 and again to 00:25:58.580 --> 00:25:59.120 that, that we 00:25:59.120 --> 00:25:59.860 remember our 00:25:59.860 --> 00:26:00.580 growth is a 00:26:00.580 --> 00:26:01.680 product of God 00:26:01.680 --> 00:26:02.660 as our source 00:26:02.660 --> 00:26:03.600 and our life. 00:26:04.920 --> 00:26:06.000 Jesus is the 00:26:06.000 --> 00:26:07.040 vine, we are 00:26:07.040 --> 00:26:08.020 only branches. 00:26:08.260 --> 00:26:09.400 And so if we 00:26:09.400 --> 00:26:10.420 are in him, we 00:26:10.420 --> 00:26:11.320 can have tremendous 00:26:11.320 --> 00:26:12.060 confidence and 00:26:12.060 --> 00:26:12.360 hope. 00:26:12.680 --> 00:26:13.480 Knowing that he 00:26:13.480 --> 00:26:14.180 is giving us 00:26:14.180 --> 00:26:15.120 everything that we 00:26:15.120 --> 00:26:15.680 need to grow. 00:26:15.800 --> 00:26:17.040 It's the vine that 00:26:17.040 --> 00:26:17.900 shoots the water to 00:26:17.900 --> 00:26:18.340 the branches. 00:26:18.480 --> 00:26:19.200 It's the vine that 00:26:19.200 --> 00:26:19.880 provides them with 00:26:19.880 --> 00:26:20.360 the nutrients, 00:26:20.460 --> 00:26:20.580 right? 00:26:20.600 --> 00:26:21.280 If you cut the 00:26:21.280 --> 00:26:22.320 vine, the branch 00:26:22.320 --> 00:26:22.820 off from the 00:26:22.820 --> 00:26:23.240 vine, what's 00:26:23.240 --> 00:26:23.700 going to happen? 00:26:25.940 --> 00:26:26.540 It's going to 00:26:26.540 --> 00:26:26.840 die. 00:26:27.120 --> 00:26:27.700 Leave it outside 00:26:27.700 --> 00:26:28.380 in Colorado, it 00:26:28.380 --> 00:26:28.860 won't be green 00:26:28.860 --> 00:26:29.340 very long. 00:26:31.100 --> 00:26:32.480 It is God who 00:26:32.480 --> 00:26:33.860 gives us everything 00:26:33.860 --> 00:26:34.900 we need for 00:26:34.900 --> 00:26:35.340 obedience. 00:26:35.700 --> 00:26:36.720 He is the one 00:26:36.720 --> 00:26:38.000 who is at work. 00:26:38.300 --> 00:26:39.260 And so we know 00:26:39.259 --> 00:26:40.720 we cannot do 00:26:40.720 --> 00:26:42.559 anything apart 00:26:42.559 --> 00:26:43.480 from Christ. 00:26:45.519 --> 00:26:46.539 If this church, 00:26:46.640 --> 00:26:47.140 right, if we were 00:26:47.140 --> 00:26:48.500 to experience a 00:26:48.500 --> 00:26:49.779 major revival and 00:26:49.779 --> 00:26:50.400 God were to pour 00:26:50.400 --> 00:26:51.279 his spirit out in a 00:26:51.279 --> 00:26:51.980 special way and 00:26:51.980 --> 00:26:52.759 people were pouring 00:26:52.759 --> 00:26:53.940 in and we were to 00:26:53.940 --> 00:26:55.579 have three services, 00:26:56.339 --> 00:26:58.240 four services, 00:26:58.240 --> 00:26:58.920 because that's the 00:26:58.920 --> 00:26:59.799 only way we could 00:26:59.799 --> 00:27:00.539 fit everyone in. 00:27:00.720 --> 00:27:02.039 And someone asked 00:27:02.039 --> 00:27:02.960 us, how did it 00:27:02.960 --> 00:27:03.279 happen? 00:27:03.279 --> 00:27:06.359 What would we 00:27:06.359 --> 00:27:06.660 say? 00:27:09.099 --> 00:27:10.200 It would be wrong 00:27:10.200 --> 00:27:11.059 for us to say, 00:27:11.200 --> 00:27:12.420 wow, we had an 00:27:12.420 --> 00:27:14.420 amazing strategy and 00:27:14.420 --> 00:27:15.099 we are just so 00:27:15.099 --> 00:27:15.500 smart. 00:27:17.359 --> 00:27:18.759 No, God was at 00:27:18.759 --> 00:27:19.039 work. 00:27:19.240 --> 00:27:20.539 Praise his name. 00:27:20.740 --> 00:27:21.740 We're not sure how 00:27:21.740 --> 00:27:22.720 it happened, but he 00:27:22.720 --> 00:27:24.039 in his power has 00:27:24.039 --> 00:27:25.039 done a mighty work 00:27:25.039 --> 00:27:25.660 in here. 00:27:25.940 --> 00:27:26.940 He is the vine. 00:27:27.319 --> 00:27:28.299 We are the 00:27:28.299 --> 00:27:28.639 branches. 00:27:28.759 --> 00:27:29.359 When you're walking 00:27:29.359 --> 00:27:30.119 in the neighborhoods, 00:27:30.579 --> 00:27:31.180 when I go in the 00:27:31.180 --> 00:27:31.759 neighborhoods and I 00:27:31.759 --> 00:27:32.339 see a beautiful 00:27:32.339 --> 00:27:33.220 flower garden, what 00:27:33.220 --> 00:27:33.759 do I think? 00:27:34.559 --> 00:27:35.900 Wow, those flowers 00:27:35.900 --> 00:27:37.559 are so hardworking 00:27:37.559 --> 00:27:38.160 and smart. 00:27:40.579 --> 00:27:42.480 No, I think that 00:27:42.480 --> 00:27:43.779 person who lives 00:27:43.779 --> 00:27:44.779 there is such a 00:27:44.779 --> 00:27:45.700 great gardener and 00:27:45.700 --> 00:27:47.380 loves and cares for 00:27:47.380 --> 00:27:48.500 that box of plants. 00:27:50.259 --> 00:27:51.740 God is the one at 00:27:51.740 --> 00:27:52.960 work, not us. 00:27:53.079 --> 00:27:54.200 He is the vine. 00:27:54.620 --> 00:27:55.660 We are the branches. 00:27:55.799 --> 00:27:56.240 We are doing 00:27:56.240 --> 00:27:57.220 everything for his 00:27:57.220 --> 00:27:58.860 honor and his 00:27:58.860 --> 00:27:59.519 glory. 00:27:59.660 --> 00:28:00.240 Remember when we 00:28:00.240 --> 00:28:01.700 studied 1 Peter, I 00:28:01.700 --> 00:28:02.460 told you this quote 00:28:02.460 --> 00:28:03.480 from Corrie Ten Boom, 00:28:04.480 --> 00:28:05.700 who was an amazingly 00:28:05.700 --> 00:28:06.940 successful Christian 00:28:06.940 --> 00:28:09.000 speaker and had many 00:28:09.000 --> 00:28:09.799 people say many 00:28:09.799 --> 00:28:10.660 wonderful things to 00:28:10.660 --> 00:28:10.799 her. 00:28:10.880 --> 00:28:11.740 And so she said this, 00:28:11.799 --> 00:28:12.600 when people come up 00:28:12.600 --> 00:28:13.160 and give me a 00:28:13.160 --> 00:28:13.519 compliment, 00:28:14.319 --> 00:28:15.000 Corrie, that was a 00:28:15.000 --> 00:28:15.880 good talk, or Corrie, 00:28:15.920 --> 00:28:16.779 you were so brave. 00:28:17.480 --> 00:28:18.700 I take each remark as 00:28:18.700 --> 00:28:19.460 if it were a flower. 00:28:20.420 --> 00:28:21.600 At the end of each day, 00:28:21.640 --> 00:28:23.100 I lift up the bouquet of 00:28:23.100 --> 00:28:24.160 flowers I have gathered 00:28:24.160 --> 00:28:25.100 throughout the day and 00:28:25.100 --> 00:28:26.840 say, here you are, 00:28:26.980 --> 00:28:27.259 Lord. 00:28:27.259 --> 00:28:29.099 Lord, it is all yours. 00:28:31.599 --> 00:28:32.779 Here you are, Lord. 00:28:32.859 --> 00:28:34.079 It is all yours because 00:28:34.079 --> 00:28:35.980 she knows that all the 00:28:35.980 --> 00:28:37.359 fruit in her life, any 00:28:37.359 --> 00:28:39.259 fruit in her life, is the 00:28:39.259 --> 00:28:40.500 product of what God has 00:28:40.500 --> 00:28:42.200 done, not what she has 00:28:42.200 --> 00:28:42.460 done. 00:28:43.500 --> 00:28:45.039 And so there is no place 00:28:45.039 --> 00:28:46.559 in the Christian life for 00:28:46.559 --> 00:28:47.619 patting ourselves on the 00:28:47.619 --> 00:28:47.839 back. 00:28:47.920 --> 00:28:49.379 There is no place for 00:28:49.379 --> 00:28:50.420 self-congratulation. 00:28:50.599 --> 00:28:52.160 There is no place for 00:28:52.160 --> 00:28:53.420 beating our chests. 00:28:53.420 --> 00:28:54.680 We do not praise 00:28:54.680 --> 00:28:57.000 ourselves, but we praise 00:28:57.000 --> 00:28:57.539 God. 00:28:57.860 --> 00:28:59.060 And so that's why we come 00:28:59.060 --> 00:29:00.740 here week after week. 00:29:00.920 --> 00:29:02.519 We are reminding ourselves 00:29:02.519 --> 00:29:04.160 that God is the one who 00:29:04.160 --> 00:29:05.060 receives the glory. 00:29:05.200 --> 00:29:06.140 That's why we start our 00:29:06.140 --> 00:29:07.980 service singing two hymns 00:29:07.980 --> 00:29:08.920 of praise to God. 00:29:09.019 --> 00:29:09.980 That's why we end it 00:29:09.980 --> 00:29:11.500 singing hymns of praise 00:29:11.500 --> 00:29:11.960 to God. 00:29:12.100 --> 00:29:13.980 We remind ourselves every 00:29:13.980 --> 00:29:15.820 week that we praise not 00:29:15.820 --> 00:29:17.220 ourselves, but our great 00:29:17.220 --> 00:29:17.600 God. 00:29:19.160 --> 00:29:20.759 Worship protects us from 00:29:20.759 --> 00:29:21.519 narcissism. 00:29:21.519 --> 00:29:26.119 God is the one at work, 00:29:26.180 --> 00:29:27.180 and he tells us in John 00:29:27.180 --> 00:29:28.400 15 to abide in him. 00:29:28.480 --> 00:29:29.759 We abide in him first for 00:29:29.759 --> 00:29:31.819 salvation, recognizing that 00:29:31.819 --> 00:29:33.240 we have no hope outside of 00:29:33.240 --> 00:29:33.480 him. 00:29:34.539 --> 00:29:37.259 And we abide in him for the 00:29:37.259 --> 00:29:39.000 rest of our lives. 00:29:39.819 --> 00:29:40.680 Ongoing abiding. 00:29:40.799 --> 00:29:41.539 Everything we've already 00:29:41.539 --> 00:29:42.039 talked about. 00:29:42.139 --> 00:29:43.440 Abiding in him through 00:29:43.440 --> 00:29:43.799 prayer. 00:29:43.980 --> 00:29:45.480 Abiding in him in his word. 00:29:45.839 --> 00:29:47.240 Abiding in him as we gather 00:29:47.240 --> 00:29:48.160 together with other 00:29:48.160 --> 00:29:48.539 Christians. 00:29:48.960 --> 00:29:50.400 Abiding in him as we have 00:29:50.400 --> 00:29:51.500 confession and repentance 00:29:51.500 --> 00:29:52.660 in relationship. 00:29:53.640 --> 00:29:55.099 Trusting that he's the one 00:29:55.099 --> 00:29:56.619 who is at work. 00:29:57.160 --> 00:29:59.460 That is the source of our 00:29:59.460 --> 00:29:59.880 growth. 00:30:01.059 --> 00:30:02.380 And of course, abiding, right, 00:30:02.420 --> 00:30:03.740 is only for those who have 00:30:03.740 --> 00:30:04.759 faith in Jesus Christ. 00:30:04.880 --> 00:30:06.779 There is only one way to be 00:30:06.779 --> 00:30:08.420 attached to the vine, and 00:30:08.420 --> 00:30:09.660 that is through Jesus. 00:30:10.599 --> 00:30:12.039 It is through our faith and 00:30:12.039 --> 00:30:13.859 trust and confidence in him. 00:30:14.259 --> 00:30:15.279 And so as we ask this 00:30:15.279 --> 00:30:16.640 question, are we actually 00:30:16.640 --> 00:30:17.160 Christians? 00:30:17.160 --> 00:30:21.880 If the answer we come up with 00:30:21.880 --> 00:30:23.019 is we're not sure, if the 00:30:23.019 --> 00:30:25.320 answer is no, there is only 00:30:25.320 --> 00:30:27.019 one choice, one option, and 00:30:27.019 --> 00:30:28.600 that is to run to the only 00:30:28.600 --> 00:30:29.019 vine. 00:30:31.019 --> 00:30:33.600 Jesus is our hope and our only 00:30:33.600 --> 00:30:36.500 hope in this world for any real 00:30:36.500 --> 00:30:39.220 and true growth and change. 00:30:39.320 --> 00:30:40.700 And so for those who have faith 00:30:40.700 --> 00:30:42.620 in him and those who do not, the 00:30:42.619 --> 00:30:45.219 call is always to Jesus Christ. 00:30:46.719 --> 00:30:48.279 He is the vine. 00:30:48.839 --> 00:30:50.500 We are the branches. 00:30:54.699 --> 00:30:57.019 Several years after my dad 00:30:57.019 --> 00:31:00.739 started the garden plot, he also 00:31:00.739 --> 00:31:02.500 decided he wanted to plant some 00:31:02.500 --> 00:31:04.439 apple trees and some peach trees 00:31:04.440 --> 00:31:05.720 in our backyard. 00:31:06.880 --> 00:31:10.400 Now if you plant apple trees, you 00:31:10.400 --> 00:31:12.559 don't look for good fruit right 00:31:12.559 --> 00:31:12.820 away. 00:31:13.680 --> 00:31:15.559 You need to wait several years. 00:31:16.500 --> 00:31:18.820 And so during this waiting time, 00:31:18.920 --> 00:31:20.180 of course my dad was not idle. 00:31:20.279 --> 00:31:20.920 He was at work. 00:31:21.420 --> 00:31:23.480 He planted two by two stakes in 00:31:23.480 --> 00:31:25.000 the ground to hold the plants 00:31:25.000 --> 00:31:27.180 firm so that the wind would not be 00:31:27.180 --> 00:31:29.019 able to shake them when they didn't 00:31:29.019 --> 00:31:29.660 have any roots. 00:31:30.759 --> 00:31:32.559 He put wraps around the base of 00:31:32.559 --> 00:31:34.259 the tree to protect them from 00:31:34.259 --> 00:31:34.879 squirrels. 00:31:36.299 --> 00:31:37.839 He made sure, those are a thing 00:31:37.839 --> 00:31:38.379 in the East Coast. 00:31:39.519 --> 00:31:42.419 He made sure there was a hole in 00:31:42.419 --> 00:31:43.339 the ground that was the right 00:31:43.339 --> 00:31:43.759 size. 00:31:45.059 --> 00:31:46.720 He made sure there was the right 00:31:46.720 --> 00:31:49.220 kind of fertilizer for this tree, 00:31:49.319 --> 00:31:49.500 right? 00:31:49.559 --> 00:31:51.720 He is tending for it in all sorts 00:31:51.720 --> 00:31:52.039 of ways. 00:31:52.139 --> 00:31:53.059 He's pruning it. 00:31:53.139 --> 00:31:55.279 He's spraying it for insects. 00:31:55.379 --> 00:31:56.980 He wants to make sure there's the 00:31:56.980 --> 00:31:58.599 right amount of nutrients there, 00:31:58.619 --> 00:31:58.819 right? 00:31:58.819 --> 00:32:03.799 That tree was always an apple tree 00:32:03.799 --> 00:32:07.319 before it gave any fruit, tended to 00:32:07.319 --> 00:32:09.500 and cared for by my father. 00:32:10.960 --> 00:32:15.460 And when the fruit came, then we 00:32:15.460 --> 00:32:16.399 knew for sure. 00:32:17.859 --> 00:32:19.899 This is an apple tree. 00:32:21.159 --> 00:32:25.119 The fruit wasn't perfect, but it was 00:32:25.119 --> 00:32:25.460 good. 00:32:25.460 --> 00:32:31.240 Brothers and sisters, the same is 00:32:31.240 --> 00:32:32.380 true for us. 00:32:33.120 --> 00:32:36.559 Our heavenly father is tending to 00:32:36.559 --> 00:32:38.279 us and gardening us. 00:32:38.980 --> 00:32:40.799 He is protecting us so that the 00:32:40.799 --> 00:32:42.519 winds come, we won't be blown over 00:32:42.519 --> 00:32:43.600 when our roots haven't grown. 00:32:45.200 --> 00:32:48.160 He is giving us the nutrients and 00:32:48.160 --> 00:32:50.880 the rich food that we need through 00:32:50.880 --> 00:32:53.160 fellowship with one another and 00:32:53.160 --> 00:32:54.360 through the power of his word. 00:32:55.460 --> 00:32:58.220 He is protecting us from those 00:32:58.220 --> 00:33:00.019 things that might attack us and 00:33:00.019 --> 00:33:00.700 tear us down. 00:33:02.380 --> 00:33:04.740 And he is doing all those things, 00:33:04.940 --> 00:33:07.059 not because we have fruit, but so 00:33:07.059 --> 00:33:09.259 that we would produce it. 00:33:11.340 --> 00:33:14.799 Did that tree produce fruit? 00:33:15.180 --> 00:33:15.620 Absolutely. 00:33:16.620 --> 00:33:18.240 Because of the nutrients and 00:33:18.240 --> 00:33:19.740 protection and care of my father. 00:33:19.740 --> 00:33:23.960 Do we as Christians produce fruit? 00:33:23.960 --> 00:33:24.920 Absolutely. 00:33:26.599 --> 00:33:29.079 Because of the nutrients and care and 00:33:29.079 --> 00:33:31.940 protection of our heavenly father. 00:33:32.120 --> 00:33:36.220 God is tending to us and caring for us so 00:33:36.220 --> 00:33:40.420 that we would produce fruit. 00:33:40.779 --> 00:33:43.099 What is the relationship between our 00:33:43.099 --> 00:33:45.039 obedience and our salvation? 00:33:45.039 --> 00:33:47.839 The fruit of obedience is what confirms 00:33:47.839 --> 00:33:51.399 and verifies that God is the one 00:33:51.399 --> 00:33:53.139 gardening our lives. 00:33:54.819 --> 00:33:58.200 He has cultivated a rich harvest, 00:33:58.399 --> 00:34:03.039 and so we work hard to see that in our lives. 00:34:03.039 --> 00:34:07.000 We work to see it in part now, 00:34:07.000 --> 00:34:10.480 and we work to see it fully in the future 00:34:10.480 --> 00:34:12.079 when, verse 11, 00:34:12.980 --> 00:34:15.759 we will have an entrance into the eternal 00:34:15.759 --> 00:34:17.960 kingdom of our Lord and Savior, 00:34:18.400 --> 00:34:19.039 Jesus Christ. 00:34:19.880 --> 00:34:20.980 Please pray with me. 00:34:20.980 --> 00:34:24.440 Dear Father in Heaven, 00:34:24.599 --> 00:34:27.900 we thank you that you are a good gardener. 00:34:27.980 --> 00:34:29.920 You are at work in our lives, 00:34:30.059 --> 00:34:31.679 bringing fruit to bear. 00:34:31.780 --> 00:34:33.500 We ask that you would continue to do that, 00:34:33.579 --> 00:34:35.440 that you would bring us the joy that 00:34:35.440 --> 00:34:37.639 comes from seeing the growth that you 00:34:37.639 --> 00:34:38.679 provide for the gospel. 00:34:39.840 --> 00:34:42.719 We ask that you would give opportunities 00:34:42.719 --> 00:34:44.860 for serious self-examination, 00:34:45.699 --> 00:34:48.179 that if there are those who call themselves 00:34:48.179 --> 00:34:52.179 Christians that have no fruit or sign of faith, 00:34:52.919 --> 00:34:54.899 that you would convict them of sin 00:34:54.899 --> 00:34:56.759 and their need for repentance even now, 00:34:57.239 --> 00:34:58.239 and that you would bring them 00:34:58.239 --> 00:35:01.199 to a true and saving faith in Jesus Christ, 00:35:02.079 --> 00:35:04.980 the kind of faith that leads to a rich harvest. 00:35:05.139 --> 00:35:07.359 We thank you that we are not the gardeners, 00:35:07.440 --> 00:35:08.199 but you are, 00:35:08.279 --> 00:35:09.659 and so we ask for these things 00:35:09.659 --> 00:35:11.599 in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ. 00:35:12.039 --> 00:35:12.359 Amen.