Sunday School Lesson

1. 2 Peter 1:1-11
“Being Useful”
You have everything that you need for life and growth.
November 6, 2016
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA
What’s the number one thing?
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The glory of God!
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1 Corinthians 10:31
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
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2. November Memory Verse:
Matthew 9:37-38
37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;
38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his
harvest."
References:
• Missler, Dr. Chuck. “The Book of 2nd Peter, Chapter 1, Session 6,” May 2016;
YouTube Video.
• Smith, Collin. “Everything You Need For Life”, Sermon series on 2 Peter,
(unlockingthebible.org).
• ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL; Crossway Publishers, 2008).
• Scripture references are from the English Standard Version (ESV) Bible
unless otherwise noted.
Introduction to Peter’s 2nd Letter
• Written by Peter after Paul’s death 64-68 AD.
• Considered as 2nd class literature by some scholars.
• Well accepted by 4th century.
• Papyrus fragment of 2 Peter 1:15 found in Dead Sea Scrolls at Qumran.
• Caves at Qumran sealed around 68 AD.
Outline of Lesson Today – 2 Parts
• 2 Peter 1:1-4 – Everything You Need for Life.
• 2 Peter 1:5-11 – Everything You Need for Growth.
Unaware Christians?
2 Peter 1:1-2 ESV
1 Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the
righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:
2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of
Jesus our Lord.

3. “a servant (bond-servant)”
• “doulos” – a bond-slave.
• Voluntarily committed his life to service of a house.
• When option for freedom came, elected to remain as servant.
• Ear pierced as a badge of honor to mark attachment to your master.
• Peter was committed to Christ for life!!
“to those who have obtained a faith of equal standing”
• The saving faith of the apostles is the same as the saving faith of any
believer.
• Gnostics claimed different levels of spirituality with favoritism.
• Gnostics taught that an inner circle of a few believers had special
knowledge from God.
“may grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of our God and
of Jesus our Lord.”
• Peter likes mathematical terms – “multiplied”.
• Peter encourages us to grow as Christians (Sanctification) (Growing into
the image of Christ).
• The multiplied grace and peace is in the knowledge (knowing and
obeying) of God and Christ.
2 Peter 1:3-4
3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness,
through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,
4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that
through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped
from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
“His divine power”
• Power = “dynamis”, the dynamite – the source.
• The source of this power is the Holy Spirit living in you.
Ephesians 3:16 ESV
16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be
strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
His divine power has granted us all things that pertain to life and godliness.
2 Peter 1:3 NIV
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our
knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
• Through the Holy Spirit (divine power) we have everything we need to live
a godly life.

4. “who called us to his own glory and excellence,”
• “Called us” = You did not just stumble into salvation, God called you
through the Holy Spirit.
Romans 8:30
30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he
called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
1 Corinthians 1:9
9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
“by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises,”
• Promise of new birth;
1 Peter 1:3b
3b According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a
living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
• Promise of enabling power;
2 Peter 1:3a
3a His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and
godliness,
“so that through them (God’s promises) you may become partakers of the
divine nature”
• “Partakers” = sharing in God’s assets and liabilities.
• To fully participate.
• We share in Jesus’ victory over sin in this life.
• We share in Jesus’ victory over death in eternal life.
• Jesus’ divine nature is available through the Holy Spirit.
How did Paul express this concept of partakers with Christ’s divine nature?
Galatians 2:20
20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives
in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who
loved me and gave himself for me.
Romans 8:9
9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God
dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to
him.

5. “having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful
desire.”
• The unbeliever is still in bondage to sin, but you are not.
• The believer is no longer Satan’s prisoner.
• Sin is your enemy, not your master!
Summary of 2 Peter 1:1-4
In knowing Christ, you have everything you need for life, which is the promise of
the Gospel:
1. Through knowing Christ, you become a partaker in His divine nature
in that the Holy Spirit is always in you.
2. In Christ, you escape the corruption in the world caused by evil
desires, and sin is not your master anymore, but just your enemy.
Introduction to 1 Peter 1:5-11
• These verses will show how we have everything we need for spiritual
growth.
• This spiritual growth is what flows out of the promise that you have
everything you need for life (verses 1-4 above).
• Spiritual maturity (The Process of Sanctification).
2 Peter 1:5-11
5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and
virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with
steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly
affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 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. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so
nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his
former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling
and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this
way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
“For this very reason”
• This very reason is because we have everything we need for life.
• You are partakers in his divine nature.
• You have the power of the Holy Spirit.
• You have escaped from the corruption of the world.

6. “For this very reason make every effort to supplement your faith”
• This is Peter’s call to action for the Christian.
• It is our duty and responsibility to grow and mature as Christians.
• This is NOT “Let go and let God,” but a personal daily effort to become
more like Christ.
Does your Christian growth feel like this?
How do we apply God’s gifts to us toward God’s calling for us?
• Example by Martyn Lloyd Jones of a farmer:
• God gives the farmer the land, tools, equipment, seeds, water &
sunshine to produce a crop.
• The farmer must use the tools, seeds & equipment to plant, kill
weeds, tend the crops and then harvest the crops.
• God give us the tools for spiritual growth, and we must use them to
produce a harvest.
Peter has the prescription of 7 ingredients for effective and fruitful spiritual
growth.
• These are characteristics we must actively pursue because God has given
us the power to attain them through the Holy Spirit.
• It is an imperative or command; it is our duty.
• Let’s look at this as a self-evaluation on how you are doing in pursuing
spiritual maturity.

7. The building blocks to add to your faith.
“Make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue,”
1. Virtue (Goodness in NIV) = moral purity, valor.
• Moral energy to perform good deeds for others.
• Greek “arête” means the God given ability to perform heroic deeds.
• Later meaning was the quality of life which made someone stand out
as excellent.
• Daily test: How can I extend goodness to others?
“and virtue with knowledge,”
2. Knowledge = growing in the truths of God and wisdom.
• Wisdom is found in the Word of God.
Psalm 119:105
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.
• Daily Test: How am I doing learning God’s Word?
• Do I spend time in God’s Word?
“and knowledge with self-control,”
3. Self-control = Controlling your passions instead of them controlling you.
• Example of spiritual growth is Peter overcoming impulsiveness.
• This is like the steering mechanism of your emotions (spirit controlled).
• Where do I need to improve self-control?

8. “and self-control with steadfastness,”
4. Steadfastness (Perseverance in NIV) = arises from self-control; patience
and endurance without complaining.
• An impulsive person gives up easily.
• You get fed up and then give up!
• You are led by your emotions & feelings.
• Learn to stay the course in difficulty.
• How are you tempted to give up?
“and steadfastness with godliness,”
5. Godliness = a life of passion for God; God-likeness; obedience.
• How is my love for Christ?
• How much am I trying to be like Christ daily?
• Do others see Christ when they see my actions?
• I must truly love Christ before I can adequately love others (brotherly
affection is the next step).
“and godliness with brotherly affection,”
6. Brotherly affection (kindness in NIV) = generosity to others (forgiveness).
• Greek is “philadelphia” brotherly love.
• This kindness and generosity for others flows from godliness (#5).
• Be kind in your judgments of others.
• Be quick to think the best of others.
• How can I help others?
“and brotherly affection with love.”
7. Love (Greek is “agape”) = God’s compassion for the world.
• Agape love has no end, no limits, no conditions.
• Your love causes you to share Jesus with others.
• Am I actively and regularly sharing what Christ has done for me?

9. How does this compare with Paul’s list of the fruit of the spirit?
Galatians 5:22
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, self- control; against such things there is no law.
• Peter expresses these as something you add to your life or internalize to
your faith (building blocks).
• Paul expresses it as an outward manifestation of your internal character
(fruit).
Peter now gives us one warning and two encouragements in 2 Peter1:8-10.
2 Peter 1:8-10
8 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. 9 For whoever
lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he
was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent
to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will
never fall.
What is Peter’s warning? (Verse 9)
• If you have no sense in your soul that these 7 qualities are things you must
pursue, then there is something wrong in you!
• If this pursuit is not evident, you have “lost sight” of what you should
pursue.
• You are spiritually blind to what you should be doing to grow spiritually.
What are the 2 encouragements from Peter?
1. If you pursue these 7 qualities, you will be effective and fruitful
(productive).
2 Peter 1:8
8 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.
2. You will know that you are in Christ (confirms your calling and election in
which you not fall).
2 Peter 1:10
10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and
election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.

10. What does 2 Peter 1:10 say?
• This verse does NOT mean that your good life can contribute to your
calling and election, as this is God’s work.
• You can see God’s work in your life and this is how your assurance grows
(confirm your calling and election).
• “you will never fall” means that you will not stumble into doubt, despair or
questioning your salvation.
Paul said it this way about assurance of salvation.
2 Timothy 1:12 NKJV
12 For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I
know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I
have committed to Him until that Day.
2 Peter 1:11
11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal
kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
• You will have a “rich welcome” into heaven.

11. Until we get to heaven, what should we be doing?
1. Every Christian, regardless of age, experience or circumstance bears the
responsibility to grow spiritually.
2. Perfection cannot be fully attained, but a life of increasing maturity is our
calling.
Lesson for Today in 2 Peter 1:1-11
1. In knowing Christ, you have everything you need for life, which is the
promise of the Gospel.
2. You have everything you need for Christian growth, and you must actively
pursue adding to your faith goodness, knowledge, self-control,
steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection and love.
Next Sunday – November 13, 2016
2 Peter 1:12-21
The Plan of Hope & Salvation
John 3:16
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes
in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
John 14:6
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to
the Father except through me.”
Romans 3:23
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23a
23a For the wages of sin is death,
 Death in this life (the first death) is 100%.
 Even Jesus, the one who doesn’t deserve death, died in this life to pay the
penalty for our sins.
 The death referred to in Romans 6:23a is the second death explained in
Revelation 21:8.
Revelation 21:8
8 “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the
sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the
lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

12. Romans 5:8
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for
us.
Romans 6:23b
23b but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Revelation 21:7
7 "The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will
be my son.”
 Romans 10:9-10 explains to us how to be conquerors.
Romans 10:9-10
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your
heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart
one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
Romans 10:13
13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
If you have questions or would like to know more, please, contact First Baptist
Church Jackson at 601-949-1900 or http://firstbaptistjackson.org/contact/