Exercising True Faith: Divine Grants for Every Believer Part 1 - 2 Peter 1:3-4

1:05Well, we live in a community of colleges, right? And grants are pretty important. Many of you apply for scholarships and all that and help to pay for college. And loans aren't as fun as grants, are they? Grants are given. They are just that. They are granted, and they usually have something in mind that you would, they're granted for the purpose of you getting through school. We can think of land grants. Whether you're talking about grants on this continent under the Spanish government years ago, and see the ranchos of California, grants, or whether they were the English grants, or whether they were the grants given under Texas. They are given for a purpose. That is, they are given.

2:06They're not to be paid for. They are given, and the idea is that they would encourage settlement, they would encourage an activity, a purpose. They're given for a purpose. In the Bible, there are several grants. There is a royal grant. You see these in Esther 8:1. You remember when the king gave Mordecai everything that had belonged to Haman, and he gave him his signet ring. He granted it to Mordecai. Seen in Scripture, there's official grants. There's the, like that of Joseph of Arimathea going and asking Pilate for the body of Christ after he died on the cross. And Pilate granted the body to Joseph.

3:00Then there is another kind of grant we see in the old, or in the scripture, and that is that of a divine grant, that which comes from God. In Genesis chapter 30 and verse 20, Leah speaks of how God has endowed her, has granted her with another child, a grant. You see, grants do not have to be paid back, they are given, and they're given for the purpose of accomplishing something. And we can think about our context this morning: that Messiah has given some grants. There are these things that I would choose to call Messiah grants. That is, that which Christ has granted to every single one of his followers. And like all grants, he has a purpose for giving these to his people. And so this morning, as we look through verses 3 and 4, I want you to see two grants that Jesus Himself has given to every believer. And I want you to see one glorious purpose for him doing so. Two grants, one glorious purpose. That's where we're going this morning. First, I want you to see the first grant. And this is in verse 3. Jesus Christ has granted you everything you need for a life and godliness. You see that? His divine power has granted to us everything. Pertaining to life and godliness through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. Notice this divine grant is by His divine power.

4:40His divine power. It's not that Christ possesses a power separate from God. No, it speaks of His divine power. His power is that of God's own power. Christ gives according to God's own power because He is one with God. He is of the same essence as God. And so it is that divine power that is God's power that grants. And it operates in the lives of His people. It's God's power that operates in the lives of His people. And it emanates from Christ to His people. In fact, you remember back in Mark chapter 5, you remember the unclean woman who pushed her way through the crowd, and she touches the garment, and she's healed. And what happens? Do you remember that big procession? Immediately, chapter 5 and verse 30 of Mark, Jesus perceiving in himself that power proceeding from him had gone forth, he turned around to the crowd and said, Who touched my garments? Power going out.

5:53In this chapter, verse 16, Peter is going to talk about this power emanating from Christ. Christ that is on display, a power on display. As he says in verse 16, for we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus. He's speaking about that mount of transfiguration where he saw Jesus glorified right before his eyes. That was power on display. And the power that operates in believers is of the same divine essence, the same divine nature as that which raised Christ from the dead. That's the power we're talking about.

6:392 Corinthians 3, 13, 4 says this, For indeed he was crucified because of weakness, yet he lives because of the power of God. For we also are weak, yet we will live with him because of the power of God directed toward you. God's power in Christ directed to his people to give them life. It's a power that raises from the dead. First, a spiritual renewal and in the future a physical resurrection. It's the same power. The same power that resurrected Christ from the dead works in his people. Get your mind around this thought.

7:28This is the granting of Authority, God's power. And it's a power that causes spiritual growth. It's a power that enables saints to do works that glorify God and to accomplish things that they could not even imagine. Ephesians 3:20 says this: Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond than all we ask or think, according to the power that works within us. It is an equipping power, a power that causes growth. This power has granted, has granted.

8:06He has granted. Let's think about that for a second. He is granted. That means it's not earned. It's granted. He saw a need and he granted this. It's a passive form. He granted. I mean, it's a perfect passive. It's something not earned. Something that, a past action that has taken place with continuing effects. He has granted, perfect action, and there is a continuous effect of that. And he is granted. Look back to everything. He granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness. And the word us, it refers to all believers. If you are in him, this is speaking about you. You have everything pertaining to life and godliness. And if you're not in him, you can be today call upon his name, the invitation. Is open.

9:03The word life refers here to this physical life, but also to the life to come. It encompasses the whole enchilada of life. Everything, it encapsulates it all. The temporal life, life to come, life. The word godliness refers to genuine reverence and obedience that comes out of that. That's what godliness is. Godliness is first a respect and an honor for God and for who He is, and that respect and honor is manifested by obedience from the heart. That's what godliness is: is reverence and obedience. He has granted to you everything you need for life here and now, and that to come so that you may know how to revere and obey your God.

10:01The word everything is in the emphatic position. God has given His people everything. Starts out, everything God has given you. Everything you need for life and godliness, everything is given to you. It's granted. And just like any grant, there's a purpose for giving it. He knows you need it. He knows you're not going to get it unless it's granted. It's a comprehensive grant. I mean, wouldn't you like a grant like that from your college, right? A comprehensive grant that covers anything and everything of your ride through school. That's a pretty good grant. Well, this is what he's given, except it goes beyond just college life. It's for this life and it's for eternity. I don't want you to miss what Peter is saying here. If you are in Christ, you have received everything, everything, everything you need to carry out God's designs for your life. Everything. You're not lacking anything. That's what the text says. And you may not have what others have. You may not have what you think you need.

11:21But you have everything that you need for life and godliness. You see, life isn't an endless search for that missing part. God doesn't intend that to be life that you go around seeking for life. He grants life so that you can live life. Life isn't this endless quest for the secret sauce, for that secret ingredient, for that one thing that's missing. Now that's a search. That's not life. You see what. Happens is oftentimes because we are very much aware of our own personal sins and we're aware of our personal failures, it causes some of us to be tempted to think that we are still missing something. Our salvation isn't complete, we're missing something. And this faulty idea can cause believers to seek something else that will fill up that which is supposedly, supposedly missing. And it sets believers off in all manner of quests when all along God has already granted everything you need for a life and godliness in Him for whatever God has called you to be and do. You haven't.

12:50You know, one of the secrets of marketing is making you feel like you're missing out on something. That's one of the first rules of marketing: make people feel discontent so that they'll want to buy your product. Well, people who are easily succumb to this kind of thinking, who don't realize that God has given everything, are easy prey for false teachers. And that's, to a large degree, what Peter is addressing here. How do you live victoriously in a world of false teachers? First of all, you need to know God has given you everything you need for life and godliness.

13:32Let that settle in. Otherwise, you're going to be blown and tossed to and fro. You're not missing out. You have no lack of all, lack at all. You have everything you need so that you will grow in sanctification, grow in Christ's likeness. It's all there. So you cannot claim that your sins and your failures are the results of God's limited provision. They're not. They're your own failures. God has clearly said there is no temptation, there is no assault of Satan that is beyond your resources to conquer. There is no trial. There is no sin too powerful. There is no guilt too great. Everything. You have it all for a life of godliness. He wouldn't call you to great things if he didn't give you the means to get there. And so he has granted them. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, No temptation has overtaken you but that which is common to men. And God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with that temptation will provide the way of escape also so that you will be able to endure it. God hasn't slighted you on the provisions. If you want to live a life in godliness, You're not lacking.

15:04In fact, the last thing that Peter says in his first letter in chapter 5: that lion, that savage lion that wants to destroy your faith, Peter says this in verse 9, but resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. Satan wants to devour your faith.

15:35And the true test of faith is endurance. Life is going to soon be over. And you are going to experience life. And after all that life has done, after all that you've been through, after everything having been thrown at you, after all the good, after all the bad, after all the painful, and after all the utterly unthinkable, faith says this: God is good. And I will trust my soul to him, even though he slay me. That is faith. It endures.

16:19Listen, Peter does not make light of our sufferings. He knows what they are going through. He knows what the people of God go through. He has experienced. It firsthand himself. He doesn't make light of our sufferings, but he does let us know that there are others around us who are successfully enduring the same kind of trials of life that we are going through. And you've heard me say it before. One of the most humbling things for me is to be up here Wednesday night and listen to what other people are going through. And then it puts my life and issues into a little different perspective. And I watch people go through things that are far more intense than I've ever experienced. And I see their faith standing and it encourages me. It humbles me. And it is good for me.

17:14But notice, I want you to look at the order. Life, then, godliness. You see, spiritual life must exist before there can be true godliness, right? Life must happen before godliness. Now, my two youngest girls love ballet. Now, they've never had a ballet lesson in their life. And they kind of redefine ballet altogether, but they love it. Now, let's suppose Nancy and I put our heads together and said, We are going to produce the finest ballerinas that ever lived.

17:49Well, first of all, you can be sure that they have to have life, right? In order, before they can be the great ballerinas that they want to be, they have to be able to walk. To be able to breathe, they have to be able to run and jump and leap. All that is necessary before they can be the greatest ballerinas ever or completely redefine what ballet is. But the point is, life is necessary, then godliness. Before, you know, a child must have vital breath first and then cry and then walk and then run into the arms of his or her father, right? Life must precede godliness.

18:39Look back. This life and godliness comes through. Notice the preposition. It comes through, verse 3, through the true knowledge of him who called us. Through the true knowledge. It comes through this conduit, through the true knowledge of him who called us. See, look back at verse 3. His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness through the true knowledge of him. Look back at verse 2. Peter is saying, Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge. How is grace and peace multiplied? By knowing who God is, by true knowledge. That's how grace and peace are multiplied. And so he goes on. Knowledge of God is the first step to life. John 17:3 says this. This is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom you sent. Starts there. That first encounter with Jesus that doesn't end there, but continues throughout life. Knowledge, an initial knowledge that starts and grows and continues. You see, fundamental to knowledge, you've got to get this in your head, is belief. If you're going to know me, for instance, in order to know something about me, you're going to have to believe my word. If I tell you, start telling you about who I am and my person and what I've done in life, you're going to have to believe that, or you're not ever going to get to know me. Well, the same is true with God. If you do not believe the testimony of himself that he has given in Scripture, you will never know him. It's impossible. He has disclosed himself. And if fundamentally you don't believe what he says, you will never really know him.

20:35So fundamental to knowledge is belief. Think about it. Why is knowledge so important? Why is knowledge about God so important? Well, let's suppose somebody slipped up and put a million dollars in your bank account or in a bank account for you. You would need to know that it's there, number one, and you'd need to know how to access it. Million dollars in your bank account really doesn't do you any good unless you know it's there and you know how to access it.

21:09And speaking of Israel, in Hosea 4, 6, God says, This, my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Knowledge is very important, and knowing and believing is critical. But I want you to look back now and see something. How does he call us? I want you to look at the nature of the call, seeing that his divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness through the true knowledge of him, who called us? Who called us? By his own glory and excellence. Now the word for called can literally can really be translated summoned, summoned us, draws us. How does God draw us to himself? And sometimes we're tempted to think, okay, well, this is like an invitation. That God has sent an invitation that you can reject or receive. Yeah, we could put a biblical construct around that, and yeah, there are places that it would be appropriate to speak of it that way, but not here. Not here. Peter has something far deeper in mind. It's that call, like, Lazarus, come forth. That kind of call, an awakening type. Call. So, how does he call us? And look at the sense: by his own glory. By his own glory. Now, some versions say to, by or to. Does he call us to his glory and excellence or by? The sense is the same.

22:47But it's better in English to understand it as by his own glory. I think we can understand this in a different way. How does he call us? He calls us by his own glory and excellence. I can take you to 1992, St. Petersburg, Russia, Baltic Sea, those beautiful white nights in Russia where it doesn't really ever get dark. Right there in a grand hotel, right next to the beach. It was there. It was there walking across the lobby. I saw her. She was this beautiful blonde. Here, I'm going to embarrass the daylights out of her, by the way.

23:32Beautiful blonde gal. Beautiful blue eyes. Her dimpled smile drew me. No, it summoned me. Let me put it that way. It summoned me all the way to the altar. And as I got to know her, her moral virtues, her beauty, all that is fine and beautiful about a woman just drew me, summoned me. That's the idea. I think we can understand that in a romantic setting, right? But then when we start trying to put theological constructs around it, it gets kind of confusing, right? We get too complicated, but it's really the same principle. That's what Peter is saying.

24:16He drew us. Christ's glory and his excellence has a drawing power. Word for glory, if you think about it and understand it biblically, it starts in the Old Testament speaking about that supernatural light of God's presence that radiated from between the cherubim right above the mercy seat. It was a radiating and awesome beauty. It radiated glory, the radiating beauty and glory of God. Excellence speaks of virtue, his goodness, his moral excellence, his character, his nature radiating out from him. So when you put it together, Christ's glory and excellence are like the rays of the sun which streams forth its brilliant light. And that glory and excellence of God is from Christ. That is where the glory and the excellence of God is made known and radiates out.

25:21Jesus Christ is the center and the apex of God's glory. And through him, God eternally radiates. Radiates his spiritual light and draws men to himself. You see, we are drawn to that which is beautiful. There's something within us. I see it in my girls. They're drawn to flowers. You know, you see a flower, they're drawn. My sons, as they were young and probably still, they're drawn to the beauty in a mud puddle. I mean, it doesn't matter if that mud puddle is on the other side of the street. I mean, all of a sudden, you just see this drawing power to the mud puddle, right?

26:00Well, we are drawn to beauty, we are drawn to that which fascinates, that which is intriguing. And Peter was drawn to Christ's glory and excellence. Now, picture in your minds with me. Let me take you to a little fishing nook on the Sea of Galilee. Picture Peter there, knee-deep in grit and dirt, casting his nets. Let me pick up the narrative in Mark chapter 1, verse 16. As he was going along by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon Peter and Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men. Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And they left a pretty good business and followed him. Going on a little further, he saw James, the son of Zebede, and John is. Brother, who were also in the boat mending their nets, immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and went away to follow him. There was something about Jesus that drew them to him. I mean, they had heard about Jesus, they had seen Jesus, and he caught their eye, he piqued their interest, intrigue, fascination, and a continual watching. And when he came and gave the command to follow them, they left everything. Listen, there are some people that you and I wouldn't even walk across the street with. Hey, let's come across the street. No, I'm not going to walk across the street with you.

27:46Here is a man that these disciples who had a very good fishing business left all to follow him. They were drawn. You don't do that unless you're drawn, captivated, taken in. And as they walked with Jesus over the next several years, they saw more of his glory and more of his excellence. And it captivated them more and more, even to go to death. And a brutal form of death. They loved him. They saw his glory. They walked with him through those years. They walked with a perfect man. They saw his perfect manhood. They saw his deity.

28:28They saw his godness. They saw his moral perfections. He was the best friend, the perfect friend. They saw his innocence. He was perfectly innocent, guileless, without harm. Anybody. He was perfect. They saw this. And they saw these virtues emanating from him. They experienced the best companion that anyone could ever have. They saw his goodness. They saw that radiating beauty of his commitment to the truth, his passion for life, his submission to the will of the Father. Beautiful, perfect submission. They saw his compassion. They saw that radiating beauty of his quickness to forgive. They saw his mercy. They saw his grace. They saw his fearlessness of man. They saw his love for justice and his hatred of phony religion.

29:28And they saw his love for guilty sinners. And they saw the gate of heaven opened wide for all who would enter. They saw it. In fact, John writes of it like this. And the word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw his glory. Glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. And John writes his whole gospel so that you may believe in him. Well, this. Glory and excellence drew them. And this glory and excellence of Christ became what they preached about. This became the essence of the gospel proclamation. You remember after Peter in Acts chapter 3, after healing the crippled man, people are going, wow, this is amazing. Peter says, Look, don't look at us as if by our power or our goodness or our piety that this thing happened. Let it be known that Jesus Christ, this is why this man stands here today because of his power and because of his compassion. That's why this man stands before you today. It is about Christ. So the rulers and the elders call him in.

30:44Peter stands before him and says, This, Look, there is salvation in nobody else. There is no other name under heaven, that which has been given among men by which we must be saved. And what's interesting, these rulers, they didn't know what to say, but they said this. Now, as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and began to recognize these have been with Jesus. They knew that.

31:21And then later they summoned them to not speak anymore or teach in Jesus' name. But Peter and John answered and said, Whether it is right, In the sight of God to give heed to you rather than God, you be the judge. Basically, saying, We cannot help but speak about the glories of Christ. And that was the message that the apostles shared. You see, my prayer is that God will again call this nation to Himself. And if He calls this nation to Himself, it will be through individuals who are drawn by God's glory and His excellence. It will be through those individuals who proclaim His excellence, who have a high view of Christ, who love Jesus and love His excellencies, who have walked with Him, who have tasted and cannot help but speak about Him.

32:27You see, when Christ's exalting preaching or teaching ceases, get this: God's call on a nation ceases. When Christ ceases to be lifted up by the pulpits and in the Bible studies and in the people that go to church, when it ceases, when He ceases to be lifted up, know that He's God is through calling because that is the way He calls. It's through His glory and excellence. That's granted. One. Jesus Christ has granted you everything you need for life and godliness.

33:08I'm going to invite you back next week for grant number two. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, so much to take in right here. Father, your glory and your beauty, Father, draws. Father, and I pray that you would give us true knowledge, that you would raise up those among us and raise up in this community and raise up in this nation people who are stirred, who have been drawn to you, who have beheld your glory and your excellence and have been drawn to it. And Father, I pray that you would raise up an entire class of individuals from all walks of life who have seen your glory and seen your beauty and want to make you known. Father, there is no help for this nation outside of that.

34:04And so, Father, I ask you to show us your glory, show us your beauty, lest we die. Father, we ask that you would take the next few moments to just accomplish this, accomplish whatever you need to accomplish in our lives. Make our hearts willing, open our hearts, open our eyes. May we see your great glory. We ask this in Jesus' name.