Pastor Tim Brown, Calvary Chapel Fremont, Sunday April 11, 2010

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Maturing Faith

2 Peter 1:5-11

Peter says that our faith is to mature and it is to look a certain way.  Faith isn’t like your car/TV that look the same day after day.  Faith is like a plant – it grows.  Cactus in my yard.  Via forensic technology, I saw rendering of what JFK would look like today.  Peter gives us a picture of what your faith will look like when fully mature.   
 

5a/4   Here’s why you should mature in your faith

For this reason… v4b.  We are called to a life of holiness and a life of holiness is only possible when faith is maturing.  A maturing faith/ growth in holiness go hand in hand.  Plant size determined by pot size.  The maturity of your faith is tied to your heart for God.  Here’s why -  

Faith by itself justifies, but faith by itself doesn’t transform.  There is nothing you can add to the finished work of Christ 4u, but there is something you can add to the unfinished work of the Spirit nu.  “It is finished” v “It is not finished.”  Salvation is yours, but moral excellence/etc. not yours.  A life of holiness is only possible when faith is maturing.

5a   Here’s how you can mature in your faith

Add to your faith:

    * Walk in obedience.  This is a command – these are virtues that God is making available 2u and that ur2 add.  When you look at these things, they are really fruit of the Spirit.
    * Partner w/ God in the work He is doing (sponsor of a play – financing it).  God is making His nature available 2u, He’s handing you the bricks to build the temple of God.  Take them/put them in place.

No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.  1 Cor. 10:13

    * Be zealous about it.  W/ diligence = speed/haste.  

5b-7   Here’s what faith needs to mature

Ingredients of a mature faith: moral excellence/knowledge/self-control/perseverance/godliness/brotherly kindness/love.  These are qualities that false teachers of C2 consider unimportant.  Yes to God/No to sin/Endure tough times/Commune w/ God/Serves others.   

8-11   Here’s what maturing faith will look like

These qualities are yours (8) – personal faith

Not roles you play, but qualities that describe who you really are.   To Robert Redford: “Are you the real Robert Redford?”  He replied, “Only when I’m alone.”  He was saying, “I have a public persona and a private one.”  May this not be true of you. May 5-7 be the real you.  Someone here told me that a former pastor would not greet them when he saw them out in public on his day off because he wasn’t on the clock.   

These qualities are increasing (8) – growing faith

These qualities are to ongoingly/increasingly describe you.  Wouldn’t it be strange if Harrison Ford increasingly became Indiana Jones in his real life?  Hat/whip/ clothes…  We would think that he is seriously attracted to the person of IJ.  And why not think that – look at what he’s becoming.  As a man/woman is seriously attracted to the person of Jesus – there’s growth in the character of Jesus.

Useful in the true knowledge of Jesus our Lord (8) – working faith

Useless = inactive/unemployed.  A mature faith is a serving faith.  How do you know if you have a personal/growing faith?  You want to serve God.  And you serve God by serving people.  You might say, “Well, I’m going to sign up to serve in CM/go to Mexico next trip.”  OK, but why not start by being more helpful at home w/ kids.

Fruitful in the true knowledge of Jesus our Lord (8) – productive faith

As you get to know the Lord Jesus, your soul will be transformed.  The fruit of the Spirit will begin 2b seen in your life.  A fruit tree doesn’t eat its own fruit – fruit is for others.  Others begin 2b blessed by your love/joy/peace/patience…

Make certain His calling and choosing you (10) – certain faith

Certain = standing firm on the feet/confident/assured

Practice these things (10) – disciplined faith

A mature faith takes time/practice.  When you work different sets of muscles, they begin to respond.  I do 15 sit-ups and then check 2c if I have a 6-pac yet. You don’t show brotherly kindness once and become instantly Christlike.  A mature faith takes time.   

You will never stumble (10) – solid faith

Stumble: to suffer a reverse (tdnt v6).  Imagine living on a farm in a small Kansas community in 1810 - no electricity/TV/ internet/drug dealers/gangs/shopping malls/ nearest bar is 20 miles away/gambling establishment is far away.  There is no access to drugs/alcohol/pornography/bad company/alluring places to take your money.  Contrast w/ today: mouse click gets you access to pornography/phone call buys illegal drugs/trip around the corner gets u2 the liquor store/gangs & malls & casinos are everywhere.  Temptation comes @u faster than the speed of light/possibilities of sinning have multiplied exponentially.  You can’t turn around w/o some enticement saying, “Come here.”

In this sewer of moral/spiritual filth in which we find ourselves, God says to us, “Live a clean life.  Live a holy life.  Be pure in your thoughts/words/actions/ intentions.”  This seems to us like letting your 3 year old go out/play in the back yard after it has rained and saying to him, “Don’t get muddy.”  Doesn’t it seem like a life of holiness, a life of being pure in your intentions/thoughts/words/actions is something out of the realm of possibility?  Isn’t God asking too much?  Titus 2:11-13

God has made a way.  Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.  The power of the Holy Spirit/indwelling Christ is greater than the power of temptation/sin.  If temptation comes at the speed of light, Christ indwells you.  If the possibilities of sinning have multiplied exponentially/possibilities of holiness have outpaced them.  If ur up to your nose in a sewer of moral/spiritual filth, the indwelling Christ promises to keep you and your intentions/thoughts/words/actions pure if you will trust in Him.  Cf. v4

The Bible doesn’t teach sinless perfectionism.  It teaches that when you practice the things of vv5-7, troubles/trials/temptations won’t derail you.  It teaches that your intentions/thoughts/words/actions will continue to grow in holiness/escape corruption that is in the world due to lust.   

Entrance … will be abundantly supplied (11) – recognized faith

NIV – receive a rich welcome.  God opens the door wide b4u and you have opportunities others don’t who aren’t mature in their faith.   

V9 – blindness begins w/ forgetfulness  

Is your faith maturing?  Does it look like this?