Sermon for June 9, 2013:
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My deepest problem
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Apostle Peter if there was anyone who could ever show us good grace start hardship and failure.
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2 Peter 1:1-9 NIV
Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours: Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 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 these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
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Stand strong; his divine power has given you everything that you need.
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Fundamental Realities in the life of every believer
1. Continuing identity as a sinner
The moment you trust in Christ the power of sin is broken but the is sin remains.
Our deepest problem exists deep inside and not outside of ourselves…
The humbling reality is this: My deepest problem exists deep inside of me and not outside of me.
We are good self-justifiers.
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1 John 1:9 NIV
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
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What is it you tell yourself about the presence of sin in your life?
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2. Reality of present identity as a child of grace.
Do we see the need of the power and reacting grace of God?
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Rescuing grace:
Through Christ, God has done everything to free you from the power of sin to make you a slave.
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2 Peter 1:3 NIV
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.
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Reading, understanding, believing, application.
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Divine promise + divine nature = escaping corruption
2 Peter 1:4 NIV
Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
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Grace is God giving everything we need in life and crisis.
