2 Peter 1, Part 6

 Steadfastness 

"For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 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. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins."

Welcome to our study on 2 Peter 1. We have been in this for some time and will continue all the way through 2 Peter, chapter 1. So far, we went through the greetings and the "For this very reason" or the reason we need to listen to what Peter is telling us here. Last time we talked about self-control. If you are following along, I hope you are, it looks like this.

"For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness,

We discussed why, faith, virtue, knowledge, and self-control. If you missed anything up to now you can go back in the archives and get caught up if you so choose. Today, we are going to talk about steadfastness.

Now just recently, we did a message about "Standing Firm." As a matter of fact, it was Sunday 9/11. Not planned that way. I did not even realize it until I started working on this message. However, some of this may sound familiar to some of you but I going to try to fit it into the context here of what Peter is talking about.

This really is a message that you really need to fully get. A message that is going to become more accurate as time goes on. A message that you, as a child of God, not only can, you need to stand firm. Or live your life in steadfastness. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His Word is the same yesterday today and forever. Jesus is the same yesterday today and forever. Stand firm.

Steadfastness = the quality of being resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering: "no side wins without steadfastness in the face of adversity"

Society and God used to agree on vast many things. Society removed God, or tries to remove God daily, and has changed and become eviler and eviler as time goes on. Now of course I understand this.

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, "Romans 3:23

And this.

"All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death." 1 John 5:17

And the one some holier-than-thou Christians really need to get.

"If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." 1 John 1:8-10

This is the whole reason you need to have Jesus in your life. Without Him, none of this is even possible. Along with that, if you do not have Him, His Word, and the Spirit of God in you, you can and will fall for the lies, and you can and will, live your life in the flesh and die in the flesh.

Even though the world has changed. He has not. What was once all agreed upon as sin is now ok. In some cases, not only is it ok but according to the world, it should be and is, celebrated and protected. Guess what? It is still a sin. It is still against God. As a child of God, you have to stand firm. You have to have steadfastness. Will the world and some in it hate you? Yes! Yes, they will. Even some of those you love will come to hate you. Look here.

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours." John 15:18-20

I will stand firm. Even though society says all these things, even though some of our "churches" have started to get away from the Bible and have started to accept some sins as normal and acceptable, we cannot. We must be careful, as children of God.

"See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority." Colossians 2:8-10

Steadfastness? Does it go against the world? Yup. Will you be hated? Yup. Will it become more and more difficult as time goes on? Yes. This is Jesus speaking here.

"Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved" Matthew 10:21-22

James, brother of Jesus, puts it this way.

"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him." James 1:12

I have to share this one. My oldest daughter, Selina, gave me a Bible Cover one year following my accident. I was in a head-on car crash and in a wheelchair and, well, some of you know the story. But she got me this cover and this is what it says on it.

"But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31

If you are trying to "be" a Christian, and live according to the world, you are going to fail. Oh, you may receive praise and glory from mankind, and even fellow "Christians" but this does not mean you will be accepted by God. Without Jesus, you cannot ever have a remote chance to be blessed and go to heaven. Look what Jesus tells us about worldly approval and gain.

"For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?"

The world may hate you. They may tell you, you are wrong. They may say to you that you are the one with the problem. They call right wrong and wrong right. However, you are not of the world. You are a blood-bought, Spirit-filled, grace-covered, child of God.

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9

Do not give up. Have steadfastness in your life. Stand firm in what you know God says and wants you to do. Do not fall for the lies. Do not choose the world over God. The end of the world is coming. Choose life, not death. Only then can you do this.

"For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,"

Godliness? That is what we will be talking about next time. Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, You shall be saved." Romans 10:9. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10

If you want to tell me, comment, questions, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!