A Godly Life

Order of Service

• Call to Worship — Romans 12:1
• Hymn — All People That on Earth Do Dwell (#1)
• Catechism — Westminster Shorter Catechism, Question & Answer #2
• Hymn — Trust and Obey (#672)
• Pastoral Prayer
• Scripture Reading — 2 Peter 1:5–11
• Sermon
• Hymn — Take Time to Be Holy (#537)
• Benediction

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Sermon Title: A Godly Life

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:5–11

I. The Way of a Godly Life (vv. 5–7)

A. Peter lists a chain of godly characteristics, each building on the one before it, beginning with faith as the foundation

1. Faith looks backward to Christ's finished work and forward to the unseen eternal kingdom — Hebrews 11:1
2. Any pursuit of godliness apart from faith will bring misery and destruction

B. Virtue (excellence) — praiseworthy, honorable, high moral living

C. Knowledge — practical wisdom, not mere intellectual accumulation; living virtuously on the right path, not the path of the fool

D. Self-control — mastery over bodily passions; one cannot claim wisdom while enslaved to fleshly desires

E. Steadfastness — when self-control fails and we fall, we persevere; a gracious provision for the reality described in Romans 7

F. Godliness — 1 Timothy 3:16: the mystery of godliness is Christ himself, manifested in the flesh

1. In 1 Peter, the pattern for godly living is Christ's example of submission, service, and suffering

G. Brotherly affection — tender, compassionate care specifically for fellow believers in the church

H. Love — extends beyond the church to all people, including enemies; as taught in the parable of the Good Samaritan

II. The Effect of a Godly Life (vv. 8–9)

A. The key verb is increasing — Christians are always a work in progress; we need not possess these qualities fully, but we must be growing in them — Philippians 3

B. Those who are increasing in these qualities will not be ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of Christ

C. Those who lack these qualities and remain in unrepentance are blind — they have forgotten their cleansing from sin (v. 9)

1. The primary target is apostates — those baptized and in the church who walk away; they were never truly of us — 1 John 2:19
2. Secondarily, Peter addresses the spiritually backsliding believer going through the motions without pursuing godliness

D. True knowledge of Christ is manifested in fruit-bearing — Matthew 13:23

1. One who truly understands the gospel will bear fruit and pursue godliness
2. If someone is not pursuing personal holiness, there is reason to question whether they truly know Christ

III. The Assurance of a Godly Life (vv. 10–11)

A. Election must be understood from two perspectives

1. From God's perspective: election is his eternal decree, set before the foundation of the world — Ephesians 1:4; 2 Timothy 2:19; Romans 8:30
2. From man's perspective: the secret things belong to God, but the revealed things belong to us — Deuteronomy 29:29

B. We are not given knowledge of who the elect are, but we are told what the life of the elect looks like: a pursuit of godliness

1. Paul was confident the Philippians would persevere because he witnessed godliness in them — Philippians 1
2. Paul was uncertain about the Galatians because he saw godlessness in their lives

C. Personal assurance of election is bolstered by pursuing godliness; the Holy Spirit confirms with our spirit that we are children of God as we grow in sanctification

D. The reward: a rich entrance into the eternal kingdom (v. 11) — not merely admitted, but welcomed with rejoicing

1. J. C. Ryle quote: an unholy person would find heaven miserable — its pleasures, company, and worship would be foreign and unbearable
2. Heaven is a never-ending sabbath of holy worship; only those trained in the school of grace will find joy there
3. The way to heaven is the way of holiness; pursuing godliness now is preparation for the holy joy of eternity