
Text: 2 Peter 1:3-8 "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:(vs4) Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.(vs5) And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; (vs6) And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; (vs7) And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. (vs8) For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."
PREMISE
The Pulpit Commentary Vol. 22, Page 20; a homily comment on 2 Peter 1:3-4. "There are two parties to every gift, and in order to appreciate it, it is necessary to look at the gift in relation to him who gives and to those who receive. Looked at on their Divine side, these gifts are the fulfillment of "promises precious and exceedingly great". It would be absurd and sinful to suppose that what God bestows upon his creatures is flung to them in a momentary and capricious fit of liberality. These promises might not always be fully understood, clear as they are to us when we read them in the light of their fulfillment. But they were glorious with a glory exceeding any human assurances of help and blessing. And the purport of them all was to reveal a Divine intention to provide spiritual blessings--- knowledge, deliverance, and life--- for a needy and sinful race. Great as were the promises, the fulfillment was greater still."
DEFINITIONS
Provision(Pro-"before";Vision" seeing" means A taking care for the future. The quality or state of being prepared beforehand.--- Biblical example of provision- Romans 8:28-31 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.(vs29) For whom he did know, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (vs30)Moreover whom he did predestinate ,them he also called : and whom he called, them he also justified: and who he justified, them he also glorified. (vs31) What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
EXPOSITION
1. The Provision Of Salvation Itself Comes Through The Gospel.
a. What It Is--- St. Luke 24:45-47 "Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures. (vs46) And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:(vs47) And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
b. The Gospel Is Power--- Romans 1:16-17 " For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (vs17) For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written,(Hab.2:4) The just shall live by faith."
c. Preaching Is The Chosen Method Of Provision To Communicate The Gospel Of Salvation---
1 Cor.1:21 " For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe."
2 In The Provision Of Salvation God has Given Us Through our Lord Jesus Christ:
a. Cleansing for The Polluted--- 1 John 1:7-9 "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (vs8) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (vs9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
b. Deliverance For The Captive--- Heb.2:14-15 "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; (vs15) And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage."
c. Might For The Feeble--- Romans 5:6 "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly."
d. Nearness For Those Who Are Afar Off--- Eph. 2:11-13 "Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; (vs12) That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: (vs13) But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ."
e. Righteousness For The Unrighteous--- 2 Cor. 5:21 "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."
f. Life and Resurrection For The Dead--- St. John 5:24-25 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.(vs25) Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son Of God: and they that hear shall live."
g. Welcome For All--- Revelation 22:17 "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."