The Precious Gift of Faith: Embracing Our Divine Heritage

 

Summary

In this message, I address the challenges faced by early Christians, as described in the second epistle of Peter, and draw parallels to the struggles of modern believers. Peter, an old man writing his last letter, seeks to comfort and encourage Christians who are troubled by false teachings and doubts about their faith. He emphasizes the importance of remembering the foundational truths of Christianity, rather than seeking new messages or gospels. The core issue for these early Christians, and indeed for many today, is a forgetfulness of the preciousness of their faith.

Peter highlights that faith is not just a belief but a precious gift obtained through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ. This faith is described as precious because of its divine origin, its rarity, and the esteemed company of believers it places us among. It is a faith that was costly, purchased by the precious blood of Christ, and it grants us access to the divine nature and the eternal promises of God.

The rarity of true faith makes it all the more valuable, as it is not common in the world. Despite the small number of true believers, this faith connects us to a glorious lineage of apostles, prophets, and martyrs. It is a faith that should fill us with confidence and pride, not in ourselves, but in the company we keep and the God we serve.

Ultimately, this faith is a key that unlocks the treasures of God's promises, providing us with assurance, strength, and hope. It enables us to face life and death with confidence, knowing that an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord awaits us. As believers, we are called to remember the preciousness of our faith and to live boldly, assured of our place in the divine narrative.

Key Takeaways:

- The Preciousness of Faith: Our faith is a precious gift from God, obtained through His righteousness and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It is not something we earn but a divine gift that should be cherished and remembered. This faith is beyond price, and its value is rooted in its divine origin and the cost at which it was given. [10:13]

- The Rarity of True Faith: True faith is rare and therefore precious. In a world where many follow the broad path of destruction, few find the narrow way that leads to life. This rarity should not discourage us but rather remind us of the unique and valuable position we hold as believers. [24:34]

- The Esteemed Company of Believers: Our faith places us in the company of apostles, prophets, and martyrs. This esteemed lineage should fill us with confidence and pride, not in ourselves, but in the God we serve and the community of faith we belong to. [28:07]

- Faith as a Key to Divine Treasures: Faith is the key that unlocks the treasures of God's promises. It grants us access to forgiveness, reconciliation, and the divine nature. Through faith, we partake in the eternal riches of God's wisdom and knowledge. [33:10]

- The Assurance of an Abundant Entrance: Faith assures us of an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord. It enables us to face life and death with confidence, knowing that we are secure in God's promises and that a glorious future awaits us. [36:14]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:10] - Introduction to Peter's Epistle
- [00:54] - Addressing Troubled Believers
- [01:27] - The Importance of Diligence
- [02:04] - The Danger of False Teachings
- [03:18] - Warning Against Heresy
- [05:08] - Doubts About the Second Coming
- [06:00] - The Relevance of Peter's Message Today
- [07:02] - The Need to Remember the Truth
- [09:22] - The Preciousness of Faith
- [12:17] - The Gift of Faith
- [17:24] - The Divine Origin of Faith
- [24:34] - The Rarity of True Faith
- [28:07] - The Esteemed Company of Believers
- [33:10] - Faith as a Key to Divine Treasures
- [36:14] - Assurance of an Abundant Entrance

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- 2 Peter 1:1-4

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Observation Questions:

1. What does Peter emphasize about the nature of faith in 2 Peter 1:1, and how does he describe its origin? [00:31]

2. According to the sermon, what were some of the challenges faced by the early Christians that Peter was addressing in his letter? [00:54]

3. How does Peter describe the false teachings that were troubling the early Christians, and what impact did these teachings have on their faith? [02:04]

4. What does the sermon suggest is the reason for the rarity and preciousness of true faith? [24:34]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. In what ways does Peter's reminder to the early Christians about the preciousness of their faith apply to modern believers facing doubts and false teachings? [06:00]

2. How does the concept of faith as a "precious gift" challenge the idea that faith is something we can earn or achieve on our own? [10:13]

3. What does it mean to be part of the "esteemed company of believers," and how should this influence a believer's confidence and identity? [28:07]

4. How does the sermon describe the role of faith as a key to unlocking the treasures of God's promises, and what are some examples of these treasures? [33:10]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt your faith was being challenged by doubts or false teachings. How did you respond, and what can you learn from Peter's encouragement to remember the foundational truths of Christianity? [06:00]

2. The sermon emphasizes the preciousness of faith as a gift from God. How can you cultivate a deeper appreciation for this gift in your daily life? [10:13]

3. Consider the rarity of true faith in today's world. How can this understanding motivate you to live out your faith more boldly and confidently? [24:34]

4. Being part of the esteemed company of believers is a source of pride and confidence. How can you remind yourself of this identity when facing challenges or feeling isolated in your faith journey? [28:07]

5. Faith is described as a key to divine treasures. Identify one promise of God that you want to hold onto this week, and how can you actively apply it to a current situation in your life? [33:10]

6. The sermon speaks of an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom. What steps can you take to ensure that your faith remains strong and vibrant, preparing you for this glorious future? [36:14]

7. How can you support others in your community who may be struggling with their faith, helping them to remember the preciousness and assurance that comes with being a believer? [09:22]

Devotional

Day 1: The Divine Gift of Faith
Faith is not merely a belief system but a precious gift from God, obtained through His righteousness and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. This faith is not something we earn; it is a divine gift that should be cherished and remembered. Its value is rooted in its divine origin and the cost at which it was given, namely, the precious blood of Christ. This faith connects us to God and grants us access to His promises and divine nature. It is a treasure that should fill us with gratitude and awe, as it is beyond price. [10:13]

2 Peter 1:3-4 (ESV): "His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire."

Reflection: Consider a moment when you have taken your faith for granted. How can you begin to cherish it as the divine gift it truly is today?


Day 2: The Unique Value of True Faith
True faith is rare and therefore precious. In a world where many follow the broad path of destruction, few find the narrow way that leads to life. This rarity should not discourage us but rather remind us of the unique and valuable position we hold as believers. Our faith sets us apart and connects us to a lineage of apostles, prophets, and martyrs who have walked the same path. It is a reminder of the unique calling and responsibility we have as followers of Christ. [24:34]

Matthew 7:13-14 (ESV): "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt isolated in your faith. How can you embrace the rarity of your faith as a unique calling today?


Day 3: The Esteemed Lineage of Believers
Our faith places us in the company of apostles, prophets, and martyrs. This esteemed lineage should fill us with confidence and pride, not in ourselves, but in the God we serve and the community of faith we belong to. Being part of this lineage means we are connected to a rich history of faithfulness and sacrifice. It is a reminder that we are not alone in our journey and that we are part of something much greater than ourselves. [28:07]

Hebrews 12:1 (ESV): "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."

Reflection: Think of a historical or biblical figure whose faith inspires you. How can their example encourage you to live out your faith more boldly today?


Day 4: Faith as the Key to God's Promises
Faith is the key that unlocks the treasures of God's promises. It grants us access to forgiveness, reconciliation, and the divine nature. Through faith, we partake in the eternal riches of God's wisdom and knowledge. This faith is not just about personal salvation but about entering into a relationship with God that transforms every aspect of our lives. It is a key that opens the door to a life of abundance and purpose. [33:10]

Ephesians 1:17-18 (ESV): "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints."

Reflection: Identify one promise of God that you struggle to believe. How can you use your faith as a key to unlock this promise in your life today?


Day 5: Assurance of an Abundant Entrance
Faith assures us of an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord. It enables us to face life and death with confidence, knowing that we are secure in God's promises and that a glorious future awaits us. This assurance is not based on our own merits but on the faithfulness of God and the finished work of Christ. It is a source of hope and strength as we navigate the challenges of life, knowing that our ultimate destination is secure. [36:14]

2 Peter 1:10-11 (ESV): "Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

Reflection: Consider an area of your life where you lack confidence in God's promises. How can you remind yourself of the assurance of your faith and the abundant entrance that awaits you?

Quotes

"Simon Peter a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ now here is the Apostle Peter who's become an old men writing his last letter and he writes it to a number of Christian people and he writes to them because he has heard that they're in trouble that they're disturbed that they're unhappy and his object in writing to them is to help them to comfort them and to encourage them and to establish them in the face." [00:19:29]

"Now here is the Apostle Peter who's become an old men writing his last letter and he writes it to a number of Christian people and he writes to them because he has heard that they're in trouble that they're disturbed that they're unhappy and his object in writing to them is to help them to comfort them and to encourage them and to establish them in the face now he makes it quite well that there were a number of reasons for this condition in which these people were to be found one is that they themselves had been somewhat negligent they had come into the Christian life they were saved men and women but they hadn't been applying themselves and to the teaching." [00:40:26]

"Now this was very disturbing heresy is always disturbing and any doubt about the person and work of Our Blessed Lord and Savior his of was devastating in the Christian life so he goes on in the second chapter of the first verse to say there were false prophets also among the people he's referring to Jews in the Old Testament even as there shall be false teachers among you who privily shall bring in damnable heresies even denying the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves Swift destruction these teachers were not only denying the person of the Lord but especially denying his atoning death as the only way of salvation." [03:00:15]

"All the troubles in the Christian life are ultimately due to forgetfulness of the truth the doctrine once and forever delivered to the Saints now listen to in putting this he says if these things be any went abound they make you that you shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ but he that lacketh these things is blind and cannot see afar off and hath forgotten he's forgotten that he was purged from his old sins wherefore the rather brethren give diligence to make your calling and election sure for if you do these things you shall never fall." [07:19:39]

"Simon Peter the servant an apostle of Jesus Christ to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ what is the matter with these people I can put it in a phrase their whole trouble was due to the fact that they had not realized the precious their face precious faith now this was a great work with the Apostle Peter it's his favorite work than some people some scholars their gold whom would have us believe that Peter didn't write his second epistle I don't agree with them Peter betrays that he's the author by using this word precious you read the first and second epistles of Peter watch for this word you'll find he was always using it it's obviously his favorite." [09:49:00]

"How do you realize my friend the precious character of your faith and you realize the desert Christian you are the possessor of the most glorious thing in the whole universe something which transcends everything else and cause his everything else to pale into insignificance well no less there may be someone here this morning who doesn't quite realize the precious character of this faith let us just look at it and work it out together in what senses is this faith of ours rightly described as being precious priceless beyond all value and computation." [10:52:39]

"Peter obviously selected it and used the deliberately what's its meaning well the original meaning of this word translated obtained is this it was the word that they used in connection with casting Lots you know they wanted to decide who should possess a certain object there were many people who wanted it there were many were making claims to it now the question was to whom shall we give this and the other way to decide was to cast lots and that was the ancient method it still implied frequently by people to arrive at such a decision two teams may be playing because in first row you decide by spinning a coin so on it's the same sort of idea now that's the word that Peter deliberately selected you have obtained like precious faith what's the implication what is very important what he's saying is this you see that this is something that does come when you get something as the result of casting Lots you don't do it it is a decision taken out siding and the latter's it were decides that this should be yes now he says that's a you've got faith this is great protestant teaching this is the great Protestant doctrine of salvation by grace through faith alone no male makes himself a Christian you don't buy anything by your works or by your activities or by anything else you can't buy it you can't purchase it it's always without money and without price by grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God now have you realized this as Peter but you've obtained this precious priceless thing has come to you in that way." [12:44:11]

"Peter said oh this in the First Epistle for as much as ye know that he were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold from your vain conversation received by tradition from your father's but with the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish and without spot this is what it costs God to give you faith here to avert his face from his only begotten dearly beloved son on whom he lady will sins and he was punishing to me it cost him them and it cost the son of God his own precious blood what a gift is this gift of faith this thing that you've got it cost the blood of the Son of God when he was in the flesh this is what makes this faith of ours so exceedingly precious." [18:41:82]

"Why is this faith of ours so precious my dear friends one of the answers is that it is so rather you read in the Old Testament the word of the Lord was precious in those days there was no open vision when was meant well those were in the days before Samuel became a great prophet in Israel it was a gay a day of glory generously religiously morally militarily and in every other respect the word of the Lord was precious in those days there was no open vision but when it came well they paid attention to it and you remember a word in the Prophet Amos God threatening the disobedient generation of people he said the other days come when I shall send a famine in this net not a Seminole eating bread or of drinking water but a famine of hearing the word of the Lord that's the most terrible thing that can ever happen to a nation of the people to lack food and that drink is dimmable but there's something worse no from God just to be left to ourselves and our own resources I'm not sure that we are not experiencing something of that at the present time the Lord will holding his precious word because of our rebellion and our disobedience now this you see is something that is emphasized take our Lord's way of putting it into the aneesa's at the strait gate for why it is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction and many there be that go in there it because Strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life and few few there be that find it that's what our Lord Himself said and isn't that being verified today I know many Christian people who seem to be very alarmed and troubled and it it because Christian people are few in number today and they are frightened by this the cloud the great people the scientists and all the rest are going the other way and these Christians are cumulus and they're frightened my dear friend you must learn to think again you want to look at that the other way around aren't you proud of the fact that you're one of the select bend at a time like this our is true faith few there be that find it many there be that go in there at the other way every fool denies the gospel the crowds are going to drink drugs bingo gambling everything else godlessness the crowd why because it's so easy you just drift down the stream few there be that find it precious faith this is what makes it precious it is so rare." [23:07:20]

"Simon Peter and servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ to them that have obtained like precious faith with us who is this us well that's the Apostles you know says Peter to these people I can't quite understand you I can't quite understand the miserable Christians as Peter I can't understand anybody was uncertain of the faith or not proud of it I can't understand anybody was afraid of death or afraid of persecution because you're a Christian he said don't you realize the company to which you belong like precious faith with us the apostles who are these people well if you read the first epistle you'll find that Peter didn't even know who they were they are described as strangers scattered abroad through a Pontus Galatia Cappadocia the mission song he didn't even know they were the most ordinary people in the world boxes Peter don't you realize that because you've obtained and have received this gift of precious faith you belong to the same company as the my brother Apostles and I he said you know you belong to the same company as that mighty man Paul in the third chapter Peter tongue kisses that he doesn't understand everything that Paul wrote he says in his letters there are some things which are hard to be understood Paul was a great intellectual genius Peter puzzled and he says I mean I find it as if it was understand it but you know he says because you've got faith you belong to the same company as the mighty fall all didn't save himself all of Cain the gift of faith being exactly the same way as he went he thought it it was giving it on the road to Damascus he didn't earn it he didn't win it and he went he's been given it as a free gift of God so review you've got like precious faith with us own Christian people we ought in one sense and inner rights incent in a true sense to be the proudest people in the world this morning not at the Pharisees where they were proud of their own deeds and actions proud of their own knowledge not that we should be proud because we belong to this company do you know to whom you belong this money are you troubled because the good people of the world and outside the church and wheeshing to be a remnant of insignificant people or you don't guess because of that think again you know who your company is you belong to Abel you belong to no you belong to Abraham the lady patriots you belong to Samuel you belong to Elijah you belong to David and the mighty list of prophets that your company you belong to these apostles you've been given exactly face as these mighty men of God you belong to those great martyrs and confessors of the first centuries you belong by give dreams to the Protestant reformers Luther Calvin nuts and the rest of them you belong to the great Puritans the great governance of Scotland the early great Methodist fathers that shall company how can we be dejected how can we be uncertain we have obtained like precious faith with them." [28:02:61]

"Why is this faith so precious the answer is because of what it does for us what is faith well you know faith according to this definition and I like it is it some kind of a golden key that God gives us that enables us to unlock the door that leads into God's eternal treasure house treasure store there in Christ he has treasured up for us all the treasures and the wealth of his wisdom and his knowledge and everything else and it is endless it is illimitable it's all there but you don't know anything about it and you don't partake of it you don't share it unless you've got this key that opens the door and gives you admission that's what faith is faith is the key giving you admission to the treasure house of God and what has he got filled well it's all here this blessed forgiveness of which I have spoken by the precious blood of Christ sins forgiven blotted out he erased from the eternal book reconciled to God having access to God able to pray to him as my father able to leave myself in his hands knowing this and it's true that all things work together for good to them that love God even to them mother according to his purpose it doesn't matter where I am not over hazardous the position if I'm in God's hands I am safe nothing Kentucky that's what I know it is true it's the teaching of the Scriptures everyone not only that did you notice this in the fourth verse whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises that by these he might be partakers of the divine nature having escaped that the Rutzen that is in the world through lust what a wonderful thing it is at a time like this with the corruption that we see event in the Baptist the lusts the tragedy but you and I should have been taken out of it and saved from it and washed and cleansed and sanctified what a glorious thing it is it's all by faith but above and beyond that partakers of the divine nature it is faith that reveals all this to me because you see it enables me to see who the Lord Jesus Christ is and what he's done Peter says here now you take my word for it I was with Peter and I was with James and John on the Mount of Transfiguration and we heard the word that came from heaven saying this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased but not only take my word for it believe the prophets and then the Spirit will come and sealed it to you and you know rest in it confide in it make your calling and election sure and finally this is a wonderful thing wherefore the rather brethren give diligence to make your calling and election sure for if he do these things you shall never fall them for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ this is the most wonderful thing of all about faith it enables you to die gloriously on a bond of degree you don't merely shuffle to life you don't merely die like a dog no no the gates of heaven will be flung wide open an abundant entry or if you prefer it in other terms the great eternal Haven will be ready to see to receive you and your little bark will go in and the comforts will be sounding and the angels will be singing an abundant interest may be administered unto you into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." [33:10:00]

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Transcript
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