November 23, 2025

Assurance and the Necessity of Growth

Preacher:
Series:
Passage: 2 Peter 1:8-12
Service Type:

Introduction

  • Reading v8-12
    • Notice the phrase "these things"
  • A wonderful passage – about the blessings of assurance
    • If you lack these things – you are barren and fruitless
    • A tremendous encourage but also a a tremendous warning and challenge
  • "These things"
    • Referring ultimately back to v1
    • Referring specifically to the list of 7 qualities outlined in v5-7 (studied over the last few weeks)
      • It would be good to memorise these qualities
      • Start with faith, add virtue, add knowledge, add self-control, add perseverance, add godliness, add brotherly kindness, add love
    • Meditate on these things
  • Overview:
    • Neglect of these things
    • Practice of these things
    • Reminder of these things

Neglect of these things (v8-9)

  • Peter is not accusatory
    • v8 – you, v9 – he, v10 – you
    • The encouragement "you"
    • The challenge "he"
  • Neglect brings barrenness, spiritual idleness
    • We are to work out our faith
    • We are not to be idle
    • We are to be diligent
  • Virtue – are we growing in good works and edifying speech
  • Knowledge – what are we feeding our mind with? social media or God’s work
    • Rom 6:21
  • Self control – what are our appetites?
    • Are we stable, do we have one foot in the world?
    • v9 – have we forgotten that Christ died for us and to forgive our sins?
    • Are we progressing or regressing?
    • We have been set free from sin
    • Remember Jesus’ warnings
  • Are we bearing fruit?

Practice of these things (v10-11)

  • v10 – blessings
    • Do not misunderstand the verse – we cannot earn our salvation through works
    • We are saved by grace through faith
  • The certainty of faith in God
    • Grow
    • v1-4 – our salvation is due to God’s precious promises and all He has done for us
    • If you are not walking alright, you will lose your sense of assurance
  • Evidences of faith
    • 1 John 5:13
      • v1 believing that Jesus is the Messiah/Son of God
      • v2 loving the brethren
      • v2 obeying God’s commandments
    • 1 John 2:3 – obeying God’s commandments
      • v5 – obedient to God’s word
    • 1 John 3:14 – love of God’s people/fellow Christians
      • v18-19 – love in action and truth
  • But be even more diligent (v10)
  • The greatest test is at our death

Reminder of these things (v12-13)

  • The role of Pastors is not to teach obscure topics
    • The role of Pastors is to teach the main tenants of Scripture
    • Titus 3:9 – avoid foolish questions
  • Are you in Christ?
  • We need continual reminders
  • We are to meditate on these things – 1 Tim 4:15
  • We need to grow and progress
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