Pursue Holiness... It’s The Only Reasonable Thing

2Pet 1:5-11

Assurance of your salvation (2Pet 1:10)

The believer who pursues these spiritual qualities (spiritual fruit) guarantees to himself that he was called & saved. (Rm 8:30)

I have written these things so that you may know that you have eternal life! (1Jn 5:13)

All who have been born again & indwelt by the H Spirit should have this assurance.

Do you know that your sins are forgiven? Are you certain? (George Whitfield) 

The more certain & sure we are of our own salvation, the more we will attract others to Christ, & the more we are able to help them in times of trouble.

How can you make your salvation sure?

First, you must believe in the Lord Jesus as your personal Savior & Lord.

Jesus came to seek & save the sinners & the guilty. He died for sinners… if guilt & doubt that you’re forgiven continue to plague you, look to Jesus. (Heb 12:2-3)

We are not justified by works (Eph 2:8-9)… Jesus Christ is our only hope. But having seen that… the more you do, the more certain & sure you become.

As we increasingly manifest Christ’s life in our life… the more certain we are that we possess it. (H Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are children of God. (Rom 8:16))

Do you know that your sins are forgiven? God grant that we may by grace implement these qualities so we can know we are born again & a child of God. 

Peter gives three other reasons why we should add holiness to our faith.

First, to not add to our faith goodness, etc. is to display an ignorance of the fundamental purpose of the Christian life… he is nearsighted & blind (v.9).

A professing Christian who is missing these qualities is not only unable to discern his true spiritual condition, but He has lost sight of his true goal & purpose in life.

He wants to enjoy life here & now, & forgets the other life that is to come.

He began a journey but forgot its destination.

Our goal is to know & worship God, & enjoy His fellowship forever.

Do you want to see God? Remember, God is holy & pure. 

Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God (Mt 5:8)… purify your heart.

Without holiness no one will see God (Heb 12:14) … pursue holiness.

If you believe that Holy God called you, saved you, & desires your fellowship, you will naturally hate your sins, & get as far away from them as possible. (Rm 6:1)

Second, to pursue holiness produces an active & fruitful life. (v.8)

You will be neither idle nor unfruitful… yet many Christians live an idle spiritual life.

Examine yourself, test yourself to see if you’re in the Faith. (2Cor 13:5)

Activity should be the result of character… we must be something before we do anything.

We are urged to first become holy, & then you’ll naturally become an active Christian.

Your activity will be determined by the H Spirit… not your own excitement, etc.

If we concentrate on developing Christian character, we become attractive to others.

They see peace & composure, holiness & goodness, & it draws them.

We need to be prepared to give a reason for our hope & guide them to Jesus Christ.

As we more fully develop His character, our lives will become increasingly fruitful.

Thirdly, as we add holiness to our faith it leads to a happy & glorious end to life.

The ultimate test of our professed Christian faith is the way we face death.

The one who diligently pursues holiness will die gloriously & triumphantly.

When we come to the end, & if we have added these graces to our faith, death will be but an entrance into a glorious eternal life. 

If we have striven diligently to know Jesus increasingly, we will not feel lonely because Christ will be with us, & the fear of death will be gone because we’ll know where we’re going & who awaits us.

When we diligently add to faith goodness, knowledge, self-control, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, & love, we will increasingly know God, know our calling & salvation is sure, our lives will be fruitful, & we’ll have no fear of our entrance into eternal life.

Pursue holiness… it’s the only reasonable thing. (2Pet 1: 8-11)

The NT appeal for holiness is never in terms of a law… when holiness is viewed as a legalistic requirement, it has departed from the teaching of the NT.

NT appeals to our reason & our understanding…. If you claim to really believe something, it follows logically & inevitably that you ought to do things consistent with your belief.

If you claim to be a Christian, in only makes sense to practice & apply that belief.

Since we claim to have received divine nature, we of necessity should add to our faith...

For a Christian to not pursue holiness is utterly unreasonable & self-contradictory.

There is nothing which is so unreasonable & illogical as a professing Christian who objects to the NT call to holiness.

The non-Christian of necessity regards the Christian way of life & the NT’s call to holiness as something distasteful & narrow… an impossible & restrictive standard.

Unbelievers object to this standard of holiness… which is to be expected.

There is no better test of whether we are truly Christian or not, than our reaction to this exhortation to holiness & love. (2Pet 1:5-7)

If a professing Christian finds it distasteful, he contradicts his professed beliefs.

How do you feel when faced with call to deny self & take up your cross & follow Jesus?

One test as to whether your profession is of any value is your response to this appeal.

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