4 Ways to Live for Jesus

2 Peter 1:5-7

Thesis: To show that we need to live for Jesus.

Introduction:

1. Does your faith need more?

2. They say, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

Discussion:

Living for Jesus prevents…

I. Idleness (v. 8).

A. We are to admonish the idle (1 Thess. 5:14).

B. “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop” (Prov. 16:27 TLB)

(See also 1 Tim. 5:13; cf. 1 Pet. 4:15).

II. Unfruitfulness (v. 8).

A. Faithful Christians bear fruit (Mt. 7:16-23).

B. God deals with the sin of unfruitfulness (Jn. 15:2).

III. Blindness (v. 9).

A. Consider the blind man of John 9.

B. Jesus told him he would affect people’s sight (Jn. 9:39).

IV. Forgetfulness (v. 9; 1:12).

A. We should remember what we left (1 Pet. 4:1-4).

B. We need to remember Christ’s sacrifice.

C. We need to remember our opportunity to live right.

V. Apostasy (v. 10).

A. The emphasis is on “if you do these things….”

B. In such a case, you won’t fall (Rom. 11:11; Col. 1:22-23).

C. Only unguarded moments lead one into temptation.

What Do We Learn?

1. Remove stumbling blocks (Jer. 1:10).

2. Practice the Christians graces (2 Pet. 1:5-7).

3. Live so your works support your claim of belonging to God.

4. Resist temptation (Jam. 4:7).

Conclusion:

1. God wants us to live for Jesus.

2. We need to make the time and put forth great effort.