PRECIOUS FAITH

2 PETER 1:1

A. "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 SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST."
  1. Precious faith defined:
    1. Faith which is of inestimable value - EXAMPLES -
      1. Abraham's faith - Gen. 22:1-12; Rom. 4:17; Heb. 11:8-19
      2. The faith of the centurion - Matt. 8:1-10
      3. The woman of Canaan - Matt. 15:22-28
    2. Faith that is highly effective - Matt. 17:20
    3. Such a faith is the gift of God - Rom. 10:17; Luke 17:5
B. PRECIOUS FAITH
  1. Faith is precious because it has Jesus Christ as its object:
    1. Who can tell the preciousness of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ?
      1. In dignity He is higher than the loftiest seraph in the heavens!
      2. In relationship He is the Son of God!
      3. In power He is the Creator and Redeemer of the world!
      4. In love He is the very essence of love itself!
    2. He is my personal Saviour! Gal. 2:20; Phil. 3:21
  2. Faith is precious because it rests upon the Holy Scriptures:
    1. It is not based upon cunningly devised fables or the traditions of men - 2 Pet. 1:16; 1 Pet. 1:18; Rom. 10:17
    2. That includes the sixty-six books of the Bible - 2 Tim. 3:15-17; Luke 24:25-28
    3. It is based upon the Word of life - 1 John 1:1; Heb. 4:12
  3. This faith is precious in its influence:
    1. It exercises a living, spiritual influence - John 11:26; Gal. 2:20. Read prayerfully 2 Pet. 1:2-11
    2. It produces sanctified courage -
      1. David meeting Goliath - 1 Sam. 17:45, 46
      2. Daniel on several occasions showed both faith and courage - Dan. 1:8; 6:10
      3. We think of the Mother of Moses - Ex. 2:1-10
    3. It enriches the benefactor with the grace of a noble life - Phil. 4:8
C. FURTHER BLESSINGS OF THIS PRECIOUS FAITH
  1. We are justified by it: "Being justified by faith" - Rom. 5:1. "It is God that justified" - Rom. 8:33; Acts 13:39; Rom. 3:21-26
  2. By faith we have the adoption into the heavenly family: Eph. 1:1-9; Gal. 3:26; John 1:12
  3. By this faith we are sanctified: John 17:17; Acts 15:9
  4. By faith we have obtained complete and eternal salvation: 1 Pet. 1:5, 9; 2 Pet. 1:2-9
  5. How precious is this faith in us?
    1. Does it control our lives? Jas. 2:24-26
    2. Do we have reasonable evidence that this precious faith dwells in us?
    3. Do we know from our experience the power of this living faith?
    4. Could the Holy Spirit record the faith in us that would encourage others to embrace it?
  6. What is our answer to these life questions?
    1. If this precious faith is missing in our lives, why?
    2. May we not join the disciples to pray, "Lord increase our faith"?


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