Don't Stop at the Cross!

He had finally made the decision -- he was going to ski down a mountain. He had never been skiing before. But he had all the equipment needed --boots, skis, poles, special suit, waterproof wind breaker, special eye goggles, hat, gloves, everything! All the travel arrangements were made. Everything around the house was secure. So he went to the ski slopes. After putting on all the equipment, he stood just outside the cabin looking up to the beautiful, snow-covered mountain. It was the powdery kind, just right for skiing. The lift was running, taking skiers up the slopes to the top of the mountain for a challenging run down the slopes on a bright, sunny day. And then... he just stood there. With all the action going on, all the fun and fellowship to be had on the slopes, the joy of learning to ski better and faster, he just stood there.

Many people come to faith in Jesus Christ much like this skier did. Seeing the work of Christ on the cross, they put their trust in Him. Yet they never progress beyond the cross. In spite of the multitude of blessings to be had through Christ, they live as babes in the faith -- standing near the cross but failing to take any steps heavenward.

Have you progressed in your faith?

Is your godly living more or less than when you first trusted in Christ?

Are you experiencing greater levels of joy, peace, and love in your life?

The Bible says, "God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" (Phil 3:14, NIV). God does not want you to miss any blessings which are yours in the life given to us by LORD Jesus Christ -- you must press on.

Scripture Passage: 2 Peter 1:1-11

Main Thought: The work of God our Savior was not to merely equip you for Heaven but to enable godly living here on Earth through which you learn to know Him and love Him more each day.

In Christ, you have all the equipment and resources you need for a godly life (2 Pet. 1:1-4).
Because Christ has gone to the trouble of equipping you, use His resources to press on to spiritual maturity (2 Pet. 1:5-8).
Let your life reflect your confidence in what Christ has done for you (2 Pet. 1:9-11).

1 Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (2 Peter 1:1-4, NKJV)

1. In Christ, you have all the equipment and resources you need for a godly life (2 Pet. 1:1-4).

Looking at this passage, it would be helpful to list the spiritual equipment and resources at our disposal once we have placed our faith and trust in the LORD Jesus Christ:

Equipment in Christ's Gym	How You Obtain it	Notable Comments
Grace and peace (v.2)	Knowledge of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ	You could have absolutely nothing else in life but this-- and this would be enough.
All things needed for life and godly living (v.3)	God's divine power	Again, through the knowledge of our LORD Jesus Christ. Nothing too hard for God to provide. Nothing too great for God to do. Nothing too heavy for God to carry. He is your source for all things you need.
Exceedingly great and precious promises (v.4)	Through our LORD Jesus, the "Word" which became flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:14)	Because God can never lie nor contradict Himself, you seek to know the "Word" of God -- Jesus Christ. This knowledge grants you the certainty of the promises of God, the understanding of the promises, and the application of those promises by faith in your own life.
The Divine Nature (v.5)	Salvation through faith in our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ.	A "partaker" is one who has consumed a part of something. To "partake" of a movie means you have seen it, experienced it, and in this sense it has become a part of you. But are you a movie? No, you have just partaken of it. Through faith in the LORD Jesus Christ, you "partake" of the divine nature of God through the Holy Spirit who gives you a new nature in Christ and then makes His home in your heart. You are not God at this point nor will you ever be. Yet He has condescended to allow you to partake of what is divine -- grace, peace, all things needed for life and godly living, and God's remarkable promises.

Knowing you partake of the Divine and have escaped the corruption of the world, how will you live? Determine in your heart to live a godly life.

Don't stop at the cross! Press on...

5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:5-8, NKJV)

2. Because Christ has gone to the trouble of equipping you, use His resources to press on to spiritual maturity (2 Pet. 1:5-8).

If you give ALL diligence to something, then what will you NOT give? Well, do not give up! Like a water wheel that keeps on turning as long as the water flows, keep pressing on in godly living for God's divine power surely keeps flowing. He has unlimited power -- an infinite river of power which is for you to take advantage of moment-by-moment:

When your child wants to play but you are so tired from a hard day's work-- remember God can.
When everyone in the house but you forgets there is no "room service" or "housekeeping" like they have in a hotel -- remember God can.
When you have been snubbed by people you thought were your friends -- remember God can.
When you must do something that will take more courage, energy, brain waves, and talent than you know you possess -- remember God can.

Peter says "add to your faith" (2 Pet. 1:5, NKJV). What he presents is not a 12-step program from faith to virtue to knowledge to self-control to perseverance to godliness to brotherly kindness and then to love. This is not a sequence of steps such that you cannot love until you have perseverance. Rather, Peter is saying that we should not stand still at the cross of faith but press on to spiritual maturity. Do you have faith? Don't stop there -- seek virtue. But don't stop there --seek knowledge. But don't stop there -- seek self-control. And so it goes.

Keep seeking growth in each of these areas. The equipment and resources for godly living were freely given to you -- so freely give yourself to this pursuit of spiritual maturity. Jesus said, "Freely you have received, freely give" (Matt 10:8, NIV).

What is the GUARANTEED result of such a life? Guaranteed by the sure promise of God is that:

You will not be barren -- you will experience the abundant spiritual life Christ came to give to you. (John 10:10)
You will not be unfruitful -- you will bear much fruit including an awesome character (the fruit of the Spirit in Gal. 5:22-23), answered prayer (John 15:5-7), and new disciples of our LORD Jesus Christ (John 15:8, 17:20)

Jesus Christ went from a perfect, sinless life to a horrible, painful death and He did this for YOU. He did this to give to you forgiveness and eternal life with Him. When you trust in the LORD Jesus Christ, you are equipped with all you need for godly living.

So don't linger at the cross of death but press on to the life eternal...

9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:9-11, NKJV)

3. Let your life reflect your confidence in what Christ has done for you (2 Pet. 1:9-11).

At the park, an old man sat on a bench next to his granddaughter. Here was a gentle, kind man taking care of a baby he cherished. In the stroller lay the baby girl with so much to learn and do. When you picture these two, they stand juxtaposed -- in stark contrast -- to one another:

He has wrinkles but the baby's skin is smooth.
He smells like an old horse from pushing the stroller on a hot, sunny day. The child has that unmistakable "baby" smell.
He reads a book while the baby reaches for the toys that hang from the stroller.
He talks to the baby while the baby just stares and makes those cute little baby sounds.

This is what Peter has in mind as he pleads with you to "be even more diligent to make your call and election sure" (2 Pet. 1:10, NKJV). Your life is to be juxtaposed -- in stark contrast -- to a "baby" Christian, just like the old man and the baby.

One who has come to faith in Christ but sits on his salvation at the cross is like a baby who has never left the crib. Such a person still operates in worldly ways, lives for the flesh, and lives selfishly. (Romans 8:5-8)
One who has pursued spiritual growth (in the strength and grace of our LORD Jesus Christ -- seeking virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love) over the course of his life becomes like the old, gentle man. Such a person operates in the world through spiritual power, God's wisdom, and abundant grace. (Romans 8:2, 9-11)

Does your life demonstrate the high calling and election to a heavenly home that you have found in Jesus Christ? Or does your spiritual maturity reveal a grown-up person still in the baby crib? Peter wants each of us to be sure that we are "diligent" in pressing on towards our high calling in Christ. He says that if you press on as he has commanded, you will never stumble -- there are no "potholes" on the road to spiritual maturity when you earnestly seek to live a godly life that pleases God. And your life in Christ will surely lead to a rousing welcome in the everlasting kingdom of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. The angels and your loved ones will cheer you on as you make your way to our real home.

So don't stop at the cross -- press on in the divine power and unlimited strength that Christ offers you.

Reflect on YOUR life: Have you hit a "pothole "in your spiritual life? Perhaps it is time to be honest with yourself and with the LORD... Though we may turn away for a season and live in the flesh, there is always forgiveness, hope, and continued growth for the Christian. Our LORD Jesus has said He will never leave you, nor forsake you. (Matt. 28:20; Heb. 13:5) He has assured us that He will be faithful to work His good work in you to bring about your growth and perfection. (Phil. 1:6) Simply give yourself to Him to be used according to His purpose and His glory. Such a decision will surely result in your maturing in faith, love, and usefulness to God in His kingdom. Be available to God today and watch out -- He will put you on the fast track to Heaven! An entrance "will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 1:11, NKJV).