The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1943-06-11
GODS EXCEEDING GREAT
PROMISES

LESSON TEXT-u Peter It'll.
GOLDEN TEXT-He hath granted unto M
His precious and exceeding great promises;
that through these We may become partakers
Of the divine nature.-H Peter Ia. R. v.
Growth in grace and in knowledge
of Christ are as normal and expect
ed of the child of God as bodily
growth of the physical child. Tragic
as is the failure of one to develop
physically, it is even more distress
ing and sad in the spiritual realm.
Yet it is a common thing in our
churches, where only comparatively
few believers even come to full
stature in Christ, where more have
only a partial growth, and some are
forever babes in Christ.
God has made perfect provision
for us, and has in His Word given
plain and explicit instructions on
how to gain spiritual development.
1. All Things Provided wv. LAY.
In the physical world we are able
to provide, at least in some degree,
what is needed. We also know
where to find mental food. Spiritual
provision can come only from God,
and we find from these verses that
He has provided not just small
portion, or a limited ration, but "al
things that pertain unto life and god
liness," through the knowledge OF
Christ.
The Exceeding great and precious
promises of God are the abundant
portion of the believer. They are
sure promises, based in the alto
gether dependable Word of God.
Gods provision for us in Christ
has made it unnecessary to look
elsewhere. Here is escape from the
worlds corruption, the new nature
in Christ, faith, grace, peace, power
all. in Him.
The opposite is also true, that
without Christ men have only the
weak and disappointing help of men
on which to draw. Of such foolish
ones the Lord said through jeremiah
the prophet that they "have COM
mitted two evils: They have for
saken me, the fountain Of living
waters, and hewed them out cisterns,
broken cisterns, that can hold no
water" Ger. 2:13).
III. All Diligence Required wv.
5-7).
There is something that the Chris
tan can do to insure his growth in
grace. He is to be diligent, that is,
have an earnest purpose and zeal
to 90 ahead spiritually. This calls
for application and endeavor, just
as progress in any other sphere OF
life, and possibly more
Faith is the foundation of all such
growth and without it there is moth
ing on which to build. But on it, or
better, Sim it, we have all these
other Christian graces springing up,
as we give "all diligence" to en-
courage their growth.
Notice the ascending scale. Faith
leads to virtue, that is, courageous,
resolute Christian character. Then
comes knowledge-the intelligent I'M
Outstanding and discernment of
truth. This is bound together by
temperance, meaning self-control.
Next is patience, that steady en-
durance which keeps going in spite
of trial or disappointment.
The sixth note in this octave OF
graces is goodness, which speaks OF
piety, true devotion to God, and rev.
erence for His name. Such believ-
er will love his brethren in all BROTH
erly kindness; and that leads us to
the high point of love (the real mean
ing of "charity," ". y. Here love for
God is obviously in mind, as the
GROWING grace of the believer.
iii. All Eternity Assured wv. 8
~.
We should look forward to that
abundant entrance into the ever
lasting kingdom of our Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ" spoken of in
verse IL. There is such thing as
being saved $50 as by fire" Il Cor.
3:15), slipping into heaven with moth
ing to show for our life as followers
Of Christ here on earth (read Cor.
3:12-15).
God does not want for His people
such an unseemly entrance upon
eternity. Why should we be salts
fed so to live that it may be true
of us. Saved? Yes, but that is all!
Are you satisfied with that prospect?
We should note, too, that this
growth in grace will show itself in
our daily life. It will keep us from
being ''barren (idlel and unfruitfuP'
". 81. The Christian life must not
be barren of true service for Christ,
nor unfruitful Of gracious harvest
for Him. We are not on sort OF
spiritual joy ride, sitting at ease as
we speed on to the heavenly dwelling
places.
Works do not save man. We
are justified before God by faith.
But our faith is justified before men
BY our works of righteousness. Fruit
grows on the living and healthy tree.
Observe that the Christian who
lacks these graces (Do your is a
* ---....,-:<<y4&na rx.o tvyhn Lacks b0fh