What Manner of Persons?

TEXT: 2 Pet. 2:8-13

INTRODUCTION:

A.      WHAT MANNER OF PERSONS OUGHT - "behooves," "must," "necessary,"

          "what is right."

B.      OUR EMPHASIS IS ON "OUGHT TO DO."

C.      PETER'S EMPHASIS ON "OUGHT TO BE."

D.      WHAT WE "DO" IS A PRODUCT OF WHAT WE "ARE"( Luke 6:43-45 ).

                                                                           SO WE ASK THE QUESTION:

I. WHAT MANNER OF PERSONS OUGHT WE TO BE?

A.      IN ALL HOLY LIVING AND GODLINESS:

          1.       "Holy" - Separate, set apart, holy - hagios - Sanctified.

                   a.       Set apart from what?( Rom. 12:2;  2 Cor. 6:17-7:1 ).

                             i.       How the world thinks ( Eph. 4:17-20;  1 Cor. 2:14 ).

                             ii.      What they pursue ( Gal. 5:16-19 ).

                             iii.     Be not partakers ( Eph. 5:3-11 ).

                             iv.     Psa. 1:1-2.

                   b.       Set apart to something( 1 Pet. 1:2 ).

                             - obedience( Titus 2:14 ).

                             - sprinkling of the blood – forgiveness.

          2.       "Godliness" - piety, reverence, in a sense "Godlikeness."

                   ( 2 Pet. 1:3-4 ).  God hath granted unto us:

                   a.       What?  "all things that pertain to L & G."

                             "his precious and exceeding great promises"

                   b.       How?  "thru a knowledge of him" - Jesus.

                   c.       Why?  "that thru these ye may become partakers of the Divine Nature"

                   d.       What effects this?  "having escaped the corruption that is in the world thru lust"

                              ( Col. 3:9-10 ).

B.      CHARACTERISTICS OF PARTAKERS OF DIVINE NATURE( 2 Pet.1:5-7 )

          1.  Faith               2.  Virtue    3.  Knowledge               4.  Self-control

          5.  Patience          6.  Godliness        7.  Brotherly kindness   8.  Love.

II.    RESULT OF HOLY LIVING AND GODLINESS( 2 Pet. 1:8-11 ).

A.      NOT IDLE OR UNFRUITFUL."

B.      "OUR CALLING AND ELECTION SURE."

C.      "YE SHALL NEVER STUMBLE."

D.      "ENTRANCE INTO THE ETERNAL KINGDOM."

III.   WITH THESE THINGS ASSURED, WE CAN "LOOK FOR AND

EARNESTLY DESIRE THE COMING OF THE DAY OF GOD

       ( 2 Pet. 3:12 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      DO YOU EARNESTLY DESIRE THE COMING OF THAT DAY?

B.      ARE YOU THE "MANNER OF PERSON" YOU OUGHT TO BE?