The Guarantee of Success

Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr.

August 7, 2005

Sunday Morning

Title: The Guarantee of Success

Text: 2 Peter 1:10,11

You Can Be a Successful Christian.

When people fall it is because they did not do what they were told to do.

When people say they do not think they will make it are really saying that they are not sure if they want to make it.

There is a guarantee that you can make it, but you need to read the 'fine print." It does really matter what the Believer does.

DILIGENCE is Required. v.10 (Diligence is in the fine print.)

I. Diligence is a work to be done.

    	 4704 spoudazo -to use speed, i.e. to make effort, be prompt or earnest:--do (give) diligence, be diligent (forward), endeavor, labor, study.  straining every nerve


    Do not allow the grace that has touched your life make you lax and lazy. It is not time to just go along and coast. John 5:14 Go and SIN NO MORE. 2 Timothy 2:19 Diligence is a work and is "hard."

II. Diligence is vigilance-constant. I Peter 5:8

    Neglect anything in life for a little while and you will discover degradation. Leave your experience alone in God for a little while and you will see "nature" work its destruction. If you leave your experience unattended it is amazing the destruction the old man, carnal nature will work. It does not take a long while - just a little neglecting. You do not have to plant weeds, and it does not take long for weeds to grow in an uncultivated heart. You do not have to encourage your carnal nature to rise up, only neglect your spiritual experience.


    The measure of our diligence is the measure of our victory. We need diligence in cultivating Christian character. IF YOU DO THESE THINGS... You must take care of what God has given to you. What things are we to do?


    v. 5 Giving ALL diligence and constantly being diligent. We did not "arrive" at salvation, but it was a BEGINNING.


    **A. **We need to add to our Faith. 2 Peter 1:5-9


    Our faith is very limited at the start. We gain faith by hearing His Word. 


        **1**. Virtue - moral goodness It does matter if you are going to make it. He is a holy God. No unclean thing will enter into Heaven.


        **2**. Knowledge, Truth - You are going to have to spend time in the Bible learning for yourself what is THUS SAITH THE LORD.


        **3.** Temperance - self-control "Catch the rats and save the house." Temperance is following knowledge indicating what we learn is to be practiced. 


        **4.** Patience - Am I ALWAYS patient? James 1:3,4 It works that which you NEED- patience. There are some things that are more important than others. If you do not have patience you are in trouble.


        **5**. Godliness - God-likeness


        **6**. Brotherly Kindness - God-likeness is joined to brotherly kindness.


        **7**. Charity - love Love is the DUTY of every Christian. Love is not an option.  It is a requirement. It is in the fine print. Division is the devil's design for our destruction. Keep your lips and ears from gossip. 


v. 10 Diligence is the condition of success. If you do these things you shall never fall. Why do people fail? Because they fail to do these things. It is a guarantee for every individual you can make it, but you must do what He said. 


If you find yourself falling do not give up, but be big enough to be small enough to confess your faults. You do not need to fall or fail. 


It must be the individual's will.  Mt 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. It must be the individual's commitment. 


<span style="text-decoration:underline;">As long as you want to be kept, God is able to and will keep you.</span> 


When you see a person stray it is because they want to go that way and not that God lost His grip. 


    v. 11 Some will be saved as by fire, but there is a promise of an abundant entrance.


    "I want my life to count for Him


    In service every day


    In all I do


    In all I say


    I want my life to count for Him"


    **<span style="text-decoration:underline;">These things MUST be in us if we are to have a successful entrance into Heaven.</span>**