## What We Need For Life

## II Peter 1:3

Last week we began a series on Games People Play. We started with Monopoly. We started there because it's no use going through LIFE until we realize Who is really in charge. LIFE is at its best when we give Jesus Christ the Title Deed to our life. That means He controls our heart, our passions. It means He controls our stuff, everything we have. It means He controls our relationships, everyone we know. It means He controls us! That's where LIFE begins, by giving Jesus the Monopoly. Remember, when Jesus has the monopoly, when He is in control - we win!

Spin the wheel of fortune, make a few choices and hope for the best! That's pretty much THE GAME OF LIFE, at least Milton Bradley's version of LIFE. The original game was used to teach morals to young children, but today's GAME OF LIFE seems to be more about getting everything you can and not ending up in the poor house. Maybe we feel like that at times.

But what does it take to make it through this LIFE? Once we've placed Jesus in the driver's seat; we've made the commitment that He is in control; what do we do once we've made that commitment? The answer is found in our Bible passage this morning: 2 Peter 1:3

2Pe 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

This one verse tells us that the Lord Jesus Christ gives us everything we need for LIFE. So, rather than looking to the 'so-called' experts that tell us what we need, let's look to the infallible, inerrant Word of God and find the answer to our question, "What do we need for LIFE?" Before we answer that question…

I. We Must First Be Sure That We Have Life!

A. Get a life!

1. That is a phrase that is sometimes used to point out that some folks don't seem to have much of a life.

2. Perhaps someone has used that phrase in reference to you.

3. Let me put it another way, Get THE Life!

4. We need to get more than just 'a' life, we need to get THE Life.

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

B. Jesus is the LIFE we must get!

1. Without Jesus we have no life!

2. Oh, there may be an appearance of life, but in reality without Jesus we are dead!

3. The Word of God makes it very clear, no Jesus - no Life…Know Jesus - Know Life.

John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

4. Jesus is the source of LIFE…

"… I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10b

a. Everyone in this world is seeking a fulfilling life and that fulfillment is only found when we turn our lives over to Jesus and receive His eternal life.

b. We need eternal life and Jesus' power gives that life if we will receive it by faith.

II. Then We Need A Purpose in Life!

A. Life without purpose is meaningless.

1. No wonder the rate of suicide climbs each year.

2. When people have no purpose for living, they become despondent.

3. How many times do we hear of, or perhaps we have experienced for ourselves, a life that becomes drudgery.

4. Get up in the morning to go to a job that we don't like, to earn barely enough to pay the bills, so we can do it day in and day out …until we wonder what's the use?

5. Life without purpose isn't much of a life!

B. Jesus Christ gives meaning and purpose to our lives.

1. Note our text this morning.

2Pe 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

2. Peter relates to us that Jesus gives us everything we need for life, and godliness.

3. That is our purpose! To be godly…to become like Christ!

C. How do we become like Jesus? He was perfect!

1. When a person comes to Christ by faith and is born again…

2. We are given His DNA.

3. That's exactly what the next verse tells us: 2 Peter 1:4

2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

4. When we place our faith in Him, He gives us His spiritual DNA - we have Jesus Christ living inside of us!

5. Does that sound bizarre? It really isn't all that difficult to understand.

6. I have two sons, and although they are unique individuals, each of them carries part of me inside of them.

7. They are my offspring and carry my DNA.

8. As a result they look a like me, they sound like me, and sometimes they even act a like me!

9. Why? Because they have my DNA, they have my nature!

D. What does that mean to us?

1. If we are His children…we have His nature within us.

2. He has given us everything we need to fulfill our God-given purpose in life…to be godly…to be like Him.

3. Sometimes my wife would look at my sons, and declare, "You are just like your father!"

4. That would not always be a compliment…but it was always true.

5. The greatest compliment that we can receive for someone to say that we are behaving like our Heavenly Father!

6. That means we are fulfilling our purpose in life.

7. Obviously there is the other side of this thought.

8. When we act ungodly…when we behave in a way that doesn't emulate our Lord…we are frustrating the purpose of God in our lives.

III. How Do We Get There? How Do We Become Like Jesus?

A. Like anything else in life, there are steps that lead to a destination.

B. If we want to fulfill God's purpose in our lives, WE must develop these qualities in our lives.

C. Our foundation is our faith in Christ.

1. Now that we have eternal life, we are to build upon that foundation.

2. You received eternal life and real purpose when you put your faith in Jesus Christ, but that is the beginning, not the ending!

3. Just knowing that we have eternal life is not enough.

4. Just wishing we were more like Jesus won't get us anywhere.

5. It doesn't happen by accident - we must get involved in this process.

D. Look at the seven steps…

1. First, we are to add Virtue or godly character

2Pe 1:5a And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue…

a. Not just "What Would Jesus Do?"

b. But, "Who is Jesus and how does that show through my life?"

c. It is displaying godly character in every area of our lives.

"…And to virtue knowledge…" 2 Peter 1:5b

2. Adding Knowledge is taking our doctrinal understanding and making it practical.

a. It's not what we know it's what we show.

b. It's living out the Word of God in my daily life.

"And to knowledge temperance… " 2 Peter 1:6a

3. Adding Temperance (or self-control) is being submissive to the Spirit of God.

a. It is actively saying 'no' to our sinful nature and yes to the Spirit's direction.

b. It is choosing to place ourselves under God's control.

"… And to temperance patience…" 2 Peter 1:6b

4. Adding Patience involves waiting through the hardships and trials of life.

"… And to patience godliness" 2Pe 1:6c

5. Adding Godliness is being real with our Christianity…not a form but a reality.

"And to godliness brotherly kindness…" 2Pe 1:7a

6. Adding Brotherly Kindness has to do with our investment in other believers.

a. It is an understanding that all of us have a common bond in Christ.

b. It is caring about one another because we are in the family.

c. We are committed to our family…both in the flesh and in Christ.

d. We are often appalled when we read of how some family members treat others within their own families…

e. God intends for us to demonstrate our love and care for one another by what we do not just what we say.

"…And to brotherly kindness charity." 2Peter 1:7b

7. The seventh and final step is Charity or love.

a. The word used here is the strongest word available to express our love to others...

b. It is AGAPE…the self-sacrificing love that Christ showed toward us in going to the cross to die in our place.

c. Jesus calls us to love one another with this Agape love.

Joh 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

What do we need?

1. We need to come to Christ in faith and get His life for all eternity!

2. We need to fulfill God's purpose for our life!

3. We need to become like Christ!

Why bother?

"For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2Peter 1:8

It's not about reaching perfection in any of these areas - that won't happen until we get to heaven. But it is all about growing in these areas and the result will be an effective and productive LIFE for Christ.

Invitation:

1. For those who do not know Jesus Christ personally, I invite you to come by faith and receive Him today. Start your new LIFE this morning.

2. For those who are saved, but you haven't grown in Christ, determine today to begin to build these characteristics in your LIFE.

3. For those who need to come for whatever reason, come today and find God's answers for LIFE.