WEBVTT 00:00:07.040 --> 00:00:12.720 This sermon was recorded at Faith Evangelical Free Church in Grand Forks, North Dakota. 00:00:20.719 --> 00:00:22.079 Those are walnut trees. 00:00:24.160 --> 00:00:33.759 Northern California, where we've lived for several years, was walnut, and as they would say it, they're almond country. 00:00:34.000 --> 00:00:36.479 Somehow there's no L in the word almond. 00:00:36.719 --> 00:00:38.560 There they call them almonds. 00:00:38.880 --> 00:00:45.359 But that's a walnut tree grove that you see there, an orchard of walnut trees. 00:00:45.439 --> 00:00:52.719 And you can see that the base and higher up the trunk is kind of odd-shaped. 00:00:53.119 --> 00:00:54.880 There's a different texture. 00:00:55.039 --> 00:00:57.119 And it took me a long time to figure it out. 00:00:57.359 --> 00:01:03.119 What really happened there is all those trees bear the marks of the grafting. 00:01:03.359 --> 00:01:08.560 You see, they were all grafted 25 years ago into a rootstock. 00:01:09.280 --> 00:01:14.000 And each graft is a clone from one singular tree. 00:01:14.159 --> 00:01:18.640 And so all those trees bear fruit at the same time. 00:01:19.920 --> 00:01:23.200 Their fruit are genetically consistent. 00:01:25.200 --> 00:01:35.760 But still, even after 25 years, those trees bear the marks that they've been grafted into a rootstock. 00:01:36.719 --> 00:01:46.159 So one morning we were driving to school, and I noticed a row of trees, actually, several rows of trees axed down. 00:01:47.920 --> 00:01:52.159 And several days later I came past those trees, kind of bothered. 00:01:52.239 --> 00:01:54.480 Why would the farmer axe them down? 00:01:54.640 --> 00:02:02.719 And I walked up closer, and those trees were actually budding and pushing out some leaves. 00:02:02.799 --> 00:02:06.239 And I was puzzled how these trees have been axed. 00:02:06.319 --> 00:02:09.039 They should be dead, but there was a little bit of growth. 00:02:09.120 --> 00:02:13.199 And I and I asked one of the guys in our church, why did this happen? 00:02:13.360 --> 00:02:27.199 And he said, Well, there was enough sap in the trunk to provide water and nutrition so that those leaves would openly, the buds would openly up and produce some leaves. 00:02:29.439 --> 00:02:41.599 For one moment, I thought those trees were alive and growing, but the leaves soon disappeared and withered up, and they did not bear any fruit that season. 00:02:42.319 --> 00:02:47.840 How could it be that these trees appeared alive and growing? 00:02:48.080 --> 00:02:56.479 And that gave me a thought about those who profess Jesus Christ, but they're not bearing any fruit. 00:02:58.400 --> 00:03:06.240 Those of you who have been in the Christian church for a long while, you have heard this before. 00:03:06.560 --> 00:03:12.240 Oh, my son is a Christian, I know for sure, but he's not walking with the Lord. 00:03:12.639 --> 00:03:22.479 Or somebody would say, I know little Sally, she's definitely a Christian, though she has abandoned her faith. 00:03:23.360 --> 00:03:26.639 And that makes my head scratch. 00:03:30.159 --> 00:03:33.759 Were these branches severed from the root? 00:03:34.080 --> 00:03:37.360 Or were they never grafted into the root? 00:03:38.639 --> 00:03:45.680 The answer to this question lies, how can they be assured of salvation? 00:03:45.840 --> 00:03:49.599 How can anyone be assured of their salvation? 00:03:49.840 --> 00:03:57.680 Who says, you will not this week or next week walk away from the Lord and turn your back? 00:03:57.919 --> 00:04:05.199 It happened with Charles Templeton, who was this famous evangelist with the Billy Graham Association. 00:04:06.159 --> 00:04:12.639 And he turned his back after being an evangelist for some 10, 15 years. 00:04:13.759 --> 00:04:22.959 Often we see these religious trees who seem alive and growing, but upon closer inspection, we seldom find any fruit. 00:04:23.199 --> 00:04:28.720 Yeah, there's a budding here and there and some leaving leaves showing at some point. 00:04:29.759 --> 00:04:33.040 But fruit are never born in the branches. 00:04:34.879 --> 00:04:40.240 To our surprise, we often find that those trees were never grafted into the root. 00:04:41.279 --> 00:04:54.079 They might have some enough sap in them from the days that they spend in church or Sunday school I wanna or things like that, and they produce the odd leaf and the odd budding here and there. 00:04:54.560 --> 00:04:57.279 But they are neither alive nor growing. 00:04:57.439 --> 00:05:01.920 And that's the title for my message this morning: Alive and Growing. 00:05:06.079 --> 00:05:17.360 In religious circles, many appear to be alive and growing, but upon closer inspection, the fruit is sparse, and even the fruits are imperceptible. 00:05:18.319 --> 00:05:21.519 They are hidden between all the thorns and thistles. 00:05:22.240 --> 00:05:25.279 But do these belong to Christ? 00:05:26.480 --> 00:05:34.480 It is without a doubt that religious folk often will struggle with their assurance of salvation. 00:05:36.000 --> 00:05:45.120 There's a few tests that they can do to see if they are indeed assured of their justification in Christ. 00:05:45.680 --> 00:05:50.639 But they also need to look at things like the fruits of sanctification. 00:05:52.720 --> 00:06:00.160 The lack of the fruit of sanctification will often make for a lack of assurance. 00:06:01.839 --> 00:06:08.240 Christians, true Christians, will often doubt their salvation. 00:06:08.399 --> 00:06:16.720 They will go through belts and periods of time that they really wonder if they are Christians or not. 00:06:18.319 --> 00:06:35.600 Let's see what Second Peter has to say about this thing about assurance and how assurance of salvation relates with our justification, our sanctification, our glorification. 00:06:36.879 --> 00:06:43.199 Let me read for us 2 Peter chapter 1, verses 1 to 11. 00:06:47.439 --> 00:07:00.560 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ. 00:07:00.879 --> 00:07:01.839 Note that. 00:07:02.319 --> 00:07:08.480 May grace and peace be multiplied to you and the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. 00:07:09.360 --> 00:07:35.600 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence, by which He has granted to us His precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 00:07:36.000 --> 00:07:53.120 Verse 5, for this very reason make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfast and steadfast with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 00:07:53.360 --> 00:08:05.920 For if these qualities are yours, and increasing they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:08:06.079 --> 00:08:15.839 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:18.720 And here is the nexus of this passage. 00:08:19.040 --> 00:08:26.480 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election. 00:08:26.560 --> 00:08:29.680 The NASB says, make certain. 00:08:31.360 --> 00:08:36.240 For if you practice these qualities, you will never fall. 00:08:36.399 --> 00:08:37.120 Verse 11. 00:08:37.279 --> 00:08:47.360 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 00:08:49.440 --> 00:09:09.519 The thought of justification makes us somewhat assured, and it provides all the essential nutrients like sunlight and nitrogen for greater fruitfulness in the Christian life. 00:09:11.759 --> 00:09:17.840 Greater fruitfulness leads to greater assurance and deeper assurance. 00:09:18.000 --> 00:09:30.799 And in the end, it leads also to a certainty about our eternal destinies, which is the hope of future glorification. 00:09:30.960 --> 00:09:38.080 Our passage today covers all that, and I hope this passage brings to you gladness and joy today. 00:09:39.200 --> 00:09:45.519 But I'm sure that there will be some here today, I'm warning you, that you will feel unsettled and saddened. 00:09:45.600 --> 00:09:49.679 And I'm not here to peddle cheap grace as if it's Christmas. 00:09:50.000 --> 00:09:59.759 But to you who are struggling with the assurance of salvation today, I would like you to walk through this passage with me. 00:09:59.919 --> 00:10:07.279 And we've got to begin with the root, and we're going to inspect the fruit, and we're also going to see if there's any blossoms and flowers. 00:10:08.399 --> 00:10:12.080 I want us especially to take note of verse 10. 00:10:12.480 --> 00:10:20.799 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election. 00:10:20.960 --> 00:10:25.919 For if you practice these qualities, you will never fail. 00:10:28.159 --> 00:10:32.879 Fruit bearing and assurance work in tandem. 00:10:33.200 --> 00:10:39.120 It's almost like the roots of a tree, the fruits and the flowers on a tree. 00:10:39.440 --> 00:10:42.720 They all work together to tell you what tree it is. 00:10:42.879 --> 00:10:52.399 The way that I know that is a walnut tree is I looked at the flowers, I looked at the fruits, and I looked at the flowers. 00:10:52.559 --> 00:10:58.240 I did not see the root, but I know those trees are all crafted. 00:10:59.919 --> 00:11:06.399 You see, assurance is rooted in one's justification. 00:11:07.519 --> 00:11:12.559 Justification motivates fruit bearing. 00:11:13.039 --> 00:11:17.440 Fruit bearing can also be called sanctification. 00:11:18.639 --> 00:11:32.639 Sanctification then works together to serve as objective proofs that we are indeed declared right, i.e., justified. 00:11:33.600 --> 00:11:39.440 So assurance then comes both from justification and sanctification. 00:11:39.679 --> 00:11:42.879 Assurance motivates sanctification. 00:11:43.120 --> 00:11:46.879 Sanctification in turn nurtures assurance. 00:11:49.440 --> 00:11:51.200 Now let me say this. 00:11:52.159 --> 00:12:06.480 As much as we should be concerned about assurance or the lack of it, I would also say you should be very concerned if you've never doubted your salvation. 00:12:06.639 --> 00:12:16.559 If you've never been at a point in life that you don't feel so assured of your salvation, I would say that is cause for concern. 00:12:18.240 --> 00:12:20.240 Let me explain to you. 00:12:22.080 --> 00:12:29.679 The true Christian gains assurance from his or her justification that they were made right with God. 00:12:30.240 --> 00:12:35.360 That in turn spurs them on to sanctification. 00:12:36.639 --> 00:12:42.080 But you see, we all go through bouts and ups and downs in our sanctification. 00:12:42.879 --> 00:12:50.000 And if our sanctification nose dives and our assurance climbs, something is terribly wrong. 00:12:50.480 --> 00:12:52.720 They parallel each other. 00:12:54.480 --> 00:12:59.039 Assurance comes from something that God has done. 00:13:00.799 --> 00:13:02.639 And we simply believe it. 00:13:02.879 --> 00:13:06.480 But it also comes from something we have to do. 00:13:07.840 --> 00:13:17.360 If we look at this passage, and I'm going to give you just a broad layout of this passage, it deals with justification, sanctification, and glorification. 00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:20.240 Justification is something we have. 00:13:22.320 --> 00:13:26.399 Sanctification is something we do, it's in process. 00:13:27.360 --> 00:13:30.639 And glorification is something that we will get. 00:13:30.720 --> 00:13:32.960 It is something that is promised. 00:13:33.600 --> 00:13:35.039 What is our response? 00:13:35.200 --> 00:13:40.080 The first we believe, the second, we do, and the third, we hope for. 00:13:42.240 --> 00:13:49.039 Let us begin here to look at the what I call the root of assurance. 00:13:50.559 --> 00:13:52.559 The root of assurance. 00:13:53.360 --> 00:13:54.879 We believe it. 00:13:55.200 --> 00:13:57.519 It's based on the promises of God. 00:13:57.679 --> 00:14:05.360 It is there in the passage, seeing that his divine power has granted to us everything. 00:14:06.399 --> 00:14:10.080 His precious and magnificent promises. 00:14:13.200 --> 00:14:19.200 Assurance, therefore, comes from what God has done and what he has promised us. 00:14:19.840 --> 00:14:27.360 But then sanctification are based on what is called imperatives. 00:14:27.440 --> 00:14:29.600 They're based on commands. 00:14:30.480 --> 00:14:33.440 It requires obedience and doing. 00:14:33.519 --> 00:14:36.159 It requires us to do something. 00:14:36.639 --> 00:14:37.519 Verse 5. 00:14:37.759 --> 00:14:41.919 Now, for this very reason, also applying all diligence. 00:14:42.320 --> 00:14:43.519 That is action. 00:14:43.759 --> 00:14:44.879 Verse 10. 00:14:45.600 --> 00:14:54.960 Be all the more diligent to make sure about his calling and choosing of you, and for as long as you practice these things. 00:14:56.960 --> 00:15:01.120 You see, assurance of salvation will wax and wane. 00:15:03.360 --> 00:15:05.840 Assurance of salvation will wax and wane. 00:15:05.919 --> 00:15:09.200 But the security of salvation is always there. 00:15:09.919 --> 00:15:14.159 And I hope I can explain that to you as we go along. 00:15:14.960 --> 00:15:23.919 But for now, let's look at how Peter outlines this passage for us. 00:15:25.279 --> 00:15:32.879 I'm gonna use three simple terms the root of assurance, the fruit of assurance, and the flowers of assurance. 00:15:33.759 --> 00:15:36.559 Let's look at the root of assurance. 00:15:38.480 --> 00:15:40.639 The root of assurance. 00:15:41.600 --> 00:15:44.080 And that's in verses one to four. 00:15:44.480 --> 00:15:48.080 Assurance is rooted in Christ's merits. 00:15:49.360 --> 00:15:58.720 Both his righteous and obedient work, and also his perfect sacrifice on the cross. 00:15:58.879 --> 00:16:03.360 These are all the righteous deeds that Christ already done. 00:16:03.600 --> 00:16:06.559 There is no improvement on that. 00:16:07.039 --> 00:16:12.240 That is already done, already secured, and already accomplished. 00:16:14.799 --> 00:16:20.000 He has granted us, verse three, he has granted us what? 00:16:23.200 --> 00:16:27.120 Everything, not just something, everything. 00:16:27.600 --> 00:16:38.480 For us to stand right before God, He has given us everything pertaining to life and godliness. 00:16:40.879 --> 00:16:48.559 He has granted us everything we need to feel assured. 00:16:49.360 --> 00:16:58.399 He has indeed given us everything so that we can be alive and growing as Christians. 00:16:59.120 --> 00:17:00.639 Look at verse four. 00:17:00.879 --> 00:17:19.680 For by these things he has granted us his precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. 00:17:20.799 --> 00:17:26.799 You see, assurance comes from something that is promised that we believe. 00:17:27.039 --> 00:17:32.720 Assurance comes from a promise of an already accomplished fact. 00:17:34.319 --> 00:17:39.759 Jesus Christ offered himself as the perfect sacrifice. 00:17:40.880 --> 00:17:42.480 This perfect payment. 00:17:42.640 --> 00:17:47.039 There is nothing you and I can do to change that. 00:17:48.480 --> 00:17:52.319 In fact, he was the perfect sacrificial Namb. 00:17:55.759 --> 00:18:04.799 He has done it already perfectly and completely two thousand years ago, and there's nothing you and I can do to change that fact. 00:18:05.039 --> 00:18:06.400 It happened. 00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:15.599 Our assurance, therefore, is rooted in our justification, which Christ accomplished for us on our behalf. 00:18:17.119 --> 00:18:22.799 But that doesn't make us, as Charles Spurgeon would call, a log of wood. 00:18:23.119 --> 00:18:31.119 You see, people would say, I'm saved, I'm saved, I love Jesus, I believe in it, I have faith in Jesus, I'm a Christian. 00:18:31.519 --> 00:18:36.559 But they are as dead as those trees that were axed a few years ago. 00:18:36.799 --> 00:18:48.880 Spurgeon says the following You see, it is not man's effort that saves him, but on the other hand, grace saves no man to make him like a log of wood or a block of stone. 00:18:49.200 --> 00:18:52.799 Grace makes a man active and alive. 00:18:53.039 --> 00:18:55.440 God has been diligently at work with you. 00:18:55.599 --> 00:18:59.039 Now you must diligently work together with him. 00:19:01.200 --> 00:19:13.119 You see, Christians must be diligent to work together with the author and the perfecter of our faith so that we might bear much fruit. 00:19:13.359 --> 00:19:16.720 What does Jesus say in John 15, verse 8? 00:19:16.960 --> 00:19:20.240 Apart from me you can do nothing. 00:19:22.799 --> 00:19:24.880 Sorry, that was John 15, 4. 00:19:24.960 --> 00:19:33.119 And John 15, 8, Jesus says, My Father is glorified when you bear much fruit. 00:19:37.200 --> 00:19:39.839 Now something is to be said for this. 00:19:40.880 --> 00:19:49.599 That the branches that which was grafted into the root of Christ's promises must produce fruit. 00:19:49.839 --> 00:19:53.359 Not just fruit, much fruit. 00:19:54.000 --> 00:19:58.240 Much fruit bearing requires reaction. 00:20:00.880 --> 00:20:10.400 It requires action, it requires human effort, it requires obedience, it requires personal diligence. 00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:21.920 We as Christians must be diligent to work together with God in our sanctification. 00:20:25.759 --> 00:20:30.160 And this is what I call the fruits of assurance. 00:20:33.119 --> 00:20:42.319 These fruits of assurance, we can also call the fruits of sanctification or the evidences of sanctification. 00:20:43.359 --> 00:20:50.559 You cannot bear any fruit if you've not been grafted in Jesus Christ as the rootstock. 00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:55.119 Apart from me, you can do nothing. 00:20:55.839 --> 00:21:02.720 But if you are indeed grafted, you will bear much fruit. 00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:06.000 Fruit is essential. 00:21:08.400 --> 00:21:12.480 But here again, assurance comes into the picture. 00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:20.880 You see, if somebody is truly assured of their salvation, it will be like the nitrogen in the soil and the rays of the sun. 00:21:21.279 --> 00:21:26.400 It will produce fruit, it will ripen the fruit, and it will even sweeten the fruit. 00:21:29.279 --> 00:21:38.559 Fruit in the branches is evidence of life in the bran in the root. 00:21:39.440 --> 00:21:41.039 Look at verse 5. 00:21:42.319 --> 00:21:44.000 What does it begin with? 00:21:44.480 --> 00:21:59.759 Now, for this very reason, he wants us to go look back and say, Well, if you are indeed saved, if you indeed have a living faith, you have been indeed granted. 00:22:00.799 --> 00:22:08.720 Into this rootstock called Jesus Christ, then things are to happen. 00:22:08.799 --> 00:22:11.200 And these are things you have to do. 00:22:13.279 --> 00:22:19.119 Peter lists for us there seven fruits of sanctification. 00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:31.759 Now, for this very reason, also applying all diligence in your faith, and I think the ESV did a not such a great job translating it there. 00:22:31.920 --> 00:22:36.319 But I like the NASB, it's very close to the Greek. 00:22:36.480 --> 00:22:53.200 It says, in your faith, supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. 00:23:00.480 --> 00:23:06.240 These are the much fruit that Jesus speaks about. 00:23:06.400 --> 00:23:08.640 This is our sanctification. 00:23:10.240 --> 00:23:18.400 Thomas Watson once said, sanctification is not the cause of our justification, but it is the attendant. 00:23:18.960 --> 00:23:26.480 As the heat in the sun is not the cause of its light, but it is the attendant of it. 00:23:29.039 --> 00:23:30.480 What is sanctification? 00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:37.039 Sanctification is proof that we are indeed alive and growing. 00:23:37.519 --> 00:23:39.200 There are seven fruits there. 00:23:39.359 --> 00:23:42.240 I wish I had the time to go through all these. 00:23:44.559 --> 00:23:46.559 But look at verse eight. 00:23:49.039 --> 00:23:54.559 For if these qualities, if these qualities are what? 00:23:55.680 --> 00:23:56.400 Yours. 00:23:56.640 --> 00:23:57.839 And they are what? 00:23:58.880 --> 00:24:00.079 Increasing. 00:24:00.400 --> 00:24:07.200 You see a lot of people go on a high and they, oh, I got saved. 00:24:07.519 --> 00:24:09.359 Oh, and it's just like singing. 00:24:09.680 --> 00:24:14.480 They brush their teeth, singing hymns, and it's all Jesus, morning, noon, and night. 00:24:14.799 --> 00:24:19.279 And so there is some growth there. 00:24:22.000 --> 00:24:24.480 But then it just stops there. 00:24:26.400 --> 00:24:30.079 Those who claim they are saved, but they stuck in the past. 00:24:31.119 --> 00:24:33.200 This verse makes it very clear. 00:24:33.359 --> 00:24:36.720 If these qualities are yours, it's not past things. 00:24:36.880 --> 00:24:43.440 Were yours once upon a time when you were just saved or you went to some crusade or some evangelistic event. 00:24:43.680 --> 00:24:46.880 For if these qualities are yours and they are what? 00:24:48.160 --> 00:24:49.200 Increasing. 00:24:49.359 --> 00:24:55.680 They render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:24:55.839 --> 00:24:58.720 You see, the formula is as follows. 00:24:59.599 --> 00:25:06.799 Great assurance produces greater usefulness and fruitfulness in the Christian journey. 00:25:07.039 --> 00:25:14.480 You see, this is why people cannot produce fruit and they do not produce fruit because they lack assurance. 00:25:16.240 --> 00:25:20.400 Our assurance is what drives us to sanctification. 00:25:20.640 --> 00:25:23.839 If there's no sanctification, there's no assurance. 00:25:29.839 --> 00:25:36.240 But assurance is something that is given to us, but it's also something we work for. 00:25:36.559 --> 00:25:37.200 What? 00:25:37.599 --> 00:25:43.599 Watch out, Pastor Anton, you don't bring works in this congregation. 00:25:44.240 --> 00:25:47.519 Whoa, what does verse five say there? 00:25:49.279 --> 00:25:53.039 Applying in all diligence. 00:25:53.279 --> 00:25:56.160 By the way, that word applying is a verb. 00:25:57.039 --> 00:26:00.240 The isvi is very strong here, I like it. 00:26:02.160 --> 00:26:06.079 Which goes to sir, oh, there's no perfect translation, by the way. 00:26:07.119 --> 00:26:10.720 Verse 5, make every effort. 00:26:12.640 --> 00:26:33.279 So first, we got to remember, and don't hear me not saying this, while these fruits are not the cause of our salvation, they certainly stem from the assurance of salvation, that being rooted deeply into the precious promises of Jesus Christ. 00:26:33.440 --> 00:26:41.599 Second, these fruits of sanctification does require human effort. 00:26:42.480 --> 00:26:56.240 Fruit of sanctification, spoken of here, requires human effort, it requires diligent work, it requires submission, and it even calls for tears of humility. 00:26:58.799 --> 00:27:06.319 For this very reason, also applying all diligence in your faith. 00:27:07.599 --> 00:27:10.960 It's only by faith that you can produce fruit. 00:27:11.200 --> 00:27:14.960 Fruit doesn't just come, it takes faith. 00:27:16.079 --> 00:27:20.880 But with that faith comes the effort and the motivation. 00:27:23.279 --> 00:27:27.599 If there are no fruits, there is no assurance. 00:27:27.759 --> 00:27:31.440 And what's the reason and cause for the lack of assurance? 00:27:31.759 --> 00:27:33.359 One of two things. 00:27:33.920 --> 00:27:39.039 Either lazy or you've never been grafted into the rootstock. 00:27:39.519 --> 00:27:41.839 John 15, 5 affirms this. 00:27:42.079 --> 00:27:43.839 I am the vine, you are the branches. 00:27:44.000 --> 00:27:51.200 Whoever abides in me and I in him, he is it that bears much fruit. 00:27:55.759 --> 00:28:05.119 There are some who even wrote books on this, who says, There is no work left for the Christian to do. 00:28:05.279 --> 00:28:06.799 Jesus did it all. 00:28:07.440 --> 00:28:13.440 Yes, he did it all for our salvation, our justification. 00:28:13.519 --> 00:28:28.880 He did it all, but he wants to participate, and he wants you to participate in your sanctification, because it says there in verse 5, applying all diligence in your faith and supply, supply, moral excellence. 00:28:28.960 --> 00:28:33.039 And in your moral excellence knowledge, and he goes on. 00:28:33.920 --> 00:28:43.599 Verse 10, therefore be all the more diligent to make certain about your, about his calling and choosing of you. 00:28:43.759 --> 00:28:46.400 For as long as you practice these things. 00:28:46.559 --> 00:28:51.279 I'm gonna quickly run through three important words here. 00:28:51.680 --> 00:28:56.799 The first word is diligent, the second word is supply, and the third word is practice. 00:28:56.960 --> 00:28:58.960 All three are verbs. 00:28:59.440 --> 00:29:02.480 All three are words of action. 00:29:02.640 --> 00:29:04.480 The first one, diligent. 00:29:05.759 --> 00:29:13.359 In the Greek, it comes from the word spude, which I think we get the English word speed from. 00:29:13.759 --> 00:29:17.839 It means to do something with readiness to expend energy and effort. 00:29:18.000 --> 00:29:18.559 Guess what? 00:29:18.799 --> 00:29:23.279 Your sanctification is going to take energy and effort. 00:29:23.519 --> 00:29:25.920 Number two, the word supply. 00:29:26.079 --> 00:29:27.200 That's a sweet word. 00:29:27.359 --> 00:29:30.319 We get the English word choreography from that. 00:29:30.480 --> 00:29:32.640 What does a choreographer do? 00:29:33.599 --> 00:29:36.640 He puts things together so that everybody plays their part. 00:29:36.799 --> 00:29:38.799 Anyone who's been acting, right? 00:29:38.880 --> 00:29:42.960 We've got two actors here in front of us in the front row here. 00:29:48.880 --> 00:29:51.039 There's a choreography. 00:29:52.559 --> 00:29:57.920 And the choreographer expects everybody to play their part. 00:29:58.160 --> 00:30:01.599 And in your sanctification, you have to play your part. 00:30:02.480 --> 00:30:04.480 Supply, supply. 00:30:05.200 --> 00:30:08.079 You must do your part. 00:30:09.599 --> 00:30:16.960 As the divine choreographer does, he's conducting in the grand symphony of the Christian life. 00:30:17.119 --> 00:30:18.880 Every Christian must do their part. 00:30:19.039 --> 00:30:25.920 And then the third word there, in verse uh 10, practice. 00:30:27.519 --> 00:30:32.079 You know what's the uh the meaning of that word? 00:30:32.960 --> 00:30:33.279 Do. 00:30:34.000 --> 00:30:35.119 It's just that simple. 00:30:35.359 --> 00:30:35.680 Do. 00:30:36.319 --> 00:30:36.640 Do. 00:30:37.200 --> 00:30:41.200 If you do these things, you will never fall. 00:30:42.000 --> 00:30:46.880 So let me remind you again that justification is a one-time event, it's a completed work. 00:30:47.039 --> 00:30:49.680 You are saved by grace through faith. 00:30:49.839 --> 00:30:53.440 Let nobody tell you anything other than that. 00:30:54.480 --> 00:31:00.079 Some theologians would say justification is monergistic, meaning God did it all. 00:31:00.400 --> 00:31:05.920 Sanctification is synergistic, which means you have to do your part and cooperate with God. 00:31:06.160 --> 00:31:07.119 It is progressive. 00:31:07.200 --> 00:31:10.799 It's not a one-time event, it's increasing, as it says. 00:31:11.039 --> 00:31:13.119 It's yours, but it's also increasing. 00:31:13.359 --> 00:31:16.240 However, everything relates together. 00:31:18.000 --> 00:31:22.160 As our sanctification peaks, so will our assurance. 00:31:22.400 --> 00:31:28.400 And if our sanctification nosedives, so will our assurance. 00:31:30.240 --> 00:31:32.319 So will our assurance. 00:31:33.279 --> 00:31:36.079 You see, he relates it there in verses 8 and 9. 00:31:36.160 --> 00:31:44.079 He says, if these qualities are yours and increasing, it will make you more fruitful. 00:31:44.400 --> 00:31:53.279 So in other words, if you are producing fruit, evident of your salvation, guess what? 00:31:53.440 --> 00:31:55.039 It will give you greater assurance. 00:31:55.119 --> 00:31:56.559 Now you've got greater assurance. 00:31:56.720 --> 00:31:57.680 What will be the result? 00:31:57.920 --> 00:31:58.880 More fruit. 00:31:59.119 --> 00:32:01.359 More fruit, more assurance. 00:32:01.680 --> 00:32:03.599 More assurance, more fruit. 00:32:03.920 --> 00:32:05.920 How many times do I need to say that? 00:32:06.480 --> 00:32:07.039 We're good. 00:32:07.200 --> 00:32:07.519 Okay. 00:32:07.839 --> 00:32:11.440 I don't need to repeat what is evident in verses 8 and 9. 00:32:11.519 --> 00:32:24.720 If these qualities are yours and increasing, it will not, the Bible states it there in the negative, but you can say, by implication, if you have great assurance, you will be more fruitful and useful. 00:32:25.599 --> 00:32:29.519 And if you have more fruit, you will be more fruitful and useful. 00:32:31.839 --> 00:32:38.960 But then he says, if you lack these qualities, by implication, you will be blind to your justification. 00:32:39.200 --> 00:32:42.400 You will start losing interest. 00:32:43.759 --> 00:32:49.119 Your assurance will be drowned out, and it will be something of the past. 00:32:55.839 --> 00:33:06.559 If there is little growth and meager fruit production, expect your assurance to be little and meager. 00:33:09.200 --> 00:33:18.720 For he who lacks these qualities is blind and short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. 00:33:20.799 --> 00:33:34.319 So if we lack assurance of salvation, one way is to look at the communion cup and say, but did Jesus do this for me? 00:33:34.960 --> 00:33:35.839 Did he die for me? 00:33:36.000 --> 00:33:38.880 Did I put my faith in what he did on the cross? 00:33:39.119 --> 00:33:39.519 Great. 00:33:39.759 --> 00:33:40.079 Okay. 00:33:40.319 --> 00:33:41.599 Then you are justified. 00:33:41.680 --> 00:33:44.319 But let's take something more objective. 00:33:44.640 --> 00:33:46.160 Let's look at the fruit. 00:33:46.400 --> 00:33:47.759 Is there fruit? 00:33:48.559 --> 00:33:49.759 Is there fruit? 00:33:51.119 --> 00:33:55.519 Maybe I should just take a second and go through some of those fruit. 00:33:57.920 --> 00:33:59.119 Look at verse. 00:34:02.240 --> 00:34:07.519 Supplying all diligence in your faith, supply moral excellence. 00:34:08.639 --> 00:34:09.760 Excellence. 00:34:10.320 --> 00:34:12.639 See what's the opposite of excellence? 00:34:12.880 --> 00:34:14.159 Mediocrity. 00:34:14.559 --> 00:34:16.320 Your Christian life mediocre. 00:34:16.400 --> 00:34:17.280 Is that mediocre? 00:34:17.440 --> 00:34:23.760 Does everything regarding your faith just end up being kind of so-so mediocre, just bare bones? 00:34:23.840 --> 00:34:24.480 I'm here. 00:34:24.639 --> 00:34:26.559 Don't expect anything from me. 00:34:27.199 --> 00:34:28.960 Well, then knowledge. 00:34:29.199 --> 00:34:32.000 That word knowledge there is a very interesting word. 00:34:32.159 --> 00:34:34.960 It is actually applying what you have learned. 00:34:35.119 --> 00:34:38.000 It's a practical knowledge. 00:34:42.159 --> 00:34:46.320 It's more of an experiential knowledge. 00:34:47.519 --> 00:34:49.840 In contrast with a theoretical knowledge. 00:34:49.920 --> 00:34:52.239 And then it says self-control. 00:34:52.960 --> 00:34:55.199 What's the opposite of self-control? 00:34:55.760 --> 00:34:59.119 Flying off the bat when things don't go our way. 00:35:01.199 --> 00:35:02.960 Well, what about perseverance? 00:35:03.039 --> 00:35:04.320 What is perseverance? 00:35:04.960 --> 00:35:11.039 The old word, I think in the King James, is long suffering. 00:35:12.239 --> 00:35:17.840 When things don't go the way we want them to do, how's your reaction? 00:35:18.320 --> 00:35:27.760 That of patience and saying, well, God is at work here, He's accomplishing His purposes, He's working all things for good, or do we grumble and complain? 00:35:28.000 --> 00:35:29.760 That would be the opposite. 00:35:30.239 --> 00:35:32.480 Do we get insistent in having our way? 00:35:32.719 --> 00:35:40.880 Well we will either bear fruit or we will bear thorns. 00:35:41.199 --> 00:35:47.519 But Jesus did say, don't expect to pick grapes off a thorn tree. 00:35:47.760 --> 00:35:52.239 And in your godliness, that is general Christian piety. 00:35:52.400 --> 00:35:55.280 That's general Christ-likeness. 00:35:55.760 --> 00:35:57.119 Brotherly kindness. 00:35:57.280 --> 00:35:59.760 Are you an affectionate, kind person? 00:36:00.960 --> 00:36:02.719 Are you like a cobra? 00:36:04.639 --> 00:36:08.559 And in your brotherly kindness, love, agape love. 00:36:08.719 --> 00:36:10.239 What is agape love? 00:36:10.400 --> 00:36:12.159 It's a self-sacrificial love. 00:36:12.320 --> 00:36:16.079 What's the opposite of self-sacrificial love, self-serving love? 00:36:16.239 --> 00:36:21.039 And there I've I've given you some of these qualities in the positive and the negative. 00:36:22.239 --> 00:36:29.360 One looking more like fruit and the other looking more like thorns and thistles. 00:36:29.920 --> 00:36:31.119 Verse 10. 00:36:32.480 --> 00:36:41.679 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about his calling and choosing of you. 00:36:42.159 --> 00:36:44.400 He says you got to work at it. 00:36:45.039 --> 00:36:48.320 You want to feel more assured of your salvation? 00:36:49.360 --> 00:36:50.320 Do more. 00:36:51.280 --> 00:36:54.960 There's a guy who wrote a book, a thick book, you make lots of money. 00:36:55.119 --> 00:36:57.039 And he said, you've got to believe more. 00:36:57.199 --> 00:36:59.440 And I go, no, you've got to do more. 00:36:59.679 --> 00:37:00.079 Why? 00:37:00.239 --> 00:37:02.159 Because the Bible says do more. 00:37:02.800 --> 00:37:09.119 If you want a more objective form of assurance, believing more is not everything. 00:37:09.360 --> 00:37:11.360 Believing more is important there. 00:37:12.639 --> 00:37:14.400 But rather doing more. 00:37:15.280 --> 00:37:22.639 And if you say, I can do more, Jesus says, Well, are you rooted in me? 00:37:23.199 --> 00:37:24.800 Have you been grafted in me? 00:37:24.880 --> 00:37:26.880 Because if you are in me, you can. 00:37:27.360 --> 00:37:30.239 And if you're not rooted in me, you can't. 00:37:32.480 --> 00:37:41.039 And so, my dear brothers and sisters, assurance is such a sweet and precious thing. 00:37:41.280 --> 00:37:48.159 But assurance is something that sometimes is a bit of a roller coaster ride. 00:37:49.360 --> 00:37:51.760 It's a bit of a roller coaster ride. 00:37:52.880 --> 00:37:56.960 And people may say to me, uh, well, Anton, that that's terrible. 00:37:57.119 --> 00:38:01.119 I'm sorry, your assurance sometimes goes up and down. 00:38:02.800 --> 00:38:07.599 And I would say to you, my sanctification sometimes looks like a roller coaster. 00:38:09.360 --> 00:38:15.920 If I'm being a brat, I'm being sinful, does God just pour more assurance on top of it? 00:38:16.400 --> 00:38:18.239 Like, no, you okay, you okay. 00:38:18.400 --> 00:38:20.559 Just keep on doing what you're doing. 00:38:21.440 --> 00:38:36.079 And this is the thing why I said earlier on, if you've never felt that you lack assurance, that you don't have assurance, if you've never had that experience, I think there's great cause for concern. 00:38:38.880 --> 00:38:39.519 Why? 00:38:40.159 --> 00:38:48.320 Because you can only miss something that you had and sense it when it's not there. 00:38:51.039 --> 00:38:52.639 I'll give you an example. 00:38:52.960 --> 00:39:04.000 A few years ago, ten years ago, we decided we're gonna go visit home, and my kids were probably about four, five, six, seven, I can't remember quite. 00:39:05.440 --> 00:39:14.559 And I said to them, look, we're gonna go through international borders and we're gonna go through different airports, and there's gonna be a gazillion people. 00:39:14.800 --> 00:39:19.519 But I want you to hold my hand as tight as possible. 00:39:19.599 --> 00:39:26.960 And I will hold your hand as tight as possible, but I don't want to be fighting you here because it could be in a minute and you gone. 00:39:29.920 --> 00:39:32.480 And here are one of my little kids. 00:39:34.239 --> 00:39:36.000