Eternal Perspective Week 3

INTRODUCTION : 

We are now in Week 3 of Eternal Perspective and I think we can all agree that studying and talking about desires, perspective, goals, and Biblical truth is always easier than actually personalizing them or integrating them into our minds, hearts, and lives. 

Personalizing involves measuring the reality of how we truly live our lives against the standard of Scripture. 

As disciples, we must approach scripture by submitting our will, as well as our mind, as we ask “How should this change my life?” Only then can we challenge others to examine and apply what we are discovering to be true in our own lives. In this lesson, we will hold our own perspectives up to the light of God’s perspective and focus on the impact it should have on the ordering of our own lives. 

Let's start today in Philippians chapter 3:7-8

Philippians 3:7-8

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

Notice Paul starts in the past tense:   he shows that he made a change from viewing his perfect pedigree; his zeal for the law, and his obedience to all things religious, as being his identity, his mission and purpose to counting them as rubbish (dung/excrement).  He didn’t just change his mind about the value of those things, he understood that knowing Christ was of so much greater value - and eternal value, that he was able to transform his way of thinking and living.   He made the choice, “suffered the loss,” IN ORDER THAT he may gain Christ. 

Personal Application: 

We all know that you must sacrifice something in order to gain something else, right?  A sacrifice of time to achieve a goal, money has to be spent to purchase things, effort and energy are required to get into physical shape, etc.…

Understanding this concept, we can honestly ask ourselves, what value do we place on knowing Christ? And based on that value, what are we willing to give up to know and follow Him?

Few passages speak more clearly of the magnitude and impact an eternal perspective has in the life of the disciple than our verse from two weeks ago…

II Peter 1:2-4

May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 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. 

• "All things that pertain to life and godliness" is found in the extension of God's grace which allows each of us to participate in the "divine nature" through knowing God and Jesus.  The impact of this supernatural work on our character and lives is outlined in the verses that follow.

II Peter 1:5-11

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 steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

• We see here that we have a role in participating in the  “divine nature”. We have a spiritual “health plan” of sorts that we are called to “make every effort” to accomplish. We are to:

• Supplement our faith with virtue

• Supplement our virtue with knowledge

• Supplement our knowledge with self-control

• Supplement our self-control with steadfastness

• Supplement our steadfastness with godliness

• Supplement our godliness with brotherly affection

• Supplement our brotherly affection with Love

• Let's look at a few definitions to understand each of these qualities we are to practice:

• Virtue  - moral excellence, virtuous course of thought, feeling and action

• Knowledge - intelligence, understanding, deeper and enlarged knowledge

• Self-Control - temperance, the virtue of one who masters desires and  passions

• Steadfastness - constancy, endurance, patience, sustaining

• Godliness - reverence, respect, piety towards God

• Brotherly Affection - fraternal love, kindness, love of brothers/sisters

• Love - agape, charity, affection, good will

Again, think about it as a Spiritual Health Plan that can be applied to your life right now!

CONCLUSION:

Here is the deal…  If you receive a diagnosis from your doctor that you need to change your habits, diet, etc. in order to achieve better health, or prevent serious disease/illness - you have a choice to make.  

You can continue on with what you want to do/eat, unwilling to let go of those temporary satisfactions OR you can choose to implement a healthier plan.  

It requires a change of perspective - those things that you ran to for quick and easy satisfaction now become distasteful and unfulfilling to you.  You replace those with high nutrient, high energy choices to transform you and maximize your health.  

How much more important is this when we are looking to choose our eternal path?  Our worldly assets (status, security, comfort, ease) will become eternal liabilities (unfruitful, lacking faith, selfishness, etc..) that have eternal consequences -life with God or separation from God. 

Today’s Scriptures:

Phil 3:7-8

2 Pet 1:2-4

2 Pet 1:5-11

Thoughts/Questions To Consider:

What are some things that we “gain” in life that do not “satisfy” like we thought they would?

What are some practical steps you can take to supplement your faith with virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection and love?