Fruitful Growth in the Faith

"For if these are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (II Peter 1:8).

Now I know you are probably thinking "what things" is she talking about? I'm talking about virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance or patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and love (II Peter 1: 5-7). If these things are yours and abound you will be fruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. II Peter 1:9 says that if we lack these things we are shortsighted or blind and that we have forgotten that we were cleansed from our old sins. Notice he is writing to believers. He isn't talking about losing our salvation or an issue of unbelief, but he says "we have forgotten that were were cleansed from our old sins."

C. John Miller, who is now with the Lord, began New Life Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia in 1974. He had a heart for Christians to understand the grace that has been given to them through the gospel. He started World Harvest in 1983. This movement was primarily for us to focus on the power of the gospel and it's leading us to constant renewal as believers. You see, we do forget that were were cleansed from our old sins. Peter knew that. When we forget that were were sinners, cleansed by the blood of Christ and His sacrifice for us, we become "ho hum" in our walk with Christ. In other words, barren or useless.

If you are feeling "dry" and "ho-hum" in your walk with Christ maybe you need to be renewed in your understanding of the gospel and what God has done for you in Christ. If we are in Christ, we have been cleansed from our sins and we must not forget that.

Peter is preparing Christians to deal with false teachers and their destructive doctrines. Understanding the gospel of grace and forgiveness is the only way to fight the trials that are sure to come your way. We celebrated Easter yesterday. Let us celebrate it every day by remembering that we have been cleansed from our old sins.