Does Your Faith Have Anything to Show?

“Godliness” can sound like a church word until you realize it’s meant to shape your choices when nobody’s watching. We continue the Truth In A World Of Error series with Dr. Timothy Mann in 2 Peter 1, walking through what it means to be a knowing and growing follower of Jesus Christ. We talk about godliness as practical godlikeness, why brotherly kindness matters in real community, and why agape love goes even further by loving in spite of differences.

Then we get honest about the source of real Christian character. Peter’s list is not a self-improvement plan for disciplined people; it’s a picture of what the Holy Spirit produces in believers who share in the divine nature and lean on God’s precious promises. Along the way, we challenge a quiet danger in the church: imitation. Christlikeness is not copying a famous Christian personality. God reproduces the image of His Son in us without erasing our uniqueness, bringing our strengths under His control instead of letting “unguarded strengths” become double weaknesses.

We also answer a question that sits underneath so many doubts: how can I know I’m truly growing spiritually? Peter gives evidences that show up in daily life, including fruitfulness that flows from character, spiritual vision that looks beyond our own cocoon, and security that walks with confidence in Christ. We draw a sharp line between profession and progression, and we explain why assurance of salvation is strengthened by consistent growth, not just a past moment.

If this encouraged you, subscribe and share Foundations of Truth, and leave a review so more people can find clear Bible teaching that helps them understand Scripture and apply it to everyday life.

Transcript

Foundations And Series Introduction

SPEAKER_00 0:00

You're looking at the foundations of truth. The Bible-teaching ministry of Dr. Timothy Mann. Our mission is to help you build your life on the unshakable foundation of God's Word. Rooted in Scripture, anchored in the grace of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Dr. Timothy Mann opens the Bible to bring clarity, conviction, and encouragement for everyday life. Today on Foundations of Truth, we continue our series, Truth in a World of Error, with the second part of the message: Knowing and Growing as a Follower of Jesus. Let's join Dr. Timothy Mann now as he brings us that message from 2 Peter chapter 1.

Godliness And Two Kinds Of Love

SPEAKER_01 0:37

Godliness, verse 6, godliness. That simply means godlikeness. Godlikeness. In the original Greek, this word meant to worship well. To worship well. It describes the person who is in a right relationship with God and with his fellow man. Perhaps the word reverence or piety come closer to defining this term. It's the quality of character that makes this person distinctive. He or she kind of lives above the petty things of life, the passions and the pleasures that control everybody else. You seek to do God's will and you seek the welfare of others, godliness. And I think sometimes we get the idea in our own minds, and we certainly present it to other people by the way we act sometimes that godliness is an impractical thing. When in reality it's very practical. It's a very practical thing because the godly person, to use that term, that the way the Bible uses it, makes the kind of decisions that are right. Makes the kind of decisions that are noble. You don't take the easy path just to avoid either pain or trial. In other words, you do what is right because it's right. We don't always bat a thousand at that. He says, brotherly kindness. This is a virtue that Peter must have acquired the hard way, because if you read the Gospels at all, you'll know that the disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ, they often debated and disagreed with each other. They had a hard time with that sometimes. But if we love the Lord Jesus Christ, we must love the brethren and the sister. We have to. That's part of how it works. We practice, as he said in 1 Peter chapter 1, we practice an unfeigned love of the brethren, a sincere love of the brethren. The fact that we love our brothers and sisters, according to the Apostle John, the fact that we love our brothers and sisters in Christ is one of the evidences that we have been born of God. That's one of the ways that we can be identified. But not only that, verse 7, end of verse 7. There's more to Christian growth than just brotherly love. There also has to be the sacrificial love that our Lord displayed when he went to the cross. This word that we have translated love right here is the word agape. It's the kind of love, it's the kind of charity, if you will, that God shows toward lost sinners. It's the kind of love that's described in 1 Corinthians chapter 13. It's the kind of love that the Holy Spirit produces in our hearts as we walk in the Spirit. And as we have brotherly love, then we love because of our likenesses with each other. If we have brotherly love. But if we have agape love, we love in spite of our differences with each other. That's the difference.

Spirit-Grown Character And True Uniqueness

SPEAKER_01 3:23

It's absolutely impossible. I want to tell you, this list that you've seen right here this morning that I've just quickly gone over, I could have spent a lot of time on each one, but didn't want to do that today. This list of characteristics that we have just surveyed, you need to know it is impossible for fallen human nature to manufacture these seven qualities of Christian character. Can't be done. Can't be done. They must be produced by the Spirit of God. And to be sure, there are unsaved people who possess amazing self-control, possess amazing endurance. But the thing about that is this those virtues point to them and not to the Lord. That's the difference. That's the difference. When you see an unsaved person who has those kinds of things, you admire that person. You think, man, look at the kind of person they are. But when there's a Christian that's really demonstrating these things because of the divine nature that's in them, the glory goes to the Lord. When God produces the beautiful nature of his son in a Christian, it's God who receives the praise and the glory. And because we have this divine nature, we can grow spiritually and we can develop Christian character. It's through the power of God, and it's the precious promises of God that this growth takes place. But this divine genetic structure is already there. See, it's already God's will for you to be conformed to the image of His Son. It's His predestined plan for you, according to Romans 8, 29. And so the life within will reproduce the image if we will but diligently cooperate with God and use the means that He lavishly gives us. These means of grace. And the amazing thing is this this is really a neat thing to consider. As the image of Christ is reproduced in us as a follower of Jesus Christ, that process does not destroy our own personalities. You're still you. In all of your magnificent you-ness. You're still you. If I could remember the quote from Dr. Seuss, I'd say it right now. There's no other you but you. And that's true. We still remain uniquely ourselves. The beauty of it is, is those characteristics about our personality that when we're not saved, that uh kind of go off toward a sinful path. You know, those strengths of your personality that can really become a weakness. I like to say sometimes an unguarded strength is a double weakness. And it is. What happens is the Holy Spirit of God takes those characteristics of how you're made and brings them under control of his power and his presence, but you're still you. And that's a wonderful thing. I think one of the dangers of the church today is imitation. Uh people have a tendency to want to become like some sort of famous Christian on TV or some leader. Uh and all that does, if you try to do that, all that does is that destroys your own uniqueness while failing to become like Jesus. People in ministry, especially teachers and pastors early on, I'm not saying it's nothing wrong with having models and mentors. We should, we need to learn. But you're you. You're just you. Enjoy that, embrace that, and be yourself. Be who you are. Because if you don't, you're gonna lose both ways. You're never gonna be able to be like that person, and you're not gonna be like Jesus either. You're just gonna be a confused mess and end up probably having to go have therapy somewhere. I don't know. You're gonna have problems. And just as a child in a family resembles their parents, resembles their parents, they're different. Each is different, and so each child in God's family comes more and more to resemble Jesus Christ, but yet you're different. And parents don't duplicate themselves, they reproduce themselves. There's a big difference in that. And I want to tell you, wise parents, wise parents permit their children to be themselves.

Evidence Of Growth: Fruitful Living

SPEAKER_01 7:38

Well, thirdly, so the Christian life begins with faith. Your genuine faith produces spiritual growth. But thirdly, your spiritual growth brings practical results. That's what verses 11 through 8, 8 through 11 is all about. Your spiritual growth brings practical results. Here's a question I want to ask you. If you're a believer in here this morning, how can you be certain that you're growing spiritually? How can you be certain that you're growing spiritually? Your church attendance? Maybe. Maybe not. A lot of spiritually immature people attend church. Reading your Bible. You're probably coming up with all kinds of ideas. How can you be certain that you're growing spiritually? Well, the apostle Peter here gives three evidences of true spiritual growth. Verse 8. He says, For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. The first characteristic is fruitfulness. Fruitfulness. Now, Christian character is an end in itself. I'll tell you that. But it is also a means to an end. And by the way, those of you who come from a very uh maybe doing oriented kind of background, religiously, churchly, church-wise, or maybe in a very evangelistic background. Anytime you hear the word fruit, one of the things, if you're in that mode, the default your mind goes to is that means winning souls. That's not what this scripture said at all. It's not about producing a decision out of somebody. That's not bearing fruit. That's not producing fruit. Verse 5 through 7 was all about the kind of person you are in the Lord Jesus Christ. He says, if you have these things, you're not going to be barren. You're not going to be unfruitful. So, yes, it starts with Christian character. That's an end in and of itself, but it's also a means to an end. The more we become more like Jesus Christ, the more then the Spirit can use us in witness and in service. Because here's the thing: the growing believer is not idle. But the believer who is not growing is idle or barren. That's the word that's used here. It means idle and unfruitful. Your knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ is producing nothing practical in your life. The word that's translated barren here or idle also means ineffective. The people who fail to grow fail usually in every other area of their life. Over the 20 plus years now that I've been a pastor, some of the most effective Christians I've ever seen are those without dramatic talents, those without special abilities, or even the most exciting personalities. You know? Wouldn't want to necessarily put them on stage because they're not all that charismatic. But some of the most effective Christians, those are the ones that God uses oftentimes in a marvelous way. Why? Because they're becoming more and more like Jesus Christ. That's why. They have the kind of character, they have the kind of conduct that God can trust with blessing. And they're fruitful because they're faithful. Not because they're talented, not because they're gifted. They're effective because they're growing in their Christian experience. And these beautiful qualities of character, they do exist within us as we possess the divine nature, but we have to cultivate them in order to increase and produce fruit through our lives. Now, what kind of fruit does this produce? Or what kind of what are the evidences? Fruitfulness is one. Verse 8. The evidences of spiritual growth, these practical things.

Evidence Of Growth: Clear Spiritual Vision

SPEAKER_01 11:45

Verse 9 is vision. Vision. For he who lacks these things is short-sighted, even to blindness. And he has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Now, nutritionists tell us that diet certainly can affect vision, and it's especially true in the spiritual realm. Because the unsaved person's in the dark. Why? Because Satan's blinded his mind. And a person has to be born again before his eyes can be opened and you can see the kingdom of God. You have to be born again. But after our eyes are opened, it's important that we increase our vision and we see all that God wants us to see. This phrase being short-sighted, or in the Old Kingdom, says you cannot see a far off. That's the idea of somebody closing their eyes or squinting your eyes, unable to see at a distance. That's me without the help of contacts or glasses. All right? If I didn't have my contacts in right now, you'd just be a big blur. Small blur. I don't know, whatever, you know. Nothing personal. See, here's the deal. There are some Christians who can only see their own church, they only see their own denomination. And they fail to see the greatness of God's family around the world. Some believers see the needs at home, but they have no vision for a lost world. Someone asked Phillips Brooks one time what he would do to revive a dead church. This is what he said. He said, I'd preach a missionary sermon and I'd take up a collection. Jesus admonished his disciples. He said, Lift up your eyes and look on the fields. Why? Because they're white for the harvest. Some churches today are like the church at Laodicea. They're proud, that they're rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing, but they do not realize that they're wretched and blind and miserable and poor and naked. It is a tragedy to be spiritually nearsighted, but it's even a greater tragedy to be blind. Near blindness. We forget what God has done for us. We'll not be excited to share Christ with anybody else. He said, You've forgotten his sins. He was cleansed from his old sins. Forgotten. He was cleansed from his old sins. Through the blood of Jesus Christ, we've been purged and we've been forgiven. That's what he's done for us. God has opened our eyes, and we don't need to forget what he's done. Instead, we need to cultivate gratitude in our hearts and sharpen our spiritual vision. The fact is that life is too brief and the needs of our world are too great for God's people to be walking around with their eyes closed and just concerned with my own little cocoon, my class, my church, my denomination, whatever it is. We need to have vision. And see, genuine spiritual growth produces vision. It produces fruitfulness and it produces vision.

Ministry Support And How To Give

SPEAKER_00 14:48

Thank you for joining us today for Foundations of Truth, the biblical teaching ministry of Dr. Timothy Mann. The message you're hearing today is possible because listeners like you believe in the importance of faithful biblical teaching. At Foundations of Truth, our desire is to help people know what God's Word says, understand what it means, and apply its truth to the realities of everyday life. If you'd like to help us continue this work, we invite you to prayerfully consider supporting this ministry with a financial gift. Your generosity helps us bring the clear teaching of scripture to more listeners and encourages believers to stand firm upon the truth of God's word. You can give securely today at foundationsoftruth.net. That's foundationsoftruth.net. And thank you for your prayers, your encouragement, and your faithful partnership with Foundations of Truth. Now let's return to today's message with Dr. Timothy Mann.

SPEAKER_01 15:40

Genuine

Evidence Of Growth: Secure Assurance

SPEAKER_01 15:41

spiritual growth produces vision. It produces fruitfulness and it produces vision. But not only that, it produces security. Security. Verses 10 and 11. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never stumble. For so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Now, if you walk around with your eyes closed, you're going to stumble. I dare you try to walk out this building today after church is over in just a few minutes with your eyes closed. See how far you get. See if you can even get to your car. That's not going to happen. You're going to trip, you're going to fall, there's going to be difficulties. But the growing Christian walks with confidence. Why? Because you know you're secure in Christ. You know this. Now, let me just clear something. Let me just clear the air. It is not your profession of faith that guarantees that you're saved. I don't care how many church aisles you've walked, I don't care how many prayers you've prayed, I don't care how many trips you took to the creek or the baptistry. It is not your profession of faith that guarantees that you're saved. We've done a horrible misjustice to our American culture today. I can't tell you the times I've gone out and visited with folks and tried to share the gospel with people, and there's no evidence. They've had no interest in the things of God. They've not darkened the door of a church in 30 years. They live no life that even resembles the life of a Christian, and you share the gospel with them, and you get to a place where you're hoping to call for response, and they say, Oh, yeah, I've already done that. Your profession of faith, praying a prayer, is not what guarantees that you're saved. It is your progression in the faith that gives you assurance. That's what Peter said here. It's your progression in the faith. The person who claims to be a child of God, but whose character and conduct gives no evidence of spiritual growth, is deceiving himself or herself and is heading for judgment. It's interesting, verse 10. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure.

Calling Election And Heaven’s Abundant Welcome

SPEAKER_01 18:11

Peter points out here that calling and election go together. The same God who elects his people also ordains the means to call them. These two go together. As the Apostle Paul wrote in to the Thessalonians, he wrote, God has from the beginning chosen you to salvation, whereunto he called you by the gospel. He called you by the gospel. Those of you who have some spiritual or some theological underpinnings and a little bit of understanding about theology that's revealed in God's Word, I want to say something to you and hopefully you'll hear it. Those of you who don't have a clue what I'm talking about, don't worry about it. This isn't for you, all right? Listen to me very carefully. Those of you who have some understanding about the theological truth of God's word, I want you to hear this clearly. We do not preach election to unsaved people. We preach the gospel. We preach the gospel. But God uses that gospel to call sinners to repentance. And then, you know what the wonderful reality is then that takes place? Then those sinners discover that they were chosen by God as they grow. That's what happens. Let me tell you something else. We can get off on a ditch in some of this stuff if we're not careful. Peter also points out that election is no excuse for spiritual immaturity or for the lack of effort in the Christian life. Very clear about that. Some believers say, well, whatever's going to be, is going to be. So there's nothing we can do about it. Did you see what Peter said? Verse 10, therefore, brethren, be even more diligent. Be more diligent. Does that say that Peter does not believe in the sovereignty of God? Does that say that he doesn't believe in the providence of God? No. He said, make every effort. Make every effort to make your calling and election sure. He uses this same verb in 2 Peter 1, verse 5. And while it is absolutely true that God must work in us before we can do his will, it is also true that we must be willing for God to work in us and we must cooperate with him. Listen carefully. Those of you who hold to the doctrines of grace and are so embracing of those, and I thank God for his grace. I affirm the truth of God's grace, I affirm his calling and his sovereignty. But divine election must never be an excuse for human laziness. And that you have no responsibility before God. You do. He said, be diligent. Make every effort. Why? Because the Christian who is sure of his election and his calling, look what he says, will never stumble. And you'll prove by a consistent life that you're truly a child of God. That's the key. You're not always going to be on the mountaintop. You're going to fall, you're going to stumble, you're going to sin. Sometimes you'll fall into sin, even. God help us when that happens. But you won't stay there. You'll start climbing again. Why? He says, if we do these things, if we do these things, if we display Christian growth and character, it's then we can be sure that we're converted and we'll one day be in heaven. In fact, he says the growing Christian, verse 11. Some of you are saying, Thank God, he's at verse 11. Look what he says. He said, You can look forward to an abundance entrance into the eternal. Kingdom. An abundant entrance. The Greeks use this phrase to describe the welcome given to Olympic winners when they return home. Hey, picture this. Every believer, every believer, when you arrive in heaven, someday, friend, you're going to have a glorious welcome. And some are going to have a more glorious welcome than others. Alas, some believers are going to be, as he says in 1 Corinthians 3.15, they shall be saved, yet so as by fire. 1 Corinthians 3.15, read that. It'll be supplied to you, it'll be ministered to you. Verse 11. That's a word that means to bear the expenses of a chorus. And when the Greek theatrical groups presented their dramas, somebody had to underwrite those expenses, which were very great. It's a word that means to make uh lavish provision. If we make lavish provision to grow spiritually, then God is going to make lavish provision for us when we enter heaven. Just think about this. Just think of the blessings that the growing Christian actually enjoys. Fruitfulness, vision, security and heaven's best. All this in heaven on top of that. The Christian life begins with faith. That faith must be leading to spiritual growth. If it doesn't lead to spiritual growth, it's dead faith. And according to the Bible, according to the Word of God, James chapter 2, dead faith is not saving faith. Faith leads to growth, and growth leads to practical results in life and service. And people who have this kind of Christian experience are not likely to fall prey to apostate, false teachers, and won't get duped by error, which we're going to begin talking about as we move ahead through this chapter.

Closing Questions And Helpful Resources

SPEAKER_01 23:51

Are you a knowing and growing Christian? A follower of Jesus? Has your Christian life been started by faith? Is that genuine faith producing spiritual growth? And is that spiritual growth producing practical results? That's the essence of what Peter said this morning through the power of the Holy Spirit. I pray it's so in your life.

SPEAKER_00 24:09

Thank you for joining us today for Foundations of Truth, the biblical teaching ministry of Dr. Timothy Mann. If you'd like to hear this message again or get more biblical resources, or you'd like to give a financial gift, you can do so at foundationsoftruth.net. That's foundationsoftruth.net. We hope you'll join us next time as Foundations of Truth continues the series Truth in a World of Error. Until then, may God richly bless you as you walk faithfully with Christ. Foundations of Truth with Dr. Timothy Mann is supported in part by Luther Rice College and Seminary, equipping men and women for ministry through biblically faithful theological education. As a leader in online learning, we are grateful for their partnership in helping carry biblical truth farther. We're thankful for AMN Plumbing, a local ministry partner serving the Ormond Beach, Daytona Beach, Fort Orange, New Smyrna Beach, and surrounding areas with dependable plumbing service. Their support helps make Foundations of Truth available to more listeners each week. Foundations of Truth with Dr. Timothy Mann is supported in part by Cat Care Clinic, located in Ormond Beach, and serving families with thoughtful and compassionate veterinary care for cats. We're grateful for their partnership in helping carry biblical truth farther.

SPEAKER_01 25:24

Before we close today, I want to tell you about a resource that I believe will be a genuine help to you. I've recently published my first book, Saved, Understanding God's Work in Us. In over 30 years of pastoral ministry, one of the questions I've encountered more than almost any other is this How can I know that I am truly saved? It is a question that deserves a careful, biblical answer. And that is exactly what this book is designed to give. You can find it on Amazon, Barnes Noble, and Books a Million, and pretty much anywhere you buy books. I pray it strengthens your faith. Thanks for being with us today. God bless you.