THREE ESSENTIALS FOR

PERSEVERANCE IN THE
FAITH
2 PETER 3:17-18
It’s easy to begin
well, but we must
persevere in our
growth in order to
bear fruit.
 WHY MUST
WE
PERSEVERE?
 So that we will not be
swayed by wrong beliefs
 So that we will experience
and be full of God’s grace
 So that we will share in
God’s glory in the end
To persevere as Christians,
we must guard ourselves
from spiritual error, grow
in the grace and
knowledge of Jesus Christ,
and live to glorify Him.
 I.
WE MUST
GUARD
OURSELVES
FROM
SPIRITUAL
ERROR
(2Pet. 3:17)
SOME SPIRITUAL ERRORS:
 “All religions lead to one
God.” (TRUTH: Jn.14:6)
 “We serve God so that we
can get what we want.”
(TRUTH: Lk.9:23-24)
 “If you are doing good
deeds and are not hurting
anybody, you will go to
Heaven.” (TRUTH: Isa.64:6)
a) We must
feed
ourselves
with the
Truth
(Jn. 6:27, 35)
b) We must
arm
ourselves
with the
Truth
(Eph. 6:17)
Being on guard will
keep you from being
tossed around by every
wind of doctrine (Eph.
4:14) and will enable
you to grow.
 II.
WE MUST GROW IN
THE GRACE &
KNOWLEDGE OF
OUR LORD AND
SAVIOR JESUS
CHRIST (2Pet. 3:18a)
Growth depends on
life.
Growth is a necessity,
not an option.
Growth is gradual,
not instantaneous.
Growth is difficult,
not easy.
a) We must
grow in the
grace of our
Lord & Savior
Jesus Christ
(2Pet. 3:18a)
To grow in grace,
you must esteem
yourself less, but
esteem Christ
more!
b) We must grow
in the knowledge
of our Lord &
Savior Jesus
Christ (2Pet.
3:18a)
The knowledge of our
Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ comes from
Christ as we grow in
obedience to Him.
III.
WE MUST
LIVE TO
GLORIFY
JESUS CHRIST
(2Pet. 3:18b)
a) Our aim in
growing in grace is
not so that we can
feel happier or
more fulfilled or
more significant
(Eph. 2:8-10)
b) Our lives
should exalt
Christ, so that
through us others
may see how
great He truly is
(Jn. 3:30-31)
Christ didn’t give
His life for us just to
start the Christian
life. He gave His life
so that we would
finish it and finish it
well.