El crecimiento Espiritual de los discípulos de Cristo | Jhon Díaz | Ayuno Dominical

Growth in Spirituality: Insights from 2 Peter 1:1-15

Introduction to the Passage

• The speaker introduces the topic by referencing 2 Peter 1:1-15, emphasizing the importance of spiritual growth and obedience to pastoral guidance.

• Acknowledges a commitment to preach at another location after this session, highlighting the urgency and dedication to ministry.

Key Themes in Spiritual Growth

Divine Resources for Growth

• The passage begins with an affirmation that believers have received a precious faith through God's righteousness, which is essential for spiritual development.

• Emphasizes that God has provided everything necessary for life and godliness through knowledge of Him, indicating a strong connection between understanding scripture and personal growth.

Characteristics of a Fruitful Life

• Lists virtues that should be added to faith: virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love; these are crucial for avoiding spiritual stagnation.

• Warns that lacking these qualities leads to blindness and forgetfulness regarding one's purification from past sins. This serves as a call to action for believers to actively cultivate their faith.

Assurance of Salvation

Importance of Diligence

• Encourages believers to make their calling and election sure by practicing these virtues diligently; doing so ensures they will never stumble or fall away from grace.

• Highlights the promise of an abundant entrance into Christ's eternal kingdom as motivation for maintaining spiritual vigilance.

Apostolic Authority and Reminder

Role of Apostolic Teaching

• The speaker stresses the importance of apostolic teaching as not merely fables but rooted in real experiences (e.g., transfiguration), reinforcing the credibility of scripture amidst false teachings.

• Mentions Peter’s intention to remind believers about these truths continually until his departure from this life, underscoring the urgency of remembering foundational teachings even after his passing.

Conclusion on Spiritual Growth

Call for Reflection

• Concludes with a prayer asking God for help in understanding His word better so that believers can grow spiritually without being blind or unfruitful in their walk with Christ. This reflects a deep reliance on divine assistance in personal growth efforts.

Understanding Faith and Divine Power

The Role of Faith in Salvation

• Faith is activated through the preaching of the Gospel, as it comes from hearing the Word of God. This faith encompasses doctrines received from prophets and apostles, as noted in Jude's letter about "the faith that was once delivered to the saints."

The Nature of Faith and Its Source

• Our faith is not based on personal merit or human initiative but is a gift given through the righteousness of Jesus Christ. This foundational aspect equips believers for spiritual growth.

Peace Through Knowledge of God

• Believers experience genuine peace through knowing God via Jesus Christ, which is emphasized by Peter who states that grace and peace are multiplied through this knowledge. This peace stems from a personal encounter with Christ during salvation.

Divine Power for a Godly Life

• According to scripture, divine power has been granted to us for living a godly life, encompassing all things related to life and piety. This power enables believers to live righteously before God, highlighting that only those who know Christ can access this divine capability.

The Importance of Knowing Christ

• A true relationship with Christ is essential; without it, one cannot lead a life pleasing to God. The analogy of building on sand illustrates how superficial faith collapses under pressure if not rooted in genuine knowledge of Christ.

The Promises Given to Believers

Participation in Divine Nature

• Believers are made partakers of God's divine nature and receive precious promises through their relationship with Christ. These promises are exclusive to God's children and require belief in Jesus for access.

Conditions for Receiving Promises

• Non-believers cannot claim God's promises; they must first believe in Christ and repent to gain access to eternal life and other spiritual benefits such as living a holy life empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Unity within the Body of Christ

• All believers who have been saved are united into the body of Christ; those outside this body do not belong to His church or possess salvation according to biblical teachings about being "in Christ."

Visible vs Invisible Church

• There exists a distinction between the visible church (denominations we see) and the invisible church (true believers). Only those truly born again belong to this invisible church regardless of denominational affiliation.

The Nature of the Invisible Church

Understanding the Invisible Church

• The invisible church consists of those who are saved and known only to Christ, as they are part of His body.

• Many will be left behind during the rapture because they have not experienced personal salvation or been part of Christ's body.

Divine Promises and Participation in God's Nature

• Believers are made participants in God's divine nature through promises, receiving faith, peace, and divine power.

• The presence of God's seed within believers prevents them from practicing sin; this is linked to having the Holy Spirit.

Transformation Through New Nature

• True believers experience a transformation that leads them to feel sorrow for sin rather than delighting in it. Those who return to worldly ways may never have been truly born again.

• Peter warns against false teachers by illustrating that those who revert to their old sinful ways were never genuinely transformed.

Metaphor of Transformation

• A metaphor is used where a wolf (representing a sinner) must be transformed into a sheep (representing a believer) to change its nature and desires towards Godly things.

• This transformation allows believers to love holiness and reject sin, aligning with God's nature.

Spiritual Growth: Diligence Required

Escaping Corruption

• Believers with Christ's nature escape worldly corruption due to their new identity in Him; they leave behind their former lives.

Elements for Spiritual Growth

• Peter emphasizes adding virtues such as knowledge, self-control, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love diligently upon receiving faith from God. Each element builds on the previous one for spiritual growth.

Importance of Knowledge

• Knowledge about God is essential for spiritual growth; without it, true growth cannot occur as understanding informs action and willpower.

Role of Effort in Faith

• Spiritual growth requires effort; laziness among believers can hinder their progress in developing these virtues effectively over time.

Understanding Spiritual Growth and Temptation

The Role of God's Word in Overcoming Temptation

• The speaker emphasizes the necessity of a sharp understanding through knowledge of the Word of God, likening it to an antivirus that cleanses the mind from errors and deceit.

• It is highlighted that falling into sin is a process rather than an instantaneous event; individuals often excuse their actions by claiming they were unaware.

• The speaker draws parallels to Adam and Eve's excuses in Eden, asserting that no one falls suddenly; it is a gradual decline influenced by neglect.

Self-Control as a Key Virtue

• Self-control is defined as the ability to abstain from temptation, illustrated with examples such as avoiding inappropriate content or interactions.

• The connection between self-control and being filled with the Holy Spirit is stressed; without spiritual guidance, individuals may succumb to impulses.

• Acknowledgment of personal struggles with self-control leads to a call for patience and understanding among believers.

Understanding Sin and Its Consequences

• All sins are recognized as wrong before God, but they carry different consequences; anger, envy, etc., are all categorized under sin.

• Patience is described as perseverance in faith despite challenges posed by false teachers questioning God's promises.

Perseverance Amidst Doubts

• False prophets challenge believers' faith by suggesting complacency regarding Christ's return; this calls for vigilance and readiness.

• The importance of waiting on Christ’s promise is reiterated alongside living righteously and justly before God.

Defining Biblical Love

• Love is distinguished from sentimentality or romanticism; biblical love involves action rather than mere feelings or emotions.

• Discipline within familial relationships reflects God's love for His children, emphasizing correction over indulgence in feelings.

Results of Obedience to Spiritual Virtues

• Peter outlines the present and future results of diligently practicing spiritual virtues, indicating that these practices lead to fruitful knowledge of Jesus Christ.

The Importance of Producing Fruit as a Believer

The Necessity of Bearing Fruit

• The speaker emphasizes that believers must produce fruit; a lack of fruit after many years is dangerous, indicating spiritual stagnation.

• True believers will inevitably bear fruit, even if some produce more than others. Jesus teaches that we recognize them by their fruits.

• Israel was tasked with spreading God's name but failed, leading to the church's role in glorifying God among nations today.

Understanding Our Identity in Christ

• Believers are described as a chosen people and royal priesthood, called to proclaim God's virtues and move from darkness to light.

• A believer who claims inactivity is likely not producing the fruits of Christ; true engagement leads to divine cleansing for greater productivity.

Overcoming Misconceptions About Scripture

• Two myths hinder believers from studying the Bible: its perceived difficulty and boredom. The speaker argues these are misconceptions rooted in disbelief and disobedience.

• The Bible is rich with valuable lessons and stories; everyone has access to it, countering the idea that only scholars can understand it.

Spiritual Health and Understanding

• Natural men cannot grasp spiritual truths; only those reborn can comprehend them due to having the Holy Spirit.

• Poor spiritual health limits understanding of scripture. As one purifies themselves spiritually, deeper insights into God's word become apparent.

Consequences of Disobedience

• Lack of obedience results in poor spiritual vision; those who do not act on their understanding remain stagnant in their faith journey.

• Peter warns that failing to grow spiritually leads to blindness—forgetting past sins—and remaining immature despite being a believer.

Understanding Spiritual Blindness and Obedience

The Nature of Forgetfulness in Faith

• The speaker discusses a spiritual condition likened to diseases like Alzheimer's or amnesia, emphasizing how believers forget God's works and become spiritually blind.

• This forgetfulness leads to a lack of obedience, indicating that those who do not remember Christ's sacrifice on the cross are neglecting its significance.

The Importance of Firmness in Faith

• The speaker warns about falling from grace, using the metaphor of dangerous roads with warning signs to illustrate the need for adherence to spiritual principles.

• Emphasizes that by following these warnings and being obedient, believers can maintain their faith without falling away until Christ returns.

Calling and Election

• Discusses the concepts of calling (vocación) and election (elección), highlighting that God has chosen His church to be holy as stated in Ephesians.

• Stresses that believers are predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ, which is central to their purpose according to Romans 8.

Salvation and Purification

• Explains that salvation encompasses both deliverance from God's wrath and freedom from sinful influences, underscoring God's interest in purification until Christ's second coming.

The Need for Constant Remembrance

• Highlights Peter’s reminder about human tendency to forget important truths; he references Isaiah 29 regarding honoring God with lips while hearts stray.

• Peter insists on continually reminding believers about their growth in faith despite their existing knowledge, stressing the importance of vigilance over one's heart.

Urgency in Admonition

• The speaker notes Peter’s sense of urgency due to his impending departure from life, urging believers not to be shortsighted or lazy but rather diligent in obedience.

• Reiterates the necessity for repeated teachings on holiness and prayer as essential reminders for spiritual growth.

Final Exhortation

• Concludes with Peter admonishing new believers about maintaining fruitful lives through obedience as he prepares for his transition into eternity.

A Call to Purity and Diligence

The Importance of Purity

• The message from 1 John emphasizes the need for believers to be pure, mirroring Christ's purity, as a preparation for His return.

• Peter stresses the urgency of this message, encouraging the church to strive diligently in their spiritual efforts.

Remembrance and Diligence

• Peter acknowledges human forgetfulness regarding spiritual truths and urges believers not to become amnesic about their faith.

• He concludes that God has equipped believers with all necessary resources—faith, peace, and divine power—to live righteously.

Assurance in God's Promises

• Peter reassures that God will fulfill His promises; if He has begun a good work in believers, He will complete it until the day of Christ.

• Emphasizes that assurance comes from being in Christ; thus, believers should actively practice virtues.

Equipping All Believers

• Peter addresses the entire church collectively, affirming that every believer has been equipped by God's grace to overcome sin.

• No believer can claim inability to study Scripture or grow spiritually because they have been endowed with divine power.

The Role of Obedience

• Obedience leads to fruitful lives; examples are given of those who diligently memorize and apply Scripture.

• A young man memorized the Sermon on the Mount by applying each verse daily before moving on to the next.

The Reality of Death and Afterlife

Facing Mortality

• Peter expresses his awareness of his impending death but remains committed to reminding others about spiritual truths.

Understanding Soul Separation

• Discusses how death involves separation of soul from body; faithful souls go to God's presence while unfaithful ones face eternal perdition.

Misconceptions About Souls After Death

• Addresses common beliefs about wandering souls; clarifies biblical teaching that souls immediately ascend or descend upon death.

Biblical Evidence for Consciousness After Death

• Cites Revelation where souls cry out for justice before God's throne as evidence of consciousness after physical death.

Example from Elisha's Miracle

• Shares an account where Elisha resurrected a boy by calling back his spirit into his body, illustrating life after death dynamics.

A Call to Diligence in Faith

The Importance of Firmness in Calling

• The speaker emphasizes the need for diligence in maintaining one's calling and election, highlighting that believers are chosen to live distinct lives dedicated to God.

• It is noted that God plays a crucial role in preserving believers as blameless, emphasizing complete sanctification rather than merely acknowledging human nature's complexity.

Working Out Salvation

• The scripture from Philippians 2:12 is referenced, indicating that while salvation is a gift, believers must actively work towards their sanctification with reverence and seriousness.

• The speaker expresses gratitude for the resources provided by God to lead a fulfilling spiritual life and grow in faith.

Spiritual Growth and Accountability

• Acknowledgment of varying levels of spiritual progress among individuals; all are encouraged to continue advancing on their spiritual journey.

• The necessity of mutual admonishment within the community is highlighted, referencing Peter’s warnings before his departure.

Facing Challenges with Divine Support

• A prayerful request for God's power to act within believers, urging them not to succumb to blindness or despair amidst worldly temptations and challenges.

• Recognition of human weaknesses and struggles against discouragement; however, assurance is given that divine support empowers believers against corruption.

Dependence on God's Presence

• Emphasis on the belief that without God's presence and help, humans cannot achieve anything meaningful for His glory.

• Concluding remarks express gratitude for God's word and encouragement for continued fellowship among believers.