Faith Virtue Knowledge Self-ControlPerseverance Godliness Brotherly Kindness Love A “Well-Rounded” Christian 2 Peter 1:5-11 “Love”Speaker: Brent Horne A “Well-Rounded” Christian (2 Peter 1:5-11) Faith Virtue Knowledge Self-ControlPerseverance Godliness Brotherly Kindness Love

Faith Virtue Knowledge Self-ControlPerseverance Godliness Brotherly Kindness Love A “Well-Rounded” Christian 2 Peter 1:5-11 We have studied seven pieces of the pie thus far: Faith – the foundation of all virtues Virtue – moral courage to be faithful Knowledge – a working understanding of God’s Word

Faith Virtue Knowledge Self-ControlPerseverance Godliness Brotherly Kindness Love A “Well-Rounded” Christian 2 Peter 1:5-11 We have studied seven pieces of the pie thus far: Self Control – being a master over all our desires and wants Perseverance – committed endurance to the end

Faith Virtue Knowledge Self-ControlPerseverance Godliness Brotherly Kindness Love A “Well-Rounded” Christian 2 Peter 1:5-11 We have studied seven pieces of the pie thus far: Godliness – becoming more like God Brotherly Kindness – thoughtfulness toward other believers

Faith Virtue Knowledge Self-ControlPerseverance Godliness Brotherly Kindness Love A “Well-Rounded” Christian 2 Peter 1:5-11 The final piece is: LOVE

Faith Virtue Knowledge Self-ControlPerseverance Godliness Brotherly Kindness Love A “Well-Rounded” Christian 2 Peter 1:5-11 Love is misunderstood by most.  Consider how our society uses the word love:  I love chocolate.  I love my parents.  I love my wife.  I love my neighbor.

Faith Virtue Knowledge Self-ControlPerseverance Godliness Brotherly Kindness Love A “Well-Rounded” Christian 2 Peter 1:5-11 Love is misunderstood by most.  These are all legitimate uses of the word, but:  I don’t love chocolate in the same way that I love my neighbor.  And, I don’t love my parents in the same way that I love my wife.

Faith Virtue Knowledge Self-ControlPerseverance Godliness Brotherly Kindness Love A “Well-Rounded” Christian 2 Peter 1:5-11 Love is misunderstood by most.  However, there is a kind of love that I must learn to have toward my neighbor, my parents and even my wife.  If I don’t, I will have problems in my relationships.  Most importantly, I will not be pleasing to God.

Faith Virtue Knowledge Self-ControlPerseverance Godliness Brotherly Kindness Love A “Well-Rounded” Christian 2 Peter 1:5-11 The Love of 2 Peter 1:7  Two words that can be translated “love.”  Phileo  Translated brotherly kindness in this passage.  What we just finished considering.  The special affection or fondness that is felt.  It is not the same “love” we are discussing now.

Faith Virtue Knowledge Self-ControlPerseverance Godliness Brotherly Kindness Love A “Well-Rounded” Christian 2 Peter 1:5-11 The Love of 2 Peter 1:7  Two words that can be translated “love.”  Agape  “Christian love, whether exercised toward brethren or toward men generally, is not an impulse from the feelings, it does not always run with the natural inclinations, nor does it spend itself only upon those for whom some affinity is discovered.”

Faith Virtue Knowledge Self-ControlPerseverance Godliness Brotherly Kindness Love A “Well-Rounded” Christian 2 Peter 1:5-11 The Love of 2 Peter 1:7  Two words that can be translated “love.”  Agape  “Love can only be known by actions it prompts.”  God’s gift of His Son “was an exercise of the Divine will in deliberate choice, made without assignable cause save that which lies in the nature of God Himself.”

Faith Virtue Knowledge Self-ControlPerseverance Godliness Brotherly Kindness Love A “Well-Rounded” Christian 2 Peter 1:5-11 God, our Great Example  God is Love – I John 4:16  It is the very essence of the character of God  God’s character defines what love really is!

Faith Virtue Knowledge Self-ControlPerseverance Godliness Brotherly Kindness Love A “Well-Rounded” Christian 2 Peter 1:5-11 Meter standard:

Faith Virtue Knowledge Self-ControlPerseverance Godliness Brotherly Kindness Love A “Well-Rounded” Christian 2 Peter 1:5-11 God, our Great Example  God is Love – I John 4:16  It is the very essence of the character of God.  God’s character defines what love really is!  We then cannot define nor understand what agape love is without first understanding God’s example.

Faith Virtue Knowledge Self-ControlPerseverance Godliness Brotherly Kindness Love A “Well-Rounded” Christian 2 Peter 1:5-11 God, our Great Example  God so Loved – John 3:16  God has shown His love for us in so many wonderful ways.  Created us in His image.  Put us in a beautiful world.  Gave us all we need to sustain us.

Faith Virtue Knowledge Self-ControlPerseverance Godliness Brotherly Kindness Love A “Well-Rounded” Christian 2 Peter 1:5-11 God, our Great Example  God so Loved – John 3:16  But God loved in such a way that He gave His only Son  Notice that He gave His Son. The Son was not taken from the Father.  He gave of Himself.

Faith Virtue Knowledge Self-ControlPerseverance Godliness Brotherly Kindness Love A “Well-Rounded” Christian 2 Peter 1:5-11 God, our Great Example  While We Were Yet Sinners – Romans 5:8  He did not give His Son because I had been so good.  I had not been good to Him.  I did not cause God to have a warm, fuzzy feeling toward me.

Faith Virtue Knowledge Self-ControlPerseverance Godliness Brotherly Kindness Love A “Well-Rounded” Christian 2 Peter 1:5-11 God, our Great Example  While We Were Yet Sinners – Romans 5:8  My life was not worthy of His sacrifice.  God’s gift of His Son “was an exercise of the Divine will in deliberate choice, made without assignable cause save that which lies in the nature of God Himself.”

Faith Virtue Knowledge Self-ControlPerseverance Godliness Brotherly Kindness Love A “Well-Rounded” Christian 2 Peter 1:5-11 Evidences of Love – I Corinthians 13:1-8  What Love Is:  Patient  Kind  Rejoices with the truth  Bears all things  Believes all things

Faith Virtue Knowledge Self-ControlPerseverance Godliness Brotherly Kindness Love A “Well-Rounded” Christian 2 Peter 1:5-11 Evidences of Love – I Corinthians 13:1-8  What Love Is:  Hopes all things  Endures all things  Has no end

Faith Virtue Knowledge Self-ControlPerseverance Godliness Brotherly Kindness Love A “Well-Rounded” Christian 2 Peter 1:5-11 Evidences of Love – I Corinthians 13:1-8  What Love Is Not:  Jealous  Boastful  Arrogant  Acting unbecomingly  Seeking its own

Faith Virtue Knowledge Self-ControlPerseverance Godliness Brotherly Kindness Love A “Well-Rounded” Christian 2 Peter 1:5-11 Evidences of Love – I Corinthians 13:1-8  What Love Is Not:  Easily provoked  Taking into account a wrong suffered  Rejoicing in unrighteousness  “Love can only be known by the actions it prompts.”

Faith Virtue Knowledge Self-ControlPerseverance Godliness Brotherly Kindness Love A “Well-Rounded” Christian 2 Peter 1:5-11 Love will affect my relationships  If I am to love as God loves:  Can I choose to be unkind to someone who gets on my nerves?  Can I be joyful when someone else stumbles?  Do I have the right to expect that you will disappoint me?

Faith Virtue Knowledge Self-ControlPerseverance Godliness Brotherly Kindness Love A “Well-Rounded” Christian 2 Peter 1:5-11 Love will affect my relationships  If I am to love as God loves:  Should I hold a grudge?  Can I give up?  Will I be sure that my interests are taken care of first?

Faith Virtue Knowledge Self-ControlPerseverance Godliness Brotherly Kindness Love A “Well-Rounded” Christian 2 Peter 1:5-11 Love will affect my relationships  If I love as God loves, it will change my relationship with:  God – Matthew 22:34-40; John 14:15  Parents – Ephesians 6:1-2  Brethren – John 13:34-35

Faith Virtue Knowledge Self-ControlPerseverance Godliness Brotherly Kindness Love A “Well-Rounded” Christian 2 Peter 1:5-11 Love will affect my relationships  If I love as God loves, it will change my relationship with:  My spouse – Ephesians 5:25  Friends in the world – I Thessalonians 3:12  Enemies – Matthew 5:44

Faith Virtue Knowledge Self-ControlPerseverance Godliness Brotherly Kindness Love A “Well-Rounded” Christian 2 Peter 1:5-11 Once I have mastered this virtue, I will have become a “well-rounded” Christian. Without this virtue, I am nothing. I Corinthians 13:1-3