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PRESERVING OUR CHRISTIAN FAITH IN THE

21ST CENTURYMaking Sure The

Christian Faith Lasts And Maintaining It In

The 21st Century2 Peter 1: 5- 11

Bro. Josiah G. Emonena

Your LogoPreserving Our Christian Faith In The 21st Century

INTRODUCTIONPreserve means - make sure something

lasts; to keep something protected from anything that would cause its current quality or condition to change or deteriorate or cause it to fall out of use; maintain something; to keep up or maintain something.

Let us not know that God’s word is relevant in every age, for if the principles are applied in every age they get the best of all results.


We are the luckiest of all generations with the advent of Information Technology – we have the Bible and Bible materials online at our finger tips. Yet this age has the worst enslaving gargets ever known to man. Consider its greatest advantage versus the greatest disadvantage.


But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to

self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither

barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is short-sighted, even to blindness,

and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11

for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1.5-11 (NKJV).


Preserving Our Christian Faith In the 21st Century we need to follow God’s formula to maintain and sustain our Christian faith in this perverse and permissive generation.HAVE FAITH IN GOD "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. John 14.1 (NKJV). Our conversion presupposes that we have faith in God.


•That we believe that God is and He is the creator of heaven and earth. •That in His power He made the earth to stands on nothing. •The God destroyed the world of Noah; He rained water on the earth for 40 days saving only eight souls. •The God Who saved Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the furnace of fire. •The God Who saved Daniel in the lion’s Den.


•The God Who raise the dead, Walked on the sea, and who raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Etc. •That His promises are sure in this life and the life to come. For our faith to be strong we need to add the supplements that will make for healthy spiritual living. Now we must add spiritual supplements to our faith.


ADD TO YOUR FAITH - VIRTUE (GOODNESS)Virtue is the first spiritual supplement you

add to your faith. For no one can say he is a Christian when his moral life is poor. What you say, what you see or watch, what you listen to and what you do must be morally clean (If you add virtue to your faith). We must add to our faith virtue, which is moral goodness or moral purity.


Fine brethren have been among those excommunicated for immorality. We live today in a very permissive society. Daily we are broken down by what the people say: what we see and watch in the television and in the internet. Our music videos break us down etc.

After our baptism, we are supposed to have been dead to sin but this not the case.


“What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no

means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don't you know that all of us who

were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death: We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that,

just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new

life” (Rom.6.1-4 NIV).


The song written by L.O. Sanderson best describes the thought. “Buried with Christ, my blessed Redeemer; Dead to the old life of folly and sin; Satan may call, the world may entreat me; There is no voice that answers within; Dead to the world, to voices that call me. Living a new obedient but free, Dead to the joys that once did enthral me – Yet ‘tis not I, Christ liveth in me.”


We can illustrate being dead to sin with one who smokes but stopped because he is now a Christian. After some time, he detests the odour of cigarette as if he never once enjoyed it. Such a person is dead to smoking cigarette. So are we to die to sin. Daily we are broken down by the Social media - Email, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Google etc. When we are dead to the world we will no longer listen to voices of sin in the social media.


We will concentrate on God’s side period! We are supposed to grow better year after year. We can live above sin not by our power but His grace.

ADD TO VIRTUE - KNOWLEDGEKnowledge is the next spiritual supplement

to add to our faith after we have added virtue. Pure academic knowledge without unwholesome distraction plus spiritual knowledge is progressive in this age.


You google for far enriching information that will make you increase your knowledge academically and spiritually. The search engine is so wonderful a tool but it can be used for the good, the bad and the ugly.

If you have virtue you have to maintain and sustain it with knowledge. Virtue demands that

“Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, and all guile, insincerity, envy, and all slander. Like new-born infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation-- if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good” (1Pet.1.1-3 NRSV).


The spiritual milk in this context is the Word of God. Paul the apostle wrote by the Holy Spirit that about the word of God saying:

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NKJV).


It is sufficient to teach all God wants us know; it is also enough to make bare our faults; and show us the way out of our faults; then it instructs us on living right, thus equipping us for every good work.

Many have refused to grow. They revolve around one year’s growth for fifteen years.

How sad!


This I have proved in many congregations that I have visited. We invest in our academic education. We spend a lot in our children’s education. These are alright! But we fail invest in our spiritual education. Most of the books we have were given to us by our American brethren.

“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

To him be glory both now and forever. Amen” (2 Pet. 3.18 KJV).


Every teacher or preacher of the gospel who wants to be relevant today must have a computer preferably a laptop. There are many soft-wares that are very helpful, with a lot of books all at your finger tip. It contains amongst others the following: Many versions of the Bible, many Bible dictionaries, concordances, treasury of scripture, commentaries, many helpful books, etc. The church is indeed the pillar and ground of Truth. We must therefore exercise our senses and study to be approved of God (1Tim.3.15, 2Tim. 2.15).


ADD TO KNOWLEDGE - TEMPERANCE (SELF-CONTROL)

The next spiritual supplement to add to knowledge is self-control. You keep increasing your knowledge and this makes you know more of the things you should do and not do. The temptation comes because you know. Eve, the mother of all living may not have eaten that fruit because there are many fruits in the garden.


Temptation comes because her attention was now drawn to it. She now “saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate [Gen. 3.6 (NKJV).]

It is true today for many, who use the internet they know that there is pornography there, and then cometh the devil telling them, ‘just a quick look will not do much harm’, and one tries it and gets addicted to it.


This destroys their senses and they crave seriously to satisfy the urge. Many fine men and women have fallen beyond redemption. Try it by buying ice cream for children in the house and you keep it in the freezer without their knowing then you can give it to them when you think fit. But if you show it to them and say this is your ice cream but you will take it after lunch. More often than not, they will come saying we want it now even crying for it. It works for all ages.


Self-control is needed by every Christian to stay alive spiritually and we all need it to preserve our faith in these perverse generation. This is one of the positive traits that must be seen practically in our lives as evidence of how much of God’s word we have taken into our hearts. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;...” (Col. 3.16 KJV).

How much God’s word have you taken in the past ten years?


When you are provoked by a brother’s uncomplimentary speech how do you react? Self-control is that quality that keeps you calm when others lose their head. The way some of our brethren behave in our Business Meetings is shameful. If God is present in our midst then it means that these railing brethren do not fear God and they are not converted yet. No matter how passionate you are about the matter under consideration you must speak with decorum and with the fear of God. This is self-control! When you are provoked, you must speak truly with the fear of God and if you do, you have this quality of temperance. It is one of the visible sign of maturity.


When the matter in question affects our personal interest? Temperance is the ability to stay to give a soft answer that turns away anger. “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger” (Prov. 15.1 KJV). Self-control is the quality to be quick to hear and slow to speak. “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” James 1:19 (KJV).


We have irrational brethren in every church and they are a disgrace to the church. They have a factious spirit. They like to lobby brethren to support their selfish evil. In most cases they constitute more than half of the vocal members of the leaders of the church. Some vocal brethren are of sound mind and I respect them. They have self-control these are true servants of Jesus Christ in the church.


Preserving our faith therefore needs the addition of this supplement called self-control every sphere of our life.

ADD TO TEMPERANCE - PATIENCE (PERSEVERANCE, ENDURANCE)

Patience (KJV), Perseverance (NIV), Endurance (NRSV), is the anchor that holds and sustains self-control. Any time a brother loses self-control he has already lost patience.


It is one thing to know that bribery in any form is sinful but it is yet another thing to refuse to bribe to get what we want. Offering bribe to get admission instead of doing our best to doing it right in exams we resort to bribe and most of the time we lose out. So this supplement called patience or perseverance keeps us holding on to the conviction of our faith. It is patience that upholds our self-control when we said no to the temptation to sin.


One of the characteristic of the love of Christ as stated in 1Cor.13.4 is that “Love is patient,” (NIV/NRSV), “Charity suffereth long”(KJV), “Love suffers long” (NKJV). Love suffers long that is it persevere and endures long to maintain our integrity. This is what our Lord Jesus Christ displayed during His trial and crucifixion as recorded by Peter.


“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you

should follow in his steps.”He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." When he was abused, he

did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges

justly” (1 Pet. 2.21-23 NRSV) .

May we follow that example daily! This is the sense of discipline that makes one hold on. It says “I am a Christian and must maintain and sustain it.


ADD TO PATIENCE - GODLINESSThis supplement is seen in our everyday life.

This word comes from two Greek words and if combined will mean well devoted and it is said to denote piety – dutifulness in religion that is characterized by a God-ward attitude. Godliness therefore, is our visible commitment in the faith we profess. We work hard in our place of work. Some are very passionate about football and give it so much time and energy.


Others are passionate about home video and they give it so much time. The same is true of many youth with their phones on Facebook that they give it so much attention. Many have being engrossed in their business so much that God’s business has been neglected. This has triggered a growing apathy, disinterest in the word of God. They should make the best use they can of the present seasons of grace.

Our time is a talent given us by God for some good end, and it is misspent and lost when it is not employed according to his design. If we have lost our time therefore, we must endeavour to redeem it by doubling our diligence in doing our duty for the future.


We draw from this time bank every day 86400 seconds and how many of it do we really use for God?

Patience has already made one who has it disposed to having the motive from which all godlike action flows and causes one to do only that which is well pleasing to God. Those with this disposition are serious members of the church and see every church activity as a serious business that their participation is needed, so could not afford to be absent.


Their social and extended family meetings and activities will never be allowed to take any prominence over the least activity of the local church. One with such disposition is compelled to always be there even if it turns out that he is the only one there, he will still want to be there at the next opportunity.

ADD TO GODLINESS - BROTHERLY KINDNESSWe need add one more supplement to our

spiritual well-being and this is Brotherly kindness.


You cannot tell the love of Christ to others without first showing that you have it. If we are the light of the world we must exhibit love of Christ to the world, a reason that made the early church enjoyed favour among the people and many were added to the church. You spend time with those you love. Means you relate with brethren well before you can relate to outsiders. Men have said charity begins at home.

Making friends of God’s children will keep you from many sinful thoughts and deeds. God’s children around you serve as a wall of defence around you.


Geo C. Stebbins wrote the song “Take Time to Be Holy”:Take time to be holy, speak oft with the Lord; Abide in

Him always, and feed on his word. Make friends of God’s children; Help those who are weak,

forgetting in nothing His blessings to seek.

This love of the brethren must be seen and felt in the church. And many scriptures mention it. Some call it the one another concept and is everywhere in the New Testament. Christ has enjoined to love one another.


“A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another as I have loved you, that ye also love one

another” John 13.34 (KJV). “Be kindly affectionate one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;” (Rom 12.10 KJV). “Owe no man anything, but

to love one another.” (Rom. 13.8 KJV). “Wherefore receive ye one another.” (Rom. 15.7 KJV). “You also be

filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.” (Rom. 15.14 KJV). “Let us not be desirous of

vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another” (Gal 5:26 KJV).


“With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;” (Eph. 4:2 KJV).“And be ye

kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you” (Eph. 4:32 KJV). “Forbearing one another, and forgiving

one anothe.” (Col 3:13 KJV). “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do” (1 Thess.5.11 KJV). “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works” (Hebs. 10.24

KJV). “But exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Hebs. 10.25 KJV).


ADD TO BROTHERLY KINDNESS - CHARITY (LOVE)

This is the most potent supplement to our spiritual health in this Christian race. After loving ourselves we must love others. This love cannot be over emphasised. This is the love for all mankind irrespective of race, colour and tongue.


“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” John 3.16 (KJV). “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ

died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person

someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us” (Rom.5.6-8 NRSV). “For the love of Christ urges

us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died.


And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them. From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him

no longer in that way” (2Cor.5.14-16NRSV). “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has

gone, the new has come” (2 Cor. 5:17 NIV).


This is the AGAPE love. This is the real motivation for preaching the GOSPEL to all mankind. Loving those of different faith and even those who pose to be our enemies we seek opportunity to do good things to them. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” (Phil 2.5 KJV).


SUMMARY 8For if these things are yours and abound, you

will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

When we take this complete range of supplements our spiritual immunity reaches its peak, and our spiritual cells, tissues, systems and organs now function at optimum level. Then we are truly preserving our Christian faith.


9For he who lacks these things is short-sighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. 10Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Those who lack these nutrients will be short-sighted and even going blind because they have forgotten they were cleansed from their sins.


While those who added these nutrients to their faith will never stumble but remain firm and these will have an entrance not only supplied but abundantly supplied into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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