Following Jesus is about doing righteousness!
A. 2 Peter 2:20-21
1. If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again
entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. (2:20)
a. They have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord.
b. They are entangled in the corruption of the world again and overcome.
c. They are worse off at the end than at the beginning.
2. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to
turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. (2:21)
a. Here we know “knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” is “knowing the way of righteousness”.
b. “Knowing the Lord” means to live by the sacred command!
c. The sacred command was passed on to them by the one who taught them!
This means they were taught to obey the sacred command before they become “knowing our Lord”.
d. Matt.28:18-20--> Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to
the very end of the age.
3. It is about a course of conduct in thinking, feeling and deciding!
It is the way of righteousness. It is obeying the sacred command!
B. 1 John 5:3-5
This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes
the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that
overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
1. Love God means obeying his commands.
2. To overcome the corruption of the world one must be born of God.
3. It is our faith in obeying the sacred command that overcome the world!
4. Only he who believes Jesus is the Son of God can overcome the world!
C. Palms 1:1-6
Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the
seat of scoffers. 1:1
His delight is in the law of God; and he meditates them day and night. 1:2
He is like a tree by the water, that bring forth its fruit in season. Whatever he does shall prosper. 1:3
The wicked shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
God knows the way of the righteous; but the way of the wicked shall perish.
The church is like the congregation of the righteous!
D. A simple guide line on doing righteousness.
In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. Matt.7:12
This also only those who have real faith in the Lord can do!
E. Conclusion:
1. 2 Peter 3:13--> According to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwell righteousness.
2. Proverb 12:28--> In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death.
3. Palms 1:6--> The watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked shall perish.
May the Lord blessing you and keep you forever! Feb., 3, 2010