July 15, 2007
Sun Oak Baptist Church

Introduction

        See Matt. 13:36 – the Pearl of Great Price. 2nd Peter 1:1-2 saturated with theology. It’s through this theology and the phrase “precious faith” that Peter lays the foundation for this letter. Let’s answer 4 questions related to understanding the preciousness of the Christian faith.

I. First, how many precious faiths are there?

        Answered last week: just one – John 14:6: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

II. Secondly, what is this precious faith?

        Answered last week: Jesus Christ at the center of Peter’s answer…no Jesus Christ…no precious faith. Acts 4:12: “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

III. How does someone obtain this precious faith?

        A. The precious Christian faith is simply “obtained.”

        “Obtain” means “to a cast a lot, or to get something through the casting of a lot.”

        B. The precious Christian faith is “obtained…by the righteousness of         our God and Savior Jesus Christ.”

                1. Note Peter’s continual emphasis on the doctrine of election.

                2. See Eph. 2:8-9. Contrast how someone gets this precious                 faith with other “faiths” in the world today. All other faiths:                 “doing.” Christianity: “done.”

        C. How can sinful man be made “right” with a holy God? “I have no         righteousness of my own; I accept the righteousness that God gives         me in Christ. I am unworthy and sinful, but I can be clothed with the         righteousness of Christ; and, clothed with that, I can stand and face         God and His righteousness.”

IV. Why is this faith so incredibly precious?

        A. Defining the word “precious.”

                1. Compare different translations and original Greek here.

                2. What would we pay to be healed of a terminal illness?

                3. How do we value this faith?

        B. 2 reasons why the Christian faith could never be priced by one of         the experts on the Antique Road Show.

                1. Because of the price that was paid for it. See John 3:16; etc.

                2. Because of what it accomplishes in the life of a sinner:                 justification; sanctification; and glorification explained.

        C. God called us – we had absolutely nothing to do with the decision         – that’s God’s sovereignty.

Conclusion