Making Sure
2 Peter 1:3-11
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
This passage teaches that God’s divine power provides everything needed for a godly life through the knowledge of Him, which includes precious promises enabling believers to partake in His divine nature and escape worldly corruption. Believers are exhorted to build on their faith by diligently adding qualities like virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly affection, and love, resulting in a fruitful life and a secure, abundant entrance into God’s eternal kingdom.
Everything needed for life and godliness is provided by God’s power.:
~ God’s divine power grants all resources for a godly life through an intimate knowledge of Him
~ This knowledge comes from His glory and goodness and leads to great and precious promises, which allow believers to share in His divine nature.
The Necessity of Adding To Your Faith:
~ Believers are commanded to diligently add to their faith a series of things: virtue, knowledge, self-control, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love.
~ This growth in virtue is a spiritual discipline, not a means of salvation, but a demonstration of it.
Consequences of Spiritual Growth and Neglect:
~ If these qualities are present and increasing, believers will not be ineffective or unfruitful in their knowledge of Jesus Christ.
~ Those who lack these qualities are spiritually blind, short-sighted and have forgotten their cleansing from sin.
Assurance of Calling and Entrance Into the Kingdom:
~ By diligently pursuing these virtues, believers make their calling and election sure, preventing themselves from stumbling.
~ Practicing these qualities ensures a richly provided entrance into the eternal kingdom of Jesus Christ.