January 17, 2013

2 Peter 1:3-9  ³ His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. ⁴ Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; ⁶ and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; ⁷ and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. ⁸ For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

I deviated from today's Ridgecrest small group reading which was 2 Peter 1:16-20.  As I looked over the whole first chapter of 2 Peter, verses 3-9 spoke to me.

Verse 3 reminds Christians we have "everything we need" to live a life of godliness, but it is only through Christ that we possess these things.  I do wonder what are the "very great and precious promises" Peter references in verse 4.  Thoughts?

What is the "everything" to which Peter refers to in verse 3?  Is it the list from verses 5-7?  Peter does tell the reader that if we "possess these qualities in increasing measure" we will be effective and productive in our "knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ".  

Once again, I see a set of verses that combine God-given vs active participation parts of the Christian life.  God gives us "everything we need for life and godliness", but then we are to be participants in adding to our faith goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love.  While a measure of these may be imparted to us at salvation, we must actively work to increase in these areas.  It should be noted that it all starts with FAITH.  Faith in Jesus Christ to save us.  Faith in the Holy Spirit to guide us.  Faith in God the Father to be true to His word.

One final note: Verse 9 makes the admission there will be Christians that do not have the goodness through love list from verses 5-7.  But Peter does not write this disqualifies that person from salvation.  That person is "nearsighted and blind", but still "cleansed from his past sins".  He may lose blessings, comfort, guidance and contentment, but not salvation.

Over the next several days, I will discuss each of the qualities listed in verses 5-7 in hopes that I will increase in each of these areas.