I was thinking about the great need of Christians today.
2 Peter 1:10
(10) Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
Wow, what awesome thoughts. And Peter does not leave us wondering what we must do to be sure of our calling and election. In the previous verses he tells us that God has given us everything that pertains to life and godliness (vs.3), as well as God's great and precious promises that impart divine nature to us and delivers us from worldly corruption (vs. 4).
He then lists the qualities that we should add to God's works of grace that saved and sanctified us (vss. 3-4):
diligently adding to our faith, virtue (moral excellence) (vs 5),
add to our moral excellence, knowledge (spiritual awareness of God and His will) (vs. 5),
add to our knowledge, temperance (self control) (6),
add to our self control, patience (endurance) (6),
add to our endurance, godliness (God likeness) (vs. 6),
add to our godliness, brotherly kindness (brotherly love) and
add to our brotherly love, charity (perfect love) (vs. 7).
Then he tells us how we can tell if our calling and election is sure (certain, steadfast, secure).
IF THESE THINGS abide and abound in you, you will not be barren or unfruitful (vs. 8).
BUT IF YOU LACK THESE THINGS, you will be blind and you will be made to forget that God purged you from your old sins (vs. 9).
If these things abide and abound in you,
you will never fall (10),
You will have an entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (vs, 11).
Notice... What was provided by GRACE (vss. 2-4), is obtained by ongoing FAITH (vss. 5-7), results with Entrance into His Everlasting Kingdom (vs. 8-11).
Remember,
2 Timothy 2:19
(19) Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
2 Peter 1:2-11
(2) Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
(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.
Notice... What was provided by GRACE (vss. 2-4), is obtained by ongoing FAITH (vss. 5-7), results with Entrance into His Everlasting Kingdom (vs. 8-11).
Remember,
2 Timothy 2:19
(19) Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
2 Peter 1:2-11
(2) Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
(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.
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