Read 2 Peter 1
Key Verse: 2 Peter 1:8 “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.” (NIV).
Would you listen and take note if some trusted pastor gave you a list of things to do with the promise that, if you did them, you would “never fall” spiritually? Well, that’s exactly what Peter does in this chapter.
Look at verses 5-8. In these two sentences Peter challenges us to do seven things. Or, more correctly, to add seven things to our faith. We are to add goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love, to our faith. And we’re to do so “in increasing measure”.
Let us briefly consider all seven. It seems that in almost every choice we make, we face a fork in the road — one path is the good, the other is the bad. Usually we don’t have to spend much time determining which is which — our conscience kicks in automatically. Peter says, choose goodness.
Knowledge comes through study and thought, self-control through goal-setting, and perseverance through singleness of purpose — all three mean work.
Godliness can only be attained through a high view of Scripture and committee obedience to its directives. Brotherly kindness depends absolutely on a high view of your neighbour. Both of these virtues could be expressed in other terms: righteousness and justice.
As for love, there is a final distillation of its meaning in the writings of many theologians: to love means to seek the highest good of neighbour and of God. To truly love means to be truly selfless — it’s as far from sin as you can get in this limited universe. You have a taste of eternity when you love.
“Do all these things” and “you will never fall” (v.10).
