2 Peter 1:4-8, our continuing study...



Today's verses are 2 Peter 1:4-8 which read,

4 - For by these He has granted us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

"For by these..." refers to the previous verse's reference of God's glory and excellence.  God called us by His "opinion, judgment, and view" and by His "virtuous course of thought, feeling, and action."  On top of that He gives us these promises of the Word of God that are precious and magnificent.  You really only know the effects of these promises if they are leaned on and lived on and out.  God's promises and living by them keeps us going His way instead of the world's way.

5 - Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge,...

Because of these promises that are to be lived out that are precious and magnificent and God's calling on our lives, we are to respond back in these ways.   The word "diligence" has the element of "to haste" so right now build your faith with these things.  The first two are "moral excellence" and "knowledge."  A virtuous thought life which leads to virtuous actions and a thirst to continue to learn.

6 - ...and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness,

Here we have three more, "self-control", "perseverance," and "godliness."  To master your sensual desires and passions and do so with steadfastness and constancy that lead to a reverent and respected life.

7 - ...and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.

Peter gives two more for us to look at, "brotherly kindness" and "love."  These are two types of love.  One is a the love to your brothers and sisters in the Lord and the other comes out of it to dearly love them to the point of being willing to sacrifice for them.

Let's do a recap here.  Peter says that because of God's promises, we should respond with haste to build our faith with a good thought life that leads to further knowledge of God.  Those actions lead to not fail to temptations and as we do this consistently it will show a reverent life toward God.  Our lives will be full of love for others and that love will be increasing to sacrifice for them.

8 - For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

As we pursue to build our faith, these qualities will become "ours" and they will increase, "superabound."  They will be the fruit of your life that you really understand what God is all about.  Our knowledge is paired up with our action.

That is what I will take away from this.  God has given so much and we have the opportunity to see it in action if we will act upon His promises.  My faith can be build upon and I have the ability to see God work through my life to impact others.  This should be a natural response of me to God because of His calling on my life and the promises He has bestowed upon me.  

I need to build my faith today and everyday.

Pastor Adam
A simple man serving a great God and the local pastor of Stillwater Community Chapel (stillwater-chapel.org). We are in our 38th year of full time ministry. God directed us to this local body of believers on the Western Range of the Rockies to grow with them in mission and mindedness of Christ.

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