Today we will focus on 2 Peter 1:1-15

This section is so important that we will summarize the passage today and then go deeper next week.

To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ…(1)

May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. (2)

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence… (3)

…by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. (4)

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge and knowledge with self-control…(5-7)

…and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness…and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. (5-7)

For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (8)

For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. (9)

Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. (10)

For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (11)

Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. (12)

I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. (13-14)

And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things. (15)

The goal of this section is for believers to begin applying the seven specific attributes that Peter mentions.

…make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, knowledge, self-control…(5)

for this section should be Clearly, our objective for this section should be the same as Peter’s was!

But we must also follow Peter’s method in motivation.

make every effort to supplement your faith For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, knowledge, self-control…(5)

Peter lays out the reasons why believers should respond to his In verses 1-5 Peter lays out the reasons why believers should respond to his call to action!

Peter gives the believers Five Reasons to respond.

Believers have a great POSITION

…those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God…

Believers have been given a righteous standing before God…a status which is equal to that of the apostles.

POSITION Believers should respond in obedience out of gratitude since they have been given such an incredible position before God.

Believers have a great PURPOSE

…who called us to his own glory and excellence…

Believers have received the highest of all purposes in the universe; to reflect & rejoice in the glory of God!

PURPOSE Believers should respond in obedience because they have been invited into the most meaningful mission in all of life!

Believers have become PARKTAKERS

…he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature…

Believers have been given the promised reward of participating in God’s own glorious, divine nature.

PARKTAKERS Believers should respond in obedience because they have the unique privilege of a particular union with the God of the universe.

Believers are saved from POINTLESSNESS

…having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire…

Believers have been set free from the futility of their former sinful ways.

POINTLESSNESS Believers should respond in obedience because they have been set free from the punishment of their sin and profitless ways.

Believers have God’s POWER

…His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness…

Believers have been empowered by God; enabling them walk in faithful obedience.

POWER Believers should respond in obedience because they have God’s abiding strength that will help them through every situation and struggle.

5 incredible reasons to respond in obedience… After listing these 5 incredible reasons to respond in obedience…

Peter lays out 7 Characteristics that the believer should pursue!

For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful…(8)

Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. (10)

Peter says that these qualities will make an effective, fruitful and diligent believer.

For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. (9)

Peter also says that the believer who lacks these qualities is blind, ineffective and unfruitful.

7 Characteristics of an Effective Christian

Virtue

uprightness and goodness. Virtue The word used (arete) moral excellence, uprightness and goodness.

Virtue The virtuous person is one who is characterized by a love for what is in line with God’s character and has a concern for what is pure.

Knowledge

a first-hand experiential knowledge. The word used (gnosis) doctrine, wisdom, a first-hand experiential knowledge.

Knowledge The knowledgeable person is one who is characterized by an insatiable longing to learn more about the truth.

Self-Control

self-restrain, self-mastery, to be in control of one’s self. Self-Control The word used (egkrateia) self-restrain, self-mastery, to be in control of one’s self.

Self-Control The self-controlled person is one who is characterized by an ability to manage their mindset & actions according to God’s desire & will.

Steadfastness

The word used (hupomone) endurance, patient, Steadfastness The word used (hupomone) endurance, patient, a steady perseverance.

Steadfastness The steadfast person is one who is characterized by a faithful, perseverance through all of life’s predicaments.

Godliness

Godliness The word used (eusebeia) devotion, an inner response to the things of God displayed in godly behavior.

Godliness The godly person is one who is characterized by an ever growing desire to please in the Lord and reflect his glory in all things.

Brotherly Affection

loving a fellow believer, kindness to another. Brotherly Affection The word used (philadelphia) loving as a friend, loving a fellow believer, kindness to another.

Brotherly Affection The affectionate person is one who is characterized by a relentless concern & impartial care for their fellow man.

Love

Love The word used (agape) love, benevolence, goodwill, divine love.

Love The loving person is one who is characterized by an eternal, Christ-centered, others-focused, commitment to all people.

Next week we will continue to study these 7 Characteristics.

Next week we will look at specific points of application for each quality.

And we will go deeper into the correct & lasting motives/reasons given for each quality.