Fruitful Growth in the Faith

2Peter 1-11:

Greeting the Faithful

1 Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

² Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, ³ as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, ⁴ by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Fruitful Growth in the Faith

⁵ But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, ⁶ to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, ⁷ to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. ⁸ For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

¹⁰ Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; ¹¹ for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Knowledge is the first fruit Peter spoke of. One must have that knowledge of the basic precepts of faith in Christ.

After knowledge, Peter mentions self control. All of us must have self control, to learn how to win over the temptations of sin.
From self control, Peter speaks of perseverance. Never give up on faith. Keep running the race, fighting temptations and sin. If you fall, repent from your knees, get up and keep running the race.

After perseverance, Godliness.  You must have genuine Godliness toward God, in every aspect of your life. In all things we do - we must have Godliness or we may cause a younger christian to stumble.

From Godliness, we add brotherly kindness. We must be kind more in the church, but it we is lacking. You though, yourself, be kind to your brothers and sisters.

Finally,  Peter speaks of love. This is the love for our Lord Jesus and for all friends and enemies.

Then Peter speaks of the shortsighted blind christian. Even though God has forgave their sins, and they have forgotten it, that he has been cleansed of all his sins. This christian is inactive, and not bearing fruit.

But- we must do the things above to make our election sure. See 2Corinthians 13:5-- Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. For if we do these things, knowledge, self control, perseverance, Godliness, brotherly kindness...we will not stumble.

So let us pursue these virtues so we are guaranteed a place in Heaven with our Lord Jesus!

Daniel