LEARNING DAILY

 

 

2 Peter 1:10, Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble.

 

I could hear the questions in the last page of the blog when I used the above words of Peter. “What do you mean by you will never stumble?”  “We are human and so we will sin.”  What is the things Peter was talking about?”  To understand a single verse of Scripture read the verses before it and after it to get the context of the verse.

 

Peter is promising that if you diligently pursue spiritual growth you will never lose your way.  Salvation is gained only by you entering the narrow gate which is through the death of Jesus Christ.  When you do that there is a narrow way we must stay on as you make your way to heaven.   Peter gives us the promise that God has given those on the narrow way “all things necessary that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue” (v. 3).  Through faith God’s divine power supplies never ending resources that give Believers everything they need for an obedient, godly life.  These resources would include Christ’s continual intercession before the Father, the Holy Spirit to teach and guide, God’s inspired Word to instruct, and the fellowship with other Believers.

 

But Peter encourages Believers to grow in their faith by doing several things – the things of verse 10.  In verses 5-8, Peter writes of seven qualities every Believer can develop their faith after salvation.  It is important to know there is nothing any of us can do to add to our salvation; by adding these things, these qualities, to our faith, it will help us continue faithful until we are called home. 

 

Peter tells us to be diligent about adding these things to our faith.  It does take effort on our part to grow in faith.  Peter tells us to add virtue to our faith.  We are bombarded every day, all day long with immorality and it can take courage to stand against it.  Add biblical knowledge to our faith.  This is knowledge grounded in truth.  Would you agree that this nation is in a battle over truth?!  Peter adds self-control or self-discipline as a discipline necessary for every Believer.  Faith grows when Believers realize the need for self-control every day (I personally struggle in this area and God is still working on me!).  He also says to add love and brotherly kindness to our faith.  Faith should result in love for others and the reaching out with the grace and mercy God has given to us.

 

Verse 8 shows the result of adding these things to your faith, “For if these things are yours, and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 

 

Let me end this by a word of encouragement.  When you are diligent about adding these things to your faith, you are sharing in the nature of God.  It will be your strength by conforming to God and His holiness.  You and I must never take our salvation for granted; being diligent about adding these qualities to our faith will only help us stay on the narrow way to eternal life in God’s Kingdom.

 

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