living & growing

Peter wrote his second letter (2 Peter) shortly before his death.

He says a few verses further in chapter 1 that the Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he was going to die soon.

So Peter isn't mincing words here – he gives us straight advice as how to be this thing called a follower of Jesus, & how to do it.

He succinctly lays out the progression of right living, showing how the astute growing in one area of our lives leads us on into the next step.

This isn't deep, theological stuff...

it's just practical advice coming from one who not only lived around Jesus,

but who had lived long enough as His follower to know the deal,

to know how all of us should fashion & for our lives.

2 Peter 1

3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life.

We have received all of this by coming to know him,

the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.

4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises.

These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world's corruption caused by human desires.

  5 In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God's promises.

Then your faith will produce a life with moral excellence.

A life of moral excellence leads to knowing God better.

6 Knowing God leads to self-control.

Self-control leads to patient endurance,

and patient endurance leads to godliness.

7 Godliness leads to love for other Christians,

and finally you will grow to have genuine love for everyone.

  8 The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind,

forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.
  

10 So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen.

Do these things, and you will never fall away.

11 Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.