Make Every Effort

I just posted this to Saddleback's Internet Campus Blog.

Occasionally I like listen to sermons by pastors at other churches and recently I heard a sermon based on 2 Peter 1:5-8. After hearing the sermon I decided to go read the whole passage for myself. After reading it I felt that I should share it with you.

 

2 Peter 1:3-11 states: "3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to 3 his own glory and excellence, 4 4 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. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, 5 and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities 6 are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, 7 be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." (ESV)

 

As I read this I noticed the progression starting in vs. 5 where Peter states "Make every effort to" and then goes on to list out things that we should be striving for. If you will notice he starts with faith, which is where we all begin. Then he ends in vs. 8 stating that we will grow and be effective in our faith if we continue to do these things. So what are they?

 

1. Faith

2. Virtue

3. Knowledge

4. Self-control

5. Steadfastness

6. Godliness

7. Brotherly affection

8. Love

 

If you are anything like me you like to have specific things you can strive for. In this passage (and list) we are given specifics to strive after. So next time you are looking for something to work on try applying yourself to these standards and see which area you need to work on. However please know that these are not things you attain once and then forgotten about. You need to constantly be striving for them. 

 

If you would like more information on growing spiritually check out the Spiritual Growth Center. 

Posted via web from jcvarner's posterous