Growing In Grace – One Sided (2 Peter 1:5-11)
Are you are in a one-sided relationship with God?
God has
5But also for this very reason… —2 Peter 1:5
5In view of all this… —2 Peter 1:5 (NLT)
God has given all we need that pertains to life and godliness. (2 Peter 1:3)
God has given us promises to reassure us. (2 Peter 1:4)
5But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. —2 Peter 1:5-7
Diligent – Eagerly, Zealously, Hastily…Speaks to desperation
Diligent to what? To ADD.
Add what? All the attributes listed in 2 Peter 1:5-7.
How can we add?
Make yourself
to the God who is already available.
12Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him. —Philippians 2:12-13
8For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. —2 Peter 1:8-9
When we are available to God’s work, we are useful and fruitful.
This is done through the relationship of growing in grace and knowledge.
2Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. —2 Peter 1:2
18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. —2 Peter 3:18
Being “shortsighted” reveals the inability to
your spiritual condition.
We might say…
“I thought I was better than I was.”
…or…
“I didn’t think I was that far off.”
Your spiritual condition is a result of
decisions.
10Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. —2 Peter 1:10-11