Timothy Maas Supporter Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U. S. Army

As the Bible makes clear in passages such as Ephesians 2:8-9, salvation and eternal life are by God's grace. However, the eternal rewards that each redeemed believer will receive from God will be based on the degree to which he or she puts that faith into practice. This should not be viewed as a burden, but as a joyful opportunity to thank God for His mercy, and should also serve as a powerful incentive for believers to maximize their personal witness in order to be able to ultimately hear the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:23).

5 days ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Donna Williams Supporter

Dear Anonymous, the Apostle Peter is not talking about self effort. In my opinion he makes it very clear that he is speaking about the believers' intimate relationship with Jesus Christ and God our Father. That same union or oneness that He taught His disciples about in John chapter 15.

Peter is saying that we have already been equipped with everything that we need to become more like Christ as we grow in our relationship with Him. The more we grow in the knowledge of who He is, the more we will grow in displaying His divine nature. 

As we continue to abide in Him, we will continue to grow in the fruit of the Spirit. 

Jesus said, in John 15:4-5: "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in Me. "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."

It is the Holy Spirit who is at work within us to produce the virtues mentioned in 2Peter 1:5-7.

4 days ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jeffrey Johnson Supporter

2 Peter 1:5: Yes, for this very reason, by YOUR contributing in response all earnest effort, supply to YOUR faith virtue, to [YOUR] virtue knowledge. [Emphasis added by the author]

If you wanted to increase that knowledge, what would you do?

Albert Einstein once used such an illustration to make the point that scientists have not really increased very much in knowledge of the universe and certainly very little about the One who created it.

And - Dr. Lewis Thomas wrote: “The greatest single achievement of science in this most scientifically productive of centuries is the discovery that we are profoundly ignorant; we know very little about nature and we understand even less.”

Many experts in the field of education know the value of timely and purposeful repetition. This is not a mere parroting of words, which you may have tried in school while learning some name, fact, or idea by rote. 

How many times have you done that, and then, through time, you have forgotten what you had learned?

According to what Peter wrote, it should be different with Christians, back then and now. He urges us to supply to our faith the knowledge that would help us to avoid being inactive or unfruitful. (2 Peter 1:5, 8) 

For this to prove true in our case, we must want to grow in that knowledge and want to have it affect us down deep, touching our inmost self, in other words, our hearts.

What we learn will more readily stay with us and be useful if we use and talk to others about God's Word. Remember, the more we talk about things, the more we will remember, plus we need to enjoy our Bible reading, and that will aid in remembering as well:

And once we get into a good routine, wholesome habits become easier​—especially when we taste the benefits.

And Peter closed his second letter: “Go on growing in the undeserved kindness and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.”​—2 Peter 3:18.

Conclusion:

How much "effort" does the Christian life require (2 Peter 1:5)?

Peter closed his second letter: “Go on growing in the undeserved kindness and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.”​—2 Peter 3:18.

2 days ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report