August 2020
I (Eddie) don’t like failure. Who does? Perhaps like me, you have had your share of failed attempts. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if God would give us a task, clearly laying out the steps to accomplish it, provide everything we need to complete it, and guarantee our success, where we could not fail!?
GREAT NEWS! He has. Let’s look at it together in 2 Peter 1:1-10, (You may wish to follow along in your Bible.)
The Apostle Peter gives us instructions on building The 7-Story Christian Life.
1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ:
Paul saw himself as a servant first, an apostle second. He is writing to born again believers.
2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
Why is grace mentioned before peace? It’s because we cannot know peace until we experience grace (the new birth). Those are amplified through “the knowledge of God,” which means through intimacy with God.
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
I love this, don’t you? To build a building, requires an architect and a blueprint. Christ is our Architect and His Word is our blueprint. The framework is “all things that pertain to life and godliness.”
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
| His “great and precious promises” found in Scripture are our building materials. His purposes are “gold” we mine from his promises. His goal for us is that we partake of His nature, which is to be like Him. For that to happen, we must “escape the corruption that is in the world.” We are to be light in the darkness. (Matt 5:16) |
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
| Faith is the foundation of our “building.” No building is stronger than its foundation. Virtue (moral excellence) is the 1st Floor. Knowledge is the 2nd Floor, which is where a hunger for God develops. Each of these build on one another. |
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
The 3rd Floor is temperance (self-control). Too many want to yield their lives to God’s control. Heads up! God has no interest in controlling us. We honor Him as we control ourselves, which is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:23). Self-control is required for one to be patient, which is the 4th Floor. Self-control and patience lead to godliness, which is the 5th Floor. They are characterized by selfless humility.
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
One would expect a mature Christian to be kind. However, sadly, such is not always the case. Brotherly kindness is the 6th Floor. As we mature in Christ, we should exude His lovingkindness. The final floor is Love, the 7th Floor. The top floor of any building is its penthouse. It is the ultimate. This comes as no surprise, because Paul wrote, “the greatest of these is love.” (1 Cor 13:13)
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
Here is God’s GUARANTEE!
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, YE SHALL NEVER FALL.
We hope you have enjoyed our look at this passage.
Blessings,
Eddie & Alice
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