EXPLORE THE TEXT

Their Salvation (2 Peter 1:3-8)

Application Point:

Believers are to grow in their faith, building on the foundation of their salvation in Christ.

3 His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness
through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
4 By these he has given us very great and precious promises,
so that through them you may share in the divine nature,
escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire.
5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith
with goodness, goodness with knowledge,
6 knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance,
endurance with godliness,
7 godliness with brotherly affection,
and brotherly affection with love.
8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure,
they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful
in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Key Truth

Divine power

God never shortchanges His people.
When He calls us to fulfill a task.
He gives us everything required to get the job done.
What’s more, He provides all these elements through His divine power.
Paul shared the same idea in Philippians 4:13,
where he stated that God would empower believers to everything
He called them to do.
God’s strength is matchless,
meaning Christians have all they need to live for Him.

Context:

While Peter does not identify the audience for this letter geographically,
he does identify them spiritually
as “those who have received a faith equal to ours”
(2 Pet. 1:1).

List:

3) Glory and goodness:

The terms glory and goodness are separate things that point to one central truth.
That which is established in God’s glory is also rooted in God’s goodness.
Knowledge of Jesus and His work on our behalf results from our having been called.
The moral transformation that ensues is a work of grace.

4) Great and precious promises:

Believers inherit God’s promises as they come to know Christ,
as they experience His moral excellence and glorious radiance in conversion.
Such promises have been given to God’s people through the gospel,
a message that provides everything believers need.

4) Divine nature:

Earlier, Peter highlighted the divine power of God (v. 3).
Here, he noted that believers share in the divine nature of God.
This does not mean believers become gods or move toward divinity.
Rather, we become more like Jesus as we submit areas of our lives to Him for His glory.
This transformation is a work in progress that begins in this life and is perfected in eternity.
It runs counter to the corruption that characterizes the world’s agenda.

5-7) Supplement your faith:

Our striving for virtue is rooted in grace.
Faith in the life of Jesus leads to a life that looks like that of Jesus.
The virtues listed in verses 5-7 are best understood as a literary device
meant to engage the reader.
They do not imply a specific relationship between the virtues.
Nevertheless, some scholars find it fascinating that
the chain begins with faith (the beginning of all virtue)
and ends with love (the greatest commandment).

7) Brotherly affection:

There is a familial love that characterizes Christian community.
Such brotherly affection is but one expression of love on the whole.
Indeed, anyone who loves possesses all of the other virtues listed in verses 5-7.

Ask:

• Why is it necessary for believers to grow in spiritual maturity? (PSG, p. 104)

Transition:

Even though believers have all they need at salvation,
they should remember the truths about who Jesus is and why He came.