What Saith The Scriptures?

Presented by the church of Christ in Galena Meeting at 5466 Featheringill Rd. Ask a Bible question: galenacoc@gmail.com

2 Pet. 1.57, Supplement Your Faith

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, 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. 2 Pet. 1.57, ESV (68)

Would you like to know for certain that you are saved? Would you like to know how to never fall into sin? Would you like to know how to enter heaven? Peter tells us exactly how we can know these things in these verses!!! To those who have obtained a faith on par with the apostles (v1), that is Christians, God has given to us everything necessary for being successful in what he wants us to be (v3) and has given us precious and great promises (v4). Because of what God has done for us, on our part we should be diligent and make every effort to supplement our faith by increasing in several things. Peter is describing elements that are to spring from one another and are to perfect one another. Virtue is moral power, vigor of soul (RWP) or manliness (Strong). It is being what we ought to be. In a sin-saturated society, we must stand strong! (cf. 1 Pet. 2.12; 4.15) Knowledge is the insight or understanding of Gods will as revealed in his word. (cf. vv2, 3; 1 Pet. 2.2; Heb. 5.1214) Self-control is control of ones self, and letting nothing else hold sway over us. It is holding the passions and desires in hand (VWP). (cf. Jas. 1.14, 15; 1 Cor. 9.2427) Steadfastness is patience or staying power (Ropes). It is continuing to stand on the Rock that is Christ. (cf. 1 Cor. 15.58; Phil. 3.1114) Godliness is the character of life that emerges when one confesses or pledges his allegiance to the true and living God. (cf. v3; Col. 4.7; John 8.31, 32) Brotherly affection is love or affection for the brethren (other Christians). (cf. 1 Pet. 1.22; 1 Cor. 13.48) Love is the agape kind of love, the deliberate choice to selflessly and sacrificially love another. (cf. Matt. 5.4348) These qualities and characteristics are to be owned by every Christian. And we are to continually and diligently be growing or increasing in these things. Why? So that we can be effective in Christ, make our calling and election sure, never fall, and enter the eternal kingdom of Christ (vv811)! Do you want to know that you are going to heaven? After obeying the gospel, Peter tells us how to do just that! JRG Service Times: Sun. @ 9.00am & 6.00pm | Wed. @ 7.30pm

www.ChurchOfChristInGalena.com