This is so important to realize as we work on our understanding of what we should do as fully devoted followers of Jesus. As we come to know Him by reading and prayer we will grow and our lives will change to be more like His. Just because we know all the promises He has given us it doesn’t mean we can do nothing, we must still come to Him and receive the power from the Holy Spirit so our lives actually change.
Verse 5 says, “In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, (it doesn’t say in view of all this, God will change you because you know His Son) verses 6-7 continues with “and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.”
God has given us the tools but He is expecting us to use them and make an effort to be the “Christians” we are called to be. Verse 8 says, “The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” We are called to action and we are called to develop our faith. God has given us the tools, how are we using them?
We have the free will to choose action and constantly develop and mature or we can fall back on knowing Jesus will be enough and I’m a sinner if I can’t change He is ok with that. We must remember that repentance is not repentance if there is no change in our heart and mind and our lives. Verse 9 says, “But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.”
We can’t be satisfied because we have been baptized, that is not the end of our work we must constantly grow and work to know more so we stand strong when we are attacked by the devil and the worldly desires that we have lurking in us. I want to end with verses 10-11 which say, “So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Let’s accept His love and show ours by living a new life in Christ. Amen