What a fantastic blessing for us to be at peace with the creator of all things WILL! Not only that, but we are under His grace as well! It is just a great way to start every day – under God’s grace and being at peace with Him as well. “Grace and peace BE MULTIPLIED TO YOU through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.” (2 Peter 1:2) Wow, not just grace and peace but MULTIPLIED GRACE AND PEACE! How do we obtain this? “His divine power HAS GIVEN US EVERYTHING WE NEED FOR A GODLY LIFE through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.” (2 Peter 1:3) Remember the word “knowledge” comes from the Greek word Epignosis two words: epi – marked, ginosko – a relation between the person knowing and the person known. “Whereby are given unto us EXCEEDING GREAT AND PRECIOUS PROMISES: that by these YOU MIGHT BE PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (2 Peter 1:4) We have partaken of an earthly, sensual, and devilish nature; the design of God by Christ IS TO REMOVE THIS, and to MAKE US PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE; and save us from all the corruption which is in the world; the source of which is lust, an irregular, unreasonable, in ordinate, and impure desire; to have, to do, and to be, WHAT GOD HAS PROHIBITED! So how do we prohibit this corruption in our lives? By: “….giving all diligence [determination], add to your faith virtue [excellence]; and to virtue knowledge [this knowledge is from learning things through studying the word]; and to knowledge temperance [restraint, control]; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness love [agape, Godly love]. (2 Peter 1:5-7) It’s by grace that we are saved – through faith (Eph. 2:8). That is just the beginning we have a lot of adding to do with fantastic results: “For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, THEY WILL KEEP YOU FROM BEING INEFFECTIVE AND UNPRODUCTIVE in your knowledge [epignosis] of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:8) Check out the great promise for us if we diligently make pursue this path WILL: “Therefore, my brothers and sisters, MAKE EVERY EFFORT to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, YOU WILL NEVER STUMBLE, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:10-11)
THESE THINGS WILL KEEP US FROM BEING INEFFECTIVE AND UNPRODUCTIVE!
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham