2 Peter 1:5-11 – The nature of a true Christian

Peter had already assured genuine Christians that they had become partakers of the divine nature. This being the case, there would also be an ongoing transforming process. They should progress from being an effective Christian to being an eternal one. Every believer must actively participate in this growth process. They should make every effort with the help of God to become effective in their lives. From verses 5-9, Peter showed what the believers must be determined to do.

With all diligence, they must add goodness to their faith. Goodness is best defined as moral excellence. And to their goodness, they must seek to add knowledge. Knowledge is experiential and practical. They must add to their knowledge self-control. This is the inner strength to control one’s craving. To self-control one must add perseverance. What is perseverance? It is the mental strength that enables one to endure hardship without caving in. Next, effective believers would add godliness to their perseverance. Godliness is the quality of being able to show reverence and obedience to God. On top of godliness, a believer must have brotherly kindness. This refers to a kindness that enables one to carry another person’s burden. Finally to brotherly kindness, love must be added. Love is the deliberate desire for a person’s highest good. When these qualities are indelibly etched into a person’s character, he would be both useful and fruitful in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. On the other hand, if these qualities are lacking, it renders that person spiritually sick; blind; short-sighted; or forgetful. 

Peter’s concern was also for the believers to take the responsibility of persevering to the very end, for the hope that they have begun in Christ. Hope here is defined by two terms, “calling and election”. Election is referring to God’s will before the foundation of time. The calling is referring to the anchor of the believer’s hope. It’s an anchor securely fastened in Jesus, who had called them to follow Him. The genuine believers must make all efforts to ensure their election and calling. If believers take the efforts defined earlier, they would never fall into the errors of the false teachers. When believers lay hold of Christ by faith and in obedience to Him pursue to the end, they will prove the durability of their salvation. When he reaches the end of his faith journey, that believer would be assured that he would never be turned away. Like Paul, we must make it our primary concern to press towards the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus!