2 Peter 1:5-9 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness,to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.
Because God's "divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue," we are to do the things listed in the verse above. We can do this because of His divine power in our lives. He has not given us a command here that we can not obey.
The Christian life isn't a "let go and let God" sort of deal and then we float merrily on beds of ease through life. The verse says "giving all diligence". That means work! We have to work at it. We have to study the Bible to get the knowledge we need for a godly life. Here are the things we have to work at:
Virtue: 1. Strength 2. Bravery 3. moral goodness 4. Moral excellence
Knowledge: This takes time, and study of God's Word to learn His will for us.
Self Control: Being able to control your tongue and yourself
Perseverance: Hanging in there when the going gets tough
Godliness: Christlike character that includes all of the above and more
Brotherly kindness: Being charitable toward others, even those who irritate you
Love: Includes all in 1 Corinthians 13
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