2 Peter 1:5-8
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Application:

For the divine nature to express itself manifestly in a believer’s life, the believer must make every effort to supplement his or her faith with seven qualities (1:5)—the number seven signifying completeness. The new nature has already been programmed to respond to the right input, just like a baby has been programmed to respond to its mother’s milk. The nutrients in the milk enable the baby’s growth and development.*

The seven supplemental qualities necessary for spiritual growth are goodness (living to glorify God), knowledge (responding to divine revelation), self-control (resisting sinful desires), perseverance (not quitting until God releases you), godliness (seeking to please God with your choices), brotherly affection (caring for the well-being of other members of God’s family), love (compassionately and righteously seeking the well-being of others, including nonbelievers).*

These qualities act like vitamin supplements, enabling believers to adopt God’s kingdom perspective and live in accordance with it. As a packet of seeds instructs the gardener to add soil and water to his crop to see it yield fruit, God instructs believers to add these qualities to their saving faith to actualize their potential for maturity and godly living.*

In John 15:1-11, Jesus said that we are like branches in a vine, He is the Vine, and the Father is the vinedresser. Every branch that bears fruit, the Father prunes; branches that do not, He takes away.

Abide in Jesus Christ, and you will bear much fruit.

*Ref: Tony Evans, The Tony Evans Bible Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2019), 1363.

To God be the glory!

Our Lord Jesus Christ created everything! By Him, For Him!

“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26

Disclaimer

When God inspires me, I write blogs. Consider this writing as a Bible study. Like the Bereans in Acts 17:11, search the Scriptures to determine whether what I write is so. Always consult with your church ministers about biblical matters. I am also not a professional writer, so some grammar or spelling errors may be present. I try my best to write as efficiently as possible. Your brother in Christ, Ricardo

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