What is the Christian life all about? We college-founding and confession-writing Presbyterians probably tend to focus in on verse 2, where Peter hopes that his readers will grow in their knowledge of God, and especially of the Lord Jesus. Christians who incline more toward the emotions rather than the intellect might also emphasize this verse, desiring the grace and peace Peter wishes for us.

But Peter spends the major part of this passage not on our thoughts or feelings, but instead on matters of character. Yes, he wants us to have more knowledge of God (verse 5), but such knowledge should be joined both to faith and to virtue. Moreover, our knowledge of God should express itself in self-control, steadfastness, and godliness (v. 6).
And lest we allow our attempts to live in such a righteous way to degenerate into stoic pride, Peter insists that any truly Christlike life will produce not only brotherly affection, but true love, the sort of love that desires to bless others regardless of the cost to the self (v. 7).

But instead of encouraging us to muster up all these traits within ourselves and in our own strength, Peter reminds us that God is the One Who gives us the divine power to live in such a godly way (v. 3). In fact, God has gone so far as to make His people “partakers of the divine nature” (v. 4), filling all those who trust in Christ with the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit Who not only gives us the power to live a Christlike life of selfless, humble service, but Who has cleansed us from our sins, and indeed of our sinful desires (vv. 4, 9).

So, yes, we must be diligent to practice all these godly qualities (v. 10). But at the same time we can rest in the promises of God (v. 4), promises to call His people to Himself – even if we sometimes have to take those promises on faith, even if those promises don’t always line up with what makes sense or feels right to us. For living a life of love and holiness in the midst of the corruption of the world is the best way we can demonstrate our faith, isn’t it?

II Peter 1:1-11 (ESV)

Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:
2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,
4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,
6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,
7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.
10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.
11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.