Salvation is a wonderful gift that the Lord has provided to us. It is a free gift. What the Lord has done is taken a vessel that He has made and is now using it for His glorification. That is the purpose of being saved, to glorify God. So the items that were mentioned in v.5-7 are vital to a believer. Not only are we called to be saved but we are called to live a more Godly life. Peter has laid out how this is to be done. Further, Peter mentions in v.11 that if you practice these things then you have a place in the Lord’s Kingdom.
Now, do NOT mistake this for a works based system. This is not. The first item mentioned in v.5 is Faith. That is the first of the listing. Our faith in the salvation that has been given to us is first and foremost of these items. We have to have faith that Christ came and died for our sins. We have to have faith that when we ask, He is just to forgive our sins. If we do not have faith, everything we do, action wise, is in vain. It means nothing. So have faith, grow to become more like Christ, and the Kingdom will surely have a place for you, because of what Christ has done in you.
Peter tells these believers to always be reminded of the things he has told them. Also remind each other to have faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love. These things are the basics of how a Christian should act. The word Christian simply means a Follower of Christ. Well if we are followers then we should act like followers. We should follow His lead. He did all of this and so much more for us. Let us strive to be like Christ and serve one another while growing in the virtues that Peter has laid out. All of this has come from the faith that the Lord has bestowed upon us. Remind each other of these things always. Never stop challenging our brothers and sisters to grow. Please brothers and sisters, remind me … I know I need it.
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