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2 Peter 1:6a
We have learned through our study of 2 Peter that this letter is written to those who, by the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ have obtained a like precious faith in Him, and that blessings of grace and peace are multiplied by the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness. That we are called by His glory and virtue, by which He has given us exceeding great and precious promises, that through which we may be partakers of the divine nature and escape the lustful corruption that is in the world.
But because of this we should be diligent in seeking to add to our faith virtue (moral excellence), and to virtue we should add knowledge, and to knowledge we should add self-control (2 Peter 1:6a).
This is a command to add with all diligence self-control to our new life in Christ Jesus.
Self-control may be one of the hardest qualities to add to our lives as it involves taking hold of our tempers and the outbursts that we spill in the heat of controversy. It means to handle ourselves and our tempers appropriately as would be acceptable to Jesus. But in and of ourselves this is impossible, however, through our salvation in Christ Jesus we are overcomers as we learn in Philippians 4:13 (NKJV), “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” The Apostle Paul lists the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 of which one is self-control. Paul states in Galatians 5:23-24, “Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” In this, we are learning how to leave the old life of the sinful nature behind us and put on a new life in Christ Jesus. We are learning to live in our salvation in and through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Paul says in Galatians 5:23, “Against such there is no law.” That means that there is no limit to the amount of these qualities that we can have in our lives; it just gets better and better as we grow in our relationship with God through our salvation in Christ Jesus.
Dear LORD,
As we learn of the qualities that we should add to our lives with all diligence, we also learn that these qualities as You would have of us are only possible through salvation in Christ Jesus. Please lead us to a life that brings glory to You as we grow and develop to be the people You would have us to be – in Christ. In Jesus name I pray, amen.