March 12, 2017 YOU WILL NEVER STUMBLE
2 Peter 1:10-11: “Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.”
Never stumble-really? What a shocking statement to say the least. These verses high-light the fact that our salvation not only assures us of eternity in heaven, but also impacts our life in the here and now in magnificence ways, as also seen in verse three of this chapter: “seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.” When we begin to understand or come to have a “true knowledge of Him,” we discover that He has indeed granted to us “everything pertaining to life and godliness.” In the first part of this chapter, we find that by the promises of God, we might become “partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world.” Because of His promises and by imparting to us His divine nature, we can now live ‘godly’ lives. In verses five through seven, we are told to be diligent in adding certain qualities to our life including: faith, moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. In verse eight we find the tremendous promise: “For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Our faith, our salvation, is to be pro-active, applying the words and promises that God has given us. Beware of those who promote the false idea of ‘easy-believism’ that says,“if you just believe in Jesus, everything will be great.” Contrary to what we often hear, even form other believers, God has made it possible for us to live victoriously; we are not doomed to stumble! The promise for us is that “as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble.” It is safe to say that if we don’t practice these things, surely we will stumble. Let us be all the more diligent in making sure that we are not only adding these qualities to our life, but let us also make sure they are increasing! Truly knowing God is the entrance into His eternal kingdom where we are enabled to live lives that please Him, and when we live to please Him, we will not stumble!
Colossians 3:17: “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”
Isaiah 40:31: “but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and will not be faint.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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