[FONT=Georgia, serif]2Pe 1:5[/FONT][FONT=Georgia, serif] But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, [/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, serif]2Pe 1:6[/FONT][FONT=Georgia, serif] to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, [/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, serif]2Pe 1:7[/FONT][FONT=Georgia, serif] to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. [/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, serif]2Pe 1:8[/FONT][FONT=Georgia, serif] For if these things are yours and abound, [/FONT][FONT=Georgia, serif]you will be[/FONT][FONT=Georgia, serif] neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. [/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, serif]2Pe 1:9[/FONT][FONT=Georgia, serif] For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.
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[FONT=Georgia, serif]In this listing, I find it very interesting that it starts out with faith. One by one, characteristics are added beginning with virtue. Step by step, the process builds. It's almost like you can't get virtue without faith or knowledge without virtue, or self control without knowledge, or perseverance without self-control and so on. Most interesting from my perspective, is that love is the final step in this pyramid of character traits to build a CHRISTian (or image of Christ). We see throughout the New Testament that love is the fulfillment of the law, and that love covers a multitude of sins. Perhaps this is why it is at the top of this triangle. [/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, serif]Going on, verse 8 tells us that if these things are ours and abound (I think it's important to note the abound part), then we will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the [/FONT][FONT=Georgia, serif]knowledge[/FONT][FONT=Georgia, serif] of the Lord. This would imply to me that the more we imitate Christ, the more we [/FONT][FONT=Georgia, serif]know [/FONT][FONT=Georgia, serif]about Him. We learn by imitation. On the other hand, if we lack these things, we forget that we are cleansed from our old sins. For me, and others, I'm sure...this leads back to a life of guilt, shame and condemnation under the Law.
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[FONT=Georgia, serif]In conclusion, it all points back to grace. The grace of God is what allows us to be diligent, virtuous, have the gift (yes I believe, the gift) of knowledge of Christ, self control, perseverance, godliness, and kindness, and finally, love. By the grace of God, I am what I am, and in Christ, I am the above listed things because I am imitating the one who gives me these qualities. Therefore, I could conclude that knowing who we are in Christ is what makes us fruitful.
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[FONT=Georgia, serif]What say y'all?
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[FONT=Georgia, serif]2Pe 1:6[/FONT][FONT=Georgia, serif] to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, [/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, serif]2Pe 1:7[/FONT][FONT=Georgia, serif] to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. [/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, serif]2Pe 1:8[/FONT][FONT=Georgia, serif] For if these things are yours and abound, [/FONT][FONT=Georgia, serif]you will be[/FONT][FONT=Georgia, serif] neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. [/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, serif]2Pe 1:9[/FONT][FONT=Georgia, serif] For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.
[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, serif]In this listing, I find it very interesting that it starts out with faith. One by one, characteristics are added beginning with virtue. Step by step, the process builds. It's almost like you can't get virtue without faith or knowledge without virtue, or self control without knowledge, or perseverance without self-control and so on. Most interesting from my perspective, is that love is the final step in this pyramid of character traits to build a CHRISTian (or image of Christ). We see throughout the New Testament that love is the fulfillment of the law, and that love covers a multitude of sins. Perhaps this is why it is at the top of this triangle. [/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, serif]Going on, verse 8 tells us that if these things are ours and abound (I think it's important to note the abound part), then we will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the [/FONT][FONT=Georgia, serif]knowledge[/FONT][FONT=Georgia, serif] of the Lord. This would imply to me that the more we imitate Christ, the more we [/FONT][FONT=Georgia, serif]know [/FONT][FONT=Georgia, serif]about Him. We learn by imitation. On the other hand, if we lack these things, we forget that we are cleansed from our old sins. For me, and others, I'm sure...this leads back to a life of guilt, shame and condemnation under the Law.
[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, serif]In conclusion, it all points back to grace. The grace of God is what allows us to be diligent, virtuous, have the gift (yes I believe, the gift) of knowledge of Christ, self control, perseverance, godliness, and kindness, and finally, love. By the grace of God, I am what I am, and in Christ, I am the above listed things because I am imitating the one who gives me these qualities. Therefore, I could conclude that knowing who we are in Christ is what makes us fruitful.
[/FONT]
[FONT=Georgia, serif]What say y'all?
[/FONT]