Introduction.

Since we already have the new divine nature, what are the things we need to actualize in our lives?

1. Moral Excellence- A Christian is supposed to glorify God because he has God’s nature within (verse 4), and so when he does this, he shows “excellence” because he is fulfilling his purpose in life. So virtue, or moral excellence means fulfilling what you are supposed to do which is glorify God by your life by becoming like Christ and following Him and in nature

2. Knowledge. “A wise demeanor with a ready perception of what is useful or harmful, of what is to be done and to be avoided.”

3. Self-control, one of the fruit of the Spirit. It is avoiding the flesh(too much eating , sexual immorality). This is the person who controls his anger and frustration . We are not to turn aside when our faith is tested by trials. James 1:2 tells us to “count it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces ‘endurance.'”

4. Perseverance. We are not to turn aside when our faith is tested by trials. James 1:2 tells us to “count it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces ‘endurance.'”

5. Godliness. In other words, godliness means to live completely for God and be joyful about it.

6. Brotherly love- speaks of the love that exists in the friendship between two brothers. For the Christian, brotherly love is to exist because of our mutual relationship to Christ and in fulfillment of God’s command that we love each other ( Heb. 13:1).

7. Love/Agape. This love goes beyond love of those we have something in common with. This love exists and is given in spite of the differences. This is the self-sacrificial love that chooses and commits itself to the best interest of the other. This is the love of God that is given to us, and it is the type of love that is to exist between believers so that the world will know we are disciples of Jesus – Christians (John 13:34,35).

Their Relationship.

The idea in this passage is that each of these qualities is added by faith to the previous quality so that they build upon each other so that the whole is strengthened. It is not that each step must be perfected before the next is added, but that the framework of one gives the foundation for the next characteristic.

The Consequences – 2 Peter 1:8-9.

“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.”

If these seven qualities become the marks that characterize you and you continue to grow in them, which should be or at least become true for any Christian, then you will not be idle, useless nor unfruitful. In other words, if these marks of Christian maturity are yours then you will be used of God and you will produce good fruit of some kind to some degree. IF YOU POSSESS THESE TRAITS, THERE AWAITS A WARM WELCOME IN HEAVEN FOR YOU.Well Done ,good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord.

Dangers if we do not possess these qualities (verse 9)

If he does not possess these traits, he is nearsighted and blind.and has forgotten that that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

Conclusion:

Make your calling and election sure.

Check whether you heard God’s call and do it.