Grace And Peace

“Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,” ‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭1:2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Here, Peter is speaking to other believers, not the world. 

“And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.”

‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭1:5-7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

He's encouraging them to be diligent and "add" fruit to their faith! Growing good fruit takes work. That means reading The Word and being obedient to its commandments.

“Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:” ‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭1:10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

He says if you are diligent to "do" you will not stumble in your walk. So that tells me you can stumble if you "don't!"  

The funny thing about stumbling or backsliding is that you really don't know you've done it. All it takes is a little sin, that you allow to stay; of which you don't repent. (Like not forgiving when wronged.) You see the devil is real quick to tell you, "oh that's not too bad, so-n-so does worse!" By the time, you are aware you have backslidden, the sin is full blown! 

How do you know if you have unrepented sin, in your heart?

Read your Bible! God will tell you!

Peter in the second chapter, warns believers of some things that still plagues us today!

“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” 2 Peter‬ ‭2:1-3‬ ‭KJV‬

So many are caught up today in false teachers/teaching. The only way to guard your heart is to read The Word yourself. To get it, not only in your head, but also your heart. Only then will you recognize deception when you hear it, for the Holy Spirit will give you discernment. You will know, "THAT'S not quite right!" And if it's even a little off, it's a lie! The enemy is a liar and he has always twisted God's Word. Your only hope is to KNOW God's Word!

Example: we all know - 

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John‬ ‭1:7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

But the next verse:

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” 1 John‬ ‭1:8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

And there's: 

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭1:9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

And yet:

“If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” 1 John‬ ‭1:10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Remember all of these scriptures are being written to believers!

“But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭3:8-9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Praise God for His abundant mercy and great grace, towards us! 

We must come to repentance! If we say we have no sin, we have not come there yet! Not repenting causes a hard heart.

Ask God to reveal the sin hiding in your heart. He will!

And if you want fruit -

Walk in love

Walk in forgiveness

Walk in repentance!

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 6/15/16