BASIC BUILDING BLOCKS OF MATURITY

DNA CODE FOR A HEALTHY CHRISTIAN LIFE

2 Peter 1:1-11

1 ¶ Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: {to: or, by}
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

CORE ATTRIBUTES
(Faith + Virtue + Knowledge + Self-Control + Perseverance +
Godliness + Brotherly Kindness + Love)

Together, these qualities make believers effective in their spiritual lives and help them grow deep in their understanding of Jesus and life in His name.

5 And beside this, giving all diligence, (earnestness in accomplishing, promoting, or striving after anything)

add to your faith virtue; (goodness 1.strength or ability involving moral worth 2.power or influence)

and to virtue knowledge; (general intelligence, understanding, moral wisdom)

6 And to knowledge temperance; (self-control, the virtue of one who masters his desires and passions; especially his sensual appetites)

and to temperance patience; (perseverance, steadfastness, constancy, endurance - NT characteristic of a person who has not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings)

and to patience godliness; (holiness 1. reverence, respect 2. piety towards God)

7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; (brotherly love--love of the brethern)

and to brotherly kindness charity (love). (agape love (unconditional), brotherly love, affection, good will, love, benevolence)

8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful (idle, slow) in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. {barren: Gr. idle}

9 But he that lacketh these things is blind (mentally blind), and cannot see afar off (nearsighted), and hath forgotten that he was purged (cleansed) from his old sins.

10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election (the act of picking out or choosing) sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: (stumble, make a mistake, sin)

11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.


EXAMINE YOUR LIFE FOR EVIDENCE OF CORE ATTRIBUTES!

The virtuous woman means "woman of ability".

Proverbs 31:10 - Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
Ruth 3:11 - And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman. {city: Heb. gate}
Proverbs 12:4 - A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.

His divine power hath given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Though these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape from the corruption of this world caused by evil desires. (II Peter 2:18-20 NIV)*

*18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. {clean: or, for a little, or, a while, as some read)
19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

God's Divine Nature

Eph. 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. (true or, holiness of truth)

I John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.