Timothy Maas Supporter Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U. S. Army

As the Bible makes clear in passages such as Ephesians 2:8-9, salvation and eternal life are by God's grace. However, the eternal rewards that each redeemed believer will receive from God will be based on the degree to which he or she puts that faith into practice. This should not be viewed as a burden, but as a joyful opportunity to thank God for His mercy, and should also serve as a powerful incentive for believers to maximize their personal witness in order to be able to ultimately hear the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:23).

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Donna Williams Supporter

Dear Anonymous, the Apostle Peter is not talking about self effort. In my opinion he makes it very clear that he is speaking about the believers' intimate relationship with Jesus Christ and God our Father. That same union or oneness that He taught His disciples about in John chapter 15.

Peter is saying that we have already been equipped with everything that we need to become more like Christ as we grow in our relationship with Him. The more we grow in the knowledge of who He is, the more we will grow in displaying His divine nature. 

As we continue to abide in Him, we will continue to grow in the fruit of the Spirit. 

Jesus said, in John 15:4-5: "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in Me. "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."

It is the Holy Spirit who is at work within us to produce the virtues mentioned in 2Peter 1:5-7.

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