From Faith To Love

2 Pet. 1:1–7 

¹ Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: 

² Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God

and of Jesus our Lord,

³ as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,

⁴ by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises,

that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature,

having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

⁵ But also for this very reason, giving all diligence,
add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,

⁶ to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance,

to perseverance godliness,

⁷ to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 

These verses chart our seven step journey from faith to love—through His:

power (His divine power)

promises (exceedingly great and precious promises)

participation (partake) in His divine nature:

• Add to your faith—virtue (moral excellence, goodness, Christian energy)

• Add to virtue—knowledge (intelligence)

• Add to knowledge—self-control (discipline)

• Add to self-control—perseverance (patience, endurance)

• Add to perseverance—godliness (piety)

• Add to godliness—brotherly kindness

• Add to brotherly kindness—love