When faith is translated into action

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who has called us to glory and virtue: By which are given unto us exceedingly great and precious promises: that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And for this reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge self control; and to self control patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that you shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Therefore rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if you do these things, you shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be provided unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:2-11

Note that first we are freely given everything we need to live for Christ, as in Ephesians 1:3 : Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ…

We have everything and this “everything” is contained in Christ and is appropriated by knowing Christ in an authentic, personal relationship.

Now that you have escaped from the squalid prison of the world and have been lifted up into glory, seated together with Christ in the heavens – now, add to your faith virtue: let your faith be expressed in virtue or character, knowledge or truth in the inner man, self control, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and love.

Note that love is one step more than brotherly kindness. The step before love is brotherly kindness. If we really desire to love people then we will need to be kind and tenderhearted toward them first, and then we can grow to love them.

And if you believe God has chosen you, then Peter says to do these things, and then you can be really sure that God chose you: the proof of the pie is in the eating.

The person who disregards these commands will fall. The person who heeds them will never fall.