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Our Part: Faith and Diligence
Peter, wise in the ways of heaven and this
world, realized that a Christian can never be successful by just being
a spectator. He knew that we can never enter into the joys of the
Christian life by simply being admirers of Christ. For that reason,
Peter went on to give us a plan for living the Christian life successfully.
But before we think our way through the seven steps of Peter’s plan
in verses 5-7, let’s look at two prerequisites that are our responsibility
in living the Christian life successfully:
Faith = trust, full reliance on God
Diligence = effort to do our part
Trust + effort = success
Keep in mind: Peter’s seven steps are based on faith, or reliance
on God. Yet that reliance is not enough by itself. It is activated
only when combined with diligence. And diligence, also inadequate
in and of itself, needs to be combined with reliance on God.
What this means is that diligence and faith are two sides of a mystery.
We don’t know how it all works out. But they both have to be present
if we are going to have spiritual success.
This combination is often overlooked by those who emphasize the importance
of living the “Christ-life.” Too many Christians sit and wait for
the Spirit to move them. They never do anything great for God because
they never take up the challenge. Yet that personal effort is what
Peter said is our part. In behalf of God he called for diligence,
for effort, for zeal, for putting out and not putting off.
Peter wasn’t the only one with this view. The apostle Paul called
for the same thing when he said to those who had already trusted Christ:
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed not
as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out
your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works
in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure (Phil. 2:12-13).
The issue here is not working for salvation but because of salvation.
Because we have been saved by trusting Christ, how determined and
diligent we should be to serve with gratitude the God who saved us!
In that light, then, let’s look at 2 Peter 1:5-7 and move through
the seven steps that progress from diligent faith.
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©1986, 2000 RBC
Ministries —Grand Rapids, MI 49555 Printed in USA
Used with permission.
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