Big Picture: Because God has given Christians all we need to become spiritually mature (3–4), we must actively pursue spiritual maturity (5–9) if we expect to receive a rich welcome into God’s eternal kingdom (10–11).

1. Peter’s Greeting: When Peter begins his letter by referring to “the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,” he is saying that Christians will only enjoy “grace and peace in abundance” as we grow in our relationship to God and to Jesus (1-2).

2. God’s Provision: God’s glory and goodness have provided great and precious promises, so that through them we may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption of the world. In short, God has given Christians all that we need to become spiritually mature (3–4).

3. The Believer’s Responsibility: Christians must actively pursue spiritual maturity (5–9).

Add goodness to faith

Add knowledge to goodness

Add self-control to knowledge

Add perseverance to self-control

Add godliness to perseverance

Add mutual affection to godliness

Add love to mutual affection

“The issue is not merely whether Christians possess the virtues of vv. 5–7 (all Christians do, to some degree) but whether they are continually growing in them. In contrast, spurious Christians, those who claim that Christ has cleansed them but have shut their eyes to the truth, lack these virtues.” (Doug Moo)

4. The Importance of Godliness: Christians must pursue spiritual maturity if we expect to be welcomed into God’s eternal kingdom (10–11).

* I received invaluable assistance from D. A. Carson’s “Becoming Conversant With The Emerging Church” and Doug Moo’s “NIV Application Commentary: 2 Peter and Jude”