… damit ihr durch dieselben [Verheißungen] göttlicher Natur teilhaftig werdet, … so setzt eben deshalb allen Eifer daran und reicht in eurem Glauben die Tugend dar, in der Tugend aber die Erkenntnis, in der Erkenntnis aber die Selbstbeherrschung, in der Selbstbeherrschung aber das standhafte Ausharren, im standhaften Ausharren aber die Gottesfurcht, in der Gottesfurcht aber die Bruderliebe, in der Bruderliebe aber die Liebe. (2 Pet.1:4-7)
Lammes Petrus macht in diesen Versen ganz deutlich, dass der christliche Glaube ein robuster Glaube ist. Jemand, der zum Glauben an Christus gekommen ist, hat jetzt die Fähigkeit starke, Christus ähnliche Charaktereigenschaften zu entwickeln. In der Tat hat er nicht nur die Fähigkeit sich so zu entwickeln, sondern auf die Verantwortung dies zu tun! Petrus betont in den folgenden Versen, dass es Dummheit wäre, dies zu vernachlässigen.
Petrus erwartet von uns das Ausmaß und die Kraft dieser Rettung zu kennen, uns in Selbstdisziplin zu üben und in schwierigen Situationen zu überwinden. Die letzten, in diesen Versen aufgezählten Eigenschaften, beziehen sich auf Heiligung und Liebe für einander. Was für eine wunderbare Liste von Charaktereigenschaften, vorgeschlagen von einem Mann der einst ein rauher Fischer war!
Petrus schreibt in dem Wissen, dass seine Zeit auf der Erde bald zu Ende gehen wird und es ist ihm wichtig, den Gläubigen klare Anweisungen zu hinterlassen. In den folgenden Versen fährt er weiter fort, dass diejenigen, die diese Eigenschaften demonstrieren, leicht in das ewige Reich unseres Herrn Jesus Christus kommen werden, weil dies die Dinge sind, die er schätzt.
Hast du diese Dinge im letzten Jahr entwickelt und gibt es noch mehr zu tun in deinem Leben? Befiehl dem Herrn deine Wege dieses kommende Jahr und arbeite mit ihm daran, diese Charaktereigenschaften in dir zu stärken.
01 January 2010
January 2010 - English
... through these [promises] you may be partakers of the divine nature … for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. (2 Peter 1:4-7)
Peter makes clear in these verses that the Christian faith is a robust faith. Someone who has come to faith in Christ, now has the ability to develop strong Christ-like characteristics. In fact, not just the ability to develop in this way, but the responsibility to do so! Peter makes clear in the next few verses, that not to do so would be foolish.
He expects us to know about the extent and power of this salvation, to learn how to exercise self-control and at the same time to persevere in difficult situations. The last part of the list relates to holiness and love, one for another. What a wonderful list of characteristics, and these suggested by a man who had once been a rough fisherman!
Peter is writing knowing that his time on earth will shortly draw to a close and he is concerned to leave clear instructions to the believers. He continues his discourse by explaining that those that demonstrate these characteristics will find it easy to enter into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, because He values these things.
How have you developed these things in the last year and is there more work to do in your life? Commit your ways to the Lord this coming year and co-operate with Him as He seeks to strength -en these characteristics in you.
Peter makes clear in these verses that the Christian faith is a robust faith. Someone who has come to faith in Christ, now has the ability to develop strong Christ-like characteristics. In fact, not just the ability to develop in this way, but the responsibility to do so! Peter makes clear in the next few verses, that not to do so would be foolish.
He expects us to know about the extent and power of this salvation, to learn how to exercise self-control and at the same time to persevere in difficult situations. The last part of the list relates to holiness and love, one for another. What a wonderful list of characteristics, and these suggested by a man who had once been a rough fisherman!
Peter is writing knowing that his time on earth will shortly draw to a close and he is concerned to leave clear instructions to the believers. He continues his discourse by explaining that those that demonstrate these characteristics will find it easy to enter into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, because He values these things.
How have you developed these things in the last year and is there more work to do in your life? Commit your ways to the Lord this coming year and co-operate with Him as He seeks to strength -en these characteristics in you.
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