The first chapter of 2 Peter is the last will and testament of an old apostle nearing the end of his life. He knows his time is short, so he says what matters most, and every word carries weight.

God Has Already Given Us Everything

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” (2 Peter 1:3, NIV)

This is a stunning statement. Not “God will give us” — not “if we try hard enough, God will give us” — but: God has already given us everything. Everything we need for life, for godliness, for serving him — it is already in us.

But how did this come about? It came through knowing him — the one who called us by his own glory and goodness. This “knowledge” is not intellectual understanding, not information stored in our heads about God. It is knowledge lived out in real experience — having seen him, having walked with him, having come to know him through a living relationship with Christ. It is in this kind of knowing that God’s power opens up to us. We do not need to manufacture godliness by ourselves. We simply need to connect ourselves to God, and let the power he has already given us run through our lives.

We Are Called and Chosen

“Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” (2 Peter 1:4, NIV)

We have already received “very great and precious promises” — the promise of his kingdom. And because of this, we are to escape the corruption of worldly desires and participate in the divine nature. What a picture this is: we will become more and more like the Lord, more and more shaped into his likeness.

This is not something we force through sheer willpower. It is because we have already been connected to God’s own life, and that life naturally grows within us, changes us, and makes us increasingly like him.

Growing Diligently — From Faith to Love

In verses 5 to 8, Peter lays out a path of growth: “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.” (2 Peter 1:5-7, NIV)

Notice the order. Faith is the entrance. Love is the destination. Faith is not where we stop — it is where we begin. We are meant to walk the whole road, all the way to love: love for our brothers and sisters, love for everyone. That is the fruit.

Verse 9 gives a warning: “But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.” (2 Peter 1:9, NIV) A person who does not live this way has lost their sight. They can only see what is close in front of them. They have forgotten that their sins were once washed clean. This is one of the most dangerous conditions a believer can be in — not open rebellion, but quietly forgetting grace, forgetting where it all began, losing the heavenly perspective entirely.

Not Stumbling, Entering the Eternal Kingdom

Verses 10 to 11 bring the whole passage to its conclusion: “Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:10-11, NIV)

This is Peter’s promise to us: live this way with diligence, and you will not stumble. You will walk steadily into that eternal kingdom, and the door will be wide open to welcome you.

Remember Who You Are

This is the old apostle’s final word to us: remember that you are people called by the Lord’s grace, specially chosen by God. You already know the Lord. You already know how you are meant to live. God has already given you everything you need.

So do not be lazy. Do not forget grace. Do not fix your eyes only on what is near. Pursue with diligence — grow from faith toward love, escape the corruption of worldly desires, and become more and more like the one who called you.

The end of this road is his eternal kingdom. And that door is open wide for you.

“Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” — 2 Peter 1:10-11