2 Peter 1:7-15

1.Repeat the list of virtues sometimes called "Peter's ladder." .
2.What is the crowning grace? , last part.
3.What is charity? .
4.What other very common word is equivalent to charity? See , and other texts in Revised Version.
5.What is the end or object of the commandment, or law, of God? .
6.What, indeed, is Bible charity or love? ; .
7.What is the whole duty of man? .
8.Then since the keeping of the commandments is charity, how does charity compare with the other graces? .
9.Into how much of our actions should charity enter? .
10.Without charity, what is the most eloquent man like? .
11.Will the possession of great faith and deep knowledge of the mysteries of God, make up in any degree for lack of charity? .
12.Show that charity does not consist simply in making great sacrifices and giving to the poor. .
13.Tell what are the characteristics of charity. .
14.If all these graces abound in any person what will be his condition? .
15.Name some of the fruits that are equivalent to the above graces. .
16.What is the condition of one who lacks these things? .
17.Then what should we do? .
18.What glorious reward awaits those in whom "these things" abound? .
19.What must be the nature of those who inherit that eternal kingdom? ; .
20.Is the fact that we know these things any reason why we should not study them diligently? .
21.Why was the apostle so zealous in stirring up the minds of the people concerning these great truths? .
22.What had the Lord shown him concerning his death? .
23.What was Peter's earnest desire that we should do? .
24.If these things are always in our mind, what prayer may we offer? .

Notes

Charity, or love, is "the bond of perfectness." This may readily be understood when we remember that "love is the fulfilling of the law," and that the whole law of God, including every duty that can be required of man, is summed up in the two precepts, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind," and, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." The love which is the bond of perfectness is not a mere emotion, but is a living, active principle, manifest in every deed and thought of one's life. Of course it is understood that love is the bond of perfectness only when there is underlying faith, for faith works by love, and love is the product of faith.

"Give diligence, to make your calling and election sure." Many are called, but few are chosen. How many are called? All. Here is the call: "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." . "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." . But not all will heed the call; and of those who listen to it, very few comparatively will gain the final inheritance, because the great majority will not agonize to enter in. "Many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able." . A man may even be one of the elect,—one of the specially loved of God, yet if he does not give diligence to make his election sure, he will certainly fall. The doctrine of "the perseverance of the saints" is an excellent one, if the saints only persevere; but they must not imagine that because they have tasted that the Lord is precious, and have felt the power of the world to come, therefore they are bound to be kept to the end, regardless of their own actions. Only those who patiently continue in well-doing can have eternal life. To each Christian the warning is given, "Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown." .

Bible texts in this lesson

2 Peter 1:5-7 · 2 Peter 1:7 · Colossians 3:14 · 1 Timothy 1:5 · Romans 13:10 · 1 John 5:2 · 1 John 5:3 · Ecclesiastes 12:13 · 1 Corinthians 13:13 · 1 Corinthians 16:14 · 1 Corinthians 13:1 · 1 Corinthians 13:2 · 1 Corinthians 13:3 · 1 Corinthians 13:4-6 · 2 Peter 1:8 · Galatians 5:22 · Galatians 5:23 · 2 Peter 1:9 · 2 Peter 1:10 · 2 Peter 1:11 · Titus 2:13 · Titus 2:14 · Revelation 21:27 · 2 Peter 1:12 · 2 Peter 1:13 · 2 Peter 1:14 · John 21:18 · John 21:19 · 2 Peter 1:15 · Psalms 5:1 · Isaiah 55:1 · Revelation 22:17 · Luke 13:24 · Revelation 3:11

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