The Old Testament prophecies of the second coming of Jesus are so reliable, Peter encourages his readers to give constant attention to them. They are like lanterns of truth and hope guiding believers through the dark journey of this life. The lanterns will no longer be needed when the light of day dawns, when Jesus comes. And Jesus’ coming means a new life for believers has begun like the morning star signals the beginning of a new day.

How you live your life now will determine your service, your authority and the honor you receive in the Kingdom. Now is the time to learn and take on the kingdom virtues of agape love, brotherly affection, service, humility, grace, forgiveness, faithfulness, diligence, integrity, wisdom, righteousness. Jesus will exalt believers who seek to partake of the divine nature. But He will rebuke those who continue in the old nature of self-centeredness.

We believe in a promise that Jesus is literally, physically coming a second time to this earth. Is this promise of such a nature that it warrants such a belief? The answer to this question is based on the premise that a promise is only as good as the one who makes it. This is the issue of our study this morning.

Missions Update, Samaritan Aviation Matt & Jeannine Condon

Disciple making incorporates the entirety of the Christian life, and it is one of the clearest ways that we can show love towards our family and the world. Now that we are clear on what it means to be/make a disciple of Jesus, let's turn our attention to the brief but helpful pattern that Peter gives to us.

In our study today, the Apostle Peter uses clear and powerful language to describe two very different roads a believer could choose to follow.

2 Peter 1:3-8 reveals that Jesus has granted us everything needed to become like Him in character, values, attitudes and actions.  But to what end? For what purpose? We have also discovered that becoming partakers of the divine nature; of possessing the character, values, attitudes and actions of Jesus Himself, requires effort on our part.

As followers of Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are able to become like Christ in character, values, attitudes and actions. This transformation starts with a growing knowledge of Jesus and His promises. Then we are to make every effort to supplement, or add to, our faith with the qualities found in 2 Peter 1:5-7.

Self-control is the war between impulsivity and doing what's right or beneficial. It's the ability to control emotions, impulses or behaviors to achieve a greater goal.

Jesus has granted us everything needed to become like Him, but we must put effort into the process of transformation as well.  The very first principle we see in this passage is that: Becoming partakers of the divine nature; of possessing the character, values, attitudes and actions of Jesus Himself, requires serious effort on our part.