KEY SCRIPTURE: John 6:67 KJV Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

Life events always offers us challenges that give us the option to make certain choices. Jesus disciples forsook him en mass after He talked about giving His flesh to the world. He then turned to the twelve and asked them, will you also go away? I believe this was a very pensive moment. “Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.”  John 6:68. Simon Peter and the rest of the twelve were resolved to stand with Jesus and also knew the truth about the Lord, but the rest of the disciples did not know.

In the second epistle of Peter, he shared certain thoughts that would help every sincere follower of Jesus stand firm in Christ. 2 Peter 1: 5-11. He listed certain qualities that one must have.

 He added that if these traits stay in increasing measure in an individual, that person would never fall.

They are as follows.

1. Vrs 5: You must add virtue to your faith. Virtue is to have a sense of moral excellence.

 To do the right thing always, and doing it well.

It is to maintain an upright attitude or a sense of giving your best to achieve the best in everything you do.

2. He must also add knowledge to the virtue. Knowledge means to be enlightened by the truth, so the darkness of the devil will not envelope you. The people who forsook Jesus, did so because of a lack of knowledge which gave them a very wrong understanding, about Jesus’ teaching.

There are three main aspects of Christian knowledge that every child of God must have. These are

1. A general knowledge of the bible. This is acquired by reading through the bible and other Christian literature

2. A knowledge of Christian apologetics. This is a knowledge of how to appropriately defend the faith. Knowing about the validity of scriptures, evidential truths about Christ, His birth, death resurrection.

3 A knowledge of the power and presence of God. This comes through seeking the face of God and acting on His word, that gives God the opportunity to reveal His power and presence to you. A man with these three aspects of Christian knowledge cannot be confused by adversity, people’s misdeeds or   those who wrongly attack the scriptures.

3. The next trait that must be added to knowledge is temperance. Temperance is self-control or self-discipline. Temperance is to bring yourself to live within the stipulated rules. Failure to be disciplined could cause your ultimate disqualification from receiving your ultimate rewards in the presence of God.

 Temperance is gained by conditioning your mind with the scriptures, as well as taking certain physical actions like abstinence from certain places, books, videos, persons, and rather undertaking practices like fasting, meditations and controlling the mind to think scripturally always.

TO BE CONTINUED

THOUGHT:  TAKING DILIGENT STEPS TO STAND WILL HELP A LOT.

FURTHER STUDIES

2Peter 1:5 KJV” And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;”

2Peter 1:6 KJV “And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;”