For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:11

kits: Maize Maze and No Crow Zone by Kristmess Designs

Notice from the full passage below that we are to practice these qualities BECAUSE our former sins were forgiven, not in order to be saved. We are to do this because we HAVE knowledge of Christ and it is HIS power in us that enables us to do these things. (2Pet. 1:3, 1Pet. 1:14-19, Phil. 2:12-16) As John said, whoever says they know Jesus and are born of God, and yet walks the same wicked way that they did before receiving the gift of faith, is a liar.  It's not about slipping (and getting back up), it's about what we make a practice of. (1John 3:8-10, 2:3-6, Col. 3:5-7, 1Cor. 6:9-10, Rev. 3:4-6, 21:7-8, 22:14-15) Believers' bodies are the temple of God and we must not intentionally defile it with ungodly behavior. (Titus 3:3-8, 1Cor. 6:17-20, 1Thess. 4:3-6, 7-8, Eph. 5:5-12, 1Cor. 3:16-17, Rom. 12:1-2, 1Pet. 4:3-5, 1John 3:24)

full passage:

May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things. 2 Peter 1:2-15

The Holy Spirit within a person produces GOOD fruit. (Gal. 5:16-25, Titus 2:11-15, John 15:1-17, Rom. 7:4-6, Col. 1:10, Rom. 6:20-23) Whoever refuses to obey Jesus does not love Him (John 14:15-26, 24) and claiming to be "unable" to resist temptation to sin is in essence blaming God for their disobedience to Him, since He is our Helper IF we are His (and therefore have His Spirit). (1John 5:18, John 14:15-20, 23, 26, Rom. 8:9, 2Cor. 13:5) However, just as God doesn't force anyone to believe, neither does He force anyone to OBEY. We do so because we love Him, knowing all of the wonderful things He has done and being grateful for them - showing respect for His almighty power and perfect nature. (2Cor. 5:14-15, 1John 5:3, 1Pet. 1:8-9, 1Cor. 2:9, Jam. 1:12)

Our "work" is to STOP rebelling against Him and allow Him to LEAD us in the right way. (Rom. 8:13-19, 4:12, Eph. 2:8-10, Rom. 13:14, Isa. 30:21, Ezek. 33:31, Mark 8:34-38) Whoever is a slave to sin is not FREE, and will not remain in the house forever. (Heb. 3:5-6, 12-14, Heb. 10:26-31) Jesus came to set us free FROM sin, not TO sin. (Rom. 6, John 8:34-36, 2Pet. 2:18-22) Whoever humbles themselves will receive sufficient grace to overcome by His power. When we became children of God by believing in Jesus, we humbled ourselves and admitted we were sinners in need of salvation, and that our way could not save us. (John 1:12-13, 3:16-18, 36, 1John 2:23,  2John 1:9) We must continue in a state of humility toward God and His ways. (Jam. 4:4-10, 1Pet. 5:6-11, 4:12-19, John 15:18-21, Heb. 13:12-16, 12:5-17, Zeph. 3:11-13, Isa. 55:8-9, 29:16, Psa. 50:16-23) That's why it's referred to as a walk, race, fight, battle, etc. (Matt. 7:13-27, 10:37-39, Eph. 4:1, 17-24, 6:10-20, 1Thess. 2:12, Phil. 1:27-30, Heb. 12:1-4, 1Cor. 9:24-10:13 - especially notice how the beginning of that passage is connected with the end, 1Cor. 10:13.)

The fact is that none of us has the ability to overcome - only Jesus HAS overcome, and thus those who ABIDE in Him and He in them overcome by HIS power. (John 16:33, 17:26) We can study the many corrective instructions to the churches given by Jesus in Rev. 2-3 to find out what pleases Him. (Eph. 5:15-17, 8-12, Rom. 12:2, 8:7-8, 1Cor. 2:14, Heb. 5:14, Mark 3:35, Heb. 10:36, 1Pet. 2:15-16, 4:1-5) The Bible is a precious gift from God revealing His heart to us - let's appreciate that and read it!  Let's embrace Paul's words of advice below.

And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:9-11 (Also see Col. 3, 1John 2:15-17, 2Pet. 3:14-18.)

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained. Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. Philippians 3:8-21 (Also see Rom. 8:16-17)

**Note: Please see my article "Wild Beasts" for information about what it is NOT to be an overcomer, which is to be perfect of our own power or by someone else enforcing THEIR power over us. That would not be genuine love, whereas, we will all stand before God to give account for ourselves. (Rom. 14:12, 2:6-11, Gal. 6:4-10, Heb. 4:12-13, Rev. 22:12, 11:18) God is a tester of hearts. (Prov. 17:3, Psa. 7:9-11, 26:2-3, 119:2, 111, 139:23-24, Jer. 17:10, 1Chron. 28:9, Zeph. 1:12, 1Thess. 2:4, Rom. 8:27, Rev. 2:21-23) Remember, any sin can be forgiven and washed away if we will just confess it to God and repent. (1John 1:9)

JESUS is the Head of the Church. (Eph. 1:22-23, 5:23, Col. 1:15-20, 1Tim. 2:5-6) Those who have been called by Him to lead are NOT given authority to add picky details to His instructions and take away freedoms (having nothing to do with sin - Rom. 14, Col. 2:8, 16-23, Jam. 2:12-13). (1Cor. 4:6, 2John 1:9-11, Prov. 30:6, Rev. 22:18-19) They will give an answer for whether they led with a servant heart (Matt. 20:25-28, 1Pet. 5:1-5), spoke the whole truth (Acts 20:26-32, Jam. 3:1, 1Tim. 6:20-21, 2Tim. 2:14-16, 3:1-5, 4:1-5, Titus 3:9-11), kept themselves from the love of money (Matt. 6:24, 1Tim. 6:5-10, Heb. 13:5, 1Pet. 5:2, Acts 20:33-35, Psa. 119:36), set a godly example for the flock (1Tim. 4:6-16, Titus 2:7-8, 1Pet. 5:3, 1Thess. 2:5), were willing to suffer for Jesus' sake (2Tim. 2:3-7, Acts 5:41, Phil. 1:29-30), etc. We must all follow these same rules, but we are not all called to lead. (Rom. 12:6-8, 1Cor. 12:4-28) Those leaders who fit the description of the wicked servant Jesus described will regret it. (Matt. 24:45-47, 48-51, Luke 12:41-44, 45-48)