Christian Questions Bible Podcast

The Apostle Peter began his second letter to all Christians by addressing the very formation of our Christian lives. He proceeded to lay out a deep and profound series of character development steps to show us how to completely and wholly grow into mature disciples of Christ. In Part I of this series, we covered the first four verses of 2 Peter chapter 1. These verses laid out a broad foundation for the development of our Christian character that is based on who God is, what He promises us and what Jesus has done. The next part of the blueprint for our character development is to not only show us traits we need to have included in our Christlikeness, but HOW we are to include them. This episode reveals how Peter unfolds his spirit-driven, exciting and practical approach to building a true Christlike character.

Peter’s blueprint continues with a command: “…applying all diligence.” The Greek terms reveal a vivid picture—bringing our effort alongside what God has already supplied, and doing so with eagerness, earnestness and speed. Diligence is the opposite of sluggishness; it reflects a focused loyalty to God’s will. As we receive God’s promises, we are to simultaneously apply this diligence.

The first area where diligence must operate is our faith.

Faith is not a wish; rather, it is a conviction grounded in God’s reality. It is a gift, and though not earned, it must be tested, strengthened and lived. Trials develop endurance, and endurance matures character. Faith becomes what we call an “Allegiance Attribute”—a foundational internal quality that shapes all the other traits Peter will list.

Faith must be active, single‑minded and visible through works.

Just as Christ fully supplies the body and Christians supply one another, we are called to fully supply our own character with what it needs to grow. Ultimately, God abundantly supplies entrance into the eternal kingdom, far beyond mere adequacy. Our role is to respond to His overwhelming provision with the diligent and eager faith that fuels the lifelong process of Christlike transformation. 

Key Takeaways

God’s promises form the foundation for Christian character development.

“Applying all diligence” means bringing earnest effort alongside God’s provision.

Faith is the first and foundational Allegiance Attribute.

Faith must be active, tested, single‑minded and visible through works.

Growth is mutual: God supplies us, we supply our character, and we in turn support others.

God’s supply is abundant and our response to it must be diligent and wholehearted.

The Apostle Peter began his second letter to all Christians by addressing the very formation of our Christian lives. He proceeded to lay out a deep and profound series of character development steps to show us how to completely and wholly grow into mature disciples of Christ. To begin this process, his clear message in the first four verses of Chapter 1 verifies that we have been given EVERYTHING we need to be faithful to our call. Peter directly connects God’s promises to our faithfulness. What is it about His promises that has such a powerful influence on the everyday lives of those who are “called according to His purpose”? How can we clearly and definitively apply these promises to each and every day of our lives?

This episode explores how God’s promises transform the life of a Christian, using 2 Peter 1:1–4 as the foundation. Peter opens his letter by reminding Christians that they have received a “like precious faith”—a faith equal in value to that of the apostles. This faith requires a life of non‑conformity to the world, inner transformation and continual renewal through God’s spirit. Such faith is rooted in the righteous acts of Jesus, whose obedience satisfied divine justice and opened the way for believers to become “new creations.”

Grace and peace

Peter then highlights that God multiplies grace and peace in the lives of those who grow in true knowledge of Him. This knowledge (Greek: epignosis) is not superficial; it is a deep, ever‑advancing understanding gained through study, prayer, discipline and perseverance. God’s divine power has already provided everything necessary for life and godliness, regardless of one’s circumstances. Christians are fully integrated into God’s plan—granted access, citizenship, a spiritual foundation and a place in His household.

Only after establishing this foundation does Peter introduce God’s “precious and magnificent promises.” These promises are trustworthy because they come from God’s unchanging character. They include peace, strength in temptation, instruction, protection, courage, assurance, hope and an ultimate reward of immortality. Importantly, these promises do not remove trials but walk Christians through them, shaping Christlike character.

The purpose of these promises is transformative. Through them, we may become “partakers of the divine nature,” escaping the corruption of the world. This extraordinary privilege is granted only to faithful followers of Christ who live in alignment with God’s will. Peter’s introduction sets the stage for the “ladder of virtues” in 2 Peter 1:5–7, which outlines the step‑by‑step development of Christian character. The promises are tools that empower us to grow into mature disciples whose allegiance is fully centered on God.

Key Takeaways

God’s promises are powerful because of who God is—unchanging, truthful and sovereign.

These promises equip, not escape; they strengthen Christians to endure trials.

True transformation requires knowledge, discipline and alignment with God’s will.

The promises ultimately enable faithful followers of Jesus to become partakers of the divine nature.

In Part I of this two-part series, we focused on the magnificent gift that we as Christians are given when we accept the redemption for our sins available through Jesus’ sacrifice. We talked about the magnitude of this gift and how true disciples of Jesus are also required to give back as a result of receiving this gift. According to Scripture, the action of “giving back” is accomplished through our responsibility to reverently care for it. This care is clearly identified by how we choose to live our lives as genuine followers of Christ. Fortunately, we have clear and concise instructions waiting for us in the Scriptures!

Part I established the “required care focuses” from Romans 12:1—recognition, awe, gratitude, humility, intentional self‑denial, adopting a new mindset and full engagement. These attitudes prepare believers for the deeper work of transformation highlighted in the next verse.

Romans 12:2 introduces two essential components of discipleship:

NOT conforming to the world

Being transformed by the renewing of the mind.

Additionally, we suggest Christian non‑conformity has two “levels:”

We must be OUT of alignment with the world’s values

We must walk away from our own internal habits, desires and emotional patterns.

Jesus modeled this non‑conformity through his kingdom‑focused life, and his disciples were called to leave behind their former identities and occupations to follow him.

The result: a “new creation”

Transformation in Christ cannot begin until non‑conformity has intentionally been chosen. 2 Corinthians 5:14–17 and Philippians 3:13–15 reveal that transformation involves seeing others—and even Christ himself—from a spiritual perspective rather than a fleshly one. The Greek word for “transform” (metamorphoō) indicates a complete change of form, illustrated by the transfiguration of Jesus and the believer’s gradual change “from glory to glory” through the spirit. This transformation results in becoming a “new creation,” something entirely fresh and never before existing.

This process is lifelong, requiring perseverance, repeated decisions and reliance on God’s strength. Ultimately, transformation leads to receiving a “new name” and full acceptance by God, symbolized in Revelation 2:17. True discipleship is radical, intentional, and deeply rewarding, culminating in participation in God’s future work of blessing all humanity.

A Few Key Takeaways

True transformation begins only after intentional non‑conformity to the world.

Discipleship requires daily self‑denial, a renewed mindset and full engagement.

Transformation is a gradual, spirit‑driven process that reshapes identity and purpose.

True believers become a “new creation,” ultimately receiving God’s full approval and a symbolic “new name.”

As Christians, we love Jesus. All who claim that Jesus is their Lord and Savior do so because they have acknowledged their own sinful state and have realized the power of forgiveness that comes from Jesus’ sacrifice. It is easy for us to fellowship regarding what we have been freely given. What may not be as easy for us to define is what we are giving. A true disciple of Jesus receives redemption. That same true disciple is also required to give back as a result of that gift. Wait a minute! Isn’t Jesus’ gift freely given with no strings attached? Yes, it is free with no strings attached, and because we receive that gift, we are required to care for it. As we shall soon see, this required care thought is the very essence of being a true and genuine follower of Christ.

Discipleship

Discipleship is far more than loving Jesus—it requires intentional action, sacrifice and transformation. The “therefore” in Romans 12:1, which is the theme verse for this episode, points back to Romans 11, where Paul explains how Israel’s temporary casting off opened the door of mercy to Gentiles. This undeserved privilege should fill believers with awe, gratitude and humility. True discipleship begins with recognizing the magnitude of God’s gift and responding appropriately.

A living sacrifice

Paul’s instruction to “present your bodies a living sacrifice” introduces the core requirement of intentional self‑denial. Jesus modeled this throughout his earthly life, denying his own will in favor of the Father’s—even when it meant suffering. Followers of Christ must likewise abstain from sinful desires, count the cost of discipleship, and embrace the hardships, contradictions and separations that come with walking in his footsteps. These challenges are not meaningless; they produce spiritual growth and prepare believers for eternal glory.

Holy and acceptable

The call to be “holy and acceptable to God” requires adopting a new mindset shaped by the holy spirit. This new mindset involves continual learning, accurate handling of Scripture, humility and a commitment to godliness. Jesus’ own mindset—self‑emptying, obedient and focused on serving God—becomes the pattern for Christian transformation.

Finally, Paul describes this sacrificial life as “your reasonable service,” meaning it is the logical response to God’s mercy. Full engagement in discipleship includes prioritizing spiritual goals, supporting fellow believers as members of one body, and pressing forward toward the upward call of God. To truly follow Jesus is to live with recognition, awe, gratitude, humility, intentional self‑denial, a renewed mindset, and wholehearted commitment to God’s will.

 

We all love to tell the story of Jesus’ birth. We love the vulnerability behind God’s choice of Mary, the young woman who was engaged to Joseph to be Jesus’ mother. We love the humility of his being born in a stable because there was no room at the inn. We love the magnificence of the angel announcing his birth to shepherds and then having the heavenly host of angels praising and glorifying God. We love the reverential sobriety of the wise men coming with gifts for the small child, Jesus. Some of the things we don’t focus as much attention on are how God used specific individuals surrounding all of these events to speak in a prophetic way and outline in great detail what this series of incredible experiences would mean. Today we pause and consider the words of Zacharias and Elizabeth who were the parents of John the Baptist, Mary, the mother of Jesus, Simeon the prophet and Anna the prophetess.

Zacharias

Let’s begin with Zacharias, the Jewish priest who, because of his initial doubt, was struck mute by the angel Gabriel until the birth of his son John. This silence became a period of reflection, enabling him to connect Old Testament prophecies with Gabriel’s announcement. At John’s circumcision, Zacharias was again able to speak. He prophesied about both John’s role as forerunner and Jesus as the “horn of salvation.” His prophecy was powerfully based upon the words and promises of the Old Testament.

Elizabeth and Mary

His middle aged and childless wife, Elizabeth, rejoiced at God’s mercy in giving her a son. Filled with the spirit, she recognized Mary’s child as her Lord and humbly celebrated Mary’s blessing. Mary herself responded with faith and praise, further echoing Old Testament themes of God’s mercy, strength and justice.

Simeon

After Jesus’ birth, Simeon, an aged and devout man who had been promised he would see the Messiah before death, prophesied about Jesus as salvation for both Israel and the Gentiles. Again, Old Testament prophecies were clearly linked to the work that Jesus would later accomplish.

Anna

Anna, an elderly prophetess, added her testimony, giving thanks and speaking of redemption to those awaiting Jerusalem’s deliverance.

Together, these accounts show God’s spirit orchestrating events and inspiring faithful individuals to proclaim truths that connected Old Testament promises with New Testament fulfillment. Their obedience, humility and prophetic insight highlight the broader plan of redemption for all, unfolding through Jesus’ birth.