2 Peter 1:5-9
5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, 7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they do not make you useless nor unproductive in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For the one who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.”
For this very reason: Because we are partakers of the divine nature, and because we have everything we need for life and godliness, we can mature into our salvation through new behavior and mindsets. Each of these characteristics listed come from the very nature of the Spirit. These traits are His traits produced within His children. So, we don’t need to work on conjuring attributes such as self-control. We simply let God produce self-control, and all of His fruit, within us. We receive it and transmit it to others.
The one who lacks: Those believers who lack these characteristics, or commit sins, have forgotten their identity. As we think on Christ and our purification from sins these qualities will increase in our behavior. As we come to better understand grace, we will see God’s amazing fruit coming through as we enjoy rest in Him.
