2 Peter 1:4

When Christians know Jesus personally, they receive the nature and character (*glory and goodness) of Jesus. Their old nature goes. They are like new people (2 Corinthians 5:17). Paul said, ‘Now it is not I who live. But Christ lives in me’ (Galatians 2:20). We do not become God, but God lives in us by his Holy Spirit (John 14:16-17). We also know that Jesus will return. When that happens, we ‘shall be like him’ (1 John 3:2).

‘World’ here means human society that opposes God. The false teachers said that it was right for people to satisfy the evil desires of their human nature. Peter taught that Christians have escaped from their evil desires. They must not return to them. Instead, Christians must aim to become more like Jesus.

The character of a Christian

v5 Because of this you now share God’s nature. So now, you must work hard to add these things to your lives. Now that you trust God, you must develop moral goodness. v6 Increase your knowledge. Learn to control your own feelings and desires. Be patient. Do not give up when life is difficult. Behave in a way that pleases God. v7 Be kind to other Christians. Love all people in the same way that God loves them. v8 Do all these things and continue to do them. Then you will know our *Lord Jesus Christ better. And you will be an active and useful Christian. v9 But if someone does not do these things, he cannot see properly. He has forgotten that God has removed his past *sins.

Jesus has given Christians everything that they need. But they are responsible to use what he has given them. Because of the promises in verse 4, Christians must work hard to behave in the right way. This will take a lot of effort and a long time. Peter names seven qualities of character. Christians do not work on one quality at a time. Instead, Christians should develop all the qualities and keep increasing them. All the qualities link together. However, the greatest quality is love (1 Corinthians 13:13). Jesus said that the two most important commands are ‘love the *Lord your God’ and ‘love other people’ (Mark 12:29-31).