2 peter 1.1-15

2. i never want to be a person who carries Christ around in my Bible, in my Podcasts, but not in my heart.

3. the gift of knowledge is not stale intellectual knowledge about God, but intimate, gracious and relational knowledge of Him, as a husband knows a wife.

4. the knowledge we've been given is not second-rate to the apostles, and His Words are more sure than the voice heard on the hill of Transfiguration.

5. this saving knowledge results in the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit of God, who makes us partakers in divinity. flip.

6. this knowledge has given us ALL things we need for life and godliness. it isn't "only just enough" - it's super abundance!

7. that knowledge is completely sufficient, but it can still grow! it grows in the form of the qualities of faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love.

8. these qualities grow as fruit trees - they will either be abundant, or they will be withered. you can still have this saving knowledge and be withered and ineffective. what a horrible prospect.

9. the manifestation of these qualities in a believer are like someone with open and clear vision, or with blindness - we are at risk of forgetting.

10. we have been freely given all we need - we are called to explore the relationship with Jesus that has been freely given. just as if i were to be given a gift of a computer, i would still need to explore and use it to be make effective use of the gift.

11. the virtues in this passage:
- faith: not saving faith, but the outworking of that faith - trusting and prayerful dependence.
- goodness: so that there is no mud to sling at us. open, transparent and accountable. depth of character.
- knowledge: wisdom and discernment to bear fruit, to know what is good and bad, and what is appropriate.
- self-control: control in the face of seemingly enjoyable things of this world.
- steadfastness: keep going in the face of the sufferings of this world.
- godliness
- brotherly affection: for all the members of the christian community.
- love: agape - self-sacrificing.

12. character must be the foundation of your decisions.

13. spiritual health - not what you do, but the virtues in your heart - as Jesus is carries around in our hearts.