Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, May grace and peace be of Jesus Christ, May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has granted to us all things that power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. of sinful desire.

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For this very reason, make every effort to For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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For whoever lacks these qualities is so For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

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““Supplement your faith…."Supplement your faith…."

God gave to the apostles "all things that God gave to the apostles "all things that pertain to life and godliness" and pertain to life and godliness" and "precious and very great promises," that "precious and very great promises," that through them we "may become partakers through them we "may become partakers of the divine nature." of the divine nature."

This was God's part. This was God's part.

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Our part is to make every effort to Our part is to make every effort to supplement our faith with seven spiritual supplement our faith with seven spiritual characteristics, which we may call "divine characteristics, which we may call "divine qualities."qualities."

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But, before we look at the “divine But, before we look at the “divine qualities” let us consider the nature of the qualities” let us consider the nature of the faith that we are to supplement.faith that we are to supplement.

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A.A. Necessary to please GodNecessary to please God

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And without faith it is impossible to And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek and that he rewards those who seek him.him.

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A.A. Necessary to please GodNecessary to please God1.1. Believing "that He exists." Believing "that He exists." 2.2. Believing “that he rewards those who Believing “that he rewards those who

seek him."seek him."3.3. If we really believe these things, we will If we really believe these things, we will

"seek him.""seek him."

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B.B. The two aspects of faithThe two aspects of faith

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Now faith is the assurance of things Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. seen.

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B.B. The two aspects of faithThe two aspects of faith1.1. Things hoped forThings hoped for

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For I consider that the sufferings of For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. children of God.

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For we know that the whole creation For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. we wait for it with patience.

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Blessed be the God and Father of our Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. the last time. 16

Paul, a servant of God and an apostle Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before God, who never lies, promised before the ages began and at the proper time the ages began and at the proper time manifested in his word through the manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our entrusted by the command of God our Savior; To Titus, my true child in a Savior; To Titus, my true child in a common faith: common faith:

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Do not fear what you are about to Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of death, and I will give you the crown of life. life.

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As for you, always be sober-minded, As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as a drink am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure offering, and the time of my departure has come. has come. I have fought the good fight, I have I have fought the good fight, I have

finished the race, I have kept the faith. finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his also to all who have loved his appearing.appearing.

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B.B. The two aspects of faithThe two aspects of faith1.1. Things hoped forThings hoped for2.2. Things not seen.Things not seen.

a.a. The earthly life of Jesus ["We saw thee The earthly life of Jesus ["We saw thee not...."]not...."]

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The word which God sent to the The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ--He is Lord of all-- through Jesus Christ--He is Lord of all-- that word you know, which was that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: how God which John preached: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. was with Him.

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And we are witnesses of all things And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. Him God killed by hanging on a tree. Him God raised up on the third day, and showed raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, not to all the people, but Him openly, not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead."after He arose from the dead."

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Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” Eight days later, his disciples believe.” Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”them and said, “Peace be with you.”

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Then he said to Thomas, “Put your Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”Do not disbelieve, but believe.”

Thomas answered him, “My Lord and Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”and yet have believed.”

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B.B. The two aspects of faithThe two aspects of faith1.1. Things hoped forThings hoped for2.2. Things not seen.Things not seen.

a.a. The earthly life of Jesus ["We saw thee The earthly life of Jesus ["We saw thee not...."]not...."]

b.b. Eternal thingsEternal things

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We are afflicted in every way, but not We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you. but life in you.

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Since we have the same spirit of faith Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, knowing believe, and so we also speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all with you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. God. 27

So we do not lose heart. Though our So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. the things that are unseen are eternal.

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