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lay down their lives for the gospel。 Soon grievous wolves were to enter in；
not sparing the flock。 But none of these things were to bring discouragement
to those whose hopes were centered in Christ。 With words of encouragement
and good cheer Peter directed the minds of the believers from present trials
and future scenes of suffering 〃to an inheritance incorruptible； and
undefiled； and that fadeth not away。〃 〃The God of all grace；〃 he fervently
prayed； 〃who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus； after
that ye have suffered awhile； make you perfect； stablish； strengthen； settle
you。 To Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever。 Amen。〃
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Chapter 52
Steadfast Unto the End
In the second letter addressed by peter to those who had obtained 〃like
precious faith〃 with himself； the apostle sets forth the divine plan for the
development of Christian character。 He writes：
〃Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God； and of
Jesus our Lord； according as His divine power hath given unto us all things
that pertain unto life and godliness； through the knowledge of Him that hath
called us to glory and virtue： whereby are given unto us exceeding great and
precious promises： that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature；
having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust。
〃And beside this； giving all diligence； add to your faith virtue； and to
virtue knowledge； and to knowledge temperance； and to temperance patience；
and to patience godliness； and to godliness brotherly kindness； and to
brotherly kindness charity。 For if these things be in you； and abound；
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they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the
knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ。〃
These words are full of instruction； and strike the keynote of victory。 The
apostle presents before the believers the ladder of Christian progress；
every step of which represents advancement in the knowledge of God； and in
the climbing of which there is to be no standstill。 Faith； virtue；
knowledge； temperance； patience； godliness； brotherly kindness； and charity
are the rounds of the ladder。 We are saved by climbing round after round；
mounting step after step； to the height of Christ's ideal for us。 Thus He is
made unto us wisdom； and righteousness； and sanctification； and redemption。
God has called His people to glory and virtue； and these will be manifest in
the lives of all who are truly connected with Him。 Having become partakers
of the heavenly gift； they are to go unto perfection； being 〃kept by the
power of God through faith。〃 1 Peter 1：5。 It is the glory of God to give His
virtue to His children。 He desires to see men and women reaching the highest
standard； and when by faith they lay hold of the power of Christ； when they
plead His unfailing promises； and claim them as their own； when with an
importunity that will not be denied they seek for the power of the Holy
Spirit； they will be made complete in Him。
Having received the faith of the gospel； the next work of the believer is to
add to his character virtue； and thus cleanse the heart and prepare the mind
for the reception of the knowledge of God。 This knowledge is the foundation
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of all true education and of all true service。 It is the only real safeguard
against temptation； and it is this alone that can make one like God in
character。 Through the knowledge of God and of His Son Jesus Christ； are
given to the believer 〃all things that pertain unto life and godliness。〃 No
good gift is withheld from him who sincerely desires to obtain the
righteousness of God。
〃This is life eternal；〃 Christ said； 〃that they might know Thee the only
true God； and Jesus Christ； whom Thou hast sent。〃 John 17：3。 And the prophet
Jeremiah declared： 〃Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom； neither let
the mighty man glory in his might； let not the rich man glory in his riches：
but let him that glorieth glory in this； that he understandeth and knoweth
Me； that I am the Lord which exercise loving…kindness； judgment； and
righteousness； in the earth： for in these things I delight； saith the Lord。〃
Jeremiah 9：23； 24。 Scarcely can the human mind comprehend the breadth and
depth and height of the spiritual attainments of him who gains this
knowledge。
None need fail of attaining； in his sphere； to perfection of Christian
character。 By the sacrifice of Christ； provision has been made for the
believer to receive all things that pertain to life and godliness。 God calls
upon us to reach the standard of perfection and places before us the example
of Christ's character。 In His humanity； perfected by a life of constant
resistance of evil； the Saviour showed that through co…operation with
Divinity； human beings may in this life attain to perfection of character。
This is God's assurance to us that we； too； may obtain complete victory。
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Before the believer is held out the wonderful possibility of being like
Christ； obedient to all the principles of the law。 But of himself man is
utterly unable to reach this condition。 The holiness that God's word
declares he must have before he can be saved is the result of the working of
divine grace as he bows in submission to the discipline and restraining
influences of the Spirit of truth。 Man's obedience can be made perfect only
by the incense of Christ's righteousness； which fills with divine fragrance
every act of obedience。 The part of the Christian is to persevere in
overcoming every fault。 Constantly he is to pray to the Saviour to heal the
disorders of his sin…sick soul。 He has not the wisdom or the strength to
overcome； these belong to the Lord； and He bestows them on those who in
humiliation and contrition seek Him for help。
The work of transformation from unholiness to holiness is a continuous one。
Day by day God labors for man's sanctification； and man is to co…operate
with Him； putting forth persevering efforts in the cultivation of right
habits。 He is to add grace to grace； and as he thus works on the plan of
addition； God works for him on the plan of multiplication。 Our Saviour is
always ready to hear and answer the prayer of the contrite heart； and grace
and peace are multiplied to His faithful ones。 Gladly He grants them the
blessings they need in their struggle against the evils that beset them。
There are those who attempt to ascend the ladder of Christian progress； but
as they advance they begin to put their trust in the power of man； and soon
lose sight of Jesus；
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the Author and Finisher of their faith。 The result is failure the loss of
all that has been gained。 Sad indeed is the condition of those who； becoming
weary of the way； allow the enemy of souls to rob them of the Christian
graces that have been developing in their hearts and lives。 〃He that lacketh
these things；〃 declares the apostle； 〃is blind； and cannot see afar off； and
hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins。〃
The apostle Peter had had a long experience in the things of God。 His faith
in God's power to save had strengthened with the years； until he had proved
beyond question that there is no possibility of failure before the one who；
advancing by faith； ascends round by round； ever upward and onward； to the
topmost round of the ladder that reaches even to the portals of heaven。
For many years Peter had been urging upon the believers the necessity of a
constant growth in grace and in a knowledge of the truth； and now； knowing
that soon he would be called to suffer martyrdom for his faith； he once more
drew attention to the precious privileges within the reach of every
believer。 In the full assurance of his faith the aged disciple exhorted his
brethren to steadfastness of purpose in the Christian life。 〃Give
diligence；〃 he pleaded； 〃to make your calling and election sure： for if ye
do these things； ye shall never fall： for so an entrance shall be ministered
unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ。〃 Precious assurance！ Glorious is the hope before the believer
as he advances by faith toward the heights of Christian perfection！
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〃I will not be negligent；〃 the apostle continued； 〃to put you always in
remembrance of these things； though ye know them； and be established in the
present truth。 Yea； I think it meet； as long as I am in this tabernacle； to
stir you up by putting you in remembrance； knowing that shortly I must put
off this my tabernacle； even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath showed me。
Moreover I will endeavor that ye may be able after my decease to have these
things always in remembrance。〃
The apostle was well qualified to speak of the purposes of God concerning
the human race； for during the earthly ministry of Christ he had seen and
heard much that pertained to the kingdom of God。 〃We have not followed
cunningly devised fables；〃 he reminded the believers； 〃when