My Musings – Yesterday’s musings, referencing the Apostle Paul, stood for the doctrine that salvation was by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Any effort (on our part) to add to this would be futile. In today’s text, the Apostle Peter is saying that we should make every effort (work) to add to our faith the listed qualities. That these efforts (on our part) would be effective and productive.
Surely this is a huge contradiction between these two giants of Christianity? Not at all. Paul was speaking about what results in salvation (grace). Peter was speaking about what results from salvation (good works/qualities). Grace is the cause of salvation, good works/qualities are the effect of salvation. Salvation is an event, developing these qualities is a process (in increasing measure). One can have good works/qualities without being saved, but no one can be saved without developing good works/qualities. There is no effort of our own that can gain us salvation. But once we have gained it, we should make every effort to add to it. And yet, here’s the deal. Even though you are putting effort into it to grow your faith, it is the work of the Holy Spirit transforming you into Christ-likeness that gives the increase.
My Advice – You cannot grow it, if you don’t got it. Get it today. It’s free. By grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
The Brew Is A Musing 