2 Peter 1:9

2 Peter 1:9

For he who lacks these qualities is blind or shortsighted having forgotten his purification from his former sins.

Yesterday we looked at what it means if we posses the qualities that have been discussed over the past week. Today we must examine what it means if we do not posses them. There are advocates in Christianity of the loss of salvation and I would have to imagine that they would believe that if you do not posses any of the qualities mentioned before than you might have lost your salvation. There are still others who may claim since you do not posses them that you were never truly saved in the first place but I believe that Peter is sending a different message. His message is so comforting and encouraging. Before I go on I must state that I believe once one becomes a believer in Christ they cannot be removed from that position. I believe that God did not only forgive the us for the sins that we have committed but he has forgiven us for all sins. We have been forgiven of rape and genocide but most of us (hopefully all of us) will never actually engage in those sins but our status in light of those sins is forgiven. This is why Paul is so quick in Romans to shout to us, “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we how died to sin still live in it? Sin can no longer rend us from the hand of God because on the cross sin died. This idea is so important to Christian forgiveness because we are called to forgive as we have been forgiven or to the extent of what we have been forgiven for. We are called to forgive all sins because we have been forgiven for all sins! I have been forgiven for genocide a sin that I have never committed and I am to forgive those who have committed it. If Hitler or Stalin on their deaths beds turned to Christ and asked for His forgiveness He would grant it to them. Christ has already paid the price of sin and while this truly is a hard concept to grasp it is amazing! It is license to engage in more sin or sin we have never committed? Absolutely not! Sin was nailed to a cross 2000 years ago and while Jesus rose victorious from the grave sin did not!

So what then if we are lacking the qualities that show us to be useful and fruitful of God? Peter does not tell us we have lost our salvation but he tells us to get our vision checked. If we are lacking we must be blind or shortsighted. Peter does not doubt the salvation of his readers and he does not condemn them here but her reminds them of what God has already done. Some Christians believe that Christ never really got off the cross but He is continually being nailed to the cross as new sins are committed but this simply is not taught in Scripture. Jesus is victorious and all we must do is open our eyes or put on our glasses! How do we do this? How can we fix our spiritual eyesight? We must remember what was done for us and put aside what we have done. “Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder the past. Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 44:18, 19 Do not focus on the past and do not look to the future but focus on Jesus Christ right now. Jesus died for your sins and you have been declared by God as righteous in His sight. If you could lose your salvation then God would be a liar. You have been freed from all sins and there is no double jeopardy. So I urge you brothers and sisters in Christ be diligent and do not forget what has been done for you! Do not be paralyzed by past mistakes or scared to face the future but right now, this very moment, turn to God. Seek God in the present and your future will be filled with Him. Fill your days with prayer for other people and do not stop! 1 Thessalonians 5:17. It is never too late to turn back to Jesus! It is so easy to get caught up in this life and to forget the gospel. We cannot forget the gospel and we must continue to preach it to ourselves even though we are already saved it is easy to forget and to get so focused on our own works. Do not forget your purification from former sins!