While 2 Peter 1:5-7 teaches us to cultivate seven significant things that will make us productive in our knowledge of Christ, 2 Peter 1:8-9 tells us about knowing Jesus – the benefits of abounding in such divine knowledge and the effect of neglecting it. That is why this article has been written for you, dear believer, so you’ll not be slack concerning your pursuit of knowing God intimately.
Verse 8
“For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” – 2 Peter 1:8 (NKJV)
The word “these” used at the beginning of the scripture above refers to the things the Apostle mentioned from verses 5 to 7. They are virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love. Now, as a believer, if you labour to add all these to your life in increasing measure, the resultant effect is that you’ll never be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. The question is, what does the Apostle mean by saying this?
A barren person is someone who cannot give birth, and an unfruitful person is a person who cannot bear fruit (be productive) with what he has. “Barren” is used in relation to women who aren’t able to give birth, but “unfruitful” is used in relation to agriculture. So, for the Apostle to use both means two main things.
1. Every believer who doesn’t possess the seven things described in the preceding verses cannot disciple others in Christ (that is, nurture believers to know God better).
2. Secondly, such a believer won’t experience productivity by the divine order in his own life.
These are the dangers involved in a believer forsaking the work of knowing God intimately. But even in verse 9, more consequences are written for such believers. Let’s look at them.
Verse 9
“For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.” – 2 Peter 1:9 (NKJV)
In this verse, the Apostle Peter reveals that a believer who lacks divine productivity traits, as mentioned in 2 Peter 1:5-7, is
- Shortsighted, even to blindness, and
- Has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.
Look at that! It’s terrible to be in Christ (saved) and not know God because you’ll become spiritually myopic and possibly drift towards spiritual blindness. When it worsens to spiritual blindness, your spiritual discernment gets completely shattered, and you’ll not live to please God because of overindulgence in sin. That’s why he added that such a believer “… has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.” If you don’t want this to be said of you, please sow in the Spirit because such is the life of those who walk by the flesh.
Invest in your spiritual growth. It has a proven record of quality returns.
