Journal: Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society
Volume: JOTGES 38:75 (Autumn 2025)
Article: Preparing To Have A Lavish Kingdom Entrance (Part 2)
Author: David Janssen

JOTGES 38:75 (Autumn 2025) p. 33

Preparing To Have A Lavish Kingdom Entrance (Part 2)1

David Janssen

Pastor of Spiritual Growth
Grace Community Bible Church
Sandy, Utah

IV. The Results Of Growing Spiritually, Or Not (2 Pet 1:8–9)

Verse 8 spells out the positive benefits for the believer who possesses and develops the seven virtues enumerated in vv 5–7. Verse 9 outlines the negative consequences for the believer who lacks these virtues.

A. The Positive Results Of Possessing And Increasing In These Seven Virtues (1:8)

Verse 8a says, “For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they…”. Peter’s use of for if to begin the verse makes this a conditional statement. To qualify, a believer must meet two conditions: 1) he must have these seven virtues, and 2) they must be increasing. Although having these virtues is unmeasurable, the concept is that they should be observable to others.2

However, it is not enough to merely have these virtues in our lives to some degree; we are to grow in these areas as well. The Greek word for increasing is pleonazo. It is used nine times in the NT, including eight times by Paul and this one time by Peter. The Greek form of this word “always expresses the notion of development, denoting a process of growing, multiplying, or increasing.”3 God desires and expects the growth of these seven virtues, and we should be taking intentional and

JOTGES 38:75 (Autumn 2025) p. 34

specific steps to improve on each of them. Ask yourself, for example, “How am I doing on godliness?” and “What am I doing today to practice increased self-control?” Local church leaders should encourage believers to cultivate each of these virtues and provide concrete guidance on how to do so.

If a believer has these virtues and they are increasing, the outcome will be that “they do not make you useless nor unproductive” (v 8). The Greek word for useless is found eight times in the NT. It is also translated as “careless,” “idle,” and “lazy.”4 James uses useless in You must have a subscription and be logged in to read the entire article.
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