Central Truth
Kingdom life is God’s rule becoming visible in His children. God has given us in Christ what we need for this life; therefore, we must know His priorities, diligently pursue them, and allow them to become increasingly evident in the way we live.
INTRODUCTION — THE KINGDOM MUST BECOME OUR WAY OF LIFE
Last Sunday, we established that the Kingdom of God is God’s rule and reign through Christ. Therefore, the Kingdom is not merely something we are waiting to enter someday; it is God’s rule shaping the lives of His children now.
Jesus said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). But we cannot deliberately pursue what we do not know. If we are to seek the Kingdom, we must know what the King values and the kind of life He desires from us.
In 2 Peter 1:3–8, Peter shows us three important truths: God has provided what we need for Kingdom living; we must diligently pursue the qualities He values; and these qualities must increasingly become part of who we are.
Simply put: KNOW THE KING’S PRIORITIES → PURSUE THEM → LIVE THEM.
Let us therefore consider what Kingdom living requires of us.
I. GOD HAS GIVEN US WHAT WE NEED FOR KINGDOM LIVING- 2 Peter 1:3–4
Peter begins with a remarkable statement:
“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness…” (v.3).
Notice that Peter does not begin with our ability. He begins with “His divine power.”
Before verse 5 tells us what we must pursue, verse 3 tells us what God has provided.
Kingdom living is not simply a human attempt to become morally better. God does not call His children to live the life of Christ and then leave them without divine provision for that life.
Peter says He has given us “all things that pertain unto life and godliness.” Paul expresses a similar truth when he says that God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1:3).
Our sufficiency is found in Christ.
Christ is not merely the example standing before us; Christ is also the life dwelling within us. Paul speaks of “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27; cf. Romans 8:9–10).
Therefore, if Christ is in us, the expected life is increasingly the life of Christ expressed through us.
PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE
Verse 4 takes us further. Peter says that through God’s precious promises we become “partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
This does not mean that Christians become God or share God’s divine essence. Rather, through our new life in Christ, we participate in the life God gives, so that His moral character is increasingly reflected in us- II Cor.5:17
Notice Peter’s contrast:
ESCAPING THE CORRUPTION OF THE WORLD → PARTICIPATING IN THE LIFE THAT COMES FROM GOD.
Colossians 1:13 says God has “delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.”
We have crossed over. Our spiritual position has changed; therefore, our pattern of life should increasingly change.
The world may be ruled by lust, pride, selfishness, greed, hatred and uncontrolled desires, but these must no longer define those who have come under the rule of Christ.
KINGDOM TRUTH: God has not only brought us into His Kingdom; He has given us in Christ what we need to live as people of His Kingdom.
II. WE MUST KNOW AND DILIGENTLY PURSUE THE KING’S PRIORITIES-2 Peter 1:5–7
Having established divine provision, Peter now introduces human responsibility:
“And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith…” (v.5).
Here is the balance: VERSE 3 — GOD HAS GIVEN.VERSE 5 — WE GIVE ALL DILIGENCE.
Grace does not produce carelessness. Divine provision does not cancel human responsibility.
We do not pursue these virtues in order to become God’s children. We pursue them because we are God’s children.
Philippians 2:12–13 holds these truths together: God works in us, and we respond to His working.
So when Jesus says, “Seek ye first” (Matthew 6:33), and Peter says, “giving all diligence,” Scripture teaches us that Kingdom living requires intentional pursuit.
But what exactly should we pursue? Peter identifies the priorities.
- FAITH — CONFIDENCE IN AND DEPENDENCE UPON GOD
Faith is foundational. We come to God through faith, and “the just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17). Faith says, “I trust God, I trust His Word, and I order my life on the basis of that trust.”
But faith must not remain barren, it must keep growing.
- VIRTUE — MORAL EXCELLENCE
Virtue is the commitment to what is morally excellent and pleasing to God. Because I belong to Christ, my conduct should increasingly reflect Christ.
When Faith asks, “Do I believe Christ?”; Virtue asks, “Is my life becoming consistent with the Christ I believe?”
- KNOWLEDGE — UNDERSTANDING GOD’S TRUTH AND WILL
We cannot intentionally pursue God’s will while remaining ignorant of God’s truth. Kingdom people must know what pleases the King.
But Peter immediately follows knowledge with self-control.
- SELF-CONTROL — BRINGING OUR DESIRES UNDER GOD’S RULE
Knowledge alone does not produce maturity. Paul warns that “knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth” (1 Corinthians 8:1).
We can know Scripture and still have an uncontrolled tongue, temper, appetite, sexuality, pride or emotions.
Therefore, Kingdom knowledge must become governed living. What I know about God must begin to control how I live before God.
- PERSEVERANCE — REMAINING FAITHFUL UNDER PRESSURE
This is more than passive waiting. It is steadfast endurance—continuing with God when obedience becomes difficult (James 1:2–4).
Self-control helps me say NO to what pulls me away from God’s will.
Perseverance helps me keep saying YES to God when faithfulness becomes difficult.
- GODLINESS — LIVING WITH REVERENCE TOWARD GOD
Godliness is a life consciously oriented toward God.
Its governing question is: “Does this please my King?”
That question begins to shape our choices, relationships, ambitions and conduct.
- BROTHERLY KINDNESS — GENUINE AFFECTION AND CARE FOR OTHERS
True godliness cannot leave us harsh and indifferent toward people.
Brotherly kindness expresses itself through compassion, mercy, patience, forgiveness and practical care for one another (1 John 4:20; Colossians 3:12–13).
- LOVE — SEEKING GOD’S GLORY AND THE TRUE GOOD OF OTHERS
Love brings the qualities together.
Jesus identified loving God wholeheartedly and loving our neighbour as ourselves as the great commandments (Matthew 22:37–40). Paul says, “the greatest of these is charity” (1 Corinthians 13:13).
Look again at what the King values:
FAITH → VIRTUE → KNOWLEDGE → SELF-CONTROL → PERSEVERANCE → GODLINESS → BROTHERLY KINDNESS → LOVE.
We should not force Peter’s list into a rigid staircase, but its order is instructive.
Faith is foundational. Knowledge must be governed by self-control. Self-control must endure under pressure. Perseverance must remain God-centred. Genuine godliness must affect how we treat one another. And everything finds its fullest expression in love.
These are not decorations for exceptional Christians. They are Kingdom priorities expected in the lives of God’s children.
III. THE KING’S PRIORITIES MUST BE IN US AND INCREASING IN US- 2 Peter 1:8
Peter now gives us an important test of Kingdom living:
“For if these things be in you, and abound…”
Notice two expressions: “IN YOU.” VS “ABOUND.”
- THEY MUST BE “IN YOU” — INWARD REALITY
Peter does not say these virtues should merely be around us.
Church may be around us. Scripture may be around us. Christian language and Christian activities may surround us.
But Peter says, “If these things be IN YOU…”
Kingdom life is an inside-out life, inward-outward
Jesus said, “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matthew 12:34). Peter himself speaks about “the hidden man of the heart” rather than merely outward adornment (1 Peter 3:3–4).
Outward behaviour without inward transformation can become religious showmanship.
But what is genuinely formed within us will naturally begin to express itself through us.
- If love is within, it will appear in how we treat people.
- If self-control is within, it will appear when we are provoked.
- If brotherly kindness is within, it will appear when somebody needs mercy.
- If godliness is within, it will affect what we do even when nobody is watching.
- If perseverance is within, difficulty will not easily drive us away from Christ.
INSIDE PREDICTS OUTSIDE IN KINGDOM LIVING.
God does not merely want us to look like Kingdom people. He wants His character formed within us.
KINGDOM TRUTH: Kingdom virtues are not costumes we wear before people; they are qualities Christ forms within us that become visible through us.
- 2. THEY MUST “ABOUND” — INCREASING GROWTH
Peter does not stop with presence:
“…if these things be in you, AND ABOUND…”
God desires progress, not mere presence.
Our love should grow.
Our knowledge should deepen.
Our self-control should strengthen.
Our perseverance should develop.
Our godliness should become more evident.
Our kindness should increase.
Peter later commands: “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).
Also, Paul similarly acknowledged that he had not already attained perfection but continued pressing forward (Philippians 3:12–14).
Therefore, the question is not merely: “Are these qualities present in my life?”
It is also: “Are they increasing in my life?”
Being a Christian for many years does not automatically equal spiritual maturity. We must ask: How much of Christ is increasingly being formed and expressed in me?
- 3. INWARD GROWTH MUST PRODUCE OUTWARD FRUITFULNESS
Peter says that if these things are in us and abound, they keep us from being “barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (v.8).
Here Kingdom priorities connect with divine fulfillment.
A fulfilled Christian life is not merely a life with more possessions, achievements or favourable circumstances.
A FULFILLED KINGDOM LIFE IS A FRUITFUL KINGDOM LIFE.
Jesus said, “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit” (John 15:8).
The movement is therefore:
CHRIST WITHIN → KINGDOM CHARACTER WITHIN → INCREASING GROWTH → OUTWARD FRUITFULNESS.
This is Kingdom living.
CONCLUSION — KNOW, PURSUE AND LIVE THE KING’S PRIORITIES
II Peter 1:3–8 has shown us three things:
- God has PROVIDED what we need for Kingdom living.
- We must DILIGENTLY PURSUE the qualities the King values—faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love.
- And these qualities must be IN US, ABOUND IN US, and produce FRUIT THROUGH US.
This is what it means for God’s Kingdom to rule our lives.
Therefore, our prayer should be:
“Lord, let Your Kingdom rule in me. Let what You value become what I value, what You desire become what I pursue, and the character of Christ become increasingly visible in the life I live.”