Bible Studies

Peter Warns All Believers Against False Teachers Within Volume 7

by Clifford Tate 
05/12/26
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Making our Calling and Election Sure (to ourselves & to the world 🗺) Part 4

2 Peter 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  KJV Note: NKJV=New King 👑James Version

The Apostle Peter wants us to know that the gift of grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8) that we have received must be exercised in order that we not become as it is written, 'be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ' as he declares here in 2 Peter 1:8. Let us examine the little English phrase 'be barren', for it is translated by the Greek word argos which is a negative particle meaning to be inactive (by implication) to be lazy or useless or idle. In other words, not adding those qualities listed above to our faith will make our faith 'in Christ' to become weak somewhat like our muscles in our human body undergo atrophy, that is, weakening or degeneration (especially through lack of use). So it is with our faith in Christ Jesus our Lord, we must exercise our faith 'in Christ' through communion with Him in unceasing prayer and consuming His flesh and His blood (through continual intake of His Holy Word) as our Lord Jesus told us with these words, "For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me." (John 6:55-57) (NKJV). Peter understood this emphatically for when our Lord Jesus asked all the Apostles if this teaching of eating His flesh and drinking His blood was to h🌎, but to do as Paul the Apostle wrote with these words to the Corinthian Church ⛪, "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." (1 Corinthians 15:58) (NKJV), for this mentality will cause us to want more and more from the gift 📦of grace through faith so undeservedly received by us from the gracious and loving Hand of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!!!

Here is what Dr. John Gill had to say of 2 Peter 1:8, "For if these things be in you,.... Are wrought in you by the Spirit of God, and exercised and performed by His assistance, who works in His people both to will and do: and abound; increase in their acts and exercises by the frequent performance of them: they make you; both by way of influence and evidence,

that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. There is a knowledge of Christ which is barren and fruitless; and those that have it are so in their conversations, and it will be of no avail to them another day: and this is a mere notional and speculative knowledge, such as is not attended with any inward experience and application of Christ to themselves, or any fruits of righteousness in their lives, and is a bare theory of things relating to His person, offices, and works; but there is a knowledge of Him that is spiritual and experimental, by which a soul not only approves of Christ, but places its trust and confidence in Him, and appropriates Him to himself, and practically observes His commands and ordinances in the faith of Him; and in love to Him he performs the above duties, and exercises the above graces; from whence it appears, that he is neither barren nor unfruitful himself in the profession of his knowledge of Christ; 'or in the acknowledgment of Him', as it ma

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...