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Peter is concerned about casual, ineffective Christianity that is susceptible to bad teaching and spiritual shipwreck.

1. You don’t work for your Christianity—it’s a gift from God. (1:1)

             “…those who have received…” (1)

            A particular faith “…by the righteousness of our God and Saviour, Jesus Christ” (1)

“Same kind”

• Same way
• Same gift
• Same message believed/ object of faith
• Same blessings
• Same rights/ results 

EXPERIENCING EVIDENCE: That differentiates “believe in” from “know about.”

2. You do work because of your Christianity—it’s your gift to God. (1:2-11)

                  “…applying all diligence...if these qualities are yours and increasing…be all the more diligent…as long as      you practice these things.” (5,8,10)

            A practical faith “…to your faith add moral excellence,…”(5, Jam. 2:17)

            God grants the divine power to do so… 

• What is freely received in your heart is multiplied in its effect by your head—knowing Jesus well as God, and his distinctiveness, as God.
• In Christianity you have everything necessary to become fully mature, but you must pour yourself fully into knowing Christ.
• In order to be welcomed into God’s eternal kingdom you must diligently pursue spiritual maturity

This is how you can be “certain of his calling and choosing of you”, because “faith by itself” is not the same, saving kind of faith the New Testament apostles proclaimed.