New Testament Lesson

2 Pet. 1:1-11 (NRSV)

Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith as precious as
ours through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: 2May grace and peace be yours in
abundance in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 3His divine power has given us everything
needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
4Thus he has given us, through these things, his precious and very great promises, so that through them you
may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of lust, and may become participants of the
divine nature.

5 For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with
knowledge, 6and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with
godliness, 7and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love. 8For if these things are yours
and are increasing among you, they keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of our
Lord Jesus Christ. 9For anyone who lacks these things is nearsighted and blind, and is forgetful of the
cleansing of past sins. 10Therefore, brothers and sisters, be all the more eager to confirm your call and
election, for if you do this, you will never stumble. 11For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.