"--1 Peter
2:3-8.
[485]Paraphrasing these words, the Apostle states that Jesus is the
chief corner-stone. He is the Head of the elect; he is the precious One.
Those who believe on him, to such he is precious; and those who hold
fast to that belief shall not be confounded. To believe means to act by
fully consecrating oneself to do the Lord's will. This great One, the
Lord Jesus, has been and is a stumbling-stone and a rock of offense to
those who have not believed. Those who have not appreciated the fact
that he is the King of kings and Lord of lords, and that it is a
privilege to suffer with him, have been offended and turned away from
him. It is a great privilege to suffer with Christ. "For unto you it is
given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to
suffer for his sake."--Philippians 1:29.
[486]The course of the world is directly opposite to the course of the
Christian; hence the Christian finds that he must constantly put forth an
effort to develop. For this reason the apostle Peter wrote: "Giving all
diligence, add to your faith virtue [that is, fortitude, steadfastness,
being determined to stand for the truth and on the side of right]; and to
virtue knowledge [in order to do this one must study the Word of God, not
only occasionally, but regularly, systematically]; and to knowledge
temperance [which means self-control, learning to control oneself under
provocation, being calm, gentle, self-possessed, trusting in the Lord];
and to temperance patience [which means cheerful endurance, no matter how
fiery the trials are; to endure cheerfully because it is pleasing to the
Lord and because it makes a strong character]; and to patience godliness
[which means to grow in the likeness of the Lord, with piety, purity];
and to godliness brotherly kindness [which means that kind and loving
disposition that exists and should exist between those who are really
brothers]; and to brotherly kindness charity," or love which means an
unselfish desire to do good and doing good to others even at a sacrifice
to ourselves.
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