Fruitful Growth in the Faith

⁵ But also for this very reason, ^(A)giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue ^(B)knowledge, ⁶ to knowledge self-control, to self-control ^[a]perseverance, to perseverance godliness, ⁷ to godliness brotherly kindness, and ^(C)to brotherly kindness love. ⁸ For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither ^[b]barren ^(D)nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ For he who lacks these things is ^(E)shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

¹⁰ Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent ^(F)to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; ¹¹ for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

²⁸ But He said, ^(A)“More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

Happy Is He Who Keeps the Law

Build on the Rock^(A)

²⁴ “Therefore ^(B)whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: ²⁵ and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

²⁶ “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: ²⁷ and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”