By Sadly, many stories can be told of Christians departing from the faith: good children who leave the church when they leave their parental home; close friends who get hurt by a Christian and then reject it all; pastors even who recant their faith. We know they were never true Christians (1 John 2:19). But the warning of being a professing Christian and then becoming apostate (rejecting it all) is very real.
2 Peter 1:10-11 gives the same warning – be sure you are the real kind of Christian, just like the Apostles of Jesus (2 Peter 1:1)!
What is the practical instruction to keep you on the right track to the very end?
2 Peter 1:5-7 is the list of progressively increasing Christian faithfulness, and 2 Peter 1:8-9 is the promise.
These passages speak of the practice of true faith. As much as Christians are not of this world, take a stand against sin and false teaching, these passages are not an anti-this and anti-that list. Instead, it is a pro-this, and pro-that list.
Christian, if you would remain faithful to Christ until your entry into heaven, practise these qualities with increasing zeal. Beautify your faith with virtuous behaviour, Biblical knowledge, self-control when tempted otherwise, steadfast consistence, and a truly God-like response to this world. Care for your fellow believers, and excel in the 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 tests of love.
For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.