How Christian Amnesia Leads to Christian Apathy

The Danger of Spiritual Amnesia

Spiritual amnesia leads to spiritual apathy. When we forget these truths, it hinders our assurance and godliness. There are three big principles in 2 Peter 1 that benefit us greatly.

1. Grace and Peace Multiplied

Peter's goal is that grace and peace may be multiplied to us through knowledge. Grace is God's beneficial involvement in our lives, unmerited. Peace is our satisfaction and contentment with God.

2. Effective and Fruitful

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.

Godly knowledge leads to godliness and activity, yet some with knowledge remain ineffective. It's not the knowledge's fault, but spiritual apathy—not possessing or increasing in these qualities.

3. Confirming Your Calling and Election

Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.

These principles—grace and peace, effectiveness, assurance—are fulfilled through knowledge of God, maintaining and increasing in the godly qualities, and practicing them to confirm our calling and election. Practicing means possessing and increasing in them, assuming calling and election already exist.

Peter's Intention to Remind

Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. I think it fitting, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.

Peter writes to those established in truth, yet insists on reminding them always. Even if you know these things—supplementing faith with virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love—you need reminders.

Moral excellence means being real about sin and dealing with it diligently. In a world that thinks being a "good person" suffices, true excellence acknowledges sinfulness and applies the gospel.

Reminders combat forgetting, ensuring effectiveness and fruitfulness in every area: sanctification, marriage, work, relationships—all for God's glory.

Peter's Effort and Ours

Peter made every effort so we could recall these things at any time. Scripture enables this—beyond routine reading or memorization, treasure it as precious, letting it impact life.

Make every effort, as in verse 5: supplement faith with virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly affection, love. Increasing in these clears vision, prevents nearsighted blindness from forgetting cleansing from sin.

For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.

Diligence confirms calling and election, providing rich entrance into the eternal kingdom. The source is God's Word; the response is diligent effort and consistency; the result is fruitfulness, multiplied grace and peace, assured salvation.

Practice Prevents Apathy

Forgetfulness makes us blind to temptation, growth needs, and duty, hindering godliness and assurance. Like James's mirror, we hear truth in church but forget without maintaining Scripture.

Practice immediately what is taught, or it fades. Effort beyond routine—sweat, discipline—yields life change. Godliness grows with effort, motivated by God's sovereignty and work in us.

Maintain, increase, be reminded. The stakes are high: amnesia leads to apathy; remembrance to diligence, fruitfulness, and confirmation.