Conversion & Fruits of Conversion in Petrine Theology

Conversion

1. “tasting that the Lord is gracious” (2:3)
2. “coming as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious” (2:4)
3. “called out of darkness into his marvelous light” (2:9; see 3:9; 5:10)
4. “obtained mercy” (2:10)
5. “ye were as sheep going astray, but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls” (2:25)
6. Following that which is good (3:13)
7. “bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit” (3:18)
8. Baptism “the answer of a good conscience toward God” (3:21)
9. Obeying the gospel of God (4:17)
10. Humbling yourselves under the mighty hand of God (4:6)
11. Obtaining like precious faith through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ (II :1)
12. The divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue (II 1:3)
13. Escaping the corruption that is in the world through lust and partaking of the divine nature through the gift of promises (2 Pet 1:4); “escaping from them who live in error” (II Pet 2:18); “escaping the pollutions of the world through knowledge” (II Peter 2:20)
14. Taking heed to prophecy (II 1:19) as unto a light until the day start arise in your hearts
15. “knowing the way of righteousness” (II Pet 2:21)
16. Minding the words through having your minds stirred up by way of remembrance” (2 Pet 3:1-2)
17. Coming to repentance (2 Pet 3:9)

Fruits of Conversion

1. Love (1:8)
2. Joy (1:8), and rejoicing in suffering (4:13-14)
3. Hope (1:13)
4. Holiness and pilgrimage, good works, honesty, chaste conversation [inner beauty], meek and quiet spirit (1:13-17; 2:11-12; 3:2-4); sobriety (5:8)
5. Desire of the Word (2:2)
6. Growth (2:2; 2 Pet 3:18)
7. Showing forth the praises of God (2:9); winning others (3:1); giving answer of hope (3:15); speaking that God in all things may be glorified (4:11)
8. Service of God, and respect and love for others (2:16, 17)
9. Patience in suffering, and suffering in well-doing (2:20; 3:17; 4:16)
10. Praying (2:7; 3:12; 4:7)
11. Compassion and love, courtesy among the brethren (3:8); charity among yourselves, and hospitality (4:8)
12. Good tongue and deeds (3:10-11), and conscience (3:16)
13. Arming yourself with the mind of Christ (4:1)
14. Stewardship of the manifold grace of God (4:10)
15. “Commit the keeping of their souls to God in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator” (4:19)
16. Casting care upon God (5:7)
17. Vigilance (5:8) and resisting the devil (5:8-9)
18. Fruitfulness: Adding virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, charity, abounding in them (II 1:5-8)
19. Making calling and election sure (II 1:10)
20. Vexing righteous soul with unlawful deeds (II 2:8)

Opposite of Conversion

1. Forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam. Who loved the wages of unrighteousness” (2 Pet 2:15); wresting the Scriptures to their own destruction (2 Pet3:16)
2. After having escaped, entangled in pollution, and overcome (2 Pet 2:19)
3. Turning from the holy commandment ( 2 Pet 2:21) – like a dog turned to his vomit
4. “allured through the lusts of the flesh” (2 Pet 2:18)