Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord; I was shown part of this chapter of the Bible in three different places within a period of thirty minutes and know that it is meant for me and others out there, somewhere in the world. 
Glory to God and His Son Jesus Christ who strengthens us spiritually as we daily seek His face. 

Let's read the whole chapter first:

Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his 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: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance. For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 

(2 Peter 1:1-21)

 

And then the next verse:

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 

(2 Peter 2:1)

We see here the concern of Peter. However, this subject has been rather thoroughly dealt with in other discourses, so let's concentrate on the matter in hand. 

 

In this first verse it is abundantly clear that Peter is writing to born again Christians in all three chapters of this second epistle, so it definitely applies to us. 

Remember the Hebrews chapter six article Going on to Perfection, where we are commanded to go on from the basic principles of Christianity? Well this here is where the rubber meets the road so to say. 

 

This is a description of practising Christianity on a day to day and hour to hour basis. Expect buffeting from Satan and his demons because you have cleared a number of spiritual hurdles to get here¹. From now on the road forward becomes steeper. 

Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his 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: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 

(2 Peter 1:1-10)

We see that Peter blesses us before he starts his discourse, to help us spiritually perceive the truths that he is about to expound upon. 

He then writes that we have been given divine power to enable us to obtain eternal life and godliness through His great and precious promises, that we might be able to share in the divine nature of God. 
This we will do if we bypass the corruption and lust of this present world. This lust doesn't only mean sexual lust, but the lust after (love of) worldly goods, money, power, influence, etc. 
As written elsewhere, this can best be overcome once we understand that this life on earth is but a stopover of our souls and spirits on a journey to somewhere, the direction of which is decided here and now. 
This is called faith. 

 

Added to this faith we must diligently add: 

 

Virtue 

Excellence; inherent power; efficacy; worth; moral excellence; the practice of duty; a good quality, especially moral; sexual purity; ( loosely) virginity; one of the orders of the celestial hierarchy². 

Knowledge 
that which is known; information, instruction; enlightenment; learning; practical skill; assured belief; acquaintance^2. 

Temperance 
moderation, especially in the indulgence of the natural appetites and passions - in a narrower sense, moderation in the use of alcoholic liquors, and even entire abstinence from them². 

Patience 
the quality of being able calmly to endure suffering, toil, delay, vexation or any similar condition². 
See also Arm Yourself with the Same Mind 

Godliness 
godly like God in character; pious; according to God's laws². 

Brotherly Kindness 
the quality or fact of being kind; a kind act². In a brotherly way; to a Christian brother or sister. 

Charity 
See the article Charity 

 

 

 

For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 

(2 Peter 1:8-10)

 

As has been said before, it's not easy to be a Christian. 

Wonderfully, our God is righteous, holy and is filled with longsuffering and lovingkindness. 

 

Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.  

(2 Peter 3:17-18)

 

¹ See also How I Must Learn to Live

 

² From the Chambers English Dictionary.