“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:5-8
Peter affirms the greatness of the Christian hope, and he encourages us to make our calling and election sure by giving evidence of our faith with good works. We are saved by faith alone, but faith is never alone. And yet, through sin, we often neglect and become blind to the virtues we are to practice as evidence of our faith. In spite of our many failures to bear God-pleasing fruit, our Lord strengthens us daily through Holy Baptism.
In Greek drama the verb “add” has a colorful and fascinating history. The dramas were put on by the combined effort of a poet (who wrote the script); the state (which provided the theater); and a wealthy individual, who paid the expenses. In Peter’s view, God has written in the blood of Jesus the captivating script for a Christian life; the world is the theater where it will be played out; but the believer must cooperate by expending his or her diligent efforts to make the script come alive in vivid display.
These verses begin a section in which Peter describes the responsibilities that result from possessing the godly resources described earlier. “Faith” marks the beginning of the Christian life. Through genuine faith, God grants eternal life to a spiritually dead person. “Goodness” is the same word used earlier in Peter’s letter as a reference to Christ’s character. We cannot produce goodness ourselves; but we can choose to obey the goodness promptings of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. “Knowledge” is practical wisdom and is obtained by dedicating ourselves to learning God’s truth in the Scriptures and putting that truth into action.
Do we think we have what it takes to “make it” in life? Peter says that God’s power gives us what we need to experience real life in a way that pleases Him. God wants to affect every area of our lives – work, marriage and family, relationships, church, and community.
How can we make God’s power operational in our experience? Peter says that it comes “through the knowledge of Him who called us.” In other words, we must grow closer to Christ. Real power comes from having an understanding of our place in God’s purposes and relying on His provisions.
Blessings on your day…