MONDAY –This week we continue our study and take as our text, 2 Peter 1:5-11, “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” As Peter continues on in the opening discussion of his letter, he will bring to a close his thoughts regarding eternal salvation and the depth and beauty of it. He will summarize those thoughts by explaining that true salvation from God comes with a life that bears fruit and grows in maturity as well as an assurance that one possesses this eternal gift. We will take two Lord’s Day messages to get through this important text spelling out the prescription that result in a firm security to those as God’s elect children. Peter encourages his readers to evaluate their lives in light of the Scripture and calls them to obey The Word and enjoy the benefits of doing so.
(Meditate & Apply) Would I consider my life fruitful? Do I see these scriptural truths in myself? Am I secure in my assurance that I am truly saved?
(Pray): God, help me to live out these truths and experience the joy and blessing of assurance of my salvation.
TUESDAY – 2 Peter 1:5: “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge… ” Peter reiterates the idea of the preceding verses in the words for this very reason. He has explained God’s work of grace in giving us this precious salvation and now he stresses our work in the process. Paul wrote similarly in Philippians 2:12-13 where he says to “…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” God has fulfilled His promises to us and now we must respond. Therefore, Peter writes, “giving all diligence add to your faith...” Some other translations will help us understand Peters point. The NASB says, “applying all diligence, supply”. The NRSV, “You must make every effort to support”. The NJB, “Do your utmost to support”. The ESV, “Make every effort to supplement”. The great paradox of the gospel is found in the old phrase, “Salvation is free but it will cost you everything”. Salvation is a free gift by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone but with its blessed privileges come serious responsibilities for its recipients. The true gospel changes a life as it affects the mind, heart, and hands. We have a part to play and Peter is addressing that in this phrase. The word here translated add comes from the Greek word which literally means “leader of the chorus”. Simon Kistemaker’s words on this are helpful, “The verb to add is meaningful in the Greek. The word comes from the Greek world of stage and drama. The director of a play not only coached the cast. Together with the state, he also paid the expenses the members incurred for giving a performance on stage. In other words, the choirmaster added his financial contribution to the amount the state supplied. This verb to add, then, signifies that the believer contributes lavishly to the work of his salvation.”
(Meditate & Apply) Do I understand that I have a responsibility as a professing believer to add some virtues alongside all that Christ has provided in order to have a firm and fruitful Christian life?
(Pray): Jesus, thank You that Your perfect life and substitutionary death in my place was enough to save me but help me to see that in light of this precious gift I have a responsibility to obey and add some virtues to my behavior.
WEDNESDAY – 2 Peter 1:5-7: “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.” Peter now lists seven virtues that are to be added to our faith in the following verses. The first is virtue or as it is translated in some versions, moral excellence or goodness. It was used to speak of divinely given ability to heroism or courageous deeds. It was an outstanding, supreme quality in a person’s life which was not merely possessed but demonstrated. The word was used to describe God Himself in verse 3. Secondly, we are told to add knowledge. This is the divine truth of the gospel and Scripture which is the foundation for genuine Christlikeness, discernment and wisdom. The Greek word implies that we use our minds, have correct insight. It is having our minds illuminated by the study and meditation of Scripture (Joshua 1:8-9, Acts 17:11, 2 Timothy 2:15). Next is self-control which literally means “holding oneself in”. This speaks of controlling the egocentric, self-pleasing pull of the fallen nature. It is the opposite of the popular mantra of “whatever feels good, do it”. This is self-restraint, discipline and requires often as Paul stated, “beating the body into submission” (1 Corinthians 9:27). As we will see false teachers and false teaching downplays this very important virtue. Peter then lists perseverance as a necessary addition. Perseverance is in short, an active, voluntary, steadfast endurance. It is a God-like characteristic of patience with people and circumstances (Romans 5:3–4, James 1:3). It is remaining under and not running from unwelcome toils and hardship. One who demonstrates this virtue has the trusting, optimistic, forward look as Christ demonstrated in His life (Hebrews 12:2).
(Meditate & Apply) Give some specific examples of the demonstration of these virtues in your life. Are you working on adding these to your faith?
(Pray): Lord, give me power and grace to add these virtues to everyday living.
THURSDAY – 2 Peter 1:5-7: “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.” Continuing on in the list of virtues we come now to godliness. This is the heart of a genuine spiritual mature life. The word is translated from the Greek eusebeia which means reverence, respect, piety toward God. Paul also uses this term often. In 1 Timothy 4:7 he says, “But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness”. Bob Utley comments, “This is a pivotal term in the Pastoral Letters. It refers to the doctrinal and daily lifestyle implication of the gospel (1 Timothy 3:16). It describes not the exceptional, but the expected. It is a compound term from ‘good’ (eu) and ‘worship’ (sebomai). True worship is daily living by means of proper thinking (1 Timothy 4:16a).” Next is brotherly kindness. This is in Greek the word philadelphia, which is “the city of brotherly love”. From godliness, a vertical reverence for God we come to brotherly kindness, a horizontal respect for our brothers and sisters. Finally, we have love. Love is also expressed in the previous virtue of brotherly kindness. Peter no doubt remembered the Lord Jesus’ teaching on this the “greatest commandment” from Matthew 22:35-40, “Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
(Meditate & Apply) Do I have reverence and respect for God and others?
(Pray): Jesus, please help me live concerned for God’s glory and others’ good.
FRIDAY– 2 Peter 1:8: “For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Peter will now begin to transition to tell us the benefits and blessings we possess when these virtues are in and growing within us. God wants His children to be fruitful and firm in their faith. He wants us confident and secure and growing in Christ like behavior. For if these things are yours and abound. We see the key is to have these things be in us and abound in us. The word abound speaks to having more than enough, it means superabound, to increase, to augment. These virtues need to be present in the life of the believer and actually be on the increase for us to be neither barren nor unfruitful. To be continued...
(Meditate & Apply) Are these virtues in me and increasing?
(Pray): Lord, help me by Your Holy Spirit be diligent to add to my faith...
