“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.” (2 Peter 1:5-9)
During the course of our physical life from infancy to adulthood, we experience a gradual, steady growth physically and mentally. If for some reason our growth is impeded, we have medical professionals check us over in order to discover the problem and have a solution prescribed.
Similarly, our life in Christ Jesus grows from spiritual infancy to spiritual maturity. If this is not taking place, one may become barren and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. The apostle Peter states in our reading above, “he who lacks these things [the Christian virtues that are listed here] is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.” (verse 9)
God’s Law is not the solution for this spiritual blindness. The Law commands us to love God and our neighbor. It has no power to produce the sort of Christian virtues that Peter calls upon us to develop. The moral Law serves to expose, convict and condemn us for our failings.
No! It is the use of the powerful Gospel of Christ that motivates us to produce spiritual fruits in ever-increasing measure. The redeeming love of Christ instills love in our hearts so that with God’s help we ever strive to grow in fruitfulness. Our gracious Lord and God not only blesses us with Christian love, but also helps us to grow to Christian maturity.
Let us briefly consider what the Christian virtues Peter lists consist of.
- Virtue—It is being Christ-like in treating others with goodness. The Gospel record abounds in examples of Jesus’ goodness toward those around Him.
- Knowledge—This is a specialized knowledge and interest of Christians in having a good understanding of and special interest in others.
- Self-control—It is the ability to exercise restraint in holding our fleshly desires in check. Unlike the unbelieving world which gives free reign to their sinful impulses, we want to live a God-pleasing life.
- Perseverance—This is the exercise of patient endurance and steadfastness when we are faced with the trials and tribulations of life.
- Godliness—It is living a life that is in accordance with God’s holy will, and producing good works.
- Brotherly kindness—The transliteration for the Greek word translated here as “brotherly kindness” is philadelphia. Jesus said to his disciples on Maundy Thursday concerning brotherly kindness, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35)
- Love—This is the agape love that we hear so much about in the Gospel of Christ. It is the highest form of love that we are to have and show others. Agape love is a self-giving, sacrificial kind of love.
May God in His rich grace keep us from becoming spiritually stunted. Instead, may His redeeming love move us to continue to grow unto spiritual maturity.
is retired from the pastoral ministry. He lives in Sunnyvale, California.
