For This Reason [Part 1]

2 Pet. 1:5-7

For this reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,
and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.

For the reason that believers have everything that pertains to life and godliness at their disposal, and for the reason that believers have been granted the precious and very great promises, we are to grow up into Him. Our lives are to be ever changing into the image of Jesus. However, this list does not begin a list of legalistic 'musts,' [vs. 5-7], but it reflects the desires and behaviors of one who has been transformed by the grace of God. All the exhortations to live a new life are grounded in the these two glorious promises. There could never be a foundation better than this!

Concerned that his readers would think confessing Jesus would be the end-game, Peter exhorted them to live as Christ lived. However, what he is not saying that salvation requires works to be complete; instead, he is saying that works are the living results of salvation. Faith must have a visible form! Since all the things listed in verses 5-7 are a result of faith, faith is listed first. It is the foundational truth if one is to grow in Christ. There would be no fruit of the Spirit if the Spirit were not in the life. Saving faith in itself is a gift of God and the essential element for growth in the Spirit. 

The first quality is virtue. The word 'excellence' [in v. 3] is the same Greek word translated as virtue in v.5. Virtue then would be living in His excellence, an excellence that was part of our God-issued call.  Obviously, His excellence was foundational to our salvation and was the means by which He has called us. His excellence must become our virtue. Not just mere moral excellence, but moral excellence by God's standards. So it makes sense that this God-implanted divine nature would be uniquely related to virtue. It must begin with God and His gift of saving grace and faith and then grow into virtue. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.

To this virtue, believers must add knowledge. What comes to mind, is  grow in the grace and knowledge of our Savior Jesus Christ.  Whenever I see grow, I think fruit of the Spirit. The Spirit is needed for growth in knowledge to be complete.  Romans says, Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! Knowledge will never be complete until God calls us home. So for this life, studying, reading, memorizing, meditating are all actions that are a must if we are to have knowledge. Eph. 1:17 says, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him. In 2 Cor. 8:7 it says, But as you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you--see that you excel in this act of grace also.  Finally, this knowledge cannot be complete by study alone, but it also needs prayer. This knowledge must be granted by God as the believer soaks himself in the Word of God. And with how much intensity? I need to excel!  Give it all I have!

Father,

Help me understand and apply virtue and knowledge. Grow me through Your Spirit. I ask that You would grant me this knowledge and understanding. I want to excel for You. 

In Jesus name,

Amen