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Great and wonderful gifts are available to everyone who is willing to trust and obey Jesus Christ. Peter wrote the letter of 2 Peter to his beloved brethren who had escaped the corruption of this world by gospel obedience. Yet Peter had grave concerns over false teachers who would work to derail the sound faith of those he loved (Cf. 2 Peter 1:8-10). Thus he was compelled to give them warning.
These are some of the characteristics of the false teacher described by the apostle: they twist the Scriptures; they are covetous, presumptuous, self-willed, and arrogant; they have eyes full of adultery, their teaching of liberty is actually unbridled license; and they have no respect for the law of God (See chapters 2-3 of Second Peter). (Adapted from William Barclay, The Daily Study Bible Series, The letters of James and Peter, Philadelphia, PA, Westministers Press, 196, pp. 352-34).
We need to take heed in these troublesome times.
Peter tells how to avoid stumbling (vs. 5-7):
"Yea, and for this very cause adding on your part with all diligence, in your faith supply virtue; in virtue, knowledge; and in your knowledge self-control; and in your self-control patience; and in your patience godliness; and in your godliness brotherly kindness; and in your brotherly kindness love."
How can we avoid stumbling and falling into error? Peter gives instruction as he begins verse 5 with "For this cause or very reason:" or "because of the spiritual blessings that are previously described, we must do our part." God has already done "his part" in providing the rich blessings of the gospel.
Our part must begin with "all diligence" (make every effort). This "calls for an attitude of eagerness and zeal, an abandonment of sluggishness and self-indulgence?." Our diligence must not be "half-hearted nor selective" (Norman Hillyer, New International Biblical Commentary, 1 and 2 Peter, Jude, Peabody, Mass., Hendrickson Publishing Co., 1992, p. 51).
Paul said, "I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:14). Pictured is a foot race with the runner struggling toward the finish line with every fiber of his body. Our Lord commands us to "Strive to enter into the narrow door" (Lk. 13:24). The word "strive" is from the Greek agonizomai (English: "agonize"). (W.E. Vine, Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, Nashville, TN, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1997, p. 1096). "Without giving diligence, there is no gaining any ground in the work of holiness" (Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible, http://www.apostolic-churches.net/bible/mhc/MHC61001.htm ).
This guy is so lazy he would rather be spoon-fed...Someone may respond, "I am not lazy. I work hard all day long." And I know most of us do. But what about our spiritual work. Are we like the sluggard in Proverbs 26:15? "The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; It wears him out to bring it back to his mouth" (ESV). This guy is so lazy he would rather be spoon-fed by someone else! Are we that lazy when it comes to feeding ourselves on God's word? (2 Pet. 3:14).
To our obedient faith, we must diligently strive to add virtue. The Greek word for "add, supply," or "equip" is epichoregein It comes from a noun "which literally means a leader in a chorus." This word has "a vivid and pictorial background." In ancient Athens, dramatic plays were conducted which required grand and costly choruses. The choregoi (chorus leaders) were wealthy public-spirited Athenians who would, at their own expense, put on these lavish extravaganzas (Cf. William Barclay, pp. 352-353, and Hillyer, pp. 164-165.) Believers "must be lavish in the time and effort they put into developing their Christian lives—not being satisfied with getting by on the minimum, but striving like the choregos of old to achieve the finest and most attractive production" (Hillyer, pp. 164-165).
Virtue is a beautiful word. It is defined as moral excellence, which includes goodness and courage. Many years ago my late mother-in-law, Rubye Jackson, gave my husband, Wayne, a Bible inscribed on the front page: "May you always have the courage of your convictions." That is what virtue is. Moral goodness demands the courage to practice the duties of the gospel and to stand for righteousness even in the face of hardship and persecution (Mt. 5:11); (cf. Matthew Henry).
To moral excellence or courage, we are to lavishly add knowledge. This knowledge is that "which enables a man to decide rightly and to act honorably and efficiently in the day to day circumstances and situations of life" (Barclay, pp. 356). We must become experienced in the "word of righteousness" and "exercise our senses to discern good and evil" (Heb. 5:14). We must learn how to make prudent applications of God's holy law.
Self-control or "self-mastery" must be richly supplied to knowledge. Self-control "literally means the ability to take a grip of oneself" (See: Barclay, pp. 357-358). Our common expression, "Get a grip!" perfectly defines the term. The late brother Guy N. Woods describes it as "one who holds himself in" (Guy N. Woods, A Commentary on the New Testament Epistles, Peter, John and Jude, Nashville, TN: Gospel Advocate Company, 1959, p. 151).
Today with credit card debt out of control in many households, "getting a grip" would certainly be beneficial! How much evangelism and benevolence could we do with all the money we pay in interest?
In 2 Peter 2:18-19, Peter describes those false teachers who sounding so educated, so philosophical, entice the weak by lasciviousness. Today we are bombarded with high sounding words by those who espouse every kind of wickedness as good. Self-control has been discarded. Through the prophet Isaiah, the Holy Judge of all warned, "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness?" (Isa. 5:20). We must urgently set the example and diligently teach our children self-control in these wicked times.
The Queen of Virtues
Upon self-control we must build patience, steadfastness or endurance. Barclay quotes Chrysostom as describing the word endurance as the "Queen of Virtues." He tells us that the Greek word always has a background of courage. "This Christian steadfastness does not simply mean to sit down and accept and endure. There is always a forward look in it." Of Jesus the Hebrew writer said, "...for the joy that was set before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame... (Heb. 12:2). Christian steadfastness is the brave and courageous acceptance of everything that life can do to us, and the transmuting of even the worst event into another step on the upward way" (Barclay, p. 358).
Piety or godliness is to be added to endurance. Piety is difficult to define, according to the scholars. However, the example of the stoic atheist who endures suffering without a godly motive is contrasted to the Christian who endures to please his Heavenly Father (Woods, p. 151). Piety is the characteristic of having a servant's heart in spite of life's trials. It is deep reverence for God and a serving disposition toward all men, understanding that they are created in his image. It is a term which has as its near equivalent, the word religious in the very highest sense. Such reverence for the Lord will manifest itself in every area of one's life, including honesty with the word of God.
To godliness must be added brotherly kindness or affection. Love of the brethren is so needed in this dog-eat-dog world. If we are not careful, we may absorb the every-man-for-himself attitudes prevalent in our me-oriented culture. The idea that taking care of self is more important than anything else is in stark contrast to Paul's words:
"Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interest of others" (Phil. 2:3-4; ESV).
Loving each other means we "walk the talk" in reference to the genuine needs of our brethren (1 Jn. 3:18). John asks how can the love of God abide in one who closes his heart against a needy brother? [This does not mean that it is good to support a lazy man! Paul commanded: "If any is not willing to work, let him not eat" (2 Thes. 3:10)]. John also observed that "anyone who does not love does not know God?" (1 Jn. 4:8). Our Lord taught that the world would know we are his disciples because of our love for each other (Jn. 13:34-35).
Finally, Peter tells us that we must add love to brotherly love. What is the difference? The word for "brotherly love" is philadelphia (brotherly kindness). The word for "love" is agape. In 1 Corinthians 13:13 agape is described as the greatest of the characteristics listed there. It imitates God's love for all men. It motivates us to teach the gospel to the unlovable and the stubborn by words and deeds. It causes us to have good will toward all, even malicious brethren. Out of this love, parents discipline an unruly child for his spiritual good, no matter how painful it is to the parents because of affection for the child. "We love because he first loved us" (1 Jn. 4:19).
Developing these traits is not easy. Yet, if we accept the challenge to diligently study and seek to practice God's will, we will be fruitful; we will not fall away and be lost. Praise be to God for we will be richly supplied a grand entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 1:10-11).
One writer describes our reaction to the rich gifts of heaven: "Faith pilgrims on earth will be astonished at the lavish provision God has prepared for them when they come to enter the next world" (Hillyer, p. 169). Let each of us declare: "Heaven holds all to me!"
Will the struggle to climb the ladder of virtues be worth it? Absolutely!
Comments may be emailed to betty@christiancourier.com
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