Free Bible Commentary
“Second Peter 1:5-7”
Categories: Second Peter9-22-17 – 2 Peter 1:5-7
“Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.”
--- End of Scripture verses---
“For this very reason”—because “God has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises” and allows us to “become partakers in His divine nature” (verse 4), we must continually be “applying all diligence” to the righteous supplementation of our faith. While God provides the plan and the power, there are things that we must be doing to foster growth in our faith, and this will be true for the entirety of our lives in Christ. We must continually strive for moral perfection even though we will never arrive at it while living on earth.
Having come to the Lord in obedient “faith” we are to use that as the foundation for the further building and strengthening of the makeup of our new life in Christ. To our faith we are to “supply moral excellence”. God has “called us by His own glory and excellence” (verse 3) thru the gospel (2 Thessalonians 2:14) so that we might share and grow in the moral goodness and virtuous perfection of our Father. To our moral excellence we are to supply a working, practical “knowledge” of God’s word. Knowledge of the truth is essential to conversion and afterward its furtherance continues to be vital for our spiritual growth, so we must study the Bible like our lives depend on it! But we can see from this list that the mere accumulation knowledge takes a backseat to faith and moral excellence. “Knowledge makes arrogant” if it is not supported by conviction and virtue (1 Corinthians 8:1).
The foundation of faith, virtue and knowledge will help us to control our sinful desires and impulses. “Self-control” (verse 6) is greatly lacking in the people of the world today and has been for the greatest part of human existence, but it can and must be exhibited by people wearing the name of Jesus the King. Armed with self-control we will have a greater ability to persevere through trials and temptations with our righteousness intact. “Perseverance” is that quality of character that will help us see our journey of faith through to its happy ending. To our perseverance we must supply “godliness” which is the disposition of heart that reverences God absolutely and endeavors to place Him and His will at the forefront of every thought and decision.
If we reverence God the way that we are supposed to then we will learn to love our brethren who have been created in His image. “Brotherly kindness” is the love and affection that brothers and sisters have for one another. The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 12:10-11 to “be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.” Crowing this list of spiritual virtues is “the characteristic word of Christianity”—“Love”. Love is the expression of God’s attitude toward all humanity in sacrificing the life of His Son for their sins, and it is the care and concern we are to show to other people, even when they are not particularly lovable, but because their lives and souls are valuable.
How could we not adore a divinely inspired list that begins with “faith” and ends with “love”?!
Please read 2 Peter 1:8-11 for tomorrow.
Have a lovely day!
-Louie Taylor
