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This is the second sermon in a series of messages on 2 Peter and is based on 2 Peter 1:5. This message focuses on the first three traits that should be evident in the life of a growing Christian - faith, virtue and knowledge.
Written Excerpts:
2 Peter 1:5 (NKJV) But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge.
Introduction:
Last
Sunday we spoke on the subject of growing in the faith. We were talking about
the fact that the Apostle Peter urged his readers to add to their faith a whole
list of additional qualities that ought to become a part of a Christian’s life. Peter
has introduced the list by saying that God’s power and God’s promises are
provided in order to help us develop into stronger Christians who reflect the
nature and character of Christ in greater ways. We
definitely get the impression from his language that there ought to be no such
thing as a stagnant believer who hasn’t given evidence of spiritual growth and
maturity for a long period of time.
I
read a quote from Rev. Vance Havner that certainly can be applied to our topic
today, although I’m not sure what the original context was in which he made the
statement. (Vance Havner) ―
“The vision must be followed by the
venture. It is not enough to stare up the steps, we must step up the stairs. ” The
life of faith is one that leads us to go higher and higher. It is not enough to
look up and wish for more understanding and greater demonstration of faith, we must take the initiative to climb the steps.
We’ve
already talked about the verses leading up to this list that begins in verse 5,
so today we are continuing by discussing the qualities that Peter says we must
add to faith. Let
us take a look at these qualities mentioned in verse 5.
I. Faith
The
first thing we need to mention is that we are expected to start with faith. It
should be an obvious truth, but I don’t want to take anything for granted. Faith
is the starting point.
According
to Hebrews 11:1, Faith is the confidence and assurance that the things which
cannot be seen are nevertheless just as real as anything else. And, we can
depend on it to be trustworthy. It is proof, evidence, just like any other
evidence you present in a court.
Faith
includes the belief that God exists.
Faith
trusts/relies on the Word/promises of God.
Salvation, Sanctification,
daily provisions, etc.
Faith
produces all the subsequent responses to God’s Word.
If we truly believe what God
says, then we will demonstrate that faith by actions that please God, and by
showing the fruit of God’s work in our lives.
II. Virtue
“Add”
– In the exercise of faith add
(supply) virtue. The word used here is the word epichorēgeō. We talked about this word last week, but here is some additional insight about it.
(Tyndale Commentaries) - The
[Greek] word [translated] add,
is a fascinating one. It is a vivid metaphor drawn from the Athenian drama
festivals, in which a rich individual, called the chorēgos, since he
paid the expenses of the chorus, joined with the poet and the state in putting
on the plays. This could be an expensive business, and yet [these rich individuals] vied with
one another in the generosity of their equipment and training of the choruses.
Thus the word came to mean generous and costly cooperation. The
Christian must engage in this sort of cooperation with God in the production of
a Christian life which is a credit to him.
Other writers indicate that the word “supply” would be
a better translation (i.e. in your faith, generously supply virtue.)
“Virtue” – This is an interesting word that is used
very seldom in the N.T. It is hard to “nail down” the exact meaning. As near as I can tell from all the sources I’ve
studied, the most accurate single term we could use to convey the meaning is
the word, “excellence.”
(Tyndale Commentaries) - It
means ‘excellence’, and was used to denote the proper fulfilment of anything.
The excellence of a knife is to cut, of a horse to run. But what is the
excellence of a man? … In a word, his life must reflect something of the
attractive character of Christ. For he was the man par excellence, the
proper man. True human excellence, then, is the manliness which is
Christlikeness. That likeness cannot be acquired except through personal and
continuous encounter with him by faith. In other words, this excellence of life in the model
of Jesus Christ is not something we have in ourselves, but it is supplied by
our being “in faith.”
Look at 1 Pet. 2:9 (NKJV) But you are a chosen generation, a royal
priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises
of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
And, Php. 4:8 (NKJV) Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever
things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are
pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good
report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate
on these things.
Both of these verses indicate that virtue includes all of those excellent
qualities that deserve recognition, praise and honor.
As we grow in our faith, we need to cooperate with the
Holy Spirit to supply any and all excellence of life and character that would
make us more and more like Christ. This would include moral excellence, as well as any
other quality that is Christ-like. Let’s not allow ourselves to buy into the philosophy
that God and everyone else should simply accept us as we are and we’re not
changing for anyone. No, we want to supply the person and cooperation for
God to make us more and more like Jesus.
III. Knowledge
Next,
in the exercise of faith and in supplying virtue, we are urged to supply
knowledge.
(Today's
Best Illustrations) - Certainly God can
use a person of great intellect, but only as long as his faith is even greater.
— Fred Smith in Leadership, Vol. 10, no. 2.
(J.D.
Charles, Expositor's Bible Commentary, Revised) - In Greek and Christian
thought there is an organic and indivisible link between virtue and knowledge
(Stoics believed all vice is rooted in ignorance). For the Greeks, knowledge
was the underpinning needed to acquire all other virtues. But Peter’s emphasis
on knowledge is that it is an extension of faith and virtue. Knowledge is not a goal in and of itself….
It
is surprising to see how many of the errors that are dealt with in the NT
epistles of Paul, Peter and John have to do with people who claimed to have
superior knowledge.
1
Cor. 8:1-3 (NKJV) Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that
we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. 2 And
if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to
know. 3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.
Again,
we are reminded that knowledge is not something that we have in ourselves nor
can we supply it in our own ability. But we do have the capability to make
ourselves available to God in the search for knowledge. We
have the choice whether to pursue knowledge or not.
In
this particular verse, the word “knowledge” is slightly different form of the
word that is used in verse 2.
2 Pet. 1:2 (NKJV) Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge
of God and of Jesus our Lord.
(Tyndale
Commentaries) – The word here in verse 5 seems to carry more of the idea of
“practical wisdom.” This knowledge is gained in the practical exercise of
goodness or virtue, which in turn,
leads to a fuller knowledge of Christ.
(The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia) –
Knowledge strictly [speaking] is the [understanding] by the mind of some fact
or truth in accordance with its real nature…
The mind is constituted with the capacity for
knowledge, and the desire to possess and increase it. The character of
knowledge varies with its object. The senses give knowledge of outward
appearances; the intellect connects and reasons about these appearances, and
arrives at general laws or truths; moral truth is apprehended through the power
inherently possessed by men of distinguishing right and wrong in the light of
moral principles; spiritual qualities require for their apprehension spiritual
sympathy ("They are spiritually judged," 1 Cor. 2:14, NKJV But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God,
for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.).
The highest knowledge possible to man is the
knowledge of God, and while there is that in God's infinity which transcends
man's power of comprehension (Job 11:7, 9), God is knowable in the measure in
which He has revealed Himself in creation (Romans 1:19-20, "that which is
known of God," etc.), and supremely in Jesus Christ, who alone perfectly
knows the Father, and reveals Him to man (Matthew 11:27).
Proverbs
1:7 (NKJV)
The
fear of the LORD is the
beginning of knowledge, But
fools despise wisdom and instruction.
This
proverb emphasizes the fact that the very basic knowledge we should have is the
fear of the Lord. Later
in this same chapter, Wisdom urges the simple, the scorner and the fool to come
and obtain knowledge and wisdom. But
for those who refuse, she offers a strong warning.
Proverbs
1:24-29 (NKJV) Because I have called and you refused, I have
stretched out my hand and no one regarded, 25 Because you
disdained all my counsel, And would have none of my rebuke, 26 I
also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, 27 When
your terror comes like a storm, And your destruction comes like a whirlwind,
When distress and anguish come upon you. 28 "Then they
will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they
will not find me. 29 Because they hated knowledge And
did not choose the fear of the LORD,
It
is a fearful thing to reject or neglect the opportunities that God provides for
us to gain knowledge of Him.
Conclusion:
Our
Creator, the God of the Bible is a self-revealing God. He desires for us to
know Him and He proved it in the most convincing way by sending His own Son to
live on earth so we could have the ultimate revelation of Him. God
has not only sent His Son, but He has inspired His Word, which reveals
knowledge of him. There
ought to be a strong desire and yearning in the heart of every believer to know
God more and to know His Word more.
Peter
is urging us to supply knowledge in the exercise of faith and virtue.
Jeremiah
9:23-24 (NKJV) Thus says the LORD:
"Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man
glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; 24 But
let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am
the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth.
For in these I delight," says the LORD.
Let
us all seek the help of God’s Spirit as we strive for excellence in
Christlikeness and strive for more and more knowledge of God.
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