1 Peter 1:5 – 9 ”For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities and continue to grow in them, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever lacks these traits is nearsighted to the point of blindness, having forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.”
ISN’T FAITH ENOUGH???
WHY SHOULD WE WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE IF WE HAVE FAITH?
Remember, Peter knows that the sand is running through the hour glass and that he has very little time left. Given that pressure, Peter is compressing the lessons of his lifetime into short pithy phrases.
Peter’ answer to the question of “Isn’t faith enough?” would be another question: enough for what? Both James and Peter don’t think much of someone who piously sits around believing but whose beliefs have no effect on their lives. Remember, Peter is a fisherman, and fishermen believe in getting results. If you don’t have a catch to sell at the end of the night, all your efforts have been worthless. It would be a mistake to think that Peter was merely throwing out a list of virtues without having a specific order in mind. Let’s look at the list Peter has given.
1. Virtue” What is virtue? Virtue (Latin: virtus) is moral excellence. A virtue is a trait or quality that is deemed to be morally good and thus is valued as a foundation of principle and good moral being. Personal virtues are characteristics valued as promoting collective and individual greatness. (Wikepedia)These days there is very little emphasis on being virtuous; however, it is ironic that those who wish to behave in an unvirtuous fashion are counting on everybody else to behave virtuously! Nonetheless, a faith worth having should find its expression in moral excellence.
2. Knowledge – Someone who is knowledgeable is acquainted with facts, truths, and principals. Notice that nothing is said about fads or rumors. Someone who is morally good should also know what is true and what is not, and what are fundmental principals.
3. Self control – “Self-control is listed in the Bible as one of the Fruits of the Spirit – a sign that Christ is in us. If we let our desires lead our decisions, our lives (and our bodies) can quickly spin out of control. Self-control is a discipline that God grows in us when we continually choose to die to our flesh and live in Him. (Fifteen Bible verses on Self Control at soveryblessed.com) Ever encounter someone who knows a lot but who is obnoxious about how much he knows? Or have you encountered someone who is obnoxiously virtuous, so perfect that you just want to hit them? A believer who has self control knows that he or she has no need of showing off; to do so would dishonor Christ.
4. Perseverance -“continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition : the action or condition or an instance of persevering : steadfastness.” (www.merriam-websterlcom) If we are truly going to live out our Christian faith and not merely be “stained glass window Christians” who look good but who don’t do anything, we must have perseverance. Anybody who thinks a walk of faith is easy has never tried it!
5. Godliness – “Reverence for God and a life of holiness in the world (https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/godly-godliness) As we persevere, we must have a goal towards which we are working, and godliness is that goal. People who had the opportunity to meet Mother Teresa were always impressed. Why? What was there about this tiny Albanian nun that made such an impression on world leaders? If you see Mother Teresa’s photos, you know that she was not particularly beautiful. But Mother Teresa spent a great deal of time in prayer communing with God, and that godliness was what attracted people from all walks of life to her.
6. Brotherly kindness – “Our God sets the example for us. Jesus says in John 5:17, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.” We are driven by self-concern, and all too often, that concern degenerates into greed. That desire, however, must be overcome. We are to become like God. He is a Creator, and He works. A major characteristic of His Kingdom is that it is a producing, working, creating Family that sacrifices itself to give and to share.” (https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/5816/Brotherly-Kindness.htm)
7. Love – Why, if Peter has already spoken about brotherly kindness, does he feel the need to list love separately? Kindness requires one kind of aff”ection; however, true love demands a totally different level of commitment. Love is the highest expression of our faith and actually depends on all of these other graces for it to be able to work effectively. Christians have a phrase “sloppy agape.” This phrase can refer to people who claim to follow Jesus but whose main expression of their faith is limited to emotional outbursts without the steady progression described by Peter. Jesus had very little time for sloppy agape! When one would – be follower approached him, Jesus advised him that foxs had holes and the birds of the air had nests, but the Son of Man had nowhere to lay his head. (Luke 9:57-62) Another time, Jesus confronted a rich young ruler who claimed he wanted to become a disciple. Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. (Matthew 19:16-22)
There are no easy shortcuts to Christian character and none of us can say that he or she has arrived completely until we join Jesus in heaven. But is the struggle worth it? Absolutely! For as we grow in knowledge and in grace, so does our peace with God. And that peace is worth giving up everything else, if we can only possess it.
PRAYER: Father God, help everyone who reads this devotional to be drawn to you. You know their needs, their hurts, their hopes, and the desires of their hearts. Lord, hear their prayers and let them truly know you as Savior and Lord and Baptizer in the Holy Spirit. In the mighty Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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