Sunday, January 24, 2010

110) Make every effort

2 Peter 1:5-7 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, (6) and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, (7) and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.

These verses are an exhortation by Peter for believers to cooperate in their own sanctification. Grace through the indwelling Holy Spirit is the engine that drives sanctification, but believers are not mindless robots that are powerless to act on their own. They are new creations in Christ that are led by the Holy Spirit, but they are in control of their actions and behavior. Therefore, Peter tells believers to, “make every effort” and lists the desired attributes they should cultivate. Notice the list of attributes is not a legalistic do and don’t list, but are qualities that flow from the heart and are a reflection of internal ethical and spiritual character. They are an expression of the new covenant internal religion of the heart rather than the external religion of the Old Covenant. Peter points to the importance of knowledge. This Biblical knowledge enables believers to understand and follow the righteous leading of the indwelling Holy Spirit.


Focus on Christ #110

2 comments:

mark pierson said...

Christ-likeness... Something that will never be attained this side of the grave, but is sought after by ALL regenerate folk due to their new nature. When we see Him we shall be like Him, yes; however this side of the grave our flesh gets in the way, yet it is still a prize to stretch yourself for, like a sprinter stretching for the finish line. Like what marks the grave of a certain mountain climber, "He died climbing". That will be said of ALL regenerate persons because their new nature longs for Christ-likeness... They all die while climbing towards Christ-likeness.

This post of your was soooo right-on, Wayne.

jazzycat said...

Mark,
Great analogy about the mountain climber and Christ-likeness. Very well said...
Wayne