2Peter 1:5-8 (a) - Ruling Over Sin

2Peter 1:5-8

5-8 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. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

For what reason should we make every effort to supplement our faith? For "this" reason. And this reason is that, God having given us all things that pertain to life and godliness in Jesus Christ, and having called us to be partakers in the divine nature through faith in the promises that are "yea and amen" in Jesus Christ, requires of us that we expend effort (our whole heart, mind, soul and strength) in appropriating all that is ours in Him.

We are to supplement our faith. We have been given faith by an act of God’s grace. We have been born again of His Spirit. And to those who have will more be given. We have been given the faith to press in by it, so that Christ will be formed in us, and our faith itself will grow more and more as this happens.

It is through divine power at work in us in appropriating the promises of God in Christ through faith that we are enabled to add the things mentioned. Divine power. Divine power at work. Divine power at work in us. Divine power at work in our appropriation of the promises that are in Jesus Christ.

So what does Peter list as the first supplement to faith? Not surprisingly he begins with the need for personal holiness. The battle within begins the moment we come to Christ. The enemy is in the citadel, and that enemy is our old sinful nature. Like Cain we are reminded, "...sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.." {Genesis 4:7} And Christ is in us to apply His mastery through the obedience of our faith.

VIRTUE

The first "supplement" is virtue - a clean and upright heart expressed and evidenced in our outward words and deeds. Indeed, verse 3 of this very chapter indicates to us that the purpose of our calling is...

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue {2Peter 1:3}

The identical Greek word is used in Philippians as one of the things upon which we are to focus our attention. We are to be looking for such things - virtuous things, noble things, pure things - so that our minds are stayed upon them. If our minds are stayed upon anything else then we are resisting the purpose of our salvation. We are resisting God - and He will discipline us.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. {Philppians 4:8}

The Greek word for virtue (arete) is also translated "praise." To praise God is virtuous and to be virtuous is to bring praise to God, for it is Christ’s virtue at work in us whenever we exhibit virtue. And the extolling of God’s virtues is praise, which is why the same word is used for praise in 1Peter 2:9.

We have been crucified and, though we live, it is no longer us, but Christ lives in us. {Galatians 2:20} So the next time you are moved to a virtuous thought, word or deed then don’t make the fatal error of thinking of yourself as becoming more virtuous - but think of yourself as the living vessel of the virtue that rightly comes from, belongs to, and brings praise to, your Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Only in this will you avoid the trap of self-righteousness and glory-seeking.

Tomorrow, God willing, we will look at Knowledge and Self-Control.