The practical application of the Body of Christ #3
II Peter 1:5-11
Scripture says that the Justified LIVE BY FAITH. (Hab. 2:4; Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11; Heb. 10:38) This Faith has content! It is this faith that Peter is writing about. It is faith in the Justifying Righteousness of our risen God and Savior Jesus Christ. “Live” is a very active word. This Faith is manifested in everything that characterizes our lives as living souls!
True Faith is governed by mathematics, multiplication and addition!! Grace and peace are to be multiplied to us through the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ. An increased understanding of our Jesus and our Father increases our awareness of our need for increased Grace and in showing us the futility of fleshly effort, brings us to increased Peace!
I. I Peter 1:5-11 That multiplication of Grace and Peace leads us to addition as we find in I Peter 1:5-11. Because we have this Grace and Peace, the Word and Promises of God (especially the Promise of being partakers of the Divine Nature), Peter exhorts us to give all diligence and ADD to our Faith. We will see that these “additions” lead to a change in behavior.
A. Vs 8-9 Before looking at the things to be added, we need to understand that these “additions” to faith are the evidence of a fruitful knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. To put it another way, all of these additions are evidences that we are growing up IN ALL THINGS INTO HIM WHO IS THE HEAD, CHRIST. (Eph. 4:15)
Vs 8 In the KJV it reads, “If these things be in you and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” These evidences of a fruitful knowledge aren’t some private possession, but rather the fruit that comes as the Holy Spirit teaches of our Jesus and His Fullness. And notice that they abound.
Vs 9 KJV “He that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.” A lack of growing in the intimate knowledge of our Lord and Savior and through Him, with our Heavenly Father, leaves us wallowing in our old sins. Guilt is still our companion and peace and grace are a distant longing.
And now the additions:
B. Vs 5 “For this very reason.” This seems to incorporate all the incredible benefits of Vs 1-4. Because of this like faith, we have grace and peace, we have His Divine Power which assures us that we have all things that pertain to life and godliness, not to mention great precious promises that through these we may be partakers of the Divine Nature!
Therefore, “giving all diligence”. This is a big deal to Peter. He isn’t talking about “finding the time”, “when you can get around to it”, or fitting it into your schedule”! You won’t find Peter, Paul, John, or James giving us any 21st century American slack. This is Life, the Life of Christ in us! It is to take precedence over everything else. Actually, everything else is to grow out of this diligent “Adding to”.
“Add to your faith virtue” Remember, the content of this faith is settled! Because of I Timothy 3:16 we have peace with God. Virtue is a frustrating word. There is nothing “juicy” in #703. It means literally “manliness, or excellence”. We are left with context as the deciding factor. In 1:3, God has called us “by glory and virtue.” Virtue here surely speaks of the totality of His Excellence! In Phil. 4:8, virtue and praise seem to be the criterion for the things we should think (KJV) on. Virtue seems to be the sum of the things mentioned previously. Given the “composite” nature of the original word, perhaps virtue is the composite of the things which follow, that which is the faithful fruit of the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
“To virtue knowledge” II Peter 3:18 “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Our knowledge of the Lord is never a knowledge of “stuff”. We are “getting to know” the Person Who Is the Fullness of the Godhead Bodily. As I Cor. 13:8 says, “we know in part.” There is an abundance of Grace and blessing to gain from knowing Him. More on this in our next study.
Vs 6 “To knowledge self-control” (KJV Temperance) Legalism is big on fleshly “self control”. But that is not the kind meant here. Fleshly self control usually collapses at some point and usually to great scandal, embarrassment, and disgrace to the Name of Christ. No this is the Fruit of the Spirit of Galatians 5:23. We must understand that the Holy Spirit’s Fruit don’t just pop out in us mysteriously, but rather through His Teaching Ministry of testifying of our God/Man and all that is ours In Him! As that knowledge increases by the Holy Spirit’s teaching, Godly, Spirit initiated “self control” occurs. Perhaps temperance is a better word as it does not contain “self”! The Spirit’s Work is mind renewal as Romans 12:2 teaches and that mind renewal leads to the transformation that is no longer conformed to the world.
“To self control perseverance” This is that faith perseverance or which James speaks, “But let him ask in faith, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.” (James 1:6) The purpose of the “ministry gifts” in Ephesians is that “we should be no longer children, tossed to and fro, carried about with every wind of doctrine....”
“To perseverance godliness” There is no godliness apart from the Truth of I Timothy 3:16. All of this virtue grows out of an increased fellowship with this glorious God/Man and increasingly manifests in and testifies to our being found in Him. Godliness is attachment to the Divine! Vs 4
“To godliness brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness, love” In reality, Vs 5-7 are Peter’s version of Paul’s assurance of his “children” found in Eph. 1:15 & Col. 1:4. Peter’s extended exhortation to a living, visible faith is evidenced in this family bond of “brotherly kindness, rooted in the Love of God which has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. (Rom. 5:5)
Vs 10 This diligent pursuit of a growing faith, increasing in the knowledge of our God/Man with the Understanding of the Spirit (I John 5:20) is the diligent process of making our calling and election sure. This is the Divinely ordained path of perseverance. This is the Divine Process of bringing His children into the completeness we have in the Body of our Christ Jesus. (Col. 2:9-10) This then leads to Paul’s experience found in Philippians 3:8-9.
“Yet indeed I count all things loss for the excellence of the Knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for Whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish, that I may gain Christ, AND BE FOUND IN HIM, NOT HAVING MY OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS which is of the law, but that which is THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST, THE RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH IS FROM GOD BY FAITH.”
Vs 11 IF WE STRUGGLE WITH ASSURANCE, IT IS BECAUSE OUR EYES ARE ON THE WRONG PERSON!!! Our assurance is always and only in the perfections of the God/Man Who Eternally sits and the Father’s Right Hand, assuring your right to dwell in the Everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Turn your eyes upon Jeus, look full in His Wonderful Face! He is the Smiling Face of God. He ALONE is the reason we can come boldly into the Presence of the Most High God. Satan’s victory is in our preoccupation with our self and our sins. His wind is constantly blowing in that direction. “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death, crowned with Glory and Honor, that He BY THE GRACE OF GOD, might taste death for everyone.” Heb. 2:9
“Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the Right Hand of the Throne of God.” Heb. 12:2
“And this is the work of God THAT YOU BELIEVE IN HIM WHOM HE HAS SENT.” John 6:29
II Peter 1:5-11
Scripture says that the Justified LIVE BY FAITH. (Hab. 2:4; Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11; Heb. 10:38) This Faith has content! It is this faith that Peter is writing about. It is faith in the Justifying Righteousness of our risen God and Savior Jesus Christ. “Live” is a very active word. This Faith is manifested in everything that characterizes our lives as living souls!
True Faith is governed by mathematics, multiplication and addition!! Grace and peace are to be multiplied to us through the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ. An increased understanding of our Jesus and our Father increases our awareness of our need for increased Grace and in showing us the futility of fleshly effort, brings us to increased Peace!
I. I Peter 1:5-11 That multiplication of Grace and Peace leads us to addition as we find in I Peter 1:5-11. Because we have this Grace and Peace, the Word and Promises of God (especially the Promise of being partakers of the Divine Nature), Peter exhorts us to give all diligence and ADD to our Faith. We will see that these “additions” lead to a change in behavior.
A. Vs 8-9 Before looking at the things to be added, we need to understand that these “additions” to faith are the evidence of a fruitful knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. To put it another way, all of these additions are evidences that we are growing up IN ALL THINGS INTO HIM WHO IS THE HEAD, CHRIST. (Eph. 4:15)
Vs 8 In the KJV it reads, “If these things be in you and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” These evidences of a fruitful knowledge aren’t some private possession, but rather the fruit that comes as the Holy Spirit teaches of our Jesus and His Fullness. And notice that they abound.
Vs 9 KJV “He that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.” A lack of growing in the intimate knowledge of our Lord and Savior and through Him, with our Heavenly Father, leaves us wallowing in our old sins. Guilt is still our companion and peace and grace are a distant longing.
And now the additions:
B. Vs 5 “For this very reason.” This seems to incorporate all the incredible benefits of Vs 1-4. Because of this like faith, we have grace and peace, we have His Divine Power which assures us that we have all things that pertain to life and godliness, not to mention great precious promises that through these we may be partakers of the Divine Nature!
Therefore, “giving all diligence”. This is a big deal to Peter. He isn’t talking about “finding the time”, “when you can get around to it”, or fitting it into your schedule”! You won’t find Peter, Paul, John, or James giving us any 21st century American slack. This is Life, the Life of Christ in us! It is to take precedence over everything else. Actually, everything else is to grow out of this diligent “Adding to”.
“Add to your faith virtue” Remember, the content of this faith is settled! Because of I Timothy 3:16 we have peace with God. Virtue is a frustrating word. There is nothing “juicy” in #703. It means literally “manliness, or excellence”. We are left with context as the deciding factor. In 1:3, God has called us “by glory and virtue.” Virtue here surely speaks of the totality of His Excellence! In Phil. 4:8, virtue and praise seem to be the criterion for the things we should think (KJV) on. Virtue seems to be the sum of the things mentioned previously. Given the “composite” nature of the original word, perhaps virtue is the composite of the things which follow, that which is the faithful fruit of the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
“To virtue knowledge” II Peter 3:18 “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Our knowledge of the Lord is never a knowledge of “stuff”. We are “getting to know” the Person Who Is the Fullness of the Godhead Bodily. As I Cor. 13:8 says, “we know in part.” There is an abundance of Grace and blessing to gain from knowing Him. More on this in our next study.
Vs 6 “To knowledge self-control” (KJV Temperance) Legalism is big on fleshly “self control”. But that is not the kind meant here. Fleshly self control usually collapses at some point and usually to great scandal, embarrassment, and disgrace to the Name of Christ. No this is the Fruit of the Spirit of Galatians 5:23. We must understand that the Holy Spirit’s Fruit don’t just pop out in us mysteriously, but rather through His Teaching Ministry of testifying of our God/Man and all that is ours In Him! As that knowledge increases by the Holy Spirit’s teaching, Godly, Spirit initiated “self control” occurs. Perhaps temperance is a better word as it does not contain “self”! The Spirit’s Work is mind renewal as Romans 12:2 teaches and that mind renewal leads to the transformation that is no longer conformed to the world.
“To self control perseverance” This is that faith perseverance or which James speaks, “But let him ask in faith, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.” (James 1:6) The purpose of the “ministry gifts” in Ephesians is that “we should be no longer children, tossed to and fro, carried about with every wind of doctrine....”
“To perseverance godliness” There is no godliness apart from the Truth of I Timothy 3:16. All of this virtue grows out of an increased fellowship with this glorious God/Man and increasingly manifests in and testifies to our being found in Him. Godliness is attachment to the Divine! Vs 4
“To godliness brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness, love” In reality, Vs 5-7 are Peter’s version of Paul’s assurance of his “children” found in Eph. 1:15 & Col. 1:4. Peter’s extended exhortation to a living, visible faith is evidenced in this family bond of “brotherly kindness, rooted in the Love of God which has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. (Rom. 5:5)
Vs 10 This diligent pursuit of a growing faith, increasing in the knowledge of our God/Man with the Understanding of the Spirit (I John 5:20) is the diligent process of making our calling and election sure. This is the Divinely ordained path of perseverance. This is the Divine Process of bringing His children into the completeness we have in the Body of our Christ Jesus. (Col. 2:9-10) This then leads to Paul’s experience found in Philippians 3:8-9.
“Yet indeed I count all things loss for the excellence of the Knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for Whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish, that I may gain Christ, AND BE FOUND IN HIM, NOT HAVING MY OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS which is of the law, but that which is THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST, THE RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH IS FROM GOD BY FAITH.”
Vs 11 IF WE STRUGGLE WITH ASSURANCE, IT IS BECAUSE OUR EYES ARE ON THE WRONG PERSON!!! Our assurance is always and only in the perfections of the God/Man Who Eternally sits and the Father’s Right Hand, assuring your right to dwell in the Everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Turn your eyes upon Jeus, look full in His Wonderful Face! He is the Smiling Face of God. He ALONE is the reason we can come boldly into the Presence of the Most High God. Satan’s victory is in our preoccupation with our self and our sins. His wind is constantly blowing in that direction. “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death, crowned with Glory and Honor, that He BY THE GRACE OF GOD, might taste death for everyone.” Heb. 2:9
“Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the Right Hand of the Throne of God.” Heb. 12:2
“And this is the work of God THAT YOU BELIEVE IN HIM WHOM HE HAS SENT.” John 6:29