Paul's Passing Thoughts

Second Peter one is an incredible portion of scripture that answers one of the monumental questions of life, how does one know for sure that he is in right standing with God? If a person is full of  assurance in this regard, the world cannot shake them save their concern for others. However, in this eternally profound portion of scripture, Peter even addresses the Heavenly mandate for the assured christian in regard to others.

Yes, lack of assurance in regard to right standing with God seems to be the curse of the true Christian and Peter knows this. This is evident by the fact that Peter states the keys to assurance while also saying that it will be necessary to continually remind us of them. This was Peters primary focus on the last leg of his lifely mandate from Heaven [verses 12-15]. Why is this? Why is the true christian cursed with this doubt that can at times cripple ones service to God? How can you be effective for God when you are not positive that you are even in his army but unwittingly serving the other army? Well, one reason is because knowledge causes doubt. Our biblical understanding of the human condition and it’s propensity to be deceived is not the least bit comforting. In Matthew 7:21-23, the subjects are astounded that they are not loved by God. Paul the apostle exhorts us to examine ourselves to see if we are “in the faith [2Cor. 13:5].”

Secondly, our battle with the flesh can cause doubt even though we often forget that before we were saved, there was no battle at all. I highly recommend “The Enemy Within” by Kris Lundgaard for a sobering education in regard to our warfare with the flesh.

Before we begin, the hope of verses 10 and 11 is where we want to end up. Peter will teach us how:

2 Peter 1:10
Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

2 Peter 1:11
For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

There it is. A life of assurance concluded with an “abundant” entrance into the kingdom of God. Let there be no doubt here, this is a “how to” post. God has supplied us with all we need to accomplish his will when we believed [verses 3 and 4], now it is our task to appropriate it. Our God is not a capricious God who at any time wants us to be confused and hopeless. There is always hope because we co-labor with God and he will show us how. This is not our works only or living by a list. Without verses 3 and 4, we cannot do anything nor would we know how. Lost people or the misguided do not dig around in 2 Peter 1 in order to find peace with God. If we do not have assurance, it is not God’s fault, it is our fault. That is why Peter says to “make every effort” in verse 5. That is why he says to “be all the more diligent” in verse 10. To possess assurance and the earnest expectation of a joyful entry into heaven will require “every” effort and diligence. Those who teach otherwise lead God’s people into doubt, discouragement and despair.

In verses 5 thru 8, we find our instruction for obtaining this glorious reality. These verses can be treated as a list, but I think there is something much more here. It seems to me that these characteristics build upon each other much like you build floors of a building one upon the other. It is also possible that each characteristic, when aptly applied, brings a temptation that the supplement or addition thwarts while compounding the effect of the latter. It all starts with faith which is a gift from God, but Peter tells us to add virtue.

arete [ar-et’-ay] properly, manliness (valor), i.e. excellence (intrinsic or attributed):–praise, virtue.

As James says: “faith without works is dead [James 2:17].” This is not only works however, but a mindset to be the best or to excel at these works. It is a moral excellence. Here, we are called to add good works to our faith in a pro-active way.  James put it this way:

James 1:27
Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of {our} God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, {and} to keep oneself unstained by the world.

It is easy to see here why we must add works to our faith, the exercise of our faith increases and enhances our faith.

James 2:22
You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected;

There is also the back and forth contribution between the two as long as the two are properly linked. Faith feeds works and works feed faith. They work together.

Next, Peter says to add knowledge to virtue. He doesn’t say to add it to faith. This is key. It’s easy to add knowledge to faith, but without practice, we have the exact thing James condemns. Christianity already has an abundance of scholars who wouldn’t even dream of stopping to help a stranded motorist. This is due to a missing link in their chain. Among the well known biblical scholars of our age, there is one thing missing, stories of valor [virtuous works, the second link]. In case you haven’t noticed, such events are not missing from Peters life or the other apostles, especially Paul.

Next, Peter says to add “self-control” to knowledge:

egkrates 1468; self-control (especially continence):–temperance.

Without practice, [of knowledge], knowledge cannot increase. The practice or walk here has to do with overcoming the flesh and it’s passions. Peter defines the walk necessary to enhance knowledge of Jesus Christ in four links that also must be added to each other; virtue [pro-active valor] self-control, stead-fastness and godliness.

“If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or [whether] I speak of myself.” John 7:17.

“But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.” Hebrews 5:14

Also, in the passage we are looking at, Peter says:

“For if these {qualities} are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:8

The practice of biblical knowledge leads to more knowledge and discernment. Again, these two links work back and forth together and enhance each other. You can’t practice what you don’t know but continued knowledge and the ability to discern will not increase without consistent practice. Does this lend any understanding to you in regard to the rampant error and lack of discernment of our age? New books and knowledge are often driven by imagination rather than  virtue.

Next, Peter says to add or supplement self-control with steadfastness.

hupomeno 5278; cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy:–enduring, patience, patient continuance (waiting).

Patience [endurance] must be added to self-control because self-control speaks to the constant and relentless battle with the flesh. It is a war within that entangles us with an inner enemy tenacious enough to wage war against the Spirit:

For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. Galations 5:17

As I have done before, and will do again, I highly recommend “The Enemy Within” by Kris Lundgaard for good biblical instruction concerning our war with the inner man. To consistently war against the flesh will require endurance. This must therefore be added to self-control.

Next, Peter says to add or supplement endurance with godliness:

eusebes 2152; piety; specially, the gospel scheme:–godliness, holiness.

This word could easily imply and encompass the other three elements of the walk necessary to enhance knowledge with the result of biblically informed obedience. However, using a process of elimination and assuming a lack of redundance on Peter’s part, and applying a meaning that fits the word, I take this to mean a devotion to formal piety. In other words, a devotion to prayer, assembling with other saints and study of God’s word and a well ordered life in that regard. Piety adds structure to the other three. We can certainly see what God did in Daniels life in regard to his faithfulness to word study and prayer [ the whole book of Daniel but especially Daniel 9].

Peter now says to add brotherly effection to piety. The treading gets a little tougher here toward the end of Peter’s chain so any comments are welcome, but it seems that piety and perhaps orthodoxy is nothing without affection towards the brothers. We can see this clearly in regard to the Ephesian church of Revelation 2:1-7. Christ said they where doing well in regard to works [virtue], toil [diligence], patient endurance [perseverance] discernment [result of practice], uncompromise in regard to error [more virtue] and not growing weary [more endurance]. But they were not adding;

agapao 25; love, i.e. affection or benevolence; specially (plural) a love-feast:–(feast of) charity(-ably), dear, love.

The word Peter uses is: philadelphos 5361; fraternal affection:–brotherly love (kindness), love of the brethren.

I contend that Christ had both in mind while speaking to the Ephesians. The Ephesians were doing well but falling short in regard to affection for others and God.

The Ephesian church was doing great in regard to Peters chain, until you get towards the end of the chain. The missing link was love and Christ says to get that in order or all bets are off.  Towards the end, love gives the rest of the elements, or works, their validity:

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have {the gift of} prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed {the poor,} and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing [1Corinthians 13:1-3].

I wonder if an interesting study would be a comparison with Peters chain and the letters of Revelation. In each case, what were their missing links or weak links? When another believer comes to you in regard to weakness in a certain area, what are they missing that is not enabling the other areas of their life?

Lastly, Peter says to add Love to Brotherly Love. This Love is an intimate knowledge of Jesus Christ and does not precede love for others. Again, we have two links that work together. There is no love for Christ that does not include love for others. Note what Peter says in the following verse:

“For if these {qualities} are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” [verse 8]

In Ephesians 3:17, the literal meaning says that when Christ is “at home” in our hearts[comfortable, not grieved, see kenneth Wuest expanded New Testament translation], that we are rooted and grounded in love which leads to:

“may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God” [Ephesians 3:17,18].

I doubt there are any assurance issues if this is your experience. Would you agree with that?

“Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble [fall into doubt and wavering, my empasis];” [2 peter 1:10]

Listen, The christian walk is a many fauseted approach with many provisions that all work together. Beware of the newest models that do not fit scripture. It is no accident that Peter emmediatly launches into the sufficiency of God’s word and false teachers after presenting this sanctification model that leads to assurance.

paul