Godly Youth

After listing the characteristics that must characterize every Christian, Peter described why this process is so important. If we diligently add these characteristics and make them grow, we will not be lacking in the knowledge of Christ. Through this life, we come to know Jesus. As we sacrifice, we can appreciate His greater sacrifice. When we are persecuted or despised, we can understand the one who was the “Man of Sorrows.” When we truly develop brotherly love, we can see how God loves men even when they are unlovable.

By integrating these characteristics in our lives, we will also be useful in God’s service. Imagine the power of a church where each member is diligently building moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love and is abounding in its development. When we integrate these qualities in our lives, we are truly ready for every good work.

Peter contrasts the man who actively seeks to develop these qualities with one who lacks them. The one who lacks these characteristics has lost perspective. Peter says that he is shortsighted, or near sighted. I am near sighted; without glasses or contacts, I can see things up close, but cannot see far away. The spiritually near sighted person has lost his vision of what is of ultimate importance, he cannot see heaven in the distance nor the direction in which his earthly life should lead. He is too concerned with what is in his immediate vision.

Peter further describes the one who lacks these qualities as one who has forgotten that Christ has purged, or cleansed, his old sins. As a Christian, he should be growing, not becoming useless. This person reminds me of the man in Hebrews 10:26 who has turned his back on God and has treated the precious blood of Jesus like something common. He is like the man of Hebrews 6:6 who has turned back on Jesus and has crucified Christ afresh; His sacrifice means nothing. When we remember the price of our salvation, it will encourage us to be diligent to add the qualities of 2 Peter 1.

Peter further encourages his readers to make their calling and election sure. Some consider salvation a sure thing; once saved, always saved. However, this passage, the two from Hebrews cited earlier, and other passages teach that the child of God can be lost. How can we make our calling and election sure if it is, by nature, a sure thing? Why does Peter urge us to add these qualities so we will not stumble if it is impossible to fall? Our calling and election is not sure and we can stumble, therefore we must add these characteristics. It is neither the work itself nor the perfected man that brings salvation, for we are saved by grace. However, we are commanded to grow in Christ and if we draw back we will be lost, Hebrews 10:38-39.

For the diligent Christian this is not a problem for by drawing close to God he assures his home in heaven, v.11. An entrance is abundantly supplied, which conveys the idea of one who is heading to heaven under full power. He is not making it to the finish line in a slow trot but is busting through the tape at full speed. If we are diligent to add these qualities and to make them abound, we will be what God created us to be and travel our set course at maximum speed.

The final characteristic Peter urges us to add to our faith is love. Love is the finest quality of God that we must seek to duplicate in our lives. John, who is often called the apostle of love, wrote, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God” (1 John 4:7) To love as God has loved will take our whole lives to develop. This love will motivate us to add and strengthen the other characteristics.

Great love will strengthen our faith for we will endure many trials for the God whom we love. Our love for God, and the desire to be like Him, will motivate us to perfect moral excellence in our lives. Our knowledge should grow because, since we love God, we would want to know all we can about Him and His will for us. We will gain strength for self-control because we do not want to disappoint God and we know the importance of self-control in developing holiness. Our love for God will cause us to persevere amid trials, fatigue, and persecutions because we know Jesus persevered through His love for us. Love is certainly the motivation behind godliness because as our love grows, our focus centers on God.

Finally, love strengthens our brotherly kindness because, as John said, “…he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?” (1 John 4:20).

Love does not depend on the recipient loving us in return. God loved us when we were rebellious against Him, Romans 5:8. Jesus died on the cross while those for whom He died mocked Him and spat upon Him. We will sometimes show great love towards others and receive very little love (perhaps even hatred) in return. When this happens to us, we get a small idea of God’s love for us. If we love others so that we may receive love, we miss the point of love.

Jesus commanded us to love our enemies. As noted before, God loved us, and Jesus died for us, while we were sinners—rebels. Jesus said, “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” Matthew 5:44-45. It is a difficult command to love those who abuse us. Jesus forgave His enemies who nailed Him to the cross and, while on the cross, saved the thief that at one time mocked Him. If our Savior showed this love, we must too. If we only love those who love us, what do we do more than others? Matthew 5:47.

We must have sacrificial love. God’s love was so strong that He gave His Son to die for us, John 3:16. Imagine a love that would require you to give your son. Abraham was prepared to offer Isaac at the command of God. His love was such that he would withhold nothing from God. Yet Abraham knew the character of God and expected that God could even raise Isaac from the dead if he wanted, Hebrews 11:17-19. We must sacrifice our time to do the will of God and to strengthen these characteristics in our lives. We must sacrifice our money in order to help the work of the Lord. We must sacrifice some relationships if they will draw us away from God. We must sacrifice ourselves because ultimately our love for God should be greater than our love for self. Moreover, in losing ourselves in God, we will find ourselves.

Finally, we should love souls as God does. We should want all men to be saved and act consistently with that goal. We should teach those who are lost and reach out to those who are erring (James 5:19-20; Jude 22). Whether we are teaching, rebuking, or arguing our case from the word of God, we must speak in love (2 Timothy 2:22-26; Ephesians 4:15).

It is an eternal characteristic for “love never fails.”

In Peter’s list of characteristics, the previous traits have primarily focused on change within the individual and his relationship with God. Brotherly kindness is a characteristic that extends to God’s people. It is an active show of affection towards one’s brethren.

Like the other graces, this one relates to the previous traits. Our faith binds us as brethren and it is natural that brotherly kindness would characterize those whom God has called together into one body. Moral excellence demands that we maintain proper relationships with one another and encourage our brother’s morality. Brotherly kindness helps us temper our knowledge so that we do not use it to hurt our brethren, 1 Corinthians 8.

Self-control is essential in close relationships with our brethren. We must watch our tongues and our actions so that we do not sin against the brethren. Patience strengthens brotherly kindness in longsuffering. We have to be patient with our brother’s spiritual growth and in times of disagreement. Through all of our brotherly relationships, godliness helps us see our brother from God’s perspective—as a soul needing salvation—and realize that we are all one in Christ.

We demonstrate brotherly kindness by proper displays of affection. In some cultures, people welcome each other with kisses on each cheek. Other cultures bow in respect. In our culture, we shake hands with one another to show affection. Romans 12:10 tells us to be “kindly affectionate to one another and honor each other.” Rudeness is unacceptable at any time but especially among those claiming to be one body united under Jesus.

This is not to say that we will always agree with one another. When we disagree, we should go to our brethren and try to work out the problem. If it is a spiritual matter, Jesus has prescribed steps that we must take to resolve the sin, Matthew 18:15-17. If we ignore it, we put his soul in peril and we will have to answer for our negligence, James 5:19-20. If the disagreement is a personal matter, work it out so that malice and bitterness does not develop. Of course, personal matters should never become a cause for division in the Lord’s body. Paul warned, in Galatians 5:13-15, that we must not “bite and devour one another lest we be consumed.” In hurting others, we hurt ourselves.

We show brotherly kindness in kind deeds particularly in a time of need. We are taught by God to love one another, 1 Thessalonians 4:9. Jesus proved His love for us by dying for us; therefore, we ought to be willing to die for our brethren, 1 John 3:16. However, it is unlikely that our love will require the extreme sacrifice. Perhaps we will need to sacrifice some of our possessions to help our brethren, James 2:14-17. We might need to sacrifice our time to show concern for our brethren. In all things, we should not shut our hearts up to our brethren, 1 John 3:17.

If we do not have love for the brethren, we have no love for God, 1 John 3:10. If we do love our brethren, it is to be an “unfeigned” or genuine love, 1 Peter 1:22. And that love should be shown in brotherly kindness.

In previous posts, we have studied how one builds the Christian character on the foundation of faith in God. One adds excellent morals, knowledge of God’s word, the ability to control oneself in the boundaries of God’s laws, and the perseverance to endure until the end. These characteristics depend on one another for optimal growth. To these gifts, we must add godliness. Certainly, if we add all of the characteristics of 2 Peter 1, we will be like Christ. However, godliness, in this context, does not mean to be like God but rather to direct our attention towards God or to have reverence.

Directing our focus to God directs and strengthens the other characteristics. Faith must be directed heavenward, Hebrews 11:6. Moral excellence for its own sake may bring praise from men but one would probably discard it at the first ethical conflict. A person with moral excellence based on reverence will choose to do right even when it is not in his personal best interest to do so. Paul said, “Knowledge puffs up but love edifies.” Knowledge by itself is valuable, but better is a desire to know the will of God and to know about God Himself. Self-control is admirable in any person but God wants us to exercise self-control because of our desire to please Him. Perseverance truly finds its strength in godliness for by looking to God and the home He has prepared for us, we can endure many trials throughout life.

How does one develop godliness? It begins with keeping God in our daily lives. When we rise for the day, we should begin with prayer. When we bed down for the night, we should pray to the Father. Throughout the day, we should pray to Him. His word must speak to us during the day. We can read a passage and meditate on it throughout the day. We should also look for ways to show Christ living in us to others. Our speech, manner, and honesty will either demonstrate godliness or betray it.

When we make decisions, we should decide in a way that pleases God. Our business, social, and personal life should reflect one who is trying to be like Jesus. Just as the moon does not generate light but reflects the light from the sun, so should the Christian look to God for guidance and “let his light shine before men.” When Moses was in the presence of God at Mt. Sinai, his face shone. The people were frightened and asked Moses to wear a veil when he spoke to them. Though our face will not shine like Moses, it ought to be evident to all people that we have an intimate relationship with God. Like the apostles, people should know that we have been with Jesus, Acts 4:13.

A life directed towards God will progress towards Him. When we take our eyes away from God, it is easy to get distracted with the allurements of the world. As the Hebrew writer said, we can drift away from that salvation. When our focus is heavenward, our earthly ties become weaker. It is this attitude that characterized many men and women of faith who, leaving their homelands on earth, confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims traveling to their heavenly city to a God who is not ashamed of them (Hebrews 11:13-16). Let us fix our eyes on God and journey to that heavenly city, following the way paved by His Son.