Ineffective, Nonproductive Christians: Not An Option

2 Peter 1:3-9 (NCV)

³Jesus has the power of God, by which he has given us everything we need to live and to serve God. We have these things because we know him. Jesus called us by his glory and goodness. ⁴Through these he gave us the very great and precious promises. With these gifts you can share in being like God, and the world will not ruin you with its evil desires.

⁵Because you have these blessings, do your best to add these things to your lives: to your faith, add goodness; and to your goodness, add knowledge; ⁶and to your knowledge, add self-control; and to your self-control, add patience; and to your patience, add service for God; ⁷and to your service for God, add kindness for your brothers and sisters in Christ; and to this kindness, add love. ⁸If all these things are in you and are growing, they will help you to be useful and productive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹But anyone who does not have these things cannot see clearly. He is blind and has forgotten that he was made clean from his past sins.

Many may be familiar with this list of Christian virtues.  There are as many as nine such lists in the New Testament.  What makes Peter's so interesting are the comments that immediately precede and follow the list.

Peter begins with the statement: "For this very reason, make every effort to add..." and then he begins listing the virtues in successive order.  What is the "very reason" Peter refers to?  The answer is found in verses 3 and 4 in which the author calls to mind the blessings and promises given by Christ.  Since Christ has given such great blessings we must make every effort to grow as Christians by adding these attributes to our character.  Let's look briefly at each of these.

Faith (pistis in the Greek)  Faith is essential to being a Christian for without it true conversion will not occur.  One must have an active belief in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Goodness (aretē)  This word would have been understood as living to the highest moral standard possible, by its original readers.  It represents an active courage and commitment to excellence.  The Christian must be living a life effective in the service of God and fellow-man.

Knowledge (gnōsis)  This is the knowledge that makes it possible for one to make proper decisions, and to act honorably and efficiently in the day to day circumstances of life.

Self control (enkrateia)  This is the ability to control one's emotions and passions.

Perseverance/Patience (hupomonē)  The ability for one to endure hardship and temptation with the idea of looking forward as one does so.  To a Christian, this means enduring trials and temptations with a eye looking forward to the eternal hope offered in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Godliness (eusebeia)  William Barclay states that this  "word looks in two directions".  It is acknowledging man's duty to worship and serve God  while also serving man in a godly manner.  This virtue has also been described a "holy living out of respect for a holy God" (Black, College Press). 

Brotherly love (philadelphia)  A Christian must develop close-knit relationships with their brothers and sisters in Christ if they are to be truly effective.

Love (agape)  This self-sacrificing love among believers must be cultivated.  This love is modeled in God's love for us and is also, along with brotherly love, a distinguishing factor that the world sees in our lives and prompts many to seek out Christ.

Peter encourages us to grow in these attributes in increasing measure so that we might become increasingly productive and effective children of God.  To not do so would be to become an ineffective and non-productive Christian -- That, my friend is not an option if we choose to live with our Savior for eternity.  Why?  Let Peter speak:

⁹But anyone who does not have these things cannot see clearly. He is blind and has forgotten that he was made clean from his past sins.

If I do not grow as instructed by God through the inspired word, I have forgotten that great sacrifice that made my salvation possible.

In conclusion, let us make a commitment in this new year to follow the sacred teachings and grow continually our effective and productive living for God.

-J. Watson

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