The Virtuous Christian Life
The Christian faith is received as a gift of God (Eph 2:8–9; 2 Pet 1:1). It is an essential virtue of those born again of God’s Holy Spirit (Jn 3:1–8; 1 Pet 1:3). It is common to all those who have been made alive “in Christ” (Eph 2:5); but it is also the mechanism by which the newly regenerated soul apprehends the promises of God’s revealed Word, the Holy Bible. Simply put, faith is a noun (body of divinity); and faith is a verb (active trust [heart, mind, will] in the Person and work of Jesus Christ, as revealed in the written Word of God).
Christians believe/trust Jesus Christ because of His revealed identity and successful work in securing righteousness with God (Rom 5:19), as the God-man who represents the chosen people of God (1 Tim 2:5). All people conceived in their mother’s womb are sons of Adam (Ps 51:5), the federal head of humanity. The sin of Adam, unbelief leading to disobedience, is inherited by everyone conceived (Rom 5:12). The exception to original sin was Jesus Christ, conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary (Is 7:14; Mt 1:18).
The Apostle Peter revered Jesus Christ as God and Savior (2 Pet 1:1). When we learn Christ, we receive what the Holy Spirit discloses to us (Jn 16:13–15). The blessing is to know God and what he has done for those He has chosen and called (2 Pet 1:10). The Spirit testifies of Christ (Jn 15:26); and those who have received Christ believe in Him by grace.
God’s grace, His power and wisdom, works for the benefit of those who inherit salvation (Heb 1:14). Having made peace with God on our behalf, Jesus grants grace for life and godliness (2 Pet 1:3). The new life in Christ becomes abundant in godliness, as grace works Christian virtue in every saint. The means by which virtue grows is the true knowledge of God, as it is revealed in Jesus Christ. Stated another way, the Christian becomes more Christ-like, the more he or she sees Jesus and learns of Him (Rom 8:29; Heb 12:2; 2 Pet 3:18).
In 2 Peter 1:5–7, eight virtues are listed using a repetitious, literary ladder system name sorite. It is progressive, beginning with faith and ending with love. Godly virtues cannot be produced by sinful flesh; and apart from Christ, they are a cheap imitation because void of Christ, they merely produce the sin of pride. Let us briefly consider all eight and remember there are other virtue lists with even more virtues.
First, there is faith. It is the beginning feature once one receives spiritual life. It is a life of faith to be lived in the Spirit (Gal 2:20), who leads and guides the child of God on the path of righteousness. Faith is a gift, given in measure by God’s grace. It is pleasing to God to give and to grow faith in His beloved.
Second, trusting in the holy God to work grace in one’s life means we are in need of a mold of perfection. Christ Jesus is that perfect model to which the Spirit and the Word conform the saint, in the sanctification of moral excellence. Religion endeavors toward moral purity; but the flesh is too weak to produce anything other than a temporary fabrication of goodness. God is good; but fallen man is not good, nor does he do good (Rom 3:10–12). Fake morality is immoral. Apart from Christ morality is a mirage.
Third, there is knowledge. The most precious commodity in this world of lies is the knowledge of the truth, as it is in Jesus (Jn 14:6; Eph 4:21). Humanity is ever learning but never coming to the knowledge of the truth because Jesus is the truth and the world thinks faith in Him is foolishness (1 Cor 1:18; 2:14; 2 Tim 3:7). True knowledge of God like faith can increase; and these virtues often do grow together (Lk 17:5; Rom 12:3).
Fourth, there is self-control. It is the Holy Spirit who restrains evil (2 Thess 2:6–7), which would be far worse than it is without the Spirit of holiness working in Christ’s church. This has benefits for the world, too. The wisdom of God, proclaimed from the Word of God, sobers the world intoxicated with sin. Self-control is recognized from the fruit of the Spirit virtue list in Galatians 5:22–23. The Christian’s flesh is never reformed. It wants to run wild as it always did. This is why Christians die along with unbelievers.
Fifth, there is perseverance. This is notable from the Reformed response to the 5 points of Arminian heresy. The preservation of the saints is all grace. Only God is willing and able to keep the beloved for Christ (Jude 1:1). He began this good work; and He will bring it to its perfect end (Phil 1:6) where Christ will present His church holy and blameless before God (Eph 1:4; 5:27; Col 1:22).
Sixth, there is godliness. The Apostle Peter assured his readers that life and godliness were granted by God’s divine power (2 Pet 1:3). To be godly is to be Christ-like because the God-man could do no other. He was without sin (Heb 4:15); and He always did what was pleasing to the Father (Jn 8:29). He was perfectly obedient and never deviated from the will of God. In this, Jesus showed us the attributes of God.
Seventh, there is brotherly kindness. This is the Christian virtue of being a member of the family of God. As Spirit-filled believers share the same baptism, we share the same Father. We have the same adoption and the same inheritance. Again, we are considering what the indwelling Spirit is producing as spiritual fruit.
Finally, there is agape. God’s love is poured out in our hearts with the presence of the Spirit (Rom 5:5). Love never fails because God is love (1 Cor 13:8; 1 Jn 4:8). Love must never be isolated as if it were the only attribute of God.
As Christ is formed in the brethren, all of the virtues listed in 2 Peter 1:5–7, along with all the other Christian virtues will increase. All of these things are the work of God in the chosen, redeemed, called, regenerated, child of God, who gives thanks in everything because God’s grace is always sufficient for us.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
August 25, 2024
2 Peter 1:5–7
