His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

Therefore, my brothers and sisters,make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you willreceive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. – 2 Peter 1:3-11.

INTRODUCTION

The power to live a godly life comes from God because we don’t have the resources to be truly godly, God allows us to “share His divine nature” in order to keep us from sin and help us live for Him. When we are born again, God by His Spirit empowers us with His own goodness.

A. EVERYTHING WE NEED FOR LIFE AND GODLINESS

No additional human wisdom, no technique or theory is needed to supplement or complete the message of God’s Word that reveals His perfect plan of salvation through Jesus Christ. The words of Jesus, along with the faith and teaching of those He used to communicate His original message as we have it in the New Testament, were adequate in the early days of the church to reveal God’s grace and meet the needs of the spiritually lost. The same message is just as adequate today. Absolutely nothing can offer more depth of insight or power to help people find true life than what God has already revealed to us through His Word. Jesus Christ alone is “the way and the truth and the life” – John 14:6.

B. PARTICIPATE IN THE DIVINE NATURE

Our participation in God’s very nature is another description of the new birth – being spiritually “born again” by which we receive God’s life and spiritual salvation. We have the privilege of sharing in God’s nature, so we can fulfil the responsibility of conforming to His character and standard of holiness.

C. ADD TO YOUR FAITH

Peter lists the positive character traits that a Christian must develop in order to be spiritually victorious, effective and productive in serving God. But false teachers had been teaching just the opposite: their special knowledge made some of these traits, such as self-control, unnecessary. But Peter makes it clear that Christians are to develop these traits. The phrase “make every effort” clearly explains that believers must be actively involved in their personal Christian growth.

Those who become Christians should make it their goal to develop in their faith the list of seven qualities:

1. Goodness

2. Knowledge

3. Self-control

4. Perseverance

5. Godliness

6. Mutual Affection

7. Love

Note that godly characteristics do not automatically grow without our dependence on God and our diligent effort to develop them.

D. IF YOU POSSESS THESE QUALITIES IN INCFREASING MEASURE

Peter is not implying that a Christian has to develop these traits in a precise order, one after the other, until they reach maturity or perfection. Instead, all of these qualities are to be cultivated all together and continually.

The Christian experience (a continuous relationship with the living God) should never remain stationary or stagnant. In fact, it could be said that if a person is not growing in faith, he or she is withering and dying spiritually. A person certainly cannot be productive to the fullest measure in serving God apart from consistent growth in faith, character and personal companionship with Jesus. If we ever find that we are not being effective in our service to God, we must examine our lives to ensure that we are, indeed, growing in the character traits mentioned.

E. HOW TO MAKE OUR CALLING SURE

Our faith and salvation must not be taken for granted. We must continue to persevere in our faith and grow in our relationship with God. By diligently developing the godly character traits mentioned – which is only possible as we grow closer to Christ and rely on the Holy Spirit – we will show that we are truly God’s people. God’s calling is to a life of obedience and holiness. Those who continue to follow Christ and grow in these disciplines will ensure their faithfulness to the end.

F. RICH WELCOME INTO THE ETERNAL KINGDOM

Because of their negligence, some Christians will barely make it into the kingdom of heaven. Other Christians, who remain firm and faithful in their spiritual growth and character, will be welcomed richly with honour.

CONCLUSION

Faith must be more than belief in certain facts; it must result in action, growth in Christian character, and the practice of moral discipline, or it will die away. “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. – James 2:14-17.

Peter lists several of faith’s actions: learning to know God better, developing perseverance, doing God’s will, loving others. These actions do not come automatically; they require hard work. They are not optional; all of them must be a continual part of the Christian life. We don’t finish one and start on the next, but we work on them all together. God empowers and enables us, but He gives us also the responsibility to learn and to grow.

The love of our heavenly Father, salvation through Jesus Christ, Christ’s intercession for us in heaven, the inner presence of and baptism in the Holy Spirit, the companionship of other Christians and God’s inspired Word are sufficient to meet all our needs for life and godly character development.

Stay blessed!

For further inquiries please contact us on Tel Nos. 0302-772013 or 0268130615

Email: saltnlightministries@gmail.com
Website: saltandlightministriesgh.org

By Dr Joyce Aryee, the author