Add Knowledge

Last week we saw Peter addressing the church undergoing physical persecution from the Roman emperor Nero. He encouraged them saying 'In suffering is glory'; but now, Peter writes to the church again – his second letter. The persecution had ceased, the people were beginning to find comfort; but, they were in danger of a far more serious spiritual problem – heresy within the church.

People and leaders, puffed with false knowledge, began propagating and teaching things contrary to God’s standards. Peter directs his attention, in this letter, to address ‘knowledge’; for the word ‘know’ or ‘knowledge’ occurs sixteen times in this short second letter of Peter.

The church heresy began with something like this: ‘We can know Christ in our spirit, and our spirit becomes holy. But it does not matter how we live in the body, for our body is sinful and wicked anyway. So faith in our spirit is sufficient’

Peter dismisses this as heresy and false knowledge, calls the people of God to add seven virtues to their faith. Peter argues, that God is the same then, now and forever- the God who did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell…; the God who did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah…; the God who did not spare Sodom and Gomorrah, turning them into ashes, but delivered Lot… (2 Peter 2: 4-7). You can be sure, the same God is going to deal the same way down the ages.

Faith does not stand alone. It is always followed by works of obedience to Him and His word. Peter brings up this picture of God as the righteous Judge, judging the wicked and delivering the godly out of temptations. And in chapter-3 talks about the certainty of Christ’s second coming, encouraging the believers to hold steadfast the true knowledge found in the epistles.

We do not know when Christ would come, but are called to be in a state of alertness always. We must NOT be like unstable people, who say to themselves, this week is for flesh and the next week will be in spirit; this day to sin and tomorrow to repent. We do not even know whether we will be here tomorrow! Peter begins by telling that indeed they know all these things, but it is for him to write and remind them once again! He tells us the samething - although we know, we must be reminded of these things.

Against this background of Peter’s second letter, let us concentrate on a few verses from 1st chapter. 2 Peter 1:5-8: But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love; For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

These seven virtues do not come automatically once you have put your faith in Jesus Christ. Peter says, “…giving all diligence, add…”- make an effort, work towards adding these virtues. To add these virtues (excellent moral values), requires a willingness and co-operation with the Lord Himself. Therefore add to faith virtue (goodness). We are called to have a higher moral standard-that does not change, rather than conforming to the standards of this world, that changes. All apostles talked on the matter of moral standards. Paul in Ephesians 5: 3,4 says: But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. Paul to Corinthians: Flee immorality. Jesus taught us, that it was in the Old Covenant, it was “You shall not commit adultery”; but in the new, even our thinking must be free of adultery – this is the higher moral excellence called in each one of us. There is no dilution of God’s law over the ages, but rather perfection through Jesus the Christ.

Pursue knowledge that is true. The true knowledge is from the heart and not from the head. It is not attained in intellectual pursuits and reading books on Christianity, but rather in a relational understanding of God Himself and in the revelation of His written word. Even in those days of Peter, people got so caught up with philosophies, and increase in knowledge. Even now, many are interested in only directly hearing from God; they want God to speak to them. They delude themselves saying there is no time to read what He has already spoken – His word, the Holy Bible. But you know what the Bible says: I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing (Hos. 8:12). If you are serious in heart knowledge, you can start by reading from Genesis to revelation – to have an understanding of God’s view-point on all matters under the sun. Otherwise, when someone talks of moral excellence, it may sound as a strange thing to you!

Peter was an ordinary fisherman – uneducated and untrained in ministry. Yet, among Jesus’ disciples, Peter had the revelation of who Jesus is. The natural leader among fishermen became the spiritual leader, leading thousands to Christ on the Day of the Pentecost. The Bible is the Book that will confound the wise-if they tried intellectual reasoning, and it is the same book that will reveal to the simple the Way of Life- through revelation. ‘You shall guide me with Your counsel…’: If you are troubled in any area, look deeply into God’s word. Look deep – for precious metals from earth are excavated out of the deep. In a similar way, the treasure of His counsel must be digged out of his word. ‘It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.’ (Prov 25:2)

We are not called to be spiritual babies all our life, but rather to grow into sons and daughters in Him. Peter ends his letter saying: grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 pet. 3:15). Christian life is not a state to be achieved, but rather a path to grow; it is not stagnant, but progressive growth. The apostle John was about 95 years old, banished to the island of Patmos, but there too he grew in the revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ. We have the book of revelation today, parts of which are still difficult to understand. Remember, John too was a fisherman, and started his journey with Jesus as an uneducated, untrained disciple.

Add to knowledge, self-control. Apostle James speaks about self-control even in speech.

Add to self-control, perseverance. We all go through trials and difficulties. Peter’s first letter dwelt on this very subject of persevering through trials. And in the midst of trials, we have the wonderful privilege of knowing God’s presence. The Psalmist declares: Yea, though I walk through the valley of shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For You are with me. God has promised that no trial will be too hard to bear for us. God has promised: I will never leave you, nor forsake you.

To perseverance add Godliness. It is God’s desire that we grow into the likeness of Jesus Himself. If we partake in His sufferings, we partake of his nature too. Therefore, He allows us to go through unpleasant circumstances that we may imbibe and show Godly qualities.

To Godliness add brotherly kindness. We have seen this before. Christian life is not just Me, myself and God- but rather in relationship and growth with fellow believers, and in the congregation and in the church gathering. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood (1 Peter 2:17) is one of Peter’s theme in his first letter. As long as we have opportunity, forgive and serve one another, being tender-hearted.

To brotherly kindness, add love. We have seen what love is and what love is not. We can be people who show forth true Christian love. Walk in love. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son… God gives us opportunity to be good to one another.

These virtues must abound in us; then we will be fruitful in the knowledge of our lord Jesus Christ. Do not be stagnant in your Christian life, but rather grow and increase in His grace and knowledge.

May God bless you as you begin to build these virtues into your Christian life. Amen.