We have spent the last two months slowly going through the progression of spiritual growth outlined in 2 Peter 1. We defined faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and finally, charity. If you are like me, it is easy to look at a list like that and treat it like a spiritual achievement chart. We check the boxes, breathe a sigh of relief, and assume the job is done. But Peter wasn’t formatting a to-do list; he was pouring out his heart in an effort to help each us become all that God desires. The moment he finishes listing these traits that we need to carefully cultivate, he immediately shifts from what we need to add to why it matters to us personally. Beyond just pleasing the Lord and being a good witness to others, there is a massive personal benefit to growing spiritually; and a significant danger if we stop. Abounding vs. Unfruitful
Look at the very next verse after the growth chart ends:
Notice that Peter doesn’t just say, “If these things are in you.” He adds, “and abound.” This means these qualities are supposed to be growing, multiplying, and spilling over in our lives. We are meant to be actively working on them, day in and day out. When you dig into the original language of the New Testament, the words Peter uses here pack a serious punch. The word translated as barren actually means idle or lazy. Peter is saying that when we are actively pouring diligence into our faith, we won’t be spiritual couch potatoes just talking about the Christian life. We will actually be living it. And when we are active, we bring forth fruit. This could refer to the fruits of the Spirit, or it could be a reference to spiritual children; winning souls to Jesus. I happen to think it’s both. But either way, it means your life produces something tangible, both inwardly and outwardly, because your relationship with God is alive and close. This makes me think of the words of Jesus in John 15. I encourage you to read all of it, but I’m including this portion because it is so powerfully related:
Aren’t His vine, branches, and fruit analogy a beautiful correlation to the growth process we have just been studying? The more we get to know Jesus and the closer we abide in Him, the stronger our faith becomes and the more fruit we produce for His glory. The Tragedy of Spiritual Blindness
But what happens if we refuse to grow and develop? What if we accept salvation but never bother to cultivate our faith as we are commanded? In verse 9, Peter gives us a sober, heartbreaking warning:
If we do not grow in the Lord, we become spiritually blind. We never develop spiritual discernment. We won’t be able to tell right from wrong in a confusing world. Our faith will be merely superficial, and we will lack the vital eternal perspective that God wants us to have. The result of spiritual blindness is that we won’t be able to “see afar off.” We will completely lose sight of our eternal purpose, the investment in heavenly treasures, and the beautiful relationship we are supposed to be building with Jesus for the future. We become entirely nearsighted, trapped in the immediate, fleeting worries and pleasures of the world. But Peter goes even further. He says a Christian who refuses to grow will eventually forget they were even saved in the first place. Over the years, I have met so many adults who made a profession of faith when they were kids. Maybe they walked an aisle at a summer camp, trusted the Lord at Vacation Bible School, or prayed a prayer in Sunday School. But after that moment, there was no growth. Their families didn’t attend church, no one discipled them, and they never added a single thing to their faith. When you talk to them today, they barely remember it. They will say things like, “Yeah, I think I did something like that when I was little,” but they have absolutely no confidence in their salvation. They have no hope, no current peace, and zero comfort when times get tough. Why? Because spiritual stagnation robs you of your assurance. If you don’t grow, you forget the reality of the cleansing you once received. That is a sad and scary place to live. A Stable, Unshakable Foundation
This brings us to an often misunderstood verse in this chapter:
Some people read the phrase “make your calling and election sure” and panic. They think it means they have to work hard enough to keep themselves saved, as if our security depends on our own perfection. But that completely violates the context of the scripture. When Peter talks about making something sure, he is using a word that means stable, firm, and reliable. When you diligently cultivate spiritual growth, you are growing deep, thick, and strong roots that will enable your faith to withstand the winds and storms of life. Think of a massive building with a deep, solid concrete foundation. The foundation doesn’t create the building, but it makes the building sure. It makes it steady. Your faith won’t be tossed back and forth by every weird trend or false doctrine that comes along. Hard times and sudden tragedies won’t cause you to crash into doubt and despair, because you have built structural stability through years of walking with God. And look at the promise at the end of that verse: “for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.” This doesn’t mean you will never commit a sin or have a bad day. It means you will never completely fall away from your faith. You will become unwaveringly resolute in your relationship with Jesus! I have plenty of things I still don’t completely understand in the scriptures. There are many questions I probably won’t figure out on this side of heaven. But because I have spent years adding to my faith, knowing the Lord personally, and watching Him work, my foundation is solid. I know too much to ever turn back. I can’t be talked out of it, because I know Him. That isn’t a credit to me. I’m not standing strong because I am some kind of superstar Christian. It is simply the practical truth of God’s design: when you build on the right foundation, that stable underpinning is what holds your entire world together. Looking Ahead to the End of the Journey
Peter continues this thought in verse 11 by talking about a grand, abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of Jesus.
Do you read this as I do? It sounds to me like Peter is saying that if we follow His admonishment to grow a strong and steady faith, we will not only be fruitful and blessed in this life, but we are going to be welcomed home to heaven with a thrilling celebration. This precious idea has especially touched my heart this week. I have had three dear elderly Christian friends go on to heaven in the last few months, one just last week. It’s beautiful to think of them arriving to an abundant entrance as they are welcomed home and get to see Jesus face to face. Remember this old chorus? It will be worth it all when we see Jesus, As I reflect on Peter’s thoughts, I believe I can sum up the benefits of being diligent about our spiritual growth with these words:
I’m more convinced than ever that it really will be ‘worth it all’ when we see Christ. Blessings, P.S. Spiritual growth isn't measured by how much Bible knowledge we accumulate, but by how much our lives increasingly resemble Christ. If you've been faithfully adding to your faith, don't be discouraged if the progress feels slow. Healthy things grow one day at a time, and God delights in every step of obedience.
You’re currently a free full subscriber to Simply Angie. If you’d like to offer heartfelt ministry support, you can upgrade to paid (Your voluntary contribution directly helps keep this newsletter free and accessible for everyone).
|
