Carts and Horses
So far we have looked at promises of God working in us from Jesus and Paul. Now it is Peter's turn...| His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 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. (2Peter1:3-8) |
We all know the analogy of putting the cart before the horse...
Many of us have heard and even underlined the section about adding goodness, knowledge, self-control, etc to our faith. But we should never read verses 5-8 without verses 3-4. Verse 5-8 are the "cart." They are the outcome and response to the "horse" in verses 3-4.
The horse is that God's power gives us EVERYTHING we need of life and godliness (piety).
Read the above sentence again! WOW!
But Peter goes further. Combined with the promises of God (which we find in Scripture) Peter suggests that we can participate in the divine nature (become like Jesus).
However, God chooses for us to be His co-workers and junior partners. We can co-operate with or frustrate His work in us. There is a danger of becoming ineffective and unproductive in our walk with Christ. And so, with the powerful work of God being the "horse", we hitch the cart of our lives to it and goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love can follow.
But don't put the cart in front of the horse!
We don't earn our salvation - we bear the fruit of it.
You can't do the work of adding all these qualities on your own.
You need the forgiveness of Christ. the indwelling work of the Spirit and the promises of God the Father as your horse.
This is good good good news!
