A Pattern of Growth: 2 Peter 1:5-7

I've seen many models of growth and discipleship, but I would like to introduce you to one that comes from Scripture. It is a list of stages in Christian growth in 2 Peter. I will do my best to describe these different stages and give an application that will help you in your own walk. 2 Peter 1:5-7 says,

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.

          First, I wish to note the introductory phrase, "for this very reason". In the previous passage, Peter told us that God has given us everything that we need for life and godliness. For this very reason, we can hope to grow in our faith. We will never be able to grow deeper in our walk with God by pushing ourselves to follow disciplines without reliance on God's strength and providence.  However, paradoxically, we don't stop where we are in our faith because of God's grace. I have seen many believers act as though they didn't need to spend any effort growing closer to God because God would do all the work for them.
          We must stay between these two extremes. On the one hand, we can't rely on ourselves to do all the work of maturing; on the other, God's providence for our maturity motivates us to put in the work necessary for our sanctification. A close friend of mine has a great analogy that compares these two kind of believers to Superman and Batman. Superman believers think they can just wake up in the morning, take on all of the enemy's attacks, and serve others without any kind of real work or preparation. He doesn't have to be careful around guns since he is impervious to damage. He can do extraordinary things without thought or effort. Christians who follow the Superman line of thought fall quickly to temptations that can, in fact, harm them and get frustrated when they don't live godly lives because they expect their love for God to be enough to change their sin issues and motivate them to serve others. Batman believers understand the need to train and plan in their efforts to live out the Christian faith. Batman uses his resources wisely and can do extraordinary things without the help of others or supernatural power. Believers that follow the Batman line are usually well acquainted with their Bibles, responsible, and are realistic about what they can achieve. However, they can tend to be legalistic, prideful, add their own personal rules to the Bible, and have an inability to trust God and other believers.
           2 Peter 1:5-7 helps me stay between these two extremes. The phrase "for this reason" helps me to avoid the Batman mistake of self reliance, pride, and human rules. To strengthen this point, I'll quote the passage "for this reason" refers to: 2 Peter 1:3-4:

3 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.

This concept is further reinforced by  two more passages of scripture, 1 Corinthians 4:6b-7:

“Do not go beyond what is written.” Then you will not take pride in one man over against another. 7 For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

and Colossians 2:20-23:

20 Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: 21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? 22 These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

        Now that 2 Peter 1:5-7 has gotten me past legalism and making extra rules, it gives me a plan to follow to grow in my maturity. Now, before you Superman believers tune out this list and make it a thing for "superchristians" only, heed the warning of what Paul says about this list when he's finished in 2 Peter 1:8-9:

 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. 9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

         That's right. If you take the Superman approach and go about your life without pursuing Christ and hope to make a difference with your life without thought or preparation, the Bible says that you will be ineffective, unproductive, blind, and nearsighted in your knowledge of Jesus. Take heed.
         Now, on to the list: Faith, Goodness, Knowledge, Self Control, Perseverance, Godliness, Brotherly Kindness, and Love. As I said earlier, I am giving my interpretation of this list and can say that personal experience has verified its effectiveness. 
           Faith in Christ is the necessary first step in growing toward Christ. We need his power and salvation as well as Christ himself walking with us in every step of our faith journey. When we come to faith, we find ourselves wanting to increase in our Goodness.
          Goodness means generally doing loving and kind things toward other people. This will be a general goodness that will usually be guided by our own culture's understanding of Good behavior. This is also where Superman Christians get lost and left behind. As long as they follow their culture's ques on right and wrong, they will be limited and ineffective in their faith. 
            The next step they need to take is Knowledge. The only source of inerrant knowledge is the Bible. I've known many believers that only want to read the latest Christian author, but have their growth stunted from not having spent time in the Bible. I'm not ridiculing Christians authors, but am saying that their work needs to be supplemented by Scripture.
            The next step is Self Control. At this point, we have spent so much time in Scripture that we start to notice differences between our lives and the life that God tells us to live. We have moments of Self Control where we remember what the Bible told us to do. Before this point, I don't think it wise to push Christians to give up ALL of their sin habits. They need to develop naturally and give up sin as a result of God's work in their lives rather than as a result of Christian peer pressure.
             As we spend time growing in our Knowledge and have increasing moments of Self Control, we develop new habits and start a new lifestyle in Perseverance. Where Self Control involved godly behavior in small decisions, Perseverance sees these moments multiply and conquer one's life.
           Over time, one's life is so conquered by God that God's fruit is born in our life without effort at the stage of Godliness. Godliness is beyond the grasp of Batman believers because they rushed passed building the foundation of Faith in God's power at the beginning as well as try to develop a Self Control that adds their own personal rules to the Knowledge stage. For me, Godliness is best described by the Fruit of the Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control (Galatians 5:22-23). Where these behaviors start happening without pushing oneself, it becomes very easy for outsiders to spot God's hand in the lives of Christians. They notice that Godliness is not rule following, but something that flows naturally. This is the kind of ease that Superman Christians long to live in, but make the mistake of not spending time with God to make it happen.
          From Godliness, we move on to Brotherly Kindness. Here, we see Christians take an extra effort to reach out to their brothers and sisters in Christ. They help their Christian family to mature and walk them through the same maturity stages that they have just passed through and use their Spiritual Gifts to speed up this process in their own unique way. For instance, believers with the gift of Mercy or Encouragement will build up believers who are experiencing lapses in Self Control or Perseverance. Believers with gifts in Service and Administration or a passion for Missions will help other believers find outlets for the Self Control, Perseverance, and Godliness that is conquering their lives. Evangelists guide new sheep into the flock and Teachers guide believers through their Knowledge stage. All of us have a part to play in the Body and we need all hands on deck in the Church. This is not the place for pastors to amuse idle believers; it is the landing site for God's invasion of Earth.
         Finally, we reach the stage of Love where Believers are actively involved in each others lives and the lives of Non-Christians, both locally and globally.
          We are never finished growing in maturity. One can say that we are actively involved in all of these stages as we pass them up. I don't think that this list should be followed legalistically, but I think it is definitely God's plan for helping us live out our potential. Thank you so much for your time and please give me any helpful feedback. I don't claim to understand these passages completely and if you differ on points of today's blog, I'm open to healthy dialogue. In closing, let me quote the end of this section in 2 Peter 1:9-10:

10 Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

In Christ,
Simeon Snow