2nd Step; Effective and Fruitful Life in Christ

Knowing God, by being like Him

“…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, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, 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.” (2 Peter 1:5,6-9 NIV; bold mine)

Goodness

Ahh, the first step after faith. It seems many have the claim to faith, but as James says, “faith, if it has no works, is dead…show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works” (James 2:17, 18). Show me your faith and I’ll show you my deeds. Goodness works itself out in life, and is exemplified by moral excellence. The Greek word here arete¹ for goodness literally means virtue, or moral excellence. What should the response from a Christian be? Is it not the right, and good, and wholesome way, the one which does right by God, and right by man? As Paul writes, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8 NKJV, bold mine).

We have been “saved by grace, …through faith, and created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:8,10; NIV). In addition to our faith we must add moral virtue, as if to say in practicing our faith me must strive to walk in the standing which we already have in God. Christ is our righteousness before God, but we still have to practice moral excellence (Hebrews 5:14) to walk in righteousness. “Be ye Holy; for I am Holy” (1 Peter 1:16). As one called out of darkness, I must live in the light and exemplify the righteousness I now have in Christ.

“You are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies [aretas] of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light…” (1 Peter 2:9; NASB, brackets mine: from the Greek word arete¹ explained above)

Footnotes
1. Thayer and Smith. "Greek Lexicon entry for Arete". "The New Testament Greek Lexicon". .

1st Step; Effective and Fruitful Life in Christ

Knowing God, by being like Him

“…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, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, 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.” (2 Peter :5,6-9 NIV)

Faith

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20 NKJV)

Fruitful and effective life in Christ starts with the foundation of faith. “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy” (1 Peter 1:8; NIV). Peter continues, that the goal of our faith is the salvation of our souls (v 9). Yet it is also God’s will that we too be sanctified (1 Thessalonians 4:3). “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son...” (Romans 8:29; NIV). It is by being conformed to His likeness, by becoming like Him, that we might also know Him. “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead” (Philippians 3:10-11; NIV). We have been “saved by grace, …through faith..." and "created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:8,10; NIV).

There is no fruit without faith. What shall we do to do the works of God? Jesus’ answer was,

“...Believe in Him whom He has sent.” (John 6:29; NASB)

There is a mystery by which we are to respond to God’s instruction or command; by faith we come to know Him, and by faith we come to become like him. “The righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.’” (Romans 1:17; NASB)

“Ye believe in God, believe also in me.” (John 14:1)