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". .