2 Peter 1:5 Meaning “For this very reason”
Growing in Christ: A Life of Effort, Knowledge, and Love
Scripture Reading: 2 Peter 1:5-7
Let us turn together in our Bibles this morning to our text, which comes from 2 Peter 1:5-7. Please hear with me the reading of God’s Word:
For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
Thus far, the reading of God’s Word.
The Danger of Spiritual Laziness
We have likely all encountered families where parents allow their children to do whatever they please. These children wake up when they want, eat whatever they desire, and engage only in activities they enjoy. Their parents demand nothing from them, often cleaning up after them and catering to their every need.
What does this produce? Such children often grow up to be entitled, expecting the same treatment from others. They are spoiled because they have never been told “no.” Instead of discipline, they receive only comfort—even when they misbehave. But what is the result? Ultimately, this kind of upbringing leads to their ruin.
Many professing Christians view their relationship with God in a similar way. They see Him as a Father who only gives—who exists to provide for their desires without expecting anything in return. But God is not like many earthly fathers. He knows our nature. He knows that if He only comforted us without placing any demands upon us, it would lead to our spiritual destruction. Left unchecked, we would become spiritually lazy.
Yet God has saved us so that we might live to honor Christ. Christ came to redeem us from sin and misery, and in response, we are called to glorify Him with our lives. This call is not only for God’s glory but also for our own perseverance. It is through obedience and faithfulness that we are kept in the faith until the end.
Encouragement Before Exhortation
This is why Peter begins his letter the way he does. In 2 Peter 1:1-4, he first pours out comfort upon the saints by reminding them of all that Christ has done for them:
- They have obtained a faith of equal standing with the apostles, through the righteousness of Christ.
- By Christ’s divine power, they have received everything needed for life and godliness.
- They have been made partakers of the divine nature through Him.
These opening verses serve as a father comforting his children. But this comfort is not meant to lead to complacency; rather, it is meant to stir them to action. Peter transitions from encouragement to exhortation, and in 2 Peter 1:5, he makes that shift clear:
For this very reason…
In other words, because of what God has done for you—because of His abundant grace—He now calls you to live in obedience. The Christian life is not one of passive reception but of active faith. It is not about earning salvation, but about responding to God’s grace by living a life that honors Christ.
The Christian Life: Three Key Aspects
Peter lays out what the Christian life ought to look like, describing it in three key ways:
1. A Life of Effort
Peter calls believers to make every effort in their walk with Christ. This does not mean that our works earn salvation, but it does mean that faith is not idle. God has called us to diligence in our pursuit of holiness.
2. A Life of Growth in Knowledge and Self-Discipline
The Christian life is a life of continual growth. Peter exhorts us to supplement our faith with virtue, knowledge, self-control, and steadfastness. True faith manifests in increasing knowledge of God and disciplined living.
3. A Life of Love
Ultimately, the Christian life culminates in love—love for God and love for others. As we grow in Christ, our lives should reflect His love, moving from brotherly affection to a Christlike, sacrificial love.
Conclusion: A Call to Faithful Living
Think of a child who receives a great inheritance from indulgent parents—parents who never taught him responsibility or discipline. What does he do with that inheritance? He squanders it.
God, as our perfect Father, knows that we would do the same if He placed no demands upon us. That is why He calls us to a life of effort, growth, and love—not only for His glory but for our good.
May we, by God’s grace, strive to live in a way that honors Christ, knowing that in doing so, He sustains us in the faith until the very end.
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