In my office, I have a poem by Edgar A. Guest, about the roads we take in life.
The easy roads are crowded and the level roads are jammed; The pleasant little rivers with the drifting folks are crammed. But off yonder, where it’s rocky, where you get a better view, You will find the ranks are thinning and the travelers are few. Where the going’s smooth and pleasant you will always find the throng, For the many - more’s the pity - seem to like to drift along. But the steeps that call for courage, and the task that’s hard to do In the end results in glory for the never - wavering few.
The point of the poem is simply this: where you end up one day will be determined by the path you choose today.
Peter speaks to us here in this passage about the importance of Christian character development. Last time, we considered why Christian character development should be our priority in life. Peter says it should be priority for us because when I make Christian character development my daily pursuit . . .
it will insure that my life is not wasted (v. 8);
it will insure my proper appreciation of salvation (v. 9);
it will present a positive witness to others (v. 10a);
it will prevent me from bringing reproach to the name of Christ (v. 10b);
and it will guarantee a rich welcome upon entering heaven (v. 11).
But if this is going to be true of my life, where do I start? How do I proceed? What path must I take to know the benefits associated with developing Christ-like character? Let’s notice what Peter tells us.
1. It begins with a personal and growing knowledge of Christ - vs. 1-3
I develop Christ-like character by virtue of knowing Christ. This knowledge of Christ is first of all, a personal knowledge. It is one thing to know about someone, but it is another thing altogether to know them.
This personal knowledge of our God and Savior Jesus Christ is possible because . . .
A. The Grace of God.
As Peter tells us in verse 1, this is made possible "through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ." Through His sinless life, He was uniquely qualified to suffer for our sins in our place, so that through faith in Him, we might be made right with God.
"Christ never sinned! But God treated him as a sinner, so that Christ could make us acceptable to God." - 2 Corinthians (CEV)
The Father treated His perfect Son as though he were sinful so that we who were sinful might be treated like perfect sons and daughters of God.
B. The Goodness of God.
A personal knowledge of Christ is made possible as well because of God’s pursuit of us. In verse 3, Peter tells us that God calls us "by His own glory and goodness." God lovingly pursues us and calls us to enter into a personal relationship with Himself.
C. The Gift of God.
In verse one, Peter tells us that this faith that is ours is something we have "received." In other words, it is not something we earn or deserve, but something which God sovereignly allows us to appropriate by faith.
It is interesting to note that the word Peter uses here that is translated "received," refers to winning something by lot. The idea is that something has won something, like the lottery. A person who wins the lottery has nothing to brag about. Their winning isn’t due to their intelligence or worth. In fact, the odds against anyone actually winning the lottery are so great that when it does happen, it is truly amazing!
In the same way, we cannot boast or brag about having come to know Christ as our personal Savior. It is something that our participation in is due solely to God’s grace and goodness. That’s why the Bible describes it as being a "gift."
"Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing!" - Ephesians 2:8-9 (the Message)
But like any gift, if one is to possess it, they must choose to receive it. The gift of eternal life is the gift of personal relationship with our God and Savior Jesus Christ, as John explains in 1 John 5:11-12:
"This is the testimony in essence: God gave us eternal life; the life is in his Son. So, whoever has the Son, has life; whoever rejects the Son, rejects life." - 1 John 5:11-12 (The Message)
"Salvation is not mainly forgiveness of sins,
it is mainly a fellowship with Jesus." - John Piper
This possible relationship becomes a personal relationship, when I choose to receive God’s free gift of eternal life through faith in Christ.
This is where getting on the right path begins. I must repent, that is, turn around, from walking away from Christ and accept God’s gift of a personal relationship with Christ and the privilege of being able to walk with Him. Becoming like Christ begins with a personal and growing knowledge of Christ.
2. It continues through reliance on God’s power and promises - vs. 3-4
It is through reliance on God’s power and promises that I grow in my knowledge of Christ.
I do this as I experience God’s power at work in me as a result of my appropriating the promises of the Bible concerning who I now am in Christ.
You see, through faith in Christ, I now have a new life to live - a Christ-like life to live. This is the "divine nature" that Peter mentions in verse 4. I can either be corrupted by the lies of the world, or changed by the truth of the Word.
The knowledge of which Peter writes is the knowledge of God as taught by the divinely revealed Word of God. It is also doctrinal knowledge, a knowledge divine truth. Now, we do not worship doctrine - we worship Jesus. But, apart from doctrine, we cannot know which Jesus we worship. The maturing Christian is marked by his knowledge of God through the Scriptures.
"The Scriptures point to me!" - John 5:39 (NLT)
Because we will always be in need of God’s power to work within us; because we will always need to appropriate God’s provision for us to live life to the fullest; and because we will never, ever come to know Christ as fully as is possible in this life, we must make study of the Scriptures a life long pursuit!
"If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed." - John 8:32 (KJV)
Albert Einstein attended a dinner party. His young, college student neighbor was seated beside him. The neighbor didn’t know who Einstein was. In the course of their conversation Albert Einstein’s young neighbor asked the white-haired scientist, "What are you actually by profession?" "I devote myself to the study of physics," Einstein replied. The girl looked at him in astonishment. "You mean to say you study physics at your age?" she exclaimed. "I finished mine a year ago."
Developing an intimate knowledge of Christ is something we will never complete until the day when eternity is ushered in. It is only on that day that we will fully appreciate our Savior!
"They shall see His face." - Revelation 22:4 (NIV)
"For our knowledge is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect), and our prophecy (our teaching) is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect). But when the complete and perfect (total) comes, the incomplete and imperfect will vanish away (become antiquated, void, and superseded)." - 1 Corinthians 13:9-10 (Amplified)
"For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face.
Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known."
- 1 Corinthians 13:12 (NKJV)
"When He comes and is manifested, we shall [as God’s children] resemble and be like Him, for we shall see Him just as He [really] is." - 1 John 3:2 (Amplified)
The degree to which I develop Christ-like character today will determine the degree to which I can experience heaven on earth!
3. It leads to real life change from the inside out - v. 4
Peter says I can either "participate in the divine nature" or be corrupted by the world. The divine nature that he refers to is the Christ-like life that can be lived through me by virtue of the presence of the Holy Spirit, who came to dwell within me upon my coming to know Christ personally.
"When you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit."
- Ephesians 1:13 (NLT)
"God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children." - Romans 8:16 (The Message)
"For his Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts and tells us that we are God’s children."
- Romans 8:16 (NLT)
The Holy Spirit speaks to us about the divine nature we now have through faith in Christ and works to renew our minds, impact our emotions and influence our will, so that we might live Christ-like lives.
"Since, then, we do not have the excuse of ignorance, everything--and I do mean everything--connected with that old way of life has to go. It’s rotten through and through. Get rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life--a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you."
- Ephesians 4:22-24 (The Message)
A story is told about a man who was born with an awful facial deformity. He grew up alone and lonely. When reaching adulthood, he decided to move from his town to begin a new life. On his way he discovered a beautiful mask that fit his making him look handsome. At first the mask was uncomfortable and he was afraid that people would find out who he really was, but he continued to wear the mask everyday.
In his new hometown, he made many friends and fell in love. But one day a wicked woman from his old home came to his town and discovered this man’s true identity. In front of his friends and fiancé, she forced him to remove his mask. When he removed the mask, it revealed a handsome face. His face had conformed to the mask.
Becoming like Christ is analogous to this. Go ahead and put on Christ. At first it may feel unnatural or uncomfortable, and maybe you may think, "who am I trying to fool?" But everyday just keep putting on Christ and everyday you will grow to look more like him.
