Today we are going to continue our consideration of the particulars of Christian character development. We note that Peter is very specific concerning what character qualities we should seek to develop as a Christian if we are going to progress toward Christ-likeness (vs. 5-7). He seems to list them in a particular order. Faith comes first, followed by goodness, then knowledge, to which we add self-control, then perseverance, then godliness, then brotherly kindness, and finally, love.
The first three character qualities (faith, goodness, and knowledge) have to do with my relationship with the God above me. The second three (self-control, perseverance, and godliness) have to do with my relationship with the world about me. The last two character qualities (brotherly kindness and love) have to with my relationship with the people around me.
Last time, we considered the first three of the Christian character qualities Peter mentions here, and noted they are linked to one another. Now let’s look at the second three which have to do with my relationship with the world about me - self-control, perseverance, and godliness.
1. Self-Control - v. 6
Self-Control has to do with my purpose while in this world.
William Barclay informs us that the term rendered "self-control" means literally "to take a grip of oneself." We are to take grip of ourselves in order to fulfill God’s purposes for our lives. Self-control is the opposite of self-indulgence. Rather than being driven by a desire to please self, Peter says we need to be driven to please God.
This is what he was referring to earlier in the passage in verse 4, where he mentions participating in the divine nature ("participation in the life of God" - The Message) as opposed to being corrupted by the world through evil desires.
God’s purposes for the church, and consequently, His people, are worship, discipleship, fellowship, ministry and evangelism. Worship, discipleship, and fellowship relate to knowing Christ better while ministry and evangelism relate to making Christ known to others.
Since discipleship is about my becoming more like Jesus, that is my ultimate purpose. As I progress toward Christ-likeness, I will also fulfill the other four purposes. Worship, discipleship, fellowship, and ministry are eternal in nature. In eternity, we will worship the Lord, reflect His likeness, fellowship with fellow believers, and serve our eternal king. Evangelism is our urgent purpose - the only one of the five that we will not be able to do in heaven.
The degree to which we fulfill the first four purposes determines the degree to which we experience heaven on earth. The degree to which we fulfill the fifth purpose determines the number of people we take from earth to heaven. Now, when I understand that these are God’s purposes for me as I live in this world, and surrender myself to fulfilling these purposes, I will be led to live a life of self-control.
"Remember that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize. You also must run in such a way that you will win. All athletes practice strict self-control. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. I am not like a boxer who misses his punches. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified."
- 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NLT)
Friends, if I am going to relate as I should to the world about me, I must keep my eye on the prize - seeking to fulfill God’s purposes for me - living my life committed to worshipping God, to growing in Christ, to fellowship with fellow believers, to serving others, and sharing Christ. As I maintain my focus on pleasing God by living a purpose-driven life, I will be enabled to develop the self-control necessary to resist the desires of self and instead, partner with God.
2. Perseverance - v. 6
Perseverance has to do with my problems while in this world.
Without the self-control necessary to fulfill God’s purposes, I will not persevere when problems come.
"Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast." - 1 Peter 5:8-10 (NIV)
Notice what Peter tells us here about problems:
A. As long as we are in this world, we will have problems.
"your brothers through-out the world
are undergoing the same kinds of sufferings." - v. 9 (NIV)
"In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world." - John 16:33 (The Message)
B. When we have problems, the devil will seek to defeat us.
"Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."
- v. 8 (NIV)
Sometimes, the devil himself is the source of our problem, other times, other people cause us problems, or circumstances beyond our control (like a tsunami) brings problems into our lives, and fairly often, we must admit that we bring problems upon ourselves.
Whatever the source of the problem, make no mistake about it, the devil will seek to discredit the cause of Christ through our defeat.
C. God commands us to persevere through our problems.
"Resist him (the devil), standing firm in the faith." - v. 9 (NIV)
D. God uses our problems to improve us if we persevere.
"And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace [Who imparts all blessing and favor], Who has called you to His [own] eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen, and settle you."
- v. 10 (Amplified)
As the old saying goes, "we can let our problems make us bitter or make us better." God wants to be free to make us better through our problems, but He can only accomplish this if we persevere.
E. Perseverance comes from staying surrendered to God’s purposes.
"Be self-controlled and alert." - v. 8 (NIV)
By staying focused on God’s purposes, I maintain the self-control required to persevere through problems and allow God to make me more like Jesus!
I will keep my head in the midst of problems that would cause others to lose theirs!
"One thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
- Philippians 3:13-14 (NASB)
It was because of his commitment to seeing God’s purposes fulfilled in his life, that Paul had developed the self-control necessary to "press on" no matter what.
3. Godliness - v. 6
Godliness has to do with my productivity while in this world.
"So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the special blessings that will come to you at the return of Jesus Christ. Obey God because you are his children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of doing evil; you didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God--who chose you to be his children--is holy. For he himself has said, ‘You must be holy because I am holy.’" - 1 Peter 1:13-16 (NLT)
Notice how Peter tells us that living a purposeful, self-controlled life, will enable us to not slip back into our old ways and persevere, which leads to living a life that is holy, as God is holy.
Holiness is the essence of godliness. Holiness is the supreme attribute of God, as indicated by the constant cry of the cherubim around God’s throne: "holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty" (Isaiah 6:3, Revelation 4:8). Holiness refers to the fact that God is completely separate and apart from His creation. He is above and superior to His creation. Therefore, to live godly lives means to live our lives as ones who are holy as God is holy - separate and apart from this world and its influences; above and superior to this world and its influences.
Conclusion: Now here’s where these three character qualities come together. How is the world going to ever see that the life of the Christian is one that is separate and apart from this world and its influences; above and superior to this world and its influences? Only as we persevere through problems - many of which are the same problems the unbeliever passes through - although we become better through them, and not bitter!
