At first glance, this passage might seem mostly to be giving us a list of things we can do to be better Christians. I can find 20 qualities here which, together, tell us a great deal about what Jesus is like. However, look more closely and we will see that the prime mover in creating and releasing these blessings is not Christians by their feeble efforts, but God himself. It is ‘through the righteousness of our God’ (v 1) that we have faith; it is ‘his divine power’ (v 3) which has provided what we need; it is ‘by his own glory and goodness’ (v 3) that we are called to be his people. I am afraid my first reading exposes something limited about my own faith. I tend to notice the lists of goodies God offers more easily than I recognise the presence of the wonderful Lord who provides them all. 

God’s sovereignty, confirmed here, does not excuse us from striving for these virtues. Peter balances a profound truth of our faith beautifully in verse 10. He writes that – yes – we are called and elected by God, but also that we should be ‘eager’ to make sure we are welcomed by him.

‘If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?’¹

A friend used to have the sobering question above on his wall. Peter wants to impress on his hearers the need for growth in spiritual maturity, so that their lives might increasingly look like that of Jesus. In something like a three-point sermon, he builds on this issue bit by bit. First, he reminds his hearers that God has given Christians all they need to become spiritually mature (v 3). The power to be transformed and changed, to live a holy and godly life, comes from increased knowledge and experience of Jesus Christ. 

Second, Christians must pursue a growing spiritual maturity (vs 5–9). Some of us will recoil at this, believing that our transformation and growth in Christ-likeness, our sanctification, is God’s work by his Spirit and not anything that we can do. Perhaps to adopt this position is to risk throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Although the work of inner change is only possible by the Holy Spirit’s power, we have a responsibility to cooperate with the Spirit to create the best chance of such change. In my garden, although I can’t make plants grow, I can cooperate with nature to provide the best environment for growth, by digging out weeds, constant watering, using plant food and so on. Similarly, we do have a responsibility to create a good environment in our lives for the Holy Spirit to grow maturity in us. John Wesley called these things ‘means of grace’; others speak of ‘spiritual disciplines’ – such as engagement with the Bible, prayer, fellowship, spending time in silence, doing acts of mercy and kindness. 

Lastly, Peter is keen to emphasise the eternal importance of this transformation and change. Growing in spiritual maturity is necessary if we wish to find a welcome in God’s eternal kingdom (vs 10,11). 

What is the environment for spiritual growth in your life? How could you cooperate further with the Holy Spirit’s ministry of transforming you into Christ’s likeness?

¹ Source not known