Grow in Your Salvation

Cast off the Old Garments

1 Peter 2:1 NASB95

Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander,

The second chapter begins with the word “therefore”. We must look at the previous chapter to get the context of the second chapter.You will discover that the following instructions are for those who have come to faith in Jesus Christ. It is specifically for those who have purified their souls, love one another, and been taught the word of God. This describes a Christian.

Peter gives instruction to put aside five things that encumber a Christians spiritual growth. He gives a picture of what baptism in Jesus day looked like. The one being baptised would remove their soiled garment, be baptised, and then would put on a white robe. This is the picture that Peter is painting in these words of instruction.

The first thing Peter instructs to remove is malice. The Greek word for malice is kakia. It means general wickedness. The English word malice means to desire harm to someone else. Both meanings are applicable. We are not to desire the harm of someone else. This is something that we may want to do if we desire revenge on someone. However the Greek definition would encompass all wickedness. This is a broader meaning which would be applicable to more people than the English version. Peter says we are to put aside ALL wickedness.

The second thing that we are to put aside is deceit. The Greek word for deceit is “dolos”. It means to cause (someone) to believe something that is not true, typically in order to gain some personal advantage. It gives the idea of “bait”. Much like a fisherman puts bait in the water to entice the fish to bite. the fisherman's intent is not to make sure the fish is well fed, but instead to entice the fish to bite the bait that has a hook so he can be well fed. We do this when we pretend to offer someone something that benefits them, but instead give them something that will only benefit us. This is deceitful. It was the tactic that Judas used when he kissed Jesus in his betrayal.

The third thing Peter says to put off is hypocrisy. The Greek word is “hupokrisis” It means to behave in a way that is not consistent with what one really believes. It is like a person that says they are a Christian but does not follow Jesus but lives like the rest of the world. They say one thing and live a different way. This is why many people are turned off with church. They see people who attend church and see no difference in them than they see in themselves.

Gandhi points out a great hypocrisy among Christians when he says, “I like your Christ, but not your Christianity. I believe in the teachings of Christ, but you on the other side of the world do not, I read the Bible faithfully and see little in Christendom that those who profess faith pretend to see. The Christians above all others are seeking after wealth. Their aim is to be rich at the expense of their neighbors. They come among aliens to exploit them for their own good and cheat them to do so. Their prosperity is far more essential to them than the life, liberty, and happiness of others. He points out that those who profess to follow and worship Christ really don’t follow his ways but instead pursue the things of this world and exploit one another to get it.

Fourthly, Peter instructs us to put off Envy. This is when we resent people that prosper. Sometimes known as “haters”.

Finally, Peter says to cast off all slander the Greek word for this is “katalalias” It is speech that seeks to defame someone’s character. Unfortunately, there are many platforms available to facilitate this. We have social media, news media, gossip, and many other forms that are used to put discredit someones character. The bad thing about it is there is very little penalty in our society for committing this sin.

Often times the untrue slander even when proven false encumbers a persons character to the point that they can never have a good name.

These are a few things that Peter instructs us to put out of our lives. It is not enough just to put them off. We must replace them by putting something else on. So how do we do this.

Long for Spiritual Milk

Peter, explains that our desire should change. Rather than the things that we just put off, we must desire the Word of God. It is important to note that Peter says we are to crave the word of God as a NEW BORN baby craves milk. It gives the idea that we must have it to survive. Just as a new born baby has to have milk to survive, so must the Christian must desire the word of God so that they may live.

The word of God teaches us the things that we are to replace old garments with. Quite simply we are to replace the deeds of the flesh with the gifts of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-24

Galatians 5:22–24 NASB95

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

We will discuss these later.

The important thing that we must understand is our cravings. What do you crave? That which you crave you will seek out. Typically what you seek out you will find.

When we prioritize the things of this world and pursue them, we typically will put on the garments that are conducive to obtaining it. For example, if a person is going to engage in activity that is going to get them extremely dirty, they will put on garments that they don’t mind getting dirty. Conversely, when a person goes to a formal wedding they will put on their very best. What I am trying to point out here is that when we want what is not righteous we will clothe ourselves in the sin that is necessary to get it. On the other hand when we desire the things that are holy, we will clothe ourselves with the righteousness

In order to know which clothes to where we must know what we desire. You don’t want to wear your nasty clothes to a wedding and you don’t want to wear your very best to get ruined. Pay attention to your desires so you can avoid the filthiness of sin and crave the pure milk of the Word

Grow In Your Salvation

In order to grow in your salvation Peter gives us the way to do it in 2 Peter 1:5-7

2 Peter 1:5–7 NASB95

Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.

The first thing Peter calls us to is diligence. This means that we must be intentional about our spiritual growth. It doesn't just happen. Just as the body does not improve in health by not exercising, so our spirit does not grow without diligence.

Being a person of faith your must excel in morality. This is adhering to the laws of God. The way you start this is by understanding the spirit of the law and the the letter of the law. Jesus illustrates this in Matthew 5:21-22

Matthew 5:21–22 NASB95

“You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not commit murder’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.

A person that understands the letter of the law may believe that they are okay because they didn’t kill any one. But the spirit of the law deal with the anger in the heart towards a person.

Add knowledge to your moral excellence. This happens with Bible study. This is the acquisition of knowledge.

To your knowledge add self-control. This is the application of your knowledge. James 4:17

James 4:17 NASB95

Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.

Add to your self-control perseverance. This means practice, practice, practice. Don’t allow the circumstances of life dictate your control. Let your knowledge of God’s Word control you.

Add to your perseverance godliness. Depend on God in your life. Pray and learn from Him. This is how you grow in godliness.

Add to your godliness, brotherly kindness. Spending time learning from God you will begin to be kind to all.

Add to your kindness, love. Love is the end goal of spiritual maturity. This is becoming Christlike. God is love. When we are loving like Him, then we know that we are growing on our salvation.