Live a Godly Life

2 Peter 1:3 NIV

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

Everything we need has been given directly to us by His power

Knowing Him is what makes it work

This is entirely by God’s glory and His goodness

it’s not based on any factors outside of God and His character

2 Peter 1:5–7 NIV

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.

For this very reason - because

God has given us everything we need, directly from Him, because He’s good

(even when we’re not)

There’s a clear progression in what Paul is saying

Start with goodness -

Goodness

how on earth do we plan to get closer to a God who has accepted us based on how good He is, if we aren’t radically focused on being good?

Paul STARTS with goodness.

Knowledge

knowledge comes AFTER goodness.

That’s not to say, don’t learn anything until you’re a really nice person. But it is to say, everything you learn has to be built on a foundation of goodness

Self-Control

Self-control is an obvious pick after knowledge and goodness. When we commit to doing things and knowing things - the flesh creeps in. And so, dialing ourselves back, our nature, our sinfulness - that’s next.

As we practice goodness, knowledge, and self control - our own desires, our own nature, our own goals get put on the back bench.

Perseverence

So perseverence is next. Because if the last couple steps aren’t hard - we aren’t doing them right.

If we believe that we’re naturally broken, naturally sinful - goodness, the kind of goodness that God REALLY wants - it’s going to stretch us.

we are good at OUR kind of goodness - be nice to people who are nice to us, support things that we agree with 100% and make us comfortable, and push for what makes US feel the best. But God’s kind of goodness is so upside down and backwards, it challenges every part of our sinful nature

One of my favourite verses is ‘turn the other cheek’, because of how badly we get it wrong when we explain it.

Matthew 5:39-41

Matthew 5:39–41 NIV

But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.

Godliness

And guess what comes next? We’ve put on goodness, dialed ourselves back, prepped ourselves with knowledge, and been careful to persevere through hardship.

Now we’re onto ‘godliness’. The root of this is actually quite simple - being like God. But it’s also tied to worship - the greek word can easily and correctly also be translated as ‘worshipping God’.

So we’re in such connection with the spirit of God, that we’re both in awe of His glory, and being actively shaped by it, formed by it.

Mutual Affection

This sort of deep connection with God - it leads towards loving each other.

Matthew 22:37-39

Matthew 22:37–39 NIV

Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

There’s no separating this - a greater connection with God should lead towards a greater connection with others. And a love for God breeds a love for people

Love

And that’s this last point - love. I like the idea that Paul’s list of how to move towards ever-increasing deepness with God starts with goodness and ends with love.