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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 if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. \xa0But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. (2 Peter 1:5-9)

At this start of this new week, an overview to get us back into 2 Peter. \xa0We started into the list of virtues that Peter gives last Friday with goodness, but before we go further, perhaps it\u2019s helpful to see the whole and the reasons given for \u201cadding\u201d these things \u201cto your faith.\u201d

This list Peter makes can seem rather random. \xa0Could there be more items in this list? \xa0Probably. \xa0Do each flow directly from the others? \xa0Not quite as tightly perhaps as in Romans 5:3-5. \xa0

The point is not to have a complete, logical check-list to mark off so that we know if we\u2019re winning the game or not though. \xa0The point is to illustrate that being \u201ccleansed from [one\u2019s] past sins\u201d in Baptism and belief ought to mean something in our lives! \xa0Knowing Jesus yields a transformed life. \xa0And if it doesn\u2019t\u2014what do you really know? \xa0If your faith isn\u2019t starting to add up to a life of virtue, you must have forgotten all the \u201ceverything you need\u201d that God gave you back in those first few verses of the letter!

There is, in fact, not much special about this list. \xa0Similar virtues can be found all over the ancient world in such virtue lists\u2014both in pagan and Christian writings. \xa0What sets this list off is the context and the reasons. \xa0Pastor Michael alluded to some of it last week already. \xa0In essence, Peter says: cultivate common virtue just like the rest of the society around you. \xa0But do it for a different reason! \xa0Do it because of \u201cyour knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ!\u201d \xa0He doesn\u2019t specifically say it that way\u2014but his list does. \xa0In Peter\u2019s list, there are two elements that are not common to the virtue lists of the ancient world: Faith and love.\xa0

Faith is where the list begins. \xa0Faith in Jesus Christ is the foundation upon which this new life of virtue is built. \xa0And not just faith in Jesus\u2014but faith in the Jesus who has given us \u201ceverything we need\u201d and who has \u201ccalled us\u201d and \u201cgiven us\u2026 promises\u201d (v. 3-4). \xa0Christians enter into the practice of virtue with faith reasons and faith resources that no one else in society has.

Love is where the list ends\u2014unconditional, agape love. \xa0God\u2019s own love in Jesus. \xa0Every one of these otherwise generic virtues is built on a foundation of faith and culminates in Christlike love. \xa0

If these are the two slices of bread between which Peter\u2019s virtue sandwich is made\u2014faith and love\u2014then everything in the middle likewise changes its flavour. \xa0That brings us back to goodness. \xa0It\u2019s not just generic goodness anymore\u2014it\u2019s goodness as seen through the eyes of faith that strains toward love. \xa0So we look at God\u2019s own goodness and glory (v. 3), just as Pastor Michael did Friday, to understand our own pursuit of it. \xa0

With our pumps primed for the transformation springing from the Baptized life of faith in Jesus, we\u2019re ready to return to the list. \xa0Tomorrow. \xa0 \xa0

As you journey on today, go with the blessing of God:

Grace and peace to you many times over as you deepen in your experience with God and Jesus, our Master. Grow in grace and understanding of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ. Glory to the Master, now and forever! Amen! (2 Peter 1:2; 3:18 MSG).

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