In 2 Peter 1:5 Peter quadruplely emphasizes that effort is necessary in the Christian life. He says: “… applying … all … diligence … supply …” Now I take up some of the practical conclusions which follow from this emphasis which runs quite counter to a lot of popular teaching on sanctification in our day!
(1) God does not just command men in general or Christians to do these things in order to show us our inability. He commands us to do these things, because we can as redeemed men and women, and because if we do not, the process of ongoing sanctification will not take place. The religion which dislikes all human activity and thinks of all human activity as of the flesh, as dutyism, as legalism, or as Arminianism is not the religion of the Bible.
(2) Effort is not contrary to faith. I have said that faith is first and effort is necessary, but there must be faith in our working. The two things required in growth in grace are faith resting and faith working. Faith must rest in the promises of God, but then faith must work out of the resources of the grace of God.
Galatians 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.
This is why we should avoid saying that we are sanctified by faith alone. Although it might be technically be true in some sense, it is misleading because in justification “faith alone” means faith receiving and resting on Christ alone for justification. In sanctification “faith alone” includes “faith working.”
(3) Our whole redeemed humanity is and must be intensively involved in the great work of ongoing sanctification. This involvement, as the passage implies, must cost us something. As it costs a miler something to run a mile in the track meet, as it costs the person who is starting or running a business, as it costs to raise a family right, so too the Christian life, growth in grace, requires and demands the cost of hard work and sweat. The believer most active and energetic in growing in grace will be the most sanctified believer. The lazy believer will be the least sanctified.
(4) We must not think that all effort in the Christian life is “of the flesh.” Isn’t this what we hear all the time? I don’t want to be guilty of doing something in the flesh. I want to pray, but I don’t want to do it in the flesh. I want to be pure, but I don’t want to do it in the flesh. I want to talk to that person about the Lord, but I don’t want to do it in the flesh. I would like to be faithful to my wife, but I don’t want to do it in the flesh.
OK, I am being a little sarcastic. I am aware that it is possible to do the outward things we should do, but without the right spirit or motivation and so do them in the flesh. So how can you be sure that you are doing the duties of the Christian life in the flesh? How may you avoid doing your duties in the flesh? Let me give you a few tips on how to avoid doing things in the flesh.
- Never try to add to your faith moral excellence without confessing your sins.
- Never do it without a washed-in-the-blood-of-Jesus’ conscience.
- Never do it without prayerful dependence on God.
- Never do it without renouncing self-sufficiency.
- Never do it without confessing your tendency to pride and self-righteousness and asking to be delivered from seeking your own glory.
- But when you are all done, you must not associate doing something in the Spirit with having a certain feeling. You must not associate doing something in the flesh with the absence of a certain feeling.
Even if you add to your faith moral excellence, in cold blood, you must still do it—even if you have to confess your coldness of heart while you do it. A fear of doing what is right because you might do it in the flesh produces a paralysis which is also sinful.
(5) What kinds of effort are necessary in the Christian life and growth in grace? The Bible teaches that many different kinds of effort and activity are necessary to grow in grace.
Romans 13:14b implies the necessity of foresight, planning to avoid the occasions of sin: “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.”
Romans 12:1, 2 indicates the importance of learning, reading, listening, and studying: “I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Hebrews 10:25 shows the necessity of gathering with God’s people in the assemblies of the church: “not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near.”
Matthew 26:41 instructs us in the importance of watching (staying awake) and praying: “Keep watching and praying, that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Titus 2:12 teaches us the importance of saying no to ourselves and self-denial: “instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age.”
1 Timothy 4:7 informs us of the necessity of self-discipline: “But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness.”
I am certain that many other kinds of effort could be gleaned from a diligent study of the Bible.
(6) There is a direct connection between our effort, our diligence, and our sanctification. God has decreed that the way in which He will sanctify His people and cause them to grow in grace is by making them diligent in supplying in their faith all the things Peter mentions. Thus, He has decreed that when we are diligent, we will make progress. This passage refutes the idea that a Christian can work his head off in growing in grace and make no progress. Peter tells us to supply in our faith moral excellence, because by the grace of God working in us we can. God is sovereign, but He shows His sovereignty by giving us diligence, not by making our diligence pointless and futile. There is a direct connection between our supplying and our progress in grace.
(7) We must make time and energy available to grow in grace. Many of us are at very busy times in our lives. At such a time we must guard against being so stressed and tired that we have no energy left to commit to growing in grace. Time must be set aside for prayer, Bible study, godly concerns, and focusing on the concerns of our souls. Energy must be reserved to grow in grace, because, dear brethren, it does take energy. This fact may necessitate a serious and painful review of our family priorities.
(8) Peter’s emphasis on “applying all diligence supply” ministers a serious rebuke to spiritual laziness. Talk is cheap, right? Let us not be those who talk about holiness, but who never do anything about it.
Proverbs 21:25 The desire of the sluggard puts him to death, For his hands refuse to work;
Proverbs 13:4 The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, But the soul of the diligent is made fat.
Proverbs 22:13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside; I will be killed in the streets!”
Sluggards may want holiness and talk about holiness, but they won’t do anything to get it. When you offer them good counsel about it and how to get it, they always have an excuse. Don’t be the spiritual sluggard! Applying all diligence supply in your faith moral excellence!
(9) Growth in grace because it requires effort, because it requires “applying all diligence … supplying.” But it is a work that only God can enable you to do. It is a work of divine power. You must beseech Him for the strength you need! You must give Him all the glory if you are to be successful in any measure at growing in grace!
2 Peter 1:5-7 says, “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.” Adding these graces to your faith is clearly to be a priority to you. You have nothing to do that is more important. Adding these graces involves effort. It involves doing something. So what are you going to do?
Should you spend tomorrow praying and fasting about that problem are in your life? You have that problem area. It grieves you. You are frustrated, but have you ever given yourself to prayer and fasting about it? What are you going to do?
Should you sit down with your wife today and re-structure your lives so that you both have to read the Bible and pray daily or so that you have time to have family worship? What are you going to do?
Should you make yourself accountable to someone and report to them regularly about that area in which you struggle? What are you going to do?
Do you need to write that letter or make that phone call or have that conversation you have been putting off and do it today or tomorrow? What are you going to do?
This is the question that Peter’s words require me to ask you. It is the question you must ask yourself. The question is not carnal or fleshly or legalistic. The question is, So what are you going to do?
Dr. Sam Waldron is the Academic Dean of CBTS and professor of Systematic Theology. He is also one of the pastors of Grace Reformed Baptist Church in Owensboro, KY. Dr. Waldron received a B.A. from Cornerstone University, an M.Div. from Trinity Ministerial Academy, a Th.M. from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. From 1977 to 2001 he was a pastor of the Reformed Baptist Church of Grand Rapids, MI. Dr. Waldron is the author of numerous books including A Modern Exposition of the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, The End Times Made Simple, Baptist Roots in America, To Be Continued?, and MacArthur’s Millennial Manifesto: A Friendly Response.
