NOVEMBER 16, 1947 BUILDING CHRISTIAN CHARACTER 2 P et . 1:5-11; J ude 17-21, 24-25
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forth every possible effort to give radi ant evidence o f that new life in the world in which he lives. Add to your faith (1:5-7). Faith is the primary requisite. By it, man is united to God. Through it, salvation comes and a foundation is provided for spiritual building. But faith should blossom into a host of beautiful graces.which make the Christian life attractive and power ful. Seven characteristics which ought to grow out of a vital Christian faith are presented in these immediate verses. When they are to be found 'in mature development in any life, a Chris'fclike character is manifested. Note them carefully: virtue, knowledge, temperance, or self-control, patience; godliness, broth erly kindness and love. These graces need to be added (literally, supplied) to faith in every life. When this takes place, there is a harmony in the life which is pleasing to God. Give diligence to make your calling and election sure (1:10). Some Christians find a disturbing problem here. They seem to think that the elements o f works and uncertainty are injected into salva tion. However, this is not so. From God’s standpoint, there is no uncertainty as to the security o f those who have ac cepted Christ as their Saviour; God has them elected to salvation. The more of these fruits there are in a life, the more assurance there will be of identification with the Lord. God always gives added assurance and satisfaction to those who obey Him and who walk close by His side. Salvation comes only through God’s grace apart from works of any kind, but the evidence of one’s salvation is witnessed to by works which are wrought subsequent to salvation. 0 0 0 M e m o r y V e r s e : “ And the child grew, and waxed strong . . . filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him” (Luke 2:40). The Lord Jesus Christ was a normal boy, just like you hoys, with the excep tion that He did not sin. He, too, grew in many ways as He changed from a boy to a man. The day that Mary and Joseph searched for Jesus and found Him in the temple, He was growing spiritually and mentally; he was both learning and teaching others. Jesus was “ sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.” The Saviour grew “ in wisdom and stature [in body], and in favour with God and man.” As Christian boys and girls go to Sunday school, to church and to day school, they are growing in wisdom. Each day most o f them are growing physically. Some of them, however, are not growing, in favor with God and man T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S For the Children How J esus G rew (2 P eter 1; L uke 2:40-52)
Outline and Exposition T he F oundation (2 P et : 1:5-11)
A t the base of the Christian life is faith, to which Christian qualities are to be added (w . 6, 7 ). There is virtue, or living out the truth possessed; knowl edge, or experience in living out the truth; self-control, or poise in holding one’s self to these standards; patience, or steadfastness in continuance therein; brotherly love, or a manifestation o f in terest like the Lord’s own. Such addi tions will bring fruitfulness instead of barrenness, spiritual sight instead of blindness, assurance of one’s calling and election, protection against backsliding, and an abundant entrance into Christ’s kingdom (w . 8-11). The apostle declared that the church would be afflicted with false teachers (2 Pet. 2 :1 ,2 ), scoffers (2 Pet. 3 :4 ), and infidelity (1 Tim. 4 :1 ). A remem brance of these things will preserve us from discouragements' when they ap pear (w . 17-19). There must be also a building upon the faith once delivered to the saints, praying in the Holy Spirit, who alone knows the mind of God and proper subjects for prayer, keeping in the love of God (His love to us, not ours to Him), and finally, a constant looking for the coming of our. Lord (w . 20,21). T he C rowning (J ude 24, 25) As to character, the saints will some day experience faultlessness, while at present they attain only blamelessness (1 Thess. 5 :2 3 ); as to their place, this will be in God’s immediate presence and glory; as to their condition, it is to be “ with exceeding jo y ;” and as to their eternal purpose,, it is to be the glory of God forever and ever. It should be noted that character is not something to be built by man but something to be de veloped. It grows from the Person of Christ who indwells each believer through the Holy Spirit and bears the fruit of Christian character. 0 n n Points and Problems And beside this (1:5). These words look back to the matter considered in the previous verse. In view of the fact of the believers’ new birth, there is some thing for them now to do. A doctrinal foundation having been established by God Himself, believers must now supply the practical part in their experience, The Revised Version brings out the truth more clearly, “ Yea, and for this very cause [that is, your new birth] adding on your part all diligence.” A proper appreciation of God’s infinite grace in granting unto the believer new life in Christ, ought to 'constrain him to put T he M ethod (J ude 17-21)
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