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Cultivating Love: The Pinnacle of Christian Virtues

This exploration of 2 Peter 1:5-9 emphasizes the critical role of love in the Christian life. Love, described as an active pursuit of others' good, is positioned as the apex of spiritual virtues. It binds believers in fellowship and reflects God's grace. Understanding love requires a foundation built on faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, and brotherly kindness. This message underscores the need for continuous growth in love, inspiring Christians to embody the love that God shows to humanity and to others daily.

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Cultivating Love: The Pinnacle of Christian Virtues

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  1. Love add to your faith… (2 Pet. 1:5-9)

  2. Previous Characteristics • faith - conviction of truth of divine things • virtue - courage to choose right from wrong • knowledge - understanding of God’s word • self-control - mastery of thoughts, actions • perseverance - staying the course • godliness - seeking first to please God • brotherly kindness - the special kinship and care we reserve especially for brethren

  3. Introduction • love (agaph) – actively seeks the good of others, even at own expense • pinnacle of the spiritual graces given in the gospel (1 Cor. 13:13)(Col. 3:14) • not reserved, to be shown to all (Mt. 5:43-45) • best seen in God (Rom. 5:8)(1 Jn. 3:16; 4:8) • Christ-like love cannot be realized without the foundation of the previous graces

  4. The Role of Love • binds the faithful together and to God • foundation of fellowship (Eph. 4:1-3, 15-16) • when personalities clash (Rom. 14:14-15) • when sin has been committed (James 5:19-20) (2 Thess. 3:14-15), forgiveness (2 Cor. 2:6-11) • demonstrates the love of God to the lost • mercy to the needy (James 2:1-13) • preaching the gospel to all (Mt. 9:36-38)

  5. Growing in Love • reflect on love shown us by God • (1 Jn. 3:16)(Lk. 7:41-43)(2 Cor. 5:14-15) • make a choice to act towards our fellow man consistent with love(1 Cor. 13:4-8) • pray for growth, even of love(Phil. 1:9) • reject selfishness (Mk. 12:30-31)(Phil. 2:1-4)

  6. Conclusion • of all these Christian qualities, love is the most obvious, but also the most difficult • it is the exercising of virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, and brotherly kindness, all for the purpose of God and others • yet, we will enjoy the fruit that is born through spiritual growth and faithfulness • keep growing into Christ! (2 Pet. 3:17-18)

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