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Our family backgrounds are likely very varied. Some of us grew up in small, rural towns, and others in big cities. Maybe your family moved a lot and you lived in various geographies. Some may have come from wealthy families and others from families who literally didn’t know if they would have food that day. One’s current reality may not always reveal or even give hint to his or her origin story.

While our geography and family income level contribute to our development, so does the family structure. Some of us grew up in two-parent households, and others grew up not knowing either parent. Many of us grew up in families that went through divorce or the early death of a parent or sibling. Some were raised by grandparents or extended family, and others were raised by a single parent or by siblings. Some of us had some responsibilities that would be presumed to be the responsibility of a parent, but life circumstances made the parent unavailable.

A new thing

When we come to the scriptures we read through a variety of lenses that influence our understanding. The early Christians brought their experiences, family, and national histories to scripture as well. It seems that we often forget that even though we bring our history to the texts, Jesus came to do a whole new thing. His earthly origin came through Abraham, Issac, Jacob, and the 12 tribes of Israel. But the kingdom he preached about and calls us to be a part of includes all people. During his teaching ministry, he broke barrier after barrier. And after Pentecost, Jew and Gentile, male and female, slave and free, rich and poor were all desired; all were given access to salvation, to transformation, and to community.

In 2 Peter the apostle Peter shared remarkable news; we who come to Christ have been granted all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence. This grant comes to us by the divine power of Christ and includes precious and even great promises, not the least of which is that we become partakers of divine nature, having escaped from the corruption of the world and sinful desires.

Work of God

Peter is writing to people who have already come to Christ (v. 1). He confirms the remarkable work of God that has been granted to all who come to him. What is written in verses 5 and beyond are not things we do to receive these amazing grants of life and godliness and the precious promises of God. These descriptions explain what we do to further our discipleship, which insures we do not slip back into the world’s patterns but instead prepares us to be effective and fruitful with the gifts God has already given. Supplementing faith with virtue, virtue with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self control with steadfastness, steadfastness with godliness, godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love is the work we do fueled by the Spirit of God. The Spirit makes us able to be effective as Christ’s ambassadors in the world today.

These characteristics confirm who we are in Christ. If we do not continue in the work of our discipleship, then we have little to offer to others. Our discipleship is a process that leads to becoming more and more like Jesus so that our witness is a more clear reflection of God to others. Peter continued that as long as he was around, he would stir the church on to remember all that Jesus has granted us.

Royal family

When Peter wrote these words, it was likely at a time when there was increasing pressure on the church. Persecution was rising. Peter had been with Jesus, but he knew that after his departure and when he and the other apostles were no longer around with their personal testimonies about Jesus, those who remained needed to know, remember, and use God’s gifts to continue the spread of the good news of Jesus. It was and is essential that we develop these characteristics of Jesus in our lives. Otherwise, we will be ineffective and unfruitful because we will be relying on self instead of relying on God. Only Jesus and his divine power can transform us fully. On our own we will be weak and anemic, and our witness will fade.

The remarkable grace of God means that no matter our origin story, we are now a part of God’s royal family and have been given the Spirit of God to develop the character of God in our lives. Our witness to the world becomes brighter and brighter. Mature saints of God no longer seek their own glory or brag about their successes. When the virtues of God are evident in us, our great desire is that others simply see Jesus.