The Fruitful Christian

Reflections for this date are based on the following scripture passages:
2 Peter 1	2 Peter 2	2 Peter 3	Genesis 43	Genesis 44

What makes up the life of a fruitful or mature follower of Christ? Drawing from various passages of scripture we might piece together a possible description of the life of a fruitful follower. The apostle Peter has done this for us, however, in the 1st chapter his 2nd epistle, verses 3-9.

First Peter gives our motivation for being fruitful: God, through Christ, "has given us everything required for life and godliness." Through what He has given us we are further given "very great and precious promises." The result is that we "share in the divine nature," enabling us to rise above "the corruption that is in the world because of evil desires."

So verses 3-4 describe God's part. What He has provided us and what it does for us. Verses 5-9 then describe our part. God may have given us "very great and precious promises," but they do not automatically produce their intended results without a response on our part. Peter tells us what our response should be, starting in verse 5. We entered into this life in Christ through faith. Now, he says, we need to supplement this faith with some actions beginning with goodness. But our faith and goodness need to be informed, so we need to suppliment them with knowledge. But if we are to further act on the knowledge we gain we must then suppliment our faith, goodness, and knowledge with self-control that puts knowledge into action. Knowledge without action is of little benefit and may even be dangerous.

But for the follower of Christ to be fully fruitful his faith, goodness, knowledge and self-control must be supplimented with endurance which causes him to go the course and not fall short. Add to this godliness and the follower has rounded out the necessary inward characteristics. Peter then moves on to the necessary outward characteristics. These include brotherly affection and love. Then you have the full package. A follower of Christ who is useful and fruitful.

Fruitfulness is the goal, then, we strive for. It provides much of our motivation to keep on striving. But there is also a reverse motivation in terms of what we are avoiding. Peter describes this in verse 9. By supplimenting our faith with these various characteristics and striving for fruitfulness we are avoiding being blind and shortsighted, and we are not forgetting our cleansing from past sins.