A word study in 2 Peter 1:5-11
“But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge…..to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness…..to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.” (2 Peter 1:5-7).

 These seven attributes that are to be added to a Christian’s faith—appropriately labeled as Christian graces—give us a picture of a maturing process that is to take place in the life of every child of God. In the past eight weeks, we have explored the definitions and applications of each of these attributes.

The beginning point in this process is a solid faith without which we have no basis for a relationship with God. Having that relationship, we add these seven attributes, a building process that will make us a better Christian and will bring us closer to God.

As we develop these attributes, we reach the pinnacle of what God would have us to be: a person whose guiding motivation is love—certainly love for each other but also a devoted love for God that keeps us solidly on the path He has set for His children.

A word study in 2 Peter 1:5-11
 
“But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge…..to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness…..to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love”
(2 Peter 1:5-7).
 
“Love,” or the word charity in the King James Version, means affection or benevolence. And it is not just an emotion that arises within our hearts from time to time—rather it is the crowning point of Christianity.
 
God the Father loved first by caring for us and by demonstrating His love in sending His Son Jesus Christ to sacrifice Himself for us. Just as God loved and just as Jesus loved, we are to demonstrate our love for them and our love each other.
 
And love cannot be feigned—that is, it must be real. Our love for others covers all aspects of life, but the ultimate demonstration of love is a deep, abiding concern for their spiritual welfare. Our love for them must be to the point that we would do anything possible to help them get to heaven.
 
Love does not overpower obedience to God’s word—we show our love of God by obeying His will. In our personal relationships, we have no problem loving those who love us; however, the kind of love that God requires demands that we love even those who may not treat us properly. 

A word study in 2 Peter 1:5-11
““But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge…..to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness…..to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love” (2 Peter 1:5-7).
“Brotherly kindness” means “the love that Christians cherish for each other as brethren.” Thus, we have a brother and sister relationship with one another in God’s spiritual family.
“Kindness” is defined as “the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.” It is the opposite of being harsh or rash and the opposite of demonstrating anger and bitterness toward another.
God is our Heavenly Father, and we are His children in Jesus Christ; consequently, we are to have the same kind of love and concern for one another that a physical family does. And, as Peter explains, it is to be an “unfeigned” feeling, one that is real and not phony.

A word study in 2 Peter 1:5-11
 
“But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge
“to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness,”   (2 Peter 1:6).
 
“Godliness” means “reverence, true piety toward God.” True reverence for anyone means we have total respect for that person (or, in this case, for that Being).
 
To exhibit the characteristic of godliness, Christians must, first, base their lives upon the truth of God’s word and then make a practical application of the principles they have learned therein—that is, they live their lives according to those principles.
 
Living a godly life—adding godliness to our faith—means living the way Jesus would live. Since we are imperfect humans, we will not attain the perfection Jesus possesses; but that’s the goal or the moral standard He wants us to set.