Growing – Moral Excellence

2 Peter 1:5, “…in your faith supply moral excellence…”

In our spiritual growth we see that the second thing to develop behind our foundation of faith and trust in Christ is moral excellence. Moral excellence means a lot of things to a lot of people. To some it is what they eat or drink and what they wear. To others it means forsaking modern comforts. To most I think moral excellence is represented by pious behavior, even if that behavior is really just a show when around other “morally excellent” people.

If we go back in time and look at the original Greek term “arête” we see that moral excellence is synonymous with virtue and a virtuous course of thought. But perhaps equally important is the word is a noun and not a verb. So moral excellence is a state of being, and if a state of being what other term can we find that defines a virtuous state of being? Perhaps salvation is a good Christian term.

So faith supplies salvation. And yet as merely one of the building blocks of our Christian growth this concept of salvation somehow increases or grows as we continue in this ever growing being of virtuous thought. Perhaps this is why Paul wrote to the Philippians, “… work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” Again the root word being a noun, and so we see that our salvation, a possession, result, and state of faith must be exercised. Our spirit which contains all true virtuous thought must be worked out just like we work muscles in a gym.

And this is beginning of Christianity. By the power of the Holy Spirit we are shown Christ as the Son of God. When we accept His lordship by faith we are saved as our spirit is reborn and His Holy Spirit becomes alive and active in us. And what happens next?

The typical Christian begins to “try to act” more pious. Habits and practices or moral excellence are attempted. But more often than not these attempts meet failure because the flesh is trying to accomplish what the Spirit wills. And so the failure brings the crisis, and we return to the faith. Time and time again brand new Christians will give their life over and over again to the Lord thinking their failure in moral excellence demands it. But as that moral excellence grows, and it does very quickly the next aspect of the Christian that must grow comes into view, namely knowledge.

Now lest you become arrogant and think that you are beyond a return to the foundation of faith, I will say that for most (if not all) crisis return us to the foundation of faith and a need to increase our moral excellence and every other aspect of our Christianity. So even if you have godliness a crisis will come that brings you back to faith and then moral excellence and then knowledge etc. This is normal and healthy spiritual growth, and something to embrace. It is part of surrender, and it is pleasing to God.