“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…” II Peter 1:6
Peter continues his discussion of the ingredients of spiritual maturity and evidences of growth into the image of Jesus Christ. Remember the foundation is faith, there is no other way to approach God except through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Then there
is personal virtue or separation from sin. If sin is in our lives the Holy Spirit is grieved and growth will not occur. To separation from sin we add knowledge of our Lord and Savior – His characteristics and behaviors. Aa we know Him we add self-control which is the willingness and boldness created by God to discern right and wrong and to do right no matter the cost. – to do what Jesus would do
Now Peter adds the next ingredient. Spiritual maturity is not a one time event or a one and done. Spiritual maturity requires
perseverance, endurance though easy and hard times. The Greekword is “hupomone” meaning to bear under. The word is translated endurance, steadfastness, patient y waiting for, and cheerful (or hopeful) endurance. Hupomone is first used in the New Testament in Luke where the Lord uses it to describe how the good seed brings forth much fruit with patience. James uses this word often in his epistle. He uses it of Job is an example of patient endurance. He practiced self-control over time (perseverance). Remember Job suffered excruciating trials one after another. Despite living faithfully for the Lord Job lost everything he had, except his wife. Blow after blow fell on him and even his wife told him to curse God and die. His three friends tried to convince him that his trials were a result of his sin. Job did not know why this happened but he trusted God and would not deny him. What happened to Job as a result of these trials? James tells us he learned “the Lord is compassionate and merciful”. In other words he grew in maturity as he learned in a deeper way the greatness of God. The lesson of Job is that our faith in God is evidenced by believing in Him despite the circumstances we face.
What can we learn? Paul tells us in Romans. “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.” God does notmake the Christian life easy. The world hates us even as it hated Jesus. We face tribulations and trials. Yet believers can endure these difficulties because they know God is in control.
Thus we persevere for several reasons. First, we endure because of our faith. God commands us to “stay by the stuff” and we obey Him knowing He knows best. Second we persevere in hope. God told us He would never give us more than we can bear. We want our trials to bring glory to God so we wait on Him to do “His perfect work” in our lives even if we do not understand. Finally we endure because God knows what we go through for Him and He honors perseverance. “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Rom 8:18). Trials and tests are a part of life. Perseverance through them is a part of spiritual maturity.