There is a logical order in the catalog of these essential Christian virtues listed by Peter. If we truly have saving faith, we will have a desire to be Christ-like (the meaning of “virtue”). Our pursuit of Christ-likeness will drive us to study the Person, work, and precepts of Christ, producing “knowledge.” True knowledge will lead, not to license, but to “temperance” [self-control]. The habit of self-control will result in “patience” or endurance.
Where self-control relates to our pleasures, patience relates to trials, difficulties, and sorrows. The Greek word translated “patience” has as its root meaning “to remain under.” It speaks of steadfast endurance of trials and wrongs. The Christian virtue of patience far transcends the classical concept, which amounted to little more than mere stoicism and an unfeeling resignation to “fate.”
God is patient and longsuffering with us (2 Pet. 3:15). This is the reason we too can endure. The race set before us is not a sprint, but a marathon. Let us run this race courageously, looking unto Jesus. He will “sanctify to us our deepest distress.”
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Bob Vradenburgh is the senior pastor of Friendship Baptist Church in Raleigh, North Carolina. He has spent 40 years in full-time Christian service: the first 20 years as a missionary and the past 20 years in the pastorate. Bob’s passion is the expository preaching of God’s Word,...
