Second Epistle of Peter
FRUITFUL OR BLIND
Scripture Reading: 2 Peter 1:8 (KJV)
This verse contains the first of three great promises to those who have all the virtues of verses 5-7. It says that such will "neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." Verse 10 tells us, "For if ye do these things, ye shall never fall." Verse 11 states such will have an abundant entrance into the kingdom of Christ. What happy results we have from developing these excellent virtues.
"if these things be in you"
This is literally, "If these things are yours," and indicates something possessed permanently. The blessings are not for those who occasionally manifest some of these virtues, but for those who have them as an abiding possession. To be well-pleasing to the Lord, we need to be well-rounded Christians showing all these qualities. We have a wonderful position in Christ, but we must not be content with that only. Instead, we must seek to develop the graces that flow from this position. To be merely content with our position is like a man being placed on a beautiful farm, only to sit around and say, "This is a lovely place to be." If he intends to raise any crops, he will have to get up and plow, plant, cultivate, and harvest. Likewise, developing Christian character is not easy work.
"abound"
How wonderful it would be if each Christian had all the characteristics of verses 5-7 in rich abundance. What an impact on the world it would be if we were filled with courage. If we were bravely witnessing for Christ the world would be shaken as in Paul's day; sinners would be convicted and want to know Christ. Then if we abounded in knowledge how wonderful that would be. Oftentimes Christians cannot answer an unbeliever or silence members of a false cult. A difficult circumstance arises and too often we do not know how to act, because we have not studied the Bible and do not know the Word of God. His Word is the Christian's sword and only as he knows how to use it will he be a successful warrior for Christ – "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly" (Col. 3:16). Then how wonderful it would be if self-control and patient endurance filled us; as well as godliness, brotherly kindness, and divine love. All of these are extremely important. God’s Word everywhere emphasizes the last two. "And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more" (Phil. 1:9; also 1 Thess. 3:12; 2 Thess. 1:3). May we never be content with ourselves until we are overflowing, not with one, but with all seven of these glorious excellences.
"they make you"
These wonderful virtues will always have a desirous effect on us. Two are specially mentioned in our verse. First, they will keep us from barrenness or idleness. We will be sure to "abound in the work of the Lord" (1 Cor. 15:58). Then they will also keep us from unfaithfulness; we will be loaded down with the glorious "fruit of the Spirit" (Gal. 5:22, 23).
"barren"
The Revised Version has "idle" rather than "barren" which is better. No one could have all the qualities of verses 5-7 and be idle. The Lord wants us to be workers for Him. Apart from this there would be no object in leaving us here. Everything else should be secondary to serving the Lord. Doing His will should be first and foremost in our lives. We should be like the cobbler who said, "My business is to serve the Lord; I fix shoes to pay expenses." Men work hard in this world to become wealthy, educated or renowned, and we should be equally zealous in serving the Lord.
The end of idleness is always serious. In Proverbs 24:30-34, we read of the slothful farmer whose fields were over grown with thorns and nettles, and the wall broken down. "Yet a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: so shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man." Too many of us are like that – sleepy, idle, and poor. Just sitting idly by and accomplishing nothing for the Lord.
"He that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame" (Prov. 10:5). It truly is a shame that seemingly so many of the sons of God are asleep in this time of harvest. Souls are perishing around us and still so many are doing little or nothing about it. In time of harvest all hands on the farm are expected to do their share toward getting in the crop – "Son, go work today in my vineyard" (Matt. 21:28). If you are a son, the Lord expects you to do your share of the harvesting.
Someone might say, "I would be happy to serve the Lord, but what can I do?" If the seven virtues of verses 5-7 are yours, you will have no difficulty finding something to do. Perhaps though a few suggestions as to what can be and what has been done will help.
Personal testimony is one of the best forms of service which one can do. Opportunities for this abound on every hand. We are all constantly rubbing elbows with others and they often throw the door wide open to speak a word for Christ.
The world and sad to say perhaps even some fellow Christians, may not appreciate what we seek to do for the Lord. Be our service ever so weak and lowly the Lord will not forget (Heb. 6:10). He will reward every word spoken and every sacrifice made for Him. "Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities" (Luke 19:17). Let us not make it needful for Him to ask us, "Why stand ye here all the day idle?" (Matt. 20:6).
"unfruitful"
The Lord Jesus cursed the fig tree which had no fruit to satisfy His hunger (Mark 11:14). What will He do with us if we bring forth no fruit to His glory? You say, "He surely will not curse us." But, is it possible that He will not be well-pleased? In John 15:1-8, He brings home the great importance of fruit-bearing. In verse 8 He says, "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit." The way to bear much fruit is to develop the excellent virtues of verses 5-7. If these things are ours we will bear much fruit. We will manifest the fruit of the Spirit as recorded in Galatians 5:22, 23. We will be Christ-like and be well-pleasing to the Lord. If we know Christ, we are a good tree and a good tree should bear good fruit. The Lord Jesus says, "By their fruits ye shall know them" (Matt. 7:20). If we bring forth no fruit to the glory of God, who will believe we really belong to Him?
"in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ"
To truly know Christ and yet be idle and unfruitful is contrary to the very nature of things. If we stand in the sunlight, we will surely reflect its rays. Just so, if we bask in the light of Christ we will spread abroad His glories. We first get to know Christ at the time of our conversion. As we go on in our new life and develop Christian character, we will get to know Him better and better. As each of the virtues of verses 5-7 are developed and strengthened we will also become more Christ-like and our knowledge of Him will become more intimate. A fuller knowledge of Him is the end toward which all these excellences tend. We know Him – may we go on to know Him better and better.
Scripture Reading: 2 Peter 1:9 (KJV)
Verse 8 tells of some blessings resulting from possessing the virtues listed in verses 5-7. Verse 9 tells what one loses by not having them. Two sad effects are listed. First, those who lack these things are blind and cannot see afar off; then they have forgotten that they were purged from their old sins. Such may not have fallen into immoral practices, but they have made no progress in their Christian lives. They do not seem to appreciate their salvation and seem to have no joy in Christ. Perhaps there was a first flush of joy and gratitude, but Satan quickly weaned them away from the Lord and His ways. Worldly things loomed up as too important and perhaps the struggle to make a living became so fierce that little or no time was left to pray and read the Word of God or fellowship with other Christians. So the Christian life became stagnant and went down instead of up. Consequently, instead of a strong, healthy Christian, we have a sickly, puny child. Some are like a vagabond boy adopted into a nice home; given privilege but never rose to the level of the others in the home because he loved his old life, haunts and companions too much.
"he that lacketh these things"
It is a sad fact that too many of the Lord's people lack some of these virtues. That's too bad because from a spiritual point of view we might better lack an arm or leg, even an eye, than to lack any of these characteristics. Yet some not only lack one, but every one of them. Spiritually they are like hopeless cripples. They do not seem to realize that as it is their life is of no import as far as the Lord is concerned. Satan has blinded their minds almost as effectively as he has the minds of the unsaved (2 Cor. 3:4).
"is blind"
The Greek word here translated "blind" is the one nearly always used for blindness in the New Testament. This is so whether speaking of natural or spiritual blindness. The word is interesting; it literally means "blinded by smoke." It does not always mean total blindness, but may also mean "dim-sighted." This is evidently so in our verse, as is suggested by the next expression, "and cannot see afar off."
When the Scriptures speak of blindness, it usually refers to the unsaved. "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world (Satan) hath blinded the minds of them which believe not" (2 Cor. 4:3, 4). However, our verse does not speak of the blindness of the unsaved, but rather blindness of some Christians. They are blind to the importance of spiritual things and the importance of developing Christian character. Perhaps when first saved spiritual things appeared important, but allurements of the world dimmed this vision and so they became blind to eternal glories which lie ahead. The world, the flesh, and the devil all unite to dim the Christian's sight. When Satan loses a soul he loses a great battle, but he does not stop his work. He immediately starts to hinder the usefulness of the one he has lost. This he does by exaggerating the importance of temporal things and sadly many of us fall into his snare.
Samson was a Nazarite – separated and consecrated to the Lord. The Lord gave him great strength and used him mightily. The Philistines and Delilah seek to deprive him of this great strength. Delilah, a type of the lust of the flesh, gets his head in her lap. She persuades him to reveal the source of his strength and soon he is shorn of his hair – symbol of his Nazariteship and his strength is gone. His decline is rapid. He is soon in prison grinding corn as a slave, his eyes gone. This has been the sad decline of many who started well, but faltered in their purpose to grow into stalwart sons of God.
"cannot see afar off"
The Revised Version has, "He that lacketh these things is blind, seeing only what is near." Young's has "dim-sighted;" others "short" or "near-sighted." It is a sad fact that too many of us are near-sighted. We can only see a nice comfortable living with a nice home.
Our delight and pleasures are in the things of time. We have little or no thought of eternal things, thinking that "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush." Far too many Christians know what they are saved from, but do not seem to sense what they are saved for.
It was the failure to add the virtues of verses 5-7 that caused the apostle to say that some were blind and could not see afar off. One has no courage to live for Christ is blind. If he has failed to study the Word and thus increase in knowledge, he simply cannot see afar off. So also is one who lacks self-control, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. "But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes" (1 John
2:11).
It is one thing to stress the seriousness of unsaved blindness, but what about the seriousness of Christian blindness? Such a one will be a loser at the judgment seat of Christ. When we were born again, saved, we were brought into the light; let us see to it that we walk in that light (1 John 1:7).
Lot made a deliberate choice of the well watered plains of Jordan. This looked like the sensible thing to choose, but he did not consult the Lord, nor did he consider wicked Sodom and Gomorrah. At first he prospered and became a great man in Sodom, but when the cities were destroyed he lost all his possessions, his married daughters and even his wife. Meanwhile, his two daughters who were spared lost all sense of morals in that wicked city. Could it be similar for us if instead of living for Christ, we seek worldly advantage? Let us be wise and seek Christ-likeness rather than worldly riches, honor, or pleasure.
"and hath forgotten"
"Forgotten" is such a sad word. To forget is a common failure in man. A single injury is long remembered, but a hundred blessings may be quickly forgotten. What could be sadder or more serious than to forget that happy day when all our sins were washed away? What lack of appreciation, what lack of gratitude to forget such a wondrous salvation. Some have received the divine life, but seem content to merely try and look like they are saved and by their actions seem to have little or no desire to grow in the things of the Lord. They have made no healthy progress in their Christian life because of failure to develop the virtues of verses 5-7.
"purged from his old sins"
One of the chief purposes of our salvation is that the Lord may have creatures to fellowship with Him in glory forever. However, that is not the only purpose. He desires that this fellowship begin while we are still living on the earth. But He cannot have fellowship with one who is walking in sin. When one is born again, saved, he is "purged from his old sins." That means more than sins are forgiven. It is literally "a washing off" or "cleansing" as in the Revised Version. "The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin" (1 John 1:7). In other words, past sins are gone forever. Yes, we are saved by God's grace and love, but let us not make the mistake of some in Paul's day who caused him to say, "Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid" (Rom. 6:1, 2). A Christian may fall into sin, but, it is needless and serious for him to live in sin. Many provisions are made by the Lord to prevent this. He has given us His Spirit, a new nature, and His Word. Study of the Word has a cleansing effect on a Christian's life (Eph. 5:26; Ps. 119:9). If a Christian sins, the road to cleansing is in confession.
Let us thank the Lord every day that we have been saved and so "cleansed from our old sins." This will be easy if our appreciation is right. Then a continual remembrance of this happy day will be a spiritual tonic for us. We will no longer have a desire for the old sins – the leeks, onions, garlic, and melons of Egypt.
