FAITH IS THE CROWN OF LIFE
St. Peter writes few practical suggestions for Christian growth. Faith is the basic foundation on which the whole edifice of a Christian spiritual life is built upon. In fact, faith is like a crown decorated with seven jewels. The life journey of a disciple of Christ begins with faith. Indeed faith is a gracious gift of God. It is based on the knowledge revealed through the Holy Scripture. The object of faith is the triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It is not possible to please God without faith. (Hebrews 11:6) Whatsoever that does not originate with faith is sin. (Romans 14:23)
Goodness or virtue or moral excellence is the natural divine quality that should be expressed in a Christian lifestyle. This is not an external appearance but an inner quality. In fact, St. Peter places virtue or moral excellence before knowledge. The world may prefer the other way around. Moral excellence is beyond legal and courteous requirements. For example, as required by Law, Pharisees paid tithes but neglected justice, mercy, and love. (Matthew 23:23 and Luke 11:42)
For example, a person may not verbalize his thought about his brother. Outwardly, the person is courteous and respectful, but inwardly he harbors hatred and bitterness. Even the very attitude and thought of hatred towards his brother is sin. Moral excellence in thought and attitude is a mark of a Christian that could not be scrutinized by legal measurements and social niceties.
The knowledge Peter writes is based on the revealed Word of God. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7) King Solomon asked for wisdom rather than riches or military conquests. (I Kings 3: 1-15) Worldly knowledge puffs up a person. (I Corinthians 8:1) “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” (James 3:17)
True knowledge is holy and pure, without criminal intention or corrupt mindset or biased and judgmental. The knowledge that God provides is peaceable and gentle (courteous, polite). A person with divine wisdom is humble, willing to learn, serve, and to accept correction. This knowledge is merciful and gracious in relationships. The fruit of this knowledge is good, pleasing and a blessing. This knowledge does not allow people to discriminate or be partial.
There are people with knowledge which is used for ignoble purposes. For example: Political wisdom to manipulate people, bureaucratic wisdom to abuse power, criminal wisdom to do ID thefts and do white-collar crimes, legal wisdom to exploit and oppress others. Such worldly smart wisdom is not rooted in faith on Lord Jesus Christ.
Self-control means to have full grip or control over oneself. Firm grasp over thoughts, attitude, reason, desires, ambitions, and longings. Our body has to serve the spirit and soul and not vice versa. Body has to be disciplined and brought under absolute control. (I Corinthians 9:27) Instead of listening to the body, a believer should train the body to listen to the soul and spirit. For example, the body would prefer to sleep rather than toil; or the body would prefer feasting in place of fasting. Such preferences and choices should not be entertained.
There is need for self-control in the thought life too. “Mind is a monkey” states a Tamil proverb meaning the thoughts jump from one to another like a wandering monkey. Mind could stray from godly thoughts to ungodly thoughts. A believer should immediately apply the brake and stop such unwarranted wanderings that leads to sin. “A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.” (Proverbs 25: 28) A city without walls means to be exposed to danger, enemy attack and ridicule. If a disciple of Lord Jesus Christ lacks self-control, it means he is in danger of temptation, Satan’s attack and victim of carnal desires.
Steadfastness is doing right, even when circumstances are not favorable. Steadfastness is doing right even when there is loss, pain, sorrow, grief, and suffering. King David for clean heart and steadfast spirit. (Psalms 51:10) Today steadfastness is a missing element. Loyalty in relationships is also missing. Hence, even husband-wife relationship is not stable, affecting many families in the world.
Steadfastness is consistency and reliability. It is easy to predict the behavior of a steadfast person. For example, a person cannot be lured or made to compromise for Rs.100 or Rs. 100 or Rs. One million. The response would be consistent. A steadfast parent or teacher would be consistent in disciplining and guiding.
A person who puts a hand to a plow should not turn back. (Luke 9:62) Following Lord Jesus Christ is steadfast covenant. It cannot be an optional commitment that could be altered or edited or rejected according to whims and fancies. Faith generates faithfulness that is expressed in steadfastness.
Godliness is a spiritual experience that makes us God conscious all the time. The presence of God is understood, grasped, and practiced in day-to-day life. Godliness is the mark of a blessed persons who are awake, agile, and alert for His Coming. When the Master returns, the servants should be ready, alert, and should have done what they ought to have done. (Luke 12:37) Moses pleaded with God that God’s presence should go with him as he goes on to lead the Children of Israel. (Exodus 33:15)
“But Godliness with contentment is great gain.” (I Timothy 6:6) Godliness dispels consumerism, covetousness, and greediness. A person of faith will be godly, which is true spirituality. For example: A jaywalker crosses the road, believing that the traffic police is not around. In contrast, a godly person is conscious that God watches over all times, even when there is no CCTV or a traffic police, hence abides by the law.
“Brotherly affection denotes that all disciples of Lord Jesus Christ belongs to one family, the Family of God. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28) The brotherly affection crosses all human boundaries of culture, race, caste, class, clan, language, and nation. This relationship in Christ is more intimate and deeper than any other relationship of kinship in the world.
The Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) demonstrates brotherly love which the world describes as human value. The Good Samaritan was not like the Priest or Levite but different. His affection transcended boundaries of race, language, region, class, and religion. Christians are called to demonstrate such brotherly affection.
However, this quality is missing in churches today. People like to celebrate their personal relationship with God but ignore the fellow worshiper. Sacrificial giving for fellow brethren is mark of Christian maturity. St. James writes that true faith is demonstrated by action; faith without demonstration of brotherly love is a dead faith.
- AND MORAL EXCELLENCE FIRST IS THE FIRST JEWEL
St. Peter writes few practical suggestions for Christian growth. Faith is the basic foundation on which the whole edifice of a Christian spiritual life is built upon. In fact, faith is like a crown decorated with seven jewels. The life journey of a disciple of Christ begins with faith. Indeed faith is a gracious gift of God. It is based on the knowledge revealed through the Holy Scripture. The object of faith is the triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It is not possible to please God without faith. (Hebrews 11:6) Whatsoever that does not originate with faith is sin. (Romans 14:23)
Goodness or virtue or moral excellence is the natural divine quality that should be expressed in a Christian lifestyle. This is not an external appearance but an inner quality. In fact, St. Peter places virtue or moral excellence before knowledge. The world may prefer the other way around. Moral excellence is beyond legal and courteous requirements. For example, as required by Law, Pharisees paid tithes but neglected justice, mercy, and love. (Matthew 23:23 and Luke 11:42)
For example, a person may not verbalize his thought about his brother. Outwardly, the person is courteous and respectful, but inwardly he harbors hatred and bitterness. Even the very attitude and thought of hatred towards his brother is sin. Moral excellence in thought and attitude is a mark of a Christian that could not be scrutinized by legal measurements and social niceties.
- KNOWLEDGE THE SECOND JEWEL
The knowledge Peter writes is based on the revealed Word of God. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7) King Solomon asked for wisdom rather than riches or military conquests. (I Kings 3: 1-15) Worldly knowledge puffs up a person. (I Corinthians 8:1) “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” (James 3:17)
True knowledge is holy and pure, without criminal intention or corrupt mindset or biased and judgmental. The knowledge that God provides is peaceable and gentle (courteous, polite). A person with divine wisdom is humble, willing to learn, serve, and to accept correction. This knowledge is merciful and gracious in relationships. The fruit of this knowledge is good, pleasing and a blessing. This knowledge does not allow people to discriminate or be partial.
There are people with knowledge which is used for ignoble purposes. For example: Political wisdom to manipulate people, bureaucratic wisdom to abuse power, criminal wisdom to do ID thefts and do white-collar crimes, legal wisdom to exploit and oppress others. Such worldly smart wisdom is not rooted in faith on Lord Jesus Christ.
- SELF-CONTROL THIRD JEWEL
Self-control means to have full grip or control over oneself. Firm grasp over thoughts, attitude, reason, desires, ambitions, and longings. Our body has to serve the spirit and soul and not vice versa. Body has to be disciplined and brought under absolute control. (I Corinthians 9:27) Instead of listening to the body, a believer should train the body to listen to the soul and spirit. For example, the body would prefer to sleep rather than toil; or the body would prefer feasting in place of fasting. Such preferences and choices should not be entertained.
There is need for self-control in the thought life too. “Mind is a monkey” states a Tamil proverb meaning the thoughts jump from one to another like a wandering monkey. Mind could stray from godly thoughts to ungodly thoughts. A believer should immediately apply the brake and stop such unwarranted wanderings that leads to sin. “A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.” (Proverbs 25: 28) A city without walls means to be exposed to danger, enemy attack and ridicule. If a disciple of Lord Jesus Christ lacks self-control, it means he is in danger of temptation, Satan’s attack and victim of carnal desires.
- STEADFASTNESS FOURTH JEWEL
Steadfastness is doing right, even when circumstances are not favorable. Steadfastness is doing right even when there is loss, pain, sorrow, grief, and suffering. King David for clean heart and steadfast spirit. (Psalms 51:10) Today steadfastness is a missing element. Loyalty in relationships is also missing. Hence, even husband-wife relationship is not stable, affecting many families in the world.
Steadfastness is consistency and reliability. It is easy to predict the behavior of a steadfast person. For example, a person cannot be lured or made to compromise for Rs.100 or Rs. 100 or Rs. One million. The response would be consistent. A steadfast parent or teacher would be consistent in disciplining and guiding.
A person who puts a hand to a plow should not turn back. (Luke 9:62) Following Lord Jesus Christ is steadfast covenant. It cannot be an optional commitment that could be altered or edited or rejected according to whims and fancies. Faith generates faithfulness that is expressed in steadfastness.
- GODLINESS FIFTH JEWEL
Godliness is a spiritual experience that makes us God conscious all the time. The presence of God is understood, grasped, and practiced in day-to-day life. Godliness is the mark of a blessed persons who are awake, agile, and alert for His Coming. When the Master returns, the servants should be ready, alert, and should have done what they ought to have done. (Luke 12:37) Moses pleaded with God that God’s presence should go with him as he goes on to lead the Children of Israel. (Exodus 33:15)
“But Godliness with contentment is great gain.” (I Timothy 6:6) Godliness dispels consumerism, covetousness, and greediness. A person of faith will be godly, which is true spirituality. For example: A jaywalker crosses the road, believing that the traffic police is not around. In contrast, a godly person is conscious that God watches over all times, even when there is no CCTV or a traffic police, hence abides by the law.
- BROTHERLY AFFECTION SIXTH JEWEL
“Brotherly affection denotes that all disciples of Lord Jesus Christ belongs to one family, the Family of God. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28) The brotherly affection crosses all human boundaries of culture, race, caste, class, clan, language, and nation. This relationship in Christ is more intimate and deeper than any other relationship of kinship in the world.
The Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) demonstrates brotherly love which the world describes as human value. The Good Samaritan was not like the Priest or Levite but different. His affection transcended boundaries of race, language, region, class, and religion. Christians are called to demonstrate such brotherly affection.
However, this quality is missing in churches today. People like to celebrate their personal relationship with God but ignore the fellow worshiper. Sacrificial giving for fellow brethren is mark of Christian maturity. St. James writes that true faith is demonstrated by action; faith without demonstration of brotherly love is a dead faith.
- LOVE Se
“God is Love.” (I John 4:8) The love was exemplified and personified by Lord Jesus Christ. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) Lord Jesus Christ demonstrated true love that is sacrificial, gracious, generous even towards sinners, rebels, and ungodly. (Romans 5:1-5) God expects the same kind of love towards fellow believers and fellow human beings. “By this we know love that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.” (I John 3:16) This is a tough test for a disciple of Lord Jesus Christ.
However, in the last days, love of many will grow cold. (Matthew 24:12) Also there is another sign or trait in the last days: people will be lovers of self and lovers of money. (II Timothy 3:2) The ‘selfie’ culture is an indication of this verse. The new objects of love of postmodern generation seems to be self and money. However, Lord Jesus Christ taught us to love God and love our neighbor as ourselves.