For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. 

                                                                                                                                                       2 Peter 1:9 

We have already established that, in Christ, God has given us everything we need for life and godliness. Peter also tells us that when we exhibit godly attributes, we become useful and fruitful for the kingdom of God. Today, we conclude with another important truth. When we lack these qualities, Peter says that we are blind and shortsighted, “having forgotten our purification from our former sins.”

Peter knew a thing or two about failure. With three opportunities to declare his allegiance to Jesus, he failed each time. This didn’t keep Jesus from reinstating Peter to become one of the great apostles of the church. Peter wasn’t a stranger to failure and neither am I. Taking a look at the list of attributes in Peter’s letter serves as a reminder to all of us that we have fallen short of God’s standard. That’s why today’s passage is so important. As believers, when we lack these qualities, we don’t stop belonging to Christ. Salvation, justification, and right standing with God are all by faith in the finished work of Jesus on the cross. When we lack these qualities, Peter says that we have forgotten that we have already been purified from our former sin. In other words, because we have been redeemed from our former way of life, we should now exhibit these attributes.

There is a passage of scripture that I find invaluable in remembering that salvation precedes godly attributes. Paul explains:

The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more… 

                                                                                                            Romans 5:20 

This verse contains two truths. First, the Law was not given to us as a means by which we are made right with God. It would not have been necessary for Jesus to go to the cross had there been the possibility that mankind could have somehow been obedient enough to God’s standard (Galatians 2:21). The truth is that none of us can or have lived up to the standard created by the Law. Scripture reminds us that whoever keeps the entire Law yet stumbles at one point, becomes guilty of the whole thing (James 2:10). So the Law was not given as a means of our being obedient and becoming right with God. Paul says that the Law was given so that our sin would increase. The Law doesn’t make our condition better; it actually makes it worse. The Law is designed to demonstrate our need for a Savior.

That leads us to the second truth. The Law caused our sin to increase, but where sin increased, (God’s) grace abounded all the more! I like to demonstrate the word “abounded” by referring to Superman. I know he’s a comic book character but consider what we say about Superman. “He is faster than a speeding bullet and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.” In other words, mankind cannot build a structure so tall that Superman can’t jump over it. When we see the word “abounded” in the Romans passage, we see the same concept. Think of sin as a building. Whatever sin mankind comes up with, God’s grace abounds or surpasses it. The word “abounded” means to go beyond measure, exceedingly, overflowing, and to enjoy abundantly. It literally means “super abounded.” God’s grace is greater than all of our sin!

So when we fail to exhibit godly attributes, it doesn’t mean that we no longer belong to God. Like Peter’s failure, it doesn’t mean that God is finished with us. What it does mean is that we have forgotten what God has done for us as believers. It also means that as God gives us a new day, we have the amazing opportunity to foster those attributes, even if they were absent the day before. Remember, God has already given us everything we need for life and godliness and by exercising godly attributes we become useful and effective for the kingdom of God. Here’s to living today in the strength and provision of the Holy Spirit as we seek to show the world the attributes of God!