ADD PHILADELPHIA

Now at week six, we continue the discovery of the seven characteristics of a godly life outlined in 2 Peter. “Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.” (2 Peter 1:5-7)

The word this week is “brotherly affection or brotherly kindness”(the Greek word for this English phrase is “Philadelphia”— the name of a city in the state of Pennsylvania). I’m inclined to think that Peter learned this character trait the hard way. There is ample evidence that the disciples of Jesus Christ were frequently in disagreement with one another and debated each other heavily (see: Acts 15; Galatians 2). But he grew in grace and matured. Peter did learn to love his brothers in the faith. “Love each other deeply with all your heart.” (1 Peter 1:22)

We are to learn this most important virtue of the faith. It is the proof that we are Christ-followers. “He who does not love does not know God, for God is love….if God so loved us, we also out to love one another” (1 John 4:8, 11). Loving our fellow Christ-follower is not an on-again off-again situation but a continuing effort of kindness. “Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters” (Hebrews 13:1). “Love each other with genuine affection and take delight in honoring each other” (Romans 12:10). “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who lives the Father loves his children, too. We know we love God’s children if we love God and obey his commandments.” (1 John 5:1-2) 
 
It is impossible for you to produce this quality apart from the power of God produced by the Holy Spirit. When God produces this virtue of his Son in you it is God who receives the praise and glory. Therefore, it is a most vital testimony to either lift up Jesus or display your flesh.

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