A GODLY LIFE
2 Peter 1:3–7 NET.
3 I can pray this because his divine power has bestowed on us everything
necessary for life and godliness through the rich knowledge of the one
who called us by his own glory and excellence. 4 Through these things
he has bestowed on us his precious and most magnificent promises, so
that by means of what was promised you may become partakers of the
divine nature, after escaping the worldly corruption that is produced by
evil desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith
excellence, to excellence, knowledge; 6to knowledge, self-control;
to self-control, perseverance; to perseverance, godliness; 7 to
godliness, brotherly affection; to brotherly affection, unselfish love.
There is a deep longing in every true believer’s heart to live a godly life. Not merely a moral life. Not merely a respectable life. Not merely a religious life. But a life that reflects the character of Christ — a life shaped by the Spirit, rooted in the gospel, and marked by the beauty of holiness. And yet, if we are honest, many Christians feel stuck. We want to grow, but we feel weak. We want to change, but we feel inconsistent. We want to be godly, but we feel painfully aware of our failures.
Peter writes this letter to believers who feel that tension. They are facing false teachers, cultural pressure, and spiritual discouragement. And in that environment, Peter does not scold them. He does not shame them. He does not tell them to “try harder.” Instead, he lifts their eyes to the resources God has already given them. He reminds them that godliness is not something we manufacture — it is something God empowers.
In 2 Peter 1:3–7, Peter gives us a vision of what a godly life looks like and how it grows. And he begins with a stunning declaration.
I. GOD HAS GIVEN US EVERYTHING WE NEED FOR A GODLY LIFE (v. 3)
Peter writes, “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness.”
Not some things.
Not most things.
Not the basics, with the rest left up to us.
All things.
This is one of the most liberating truths in the New Testament. God does not call us to live a godly life and then leave us to figure it out. He does not command us to grow and then abandon us to our own strength. He does not demand fruit without providing the root.
Everything required for life and godliness — everything necessary for spiritual growth, moral transformation, endurance, holiness, and obedience — has already been given to us in Christ.
How? Peter says it comes “through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”
Godliness begins with knowing Christ.
Not merely knowing about Him.
Not merely admiring Him.
But knowing Him personally, relationally, intimately.
The more we know Christ, the more His power shapes our lives. The more we behold His glory, the more we are transformed into His likeness. The more we trust His promises, the more we walk in His ways.
A godly life is not the result of human willpower — it is the result of divine power.
II. GOD HAS GIVEN US GREAT PROMISES TO TRANSFORM US (v. 4)
Peter continues: “By these He has granted to us His precious and very great promises.”
God does not merely give us commands — He gives us promises.
He does not merely give us duties — He gives us hope.
He does not merely give us instructions — He gives us assurances.
And these promises are not small. They are not ordinary. They are not fragile. Peter calls them precious and very great.
Why? Because through these promises, Peter says, “you may become partakers of the divine nature.”
This does not mean we become gods. It means we become godly.
We share in God’s character.
We reflect His holiness.
We bear His likeness.
We display His love, His patience, His purity, His compassion.
The promises of God are the fuel of godliness.
When we trust His promises, we escape the corruption of the world.
When we cling to His promises, we resist sinful desires.
When we believe His promises, we grow in holiness.
A godly life is not built on fear — it is built on faith.
Not on guilt — but on grace.
Not on self-effort — but on divine promises.
III. GOD CALLS US TO MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO GROW (vv. 5–7)
After grounding us in God’s power and God’s promises, Peter now turns to our responsibility. He says, “For this very reason, make every effort…”
Notice the order.
God’s power comes first.
God’s promises come first.
Then our effort.
Effort without grace leads to legalism.
Grace without effort leads to laziness.
But grace that produces effort — that is godliness.
Peter then gives us a beautiful chain of virtues — a ladder of spiritual growth. Each virtue builds on the one before it. Each one deepens the one after it. Together, they form a portrait of a godly life.
Let’s walk through them.
1. Faith — the foundation
Everything begins with faith.
Faith is the root of the Christian life.
Faith is the hand that receives God’s promises.
Faith is the anchor that holds us to Christ.
Without faith, there is no growth.
Without faith, there is no godliness.
Without faith, there is no life.
But faith is not the end — it is the beginning.
2. Excellence, which is moral excellence
To faith, Peter says, add moral courage, moral excellence, moral strength.
It is the determination to do what is right even when it is costly.
Faith produces virtue.
When we trust Christ, we begin to desire what He desires.
We begin to pursue what is good, pure, and honorable.
Virtue is the first fruit of a living faith.
3. Knowledge — spiritual understanding
To virtue, add knowledge.
This is not academic knowledge.
It is spiritual discernment — the ability to see life through God’s eyes.
Virtue without knowledge becomes zeal without wisdom.
Knowledge without virtue becomes cold and prideful.
But virtue informed by knowledge becomes powerful and fruitful.
A godly life requires a growing understanding of God’s Word and God’s ways.
4. Self-control — mastery of desires
To knowledge, add self-control.
This is the ability to say “no” to sinful desires and “yes” to God’s will.
Self-control is not repression — it is Spirit-empowered discipline.
It is the ability to govern our appetites, emotions, and impulses.
A godly life is not ruled by cravings, moods, or temptations.
It is ruled by Christ.
5. Perseverance — endurance under pressure
To self-control, add steadfastness.
This is perseverance — the ability to remain faithful under trial.
Self-control governs our desires.
Steadfastness governs our circumstances.
A godly life is not fragile.
It does not collapse under pressure.
It endures hardship with hope.
6. Godliness — reverence toward God
To steadfastness, add godliness.
This is the heart of the passage — the theme of the sermon.
Godliness is not outward religiosity.
It is inward devotion.
It is a life oriented toward God.
It is a heart that loves what God loves and hates what God hates.
Godliness is the aroma of Christ in a believer’s life.
7. Brotherly affection — love for the family of God
To godliness, add brotherly affection.
This is warm, practical, relational love for fellow believers.
A godly life is not isolated.
It is not cold.
It is not self-focused.
It is deeply connected to the body of Christ.
8. Love — the crown of Christian maturity
Finally, to brotherly affection, add love.
This is agapē — the highest form of love.
It is sacrificial, unconditional, Christlike love.
Love is the goal of spiritual growth.
Love is the fulfillment of the law.
Love is the evidence of true godliness.
A godly life is a life of love.
IV. A GODLY LIFE IS POSSIBLE — AND BEAUTIFUL
When you put all of this together, Peter gives us a breathtaking picture of what God intends for His people. A godly life is not a fantasy. It is not reserved for spiritual elites. It is not beyond our reach.
It is possible because:
- God has given us His power.
- God has given us His promises.
- God has given us His Spirit.
- God has given us His Word.
- God has given us a path of growth.
And when these virtues begin to grow in us, something beautiful happens. Our lives begin to reflect the character of Christ. Our hearts begin to burn with love for God. Our relationships begin to display the grace of the gospel. Our witness becomes compelling. Our faith becomes fruitful.
A godly life is not a burden — it is a blessing.
It is not a duty — it is a delight.
It is not a performance — it is a transformation.
A godly life is not beyond our reach.
It is God’s gift, God’s work, and God’s promise.
And He who began a good work in us will bring it to completion.
V. A GODLY LIFE BEGINS WITH A GODWARD HEART
Let me close with this:
A godly life does not begin with effort.
It begins with desire.
A desire to know Christ.
A desire to be like Him.
A desire to please Him.
A desire to reflect His glory.
And that desire is itself a gift of grace.
So, we pray:
“LORD, make us godly.
Give us a heart that longs for You.
Give us faith that grows,
moral excellence that shines,
knowledge that deepens,
self-control that strengthens,
steadfastness that endures,
godliness that worships,
brotherly affection that embraces,
and love that reflects Christ.” Amen.
jeffersonvann 