II Peter part 8

II Peter
part 8

7) ) “And in your godliness (add) brotherly kindness.”

I Pet.3:8 – Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.

The seventh virtue listed for the believer to add in 2 Pet.1:7 is philadelphia / brotherly love.
The seventh step in our chart of spiritual maturity is sensitivity. 
An increased sensitivity to God and to others is what is in view.
This is exactly what Peter has expressed in this passage above. (I Pet.3:8)
Unity of mind and sympathy go hand in hand with sensitivity.
A tender heart and a humble mind are definitely needed if one is to show brotherly love and kindness to others.
The seventh step is accompanied by several other helpful descriptive words and phrases on our chart including;
Our perception; reaching the needs of others; a tender life; intimacy; more hearing / helping; and meekness.

This aspect of brotherly kindness / love in the life of the Christian is very much dependant upon previous growth, commitment, experience and upon an increased level of understanding and application of all that has gone before.
A balance between suffering and satisfaction (steps 5+6) marks out one's capacity for sensitivity (step 7).
Patience and godliness (steps 5+6) are most helpful virtues that enable and empower brotherly love in the believer.

An advanced level of moral excellence (step 2) will greatly aid in developing sensitivity towards God and others.
A love for God and the desire to live a holy life before God (separation and submission steps 2+3) will motivate one to do the right thing concerning our brothers and sisters.
I Jn.4:19-20 –We love, because He first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar.
For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.
I Jn.5:1 – Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too (Christian brothers).

All throughout the scriptures we are encouraged to love our brothers in Christ; it is a sure way that we can know (step 3) that we have eternal life!
I Jn.3:14 – If we love our Christian brothers and sisters, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead.

The Bible is loaded with examples of the importance of love within the community of believers; both in the Old and New Testaments.

Ps.22:22 – I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among your assembled people.
I Pet.2:17 – Respect everyone, and love your Christian brothers and sisters. Fear God, and respect the king.

We can readily see that there is to be a special relationship of love and family unity among God’s people; we are to share authentic brotherly love in the Church of God.

Now, we know that as God’s children our capacity for love is to go beyond the unique and special familial love that we share with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
That kind of love (agape) will be addressed in the next and final step on our chart, but for now we should just make sure of what Peter is talking about when he tells us to add brotherly love to our faith (step 1); he means mutual love for and among all of God’s children in His forever family.

Gal.6:10 – Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Heb.2:10-12 – For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons (members of God’s family) to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.
For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father (these are only those who are born again through the sanctifying work of Jesus Christ); for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,
saying, “I WILL PROCLAIM YOUR NAME TO MY BRETHREN; IN THE MIDST OF THE CONGREGATION (the exclusive gathering of God’s people) I WILL SING YOUR PRAISE.”

Mk.3:35 – “For whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother."

Heb.13:11 – Let love of the brethren continue.

I Pet.2:22 – Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart.

Ro.8:29 – For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;

Ro.12:10 – Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor.

I Thes.4:9 – Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another.

It is this commitment to brotherly love that should motivate us to Christian service (step 4).
Lk.22:32 – “But I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers."

The jewels in the crown of brotherly love are the souls that have experienced our love. We can never go wrong by adding brotherly love! This aspect of love is a growing thing that begins as we mature through the various steps. However, upon entering the realm of satisfaction, we will discover that the realm of sensitivity will begin to increase in new ways. It is at this point that our sensitivity of [sic] God is sharper, which in turn develops a sensitive spirit towards others. When acting under God’s direction, abundant blessings will be poured out on sensitive individuals. Eight Steps To Spiritual Maturity - pg. 451

The Apostle Paul expresses this spirit of brotherly love throughout his epistles, for example:
I Thes.2:19-20 – For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy.