SUN, JAN 18, 2026 | FEAST – THE CONFESSION OF ST. PETER, YR ABC
Acts 4:8–13 | 2 Peter 1:1–15 | Mark 8:27–35 (36–9:1)
A Well-Ordered Life: Supplement Your Faith (2 Peter 1)
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Grace, Mercy and Peace be to you from God our Father and the Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.
During the season of Epiphany, we’re talking about what is means to live a well-ordered life. Since the days of Eden when sin entered into the world, our whole human family has struggled with this. Sin is a chaotic force. It is the antithesis of what God does creation. In creation God spoke to what was formless and void, and He put it in order. The chaos was pushed back. And the light of God’s power and love shone into the world.
But sin does the opposite. We read this in the prophet Jeremiah, chapter 4. He describes the downward spiral of sin. And what does it look like? Jeremiah writes, I looked on the earth, and behold, it was without form and void; and to the heavens, and they had no light. (Jeremiah 4:23)
Sin opposes God’s order. It undoes creation and returns it to chaos. And we see that everywhere. Out in the world. And even at times in our own lives and in the life of the church, things are Out-of-Order
But it is not God’s will that we wallow in this disorder. St. Peter makes this clear in His epistle. He says, that we, the people of God, should make every effort to supplement [our] faith with virtue. (2 Peter 1:5)
This is Peter’s way of telling us the same thing St. Augustine has told us: to Order our Loves. To actually live a life in which God is first, followed by the people He has given us. And lastly we enjoy and use the things of God in Faith and in Service toward our neighbor.
Order your loves. Supplement your faith with virtue. Which doesn’t mean that faith is not effective to bring us life and salvation. It is effective. And Peter has already told us that in the sentences that precede his word of encouragement. He said, [God] has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness…he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. (2 Peter 1:3-4)
But now Peter is telling us what naturally needs to follow. It’s the newness of life that Paul talked to us about last week. We don’t go on sinning so that grace may increase. BY NO MEANS. Instead, we live new lives. We make every effort to supplement [our] faith with virtue. And we pray for God’s help like Solomon did. We pray that our lives would be defined by God’s greatness and love. That we would truly utilize and live out the gifts of God, which pertain to life, and to godliness…because we want to live before God in righteousness and purity, forever.
Of course on this day, we are celebrating Peter’s own journey; and his own struggle. Today is the day appointed by the Holy Christian Church to remember and celebrate the Confession of St. Peter. When many were confused by Jesus. When they doubted and wondered who He was, Peter made His confession. Jesus asks, “Who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” (Mark 8:29).
You are the Messiah. You’re the one we’ve been waiting for. The one who has come to restore creation and bring hope and a future to your people. Not just a prophet. Not just a good teacher. But something more. The Son of God.
Peter makes the good confession. But does he supplement that with virtue? Well…
Just a few sentences later, Peter rejects the Word of Christ, and the will and plan of God. He rejects the cross. And Jesus must say to him, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
And He goes on to say that the will of God is the cross..not only the cross that Christ would take up for us and for our salvation…but also the cross that we would take up as His disciples. Jesus says, If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. (Mark 8:34)
The first cross…the cross that Jesus took up…is a gift from God that saves us, that pays the price for for our sins, brings us forgiveness, and grants us everything pertaining to life and godliness.
But the second cross…the cross that we bear when we follow Him, this is the cross that supplements our faith with virtue. It is the cross that comes when day by day, sin is put to death in us and we live a new life, with the help of God. It is the cross that restores God’s order to our lives.
And it is this life of taking up the cross and following Jesus, to which we are called. As Peter says, make every effort dear Christians to supplement your faith with virtue. And grow in the knowledge of Christ, become self-controlled, and steadfast, and Godly; and practice a life of brotherly affection, and love.
The Greek Word for virtue in this passage is the word, ἀρετή (aretē). It means excellence. The classical Greek idea of virtue was that excellence by which a person or thing fully expressed the purpose for which they were created. So as we live out our lives according to God’s Law, guided by His Wisdom, our lives are excellent. That it, they show forth the purpose for which we were created and redeemed.
In this way we reflect the image of God. And we live lives of faith toward God and love toward our neighbor. This is what Peter wants for the church redeemed by Christ. He wants us to bear the cross, to love what God loves and to live according to God’s will. Excellent, virtuous lives.
And so Peter says, make every effort dear Christians to supplement your faith with virtue.
And it will take effort. Living the life of a disciple is not easy. But doing nothing about this high and holy calling of God is also NOT an option. So Peter says make every effort!
Make every effort, to be here in God’s house every Sunday to receive His gifts in Word and Sacrament. For by these our Lord renews and strengthens you in the one true faith.
And make every effort, dear Christians, to set aside time each day for Bible reading and devotions, and for reciting and mediating on the Ten Commandments. Make every effort to do this as individuals. Make every effort to lead your families in this. Because in those moments, our Lord is at work, guiding you, and training you and helping you to teach your families to think and live as God’s Holy people, now and for all the days of their lives.
Make every effort to go to battle against temptation and sin in your life. Don’t just accept it. Don’t give yourself permission to quit the fight. Instead, ask for God’s help. Ask for the help of your brothers and sisters in Christ, right here in this room. Make every effort. Seek to live that excellent life, that life of virtue before the Lord, that you would bear the image of Christ.
Likewise, make every effort to live generously as God’s people. Living not for selfish gain, but for the sake of the Gospel and for the glory of the God our Savior. Give to His church, not grudgingly, but joyfully, cheerfully, because you know that there is nothing, NOTHING, more significant the the mission God has given to us: Making disciples of all nations…Connecting people to Jesus…that they would have forgiveness, life and salvation in His name.
And make effort to pray, often, for your own needs and the needs of your friends, family, and neighbors. For by your prayers, you confess your own need for God — His wisdom and provision — each day and by your prayers your heart and your mind are awakened to the deep need of those around you. They need God’s help, too. They need His love and faithfulness, and His provision for all their needs of body and soul. So pray. Pray with us on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. Join our monthly school prayer group. Pray at home, with your families. Pray for our church and our school, that we would faithfully and generously CONNECT people to JESUS.
And make every effort to also serve your neighbors and show them affection and love. There are countless opportunities for this kind of virtue, this kind of excellence, in each of your lives. But let me share one opportunity that is coming up in a couple of weeks. Beginning on February 7th, Faith will set aside the First Saturday of each month as a day to GET OUT of the church and INTO our community. With the help of God, we want to open our eyes and our hearts to the neighborhood that God has put us into. And so this first First Saturday — February 7th, at 10am, we’ll gather here at Faith and then walk in the neighborhood around the church. We’ll pray as we walk. We’ll pray for our neighbors and for eyes to see where God is at work. And we’ll pray for God’s wisdom to know how we can join His in His mission, right here. Maybe God will give us an opportunity to help someone. Maybe we’ll have a chance to share His love. Maybe we’ll be able to invite families to church or to our school. Maybe God will show us something we have never seen before. Or maybe we’ll simply learn to labor in prayer together.
So the last two weeks I’ve given you some assignments. First, of course, come to Worship every Sunday to receive God’s gifts in Word and Sacrament; and pray with me on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings.
Then add to these basic things, a habit of Daily Prayer. Use the order of Daily Prayer from the hymnal, or the handout that we provide in the Narthex. Use our Come Follow Me book as a daily devotional during that time. And use that time also to recite and memorize the 10 Commandments so you can be guided by God’s Law.
And today, let me add this: Make Every Effort to Supplement Your Faith with Virtue. Or in other words, Resist Sin and Live an Excellent, Generous, Life before God and your neighbor. And I’d specifically like you to put First Saturday on your calendar. Join us as we GET OUT into our neighborhood and take the first steps toward a new chapter of love and service here at Fatih.
For, God has granted us everything we need for life and godliness. It is here for you today: Forgiveness, life and salvation delivered to you in His Word and Sacrament. Christ has made you His own. He has given Himself to you and for you. And now, as you trust in His mercy, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue. Live an excellent life, a well-ordered life, to the praise of the Glory of your God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
The Peace of God which surpasses understanding, guard your hearts and minds in this one true faith in Christ Jesus. Amen.