Temperance

• Peter might be the most unlikely source to teach about temperance. After all, the Apostle Peter was not known for his self-control. He was constantly putting his foot in his mouth and doing rash things during his three years following Jesus as one of his closest companions.

• Peter lacked temperance and proved it time and again in his words and deeds. So how could a man who lacked this trait write about it in his second epistle? What right does Peter have to teach about self-control?

• Peter is actually the perfect person to teach us about temperance. His life was transformed by the resurrected Jesus. He was further transformed at Pentecost when he received the promised Holy Spirit.

• Peter was no longer an impetuous, undisciplined, hot-headed man when he wrote this letter. He was a new man, changed by the power of the Spirit at work within him. He was being sanctified by the power of the Holy Spirit, just like we are when we put our faith in Christ.
• Temperance does not come naturally to sinful humans. Conquering the sin in our hearts, resisting the desires of the flesh, and fighting temptation is a daily battle. We fail in self-control all the time, just like Peter did.

• God does not leave us to our own devices, wishing us the best of luck as we strive toward godliness. He gives us the Holy Spirit, our helper and our comforter, which is at work within us as we walk in faith and strive to be more like Jesus.

• Denying our fleshly desires requires self-control, but the Spirit at work within us will help us. This fruit of the Spirit will grow as we trust God, learn from his word, and cling to him in faith as we live out our lives with him.