Naked Faith

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Is your faith naked? While it might sound like a good thing--faith alone--in this context, it is really not. I came across the phrase "a naked faith" today in John Calvin's commentary on 2 Peter 1:5-7, and it really made me think about the passage from another angle. The idea is that it is difficult to put off the lusts of the flesh, especially when faith is new; however, faith that simply divests itself of lust and earthly longings without putting on moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love in in increasing measures is "naked" or bare. Peter urges diligence in growing in knowledge and being fruitful and useful in sharing it. A naked Christian in this context is either a baby like Hebrews 5:12 speaks of: "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food" (NASB), or as Peter points out is blind (in darkness). That is why he urges all to "be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble" (2 Peter 1:10). My prayer is that my faith is clothed in these seven essential qualities of life in Christ and not "a naked faith."

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