|
Is faith enough? Can you grow in Christ, overcome adversity, and live victoriously through faith alone? Listen to what the Apostle Peter said:
2 Peter 1:1-5
1 … To those who have obtained like precious faith with us …
3 … His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,
4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith …
“given us all things that pertain to life and godliness”
“exceedingly great and precious promises”
“partakers of the divine nature”
Add to your faith!
2 Peter 1:5
… giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue …
Virtue- the Greek word: arête : moral excellence, manliness, valor, excellence, or praise
Add to your faith a change in character! Add moral excellence to your life - let your character bring praise to the name of Jesus! Be real man, a real woman, in making moral decisions. Follow the Word of God as a guidline for your character and be filled with virtue!
2 Peter 1:5
… giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,
We are all students for we are continuing to learn as we live! The source of our learning becomes the topic of question. Are we learning from TV and music - or are we learning from the Word of God.
Do you continue to learn from the things which you find familiar and therefore not increase in knowledge? Or are you learning from the things you casually observe during each day, putting forth no effort? Or are you repeating the same information and relearn what you already understand? Or do you have a routine of examining things you do not know, reading things you have never read, listening to speakers who offer new insight, or commit to formal training in the public arena? Grow! Add to your faith!
2 Peter 1:5-6
… giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control …
Self discipline. Diets, quitting a bad habit, developing a good habit, writing it down and committing to start -- add to your faith! We can change! Galatians 5:22 has self discipline listed as a part of the fruit of the Spirit. When our discipline is not enough ... as the Holy Spirit to grow His Spirit in our lives in that area!
2 Peter 1:5-6
… giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance …
Perseverance! Abraham was known as a man of faith ... but it was his perseverance that obtained the promises of God. He kept on believing! He kept on trusting! He kept on obeying! When things look impossible, when everything says “no,” keep on believing, trusting, and obeying the One who called you, for His promises are true, and all the future He knows. Persevere as you add to your faith!
2 Peter 1:5-6
… giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness …
What does it mean to be Godly? The Greek word eusebeia can be translated as piety, holiness, to worship, to respect, reverent, or be devout. We are to give God the honor due Him by our obedience to His Word. When Jesus was questioned about paying taxes to Caesar He asked for a coin and said we are to give to Caesar those things that belong to him and to give to God those things which belong to Him. Give honor to the One worthy of honor!
Our biggest challenge … is us. In the area of godliness our devotion to our selves is more prominent than giving our devotion to God. We often worship and respect our own desires far more than the desires of God. If faith is to be productive in our lives we need to grow into being worshippers of God, giving honor to Him in our lives. Add to your faith!
2 Peter 1:5-7
… giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.
Faith that is growing will come to a true place of kindness and love. My wife and I were at a store and noticed some people were gathered around an elderly lady lying passed out in the floor. Apparently no one knew the lady but several were attempting to be of help to her. A stack of wash clothes as a pillow under her head, a phone call to 911, prayers, and comforting words were available to the lady that no one knew. We cared because she had a need and we were available to help. Brotherly kindness at work and I was moved by the compassion of those who were strangers. The human race has kindness within us, but as Christians we are to grow in kindness and brotherly love.
But there are some mean Christians. Have you ever met a Christian that was down-right mean? There are some but it shouldn’t be that way! If we have faith and we grow in our faith to have moral excellence, and we grown in spiritual knowledge, and we grow in self-control and perseverance, and we grow in godliness, then we will become a sweet, kind, loving person who has faith in Jesus Christ! Add to your faith!
Peter concludes his remarks about adding to your faith with these words:
2 Peter 1:8-9
8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.
When we add to our faith we abound in victory! Add to your faith and do not be barren! Add to your faith!
|
