Grow in Christian Character

5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

We are not saved by our works, but we are saved unto works

Those who walk with Christ will be motivated to live in a way that pleases Him, continually striving to grow and mature in the faith

Grow in Christian Character

I. INCREASE IN SPIRITUAL QUALITIES (Vv.5-7)

2 Peter 1:5–7 (KJV 1900)

Virtue – This speaks of moral excellence and character

1 Thessalonians 4:1–4 ESV

1 Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor,

1 Thessalonians 4:5–7 ESV

5 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. 7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.

A Christian is supposed to glorify God because he has God’s nature within

2 Peter 1:4 KJV 1900

4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Virtue, or moral excellence means fulfilling what you are supposed to do which is glorify God by your life by becoming like Christ and following Him.

Knowledge – This speaks of practical intelligence, knowledge and insight.

Proverbs 15:14 ESV

14 The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.

The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.

Temperance – This speaks of mastery and control over the body, regarding the desires and lusts of the flesh.

Patience – This speaks of the believer’s endurance, steadfastness, fortitude, consistency, and perseverance.

Godly endurance encourages courage in the face of adversity, actively seeking to overcome in Christ.

James 1:2–4 ESV

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Godliness –It speaks of living in a way that pleases God.

A life of godliness creates a desire within the believer to seek the very nature and characteristics of God.

2 Peter 3:11 ESV

11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness,

Brotherly Kindness – This is the Greek word philadelphia and speaks of phileo love, brotherly love for one another.

John 13:34–35 ESV

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

1 John 3:14a ESV

14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.

Charity –This speaks of the agape love of God, love that includes the mind, reason, and will.

1 Corinthians 13:13 KJV 1900

13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Love is one element that cannot be absent in the Christian life!

God has promised to give us what we need to obey Him and the Holy Spirit will empower us to do God’s will.

II. GIVE ALL DILIGENCE TO GROW

2 Peter 1:8 KJV 1900

8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Are they so evident in our lives that others readily see and experience them through our day to day activities and conversations?

2 Peter 1:8 KJV 1900

8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Increase your Christian attributes and your fruitfulness will automatically follow!

2 Peter 1:10 KJV 1900

10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

What challenges or obstacles do you face in actively cultivating these qualities in your life, and how can you overcome them?

How can you commit to taking consistent actions in these areas in order to grow and avoid being ineffective or unfruitful in your faith?

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