Knowledge is a wonderful thing, but only if the knowledge is correct! You can probably name a dozen people off the top of your head who have instructed you in what the law says! Yeah, yeah… everybody’s a lawyer… But the Bible has correct knowledge and the Holy Spirit instructs the believer in that knowledge and truth. (John 16:13)
The following is a study from 2 Peter 1:3-10. Be sure to click on the blue Bible references to read the verses for yourself! In this study you will see that spiritual growth comes from living out your knowledge in faith!
The Basis for Spiritual Growth
“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 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.” – 2 Peter 1:3-4
In this passage we see that the basis for our Christian growth is the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Not just a “knowing about Him,” but an intimate knowledge of Him through a personal relationship with Him and the study of His Word.
True believers have received divine power from God through Christ. They were once lost sinners who were then saved and changed by the Holy Spirit! This indwelling power from God allows the believer to be victorious in resisting the temptations to sin.
Do you have that power present in your life? Are you able to successfully resist the temptations that cross your path? [See "On Personal Integrity"]
Notice also that these verses tell us that believers have been given all things necessary for life and godliness through the knowledge of him (Jesus Christ) who has called us to virtue!
Knowledge is a wonderful thing, but only if the knowledge is correct! You can probably name a dozen people off the top of your head who have instructed you in what the law says! Everybody’s a lawyer… But the Bible has correct knowledge and the Holy Spirit instructs the believer in that knowledge and truth. (John 16:13) And the verses tell us that believers have received some great promises: we have escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
This means that true believers who are walking in obedience to the Lord escape the consequences of sin because they are able to successfully resist the temptations! All of this comes from the basis for our growth: the knowledge of Him Who changes hearts and lives!
The Exhortation to Spiritual Growth
“And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.” – 2 Peter 1:5-7
Spiritual growth comes by working at with all diligence! Not by doing a half-baked part-time job just on Sundays. Living out your faith is a 24/7 commitment. The passage also tells us that we have to add some things to our faith. It is not acceptable just to have faith alone. There are no excuses! Let’s look at what we are supposed to add. You will notice that each of these things naturally grow out of the one preceeding it.
Virtue: This is a “Christ-likeness” found in the true believer who fulfills the purposes and implications of being a Christian. Virtue comes from having faith. We are to not allow ourselves to be conformed to the world (Romans 12:1-2) but we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds by the Truth of God’s Word. Where we invest our time, energy, money, and passion reveals where our hearts really are. (Luke 12:34) If our hearts truly follow after the Lord, we will gladly deny ourselves and take up our cross daily for the Lord, willingly enduring ridicule, embarrassment, and shame for our stand for Christ. (Luke 9:23)
Knowledge: Adding correct Biblical doctrine to our lives comes from being virtuous in the Lord, not from following man-made church tradition. (Fasten your seatbelt and click on each of these references: Matthew 15:9; 2 Timothy 4:3; 1 Timothy 4:1; Matthew 24:11; 2 Timothy 3:1; Jude 4).
Temperance: This is “self-control,” which is one of the fruit of the Spirit that believers are supposed to exhibit in their lives (Galatians 5:22). Self-control will come from understanding correct Biblical teaching.
Patience: Another element of the fruit of the Spirit, patience comes from exercising consistent self-control in your life!
Godliness: This is an entire lifestyle that places God’s values and desires of top priority. It comes, of course, from being consistently patient.
Brotherly Kindness: This is the demonstration of your love and care for fellow Christians. It is a bond in the Spirit with your brothers and sisters in Christ that is born out of your godliness.
Charity: Otherwise known as Agape love, Christian charity is that unconditional love that Christ Himself demonstrated for us when he went to the cross (Romans 5:8).
The Importance of Spiritual Growth
“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. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.” – 2 Peter 1:8-9
“If” is a pivotal word. For everything that is promised after an “if,” the opposite will happen “if not!” If these things be in you, what will be the result?
A. You will have an effective and fruitful ministry. By the way, you are a minister of God (Romans 13:4), not in a pastoral sense, of course. Nevertheless, every born-again believer is a minister in that his life will either glorify or shame the Lord. If these things be in you and abound, then you will bring glory and honor to the Lord.
B. You will find yourself being busy about the work of your ministry! God will show you how to be a testimony by your actions instead of by words alone.
C. You will be in God’s perfect will for your life. There’s no better place to be! Being in fellowship with God places you in the center of His will where He will hear your prayers, send you His blessings, protection, wisdom, instruction, purpose, and all the good and perfect gifts He desires to send you. Sin immediately takes you out of fellowship with Him, so be sure to keep very short accounts with sin! (1 John 1:9)
“But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.” – 2 Peter 19
The “flipside” is the “if not…” Those whose lives are not abundant with virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity will suffer a condition of perpetual spiritual nearsightedness. They will not be able to catch a vision of God’s future for them. They will believe they are spiritually rich, but they will not be (Revelation 3:17).
Such people stay in their spiritual sandboxes playing Christian games, believing that God is somehow happy with that. They have forgotten what the Lord has done for them: He purged them from their old sin! They have become distracted and have forgotten their duty to the Lord!
The End Result of Spiritual Growth
“Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:” – 2 Peter 1:10
It is the believer’s responsibility to live out the proof of his salvation by obeying the Lord. The good works which the believer does do not produce his salvation; rather, they are the evidences of it (James 2:18; James 2:20; James 2:26).
Steady spiritual growth produces good works which keep the Christian out of trouble! It’s a cause-effect thing. Sin brings consequences; obedience brings blessings. It’s that simple. The obedience comes only through steady spiritual growth.
“For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” – 2 Peter 1:11
There will be special honors in Heaven for those who have added to their faith according to the Word of God! Are you one of them?
I would enjoy hearing from you with any questions you may have. Contact me anytime.
-Tim.
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