1 Peter 1:5-8
For this very reason, applying your diligence [to the divine promises,
make every effort] in [exercising] your faith to, develop moral excellence,
and in moral excellence, knowledge (insight, understanding), and in your knowledge, self-control,
and in your self-control, steadfastness, and in your steadfastness, godliness,
and in your godliness, brotherly affection, and in your brotherly affection,
[develop Christian] love
[that is, learn to unselfishly seek the best for others and to do things for their benefit].
For as these qualities are yours and are increasing
[in you as you grow toward spiritual maturity],
they will keep you from being useless and unproductive in regard to the true knowledge and greater understanding of our Lord Jesus Christ.
For this very reason, applying your diligence [to the divine promises,
make every effort] in [exercising] your faith to, develop moral excellence,
and in moral excellence, knowledge (insight, understanding), and in your knowledge, self-control,
and in your self-control, steadfastness, and in your steadfastness, godliness,
and in your godliness, brotherly affection, and in your brotherly affection,
[develop Christian] love
[that is, learn to unselfishly seek the best for others and to do things for their benefit].
For as these qualities are yours and are increasing
[in you as you grow toward spiritual maturity],
they will keep you from being useless and unproductive in regard to the true knowledge and greater understanding of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Faith is to a Christian what gasoline is to a car.
Gasoline is necessary to run engine. That’s not all you need; air supply, vacuum hoses draw air, oil, or won’t go very far. The Christian faith too must have some other additives or you won’t make much progress.
Someone says, “I believe all I need is to believe in God.” True if you on your deathbed! But, if you plan on living here for a while, you will need much more than faith or else you become very frustrated trying to live Christian life.
The scripture above tells us to diligently add to our faith several things. Why? So, we can be fruitful and functional.
We all know too many dysfunctional Christians! We know people who will not come to Christ, because they know too many dysfunctional Christians. Today, it is hard to tell the difference between the “Saint’s and the Ain’ts”. They talk same, and act same.
We are all in the process of sanctification, once we have been born again. We grow in Christ and reach New levels of living. It begins with faith ends with love.
From faith we grow into virtuous or holy living. We want to please God; He is our number one motivation for all we do. Only out of our holy living, will come more first hand experiences with God called knowledge. Now, we know God, not by second hand teaching, but first hand experiences.
From knowledge we will grow in self-control. Because the more we experience God, the more of His grace we will experience. We need this to instill holy habits in ourselves, so we are able to follow hard after Him.
Gasoline is necessary to run engine. That’s not all you need; air supply, vacuum hoses draw air, oil, or won’t go very far. The Christian faith too must have some other additives or you won’t make much progress.
Someone says, “I believe all I need is to believe in God.” True if you on your deathbed! But, if you plan on living here for a while, you will need much more than faith or else you become very frustrated trying to live Christian life.
The scripture above tells us to diligently add to our faith several things. Why? So, we can be fruitful and functional.
We all know too many dysfunctional Christians! We know people who will not come to Christ, because they know too many dysfunctional Christians. Today, it is hard to tell the difference between the “Saint’s and the Ain’ts”. They talk same, and act same.
We are all in the process of sanctification, once we have been born again. We grow in Christ and reach New levels of living. It begins with faith ends with love.
From faith we grow into virtuous or holy living. We want to please God; He is our number one motivation for all we do. Only out of our holy living, will come more first hand experiences with God called knowledge. Now, we know God, not by second hand teaching, but first hand experiences.
From knowledge we will grow in self-control. Because the more we experience God, the more of His grace we will experience. We need this to instill holy habits in ourselves, so we are able to follow hard after Him.
We change our inside and the outside changes. The more Word inside of us, leads to more self-control manifested through our lives. We no longer take the course of least resistance. The reason a river is so crooked, is because it takes the path of least resistance. This is a picture of a life with no restraint. We can have the power to do something, but can we do what is right?
ACTIN STEP: Get the Word in you, so you can live a life in the Spirit.
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