Add to Your Faith II Peter 1:5-10

 

Basically every Christian falls into one of three categories. Some believers are...

1) Babes In Christ

2) Backsliders From Christ

3) Builders For Christ

I want to encourage you to be a builder.

  1. Do away with Doubt
  2. Use the Shield of Faith

    3. Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

  3. Stand on the Promises of God (Abraham)

    4. Ro 4:20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

    21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

  4. Examine Your Faith

If you will look back again at verses 3 and 4, you will see that...

    1. We have God's Power to Enable Us (v.3)
    2. We have God's Promises to Encourage Us (v.4)

 The Process of Adding to Our Faith (verses 5b-7)

1. We Are To Add "Virtue" To Faith (v.5)

The term "virtue" as used in this verse refers to the pursuit of moral excellence. Not just externally, but internally.

Lu 19:1 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.

 

2. We Are To Add "Knowledge" to Virtue

  1. We not only need the desire to do what's right,
  2. We also need a "knowledge" of what is right.

 

3. We are to Add "Temperance" to Knowledge.

The translated "temperance" refers to having self-discipline.

Ac 24:25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.

 

4. We Are to Add "Patience" to Temperance (v.6)

 

5. We Are to Add "Godliness" to Patience (v.6)

 

6. We Are to Add "Brotherly Kindness" to Godliness (v.7)

 

7. We Are To Add "Charity" to Brotherly Kindness (v.7)

 

Then finally Peter tells us of :

The Proofs of Adding To Our Faith (verses 8-10)

There is a way to truly know if your faith is growing. Peter offers three proofs.

  1. Fruitfulness v.8 ....
  2. Vision v. 9
  3. Assurance v.10