Add to your faith…self-control

2 Peter 1:5-7 (NIV)
5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;
6 and to knowledge, self-control;

Another quality that we need to add to our faith is self-control.  Even in the world this quality is commendable.  A man who is able to control his temper, control his appetite, control his urges, or control his vices, is always looked up to.  In a similar way when a Christian practices self-control it is also commendable.  A Christian who practices self-control is usually someone who walks in the righteousness that God desires.

But the essence of the self-control of a Christian is different from that of the world.  When a man practices self-control his focus is in a certain problem or situation.  For a Christian it’s more than that.  When a Christian practices self-control he focuses on a deeper problem or situation – his self.

The Bible speaks of an “old self” and a “new self”.

Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV)
22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;
24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

The “old self” is that person we were before we put our faith in Christ, before we were born again, given a new heart, and indwelt by the Holy Spirit.  The old self was our sinful self.

All the old self thought about was itself.  It focused on what our self wanted, craved for.  It craved for everything that was against what the Lord desired.  As Paul says in Ephesians 4:22 our old self is being corrupted by its deceitful desires.

Even as born again Christians, renewed by the Spirit, given a new heart – we need to understand that our old self is still hidden behind our new heart.  It longs to stick out it’s ugly head and bring out it’s old life once again!

This is where self-control comes in.  Self-control, for a Christian, is not just about controlling temper, urges or desires, but about controlling the old sinful flesh that still tries to have a place in our life.

A man who has been born again, placed his faith in Christ, and recognizes Jesus as Lord of his life knows that he has a “new self”.  And for this new self to mature, to bear fruit, in our life, we must be able to control our old self.

The only reason we are able to do this is because of our new self, which has been created to be like God.  By His grace, and by His working in our hearts, we are able to overcome.  Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit, rather than a working of our self.  Our obedience to the Spirit is what gives us self-control.

But this does not mean there won’t be a fight.  There will.  This is why Paul reminds us to “throw away” the old self, to get rid of it.

Colossians 3:8-10 (NIV)
8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices
10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

Our old self will try and come out, not all at the same time, but through different circumstances and in different ways.  Through each circumstance a Christian is called to walk by the Spirit, follow His ways, and practice self-control, so that our old self may not have it’s way in our life anymore!

Add to your faith…Knowledge

2 Peter 1:5 (NIV)
5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;

In this passage (2 Peter 1:5-7) Peter is exhorting his readers, including us, to no just be content with our faith in Christ, but to add to it, be diligent in allowing these qualities listed to be seen in our lives.

To our faith we are also to add knowledge.  Knowledge, “gnosis” in the Greek, is “the act of knowing”, or “a seeking to know”.  Basically this speaks of our knowledge of spiritual things, of God Himself.  A Christian is to add to his/her faith a knowledge of who God is.

In Peter’s last words in his letter he wrote: 

2 Peter 3:18 (NIV) 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

We are to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  A Christian’s life is totally by grace.  A Christian knows that he does not deserve any blessing, any moving of God in his life.  A Christian knows that it is because of Jesus Christ, whom he has put his faith in, that he can approach the throne of grace. So everything he receives – his life, his health, his salary, his strength, his wisdom – is all from God.  And so when every blessing, every provision, every answered prayer comes a Christian knows it is from God – and he grows in his faith.

But there will be times when blessing will not come, or at least be delayed.  There will be times our health will fail.  And there will be times when we will pray, ask for something, and God will not give it.  Many Christians’ growth are stunted, even thrown away, because of experiences like this.  This is where knowledge comes in.

We grow not just by experiencing God’s grace but also with knowledge of who our God is, and this knowledge continually transforming our hearts, thus moving us to grow.  This knowledge comes through the renewing of our mind, through the Word of God.

Romans 12:2 (NIV) 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

This is why it is so important for a Christian not just to desire to know God through experience, but to also know God through His Word.

When it seems like God is not blessing, what convinces us that “God is good”?  God’s Word.  When our health fails, what tells us that God is in control?  God’s Word.  When it seems like God is not answering our prayer, what will convince us that He knows what He is doing?  God’s Word.  Our knowledge of God and who He is allows a Christian to continue to grow.

Let’s not be satisfied with just experiencing the Christian life.  Let’s grow in our knowledge of Him.  Let’s read and study God’s Word because it truly is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.  Sad to say we live in a world of “tweets” and “wall posts”, that we don’t want to spend too much time reading so much about God in His Word.  But this is essential for a Christian’s growth!

Acts 17:11 (NIV) 11 Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

Add to your faith knowledge.

Add to your faith Goodness…

2 Peter 1:5-7 (NIV)
5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness;

The first quality we are to add to our faith is goodness.  In the King James version and ESV it uses the English word “virtue”.  The NASB expounds it even more clearly - “moral excellence”.

A Christian is to be known as a person of faith.  But he/she is also to be known as a person of goodness.  If there is anyone who should stand up in this world as an example of goodness, of what is good, it should be a Christian.  Why?  Because of our claim to worship and walk with the God who alone is good!  We live in an age today where people invent what they believe is good or right for them.  The result is a lifestyle of liberty and one that pleases the self.  But we Christians are to stand as those who reflect the life and teachings of our Lord.

We are to be morally excellent, people of virtue, people whose qualities or attributes in life are admirable to others.  This may seem to be a tall order to some – and it is!  Who of us can claim to be morally excellent?

The desire of God for us to be morally excellent does not mean that He expects us to be perfect.  But God does desire that we live a life that is morally excellent in the eyes of those who live with us – in our homes, in our workplaces, with our friends.  Our lives become examples not just of good, but of the goodness of the God whom we believe in.

So how can we live morally excellent lives?  First, realize that there is no one who is good. 

Mark 10:18 (NIV)
18 "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good--except God alone.

So true goodness can only come from the Lord.  When our lives are transformed by the Lord, changed from within, He brings His righteousness, His goodness in us.

Titus 2:11-12 (NIV)
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.
12 It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,

Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)
10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

It is this goodness that we are to work out in our life.  We are exhibits, examples of the Lord, of the goodness and righteousness that comes from Him.  As Peter said:

2 Peter 1:3-4 (NIV)
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

Make Every Effort to Add…

2 Peter 1:5-7 (NIV)
5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;
6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;
7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

All these qualities – goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, love – they do not “grow on trees” for us to just pick.  They do not fall from heaven.  I remember a story I heard of how a young boy slept with his bible under his pillow hoping that God’s Word would enter his mind while asleep.  This, sadly, is how many Christians hope the Christian life will come to them.  Oh, they know that the qualities above need to be seen in their life.  It’s just that they want them to come by magic.

Peter said “make every effort to add…”.  The Greek word used here literally means “speed”, with eagerness, with earnestness.  The picture here is someone diligently performing his work or duty.  And this is how God wants to see His children – diligently, earnestly, and eagerly adding to their faith the Christ-like qualities that the Holy Spirit has placed in our hearts and need to be seen, practiced in our life.

We cannot lazily walk the Christian life and expect victory.  If we put no effort whatsoever into bringing these qualities in our life then they will not be seen.  When we are faced with temptation we need to make every effort to fight it.  When faced with trials we need to make every effort to hold on to God and trust Him.  When faced with conflict we need to make every effort to respond with Christ-likeness.

Paul said it in another way:

Philippians 2:12-13 (NIV)
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,
13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

We are to work out our salvation, the salvation we already have in Jesus Christ, but needs to be seen in our lives.  The word “work out” always entails effort, diligence, hard work.

Why work out?  Because God is working in us (verse 13).  Peter reminded us that everything we need for life and godliness has been given us (2 Peter 1:3), because our Lord Himself has indwelt us, and He Himself is working out these things in us.  All He is asking is that we work them out, make every effort, to add His character, His qualities, into our lives.

Adding to our Faith

2 Peter 1:5-7 (NIV)
5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;
6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;
7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

Peter shares with us seven qualities that he believes should be added to our faith.  Our new life as Christians begin by faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior, and putting our faith in Him as Lord of our life.  But the Christian life should not stop there.  Sad to say there are many so-called Christians who claim to have that faith, but do not add to it.  In other words there is no fruit in their lives, no spiritual gain, no righteousness seen.

In verse 8 Peter says that we are to possess these qualities in increasing measure!  They are not supposed to stop being added into our lives.  What is so important about goodness, knowledge, self control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love?  Why continually add these into our lives?

The preceding verses will help us understand this.  Peter started verse 5 with “for this very reason”.  This means he previously stated a reason.

2 Peter 1:3 (NIV)
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

Every Christian needs to take to heart what Peter is saying in verse 3.  EVERYTHING WE NEED for LIFE and GODLINESS has been given to us by God!  A Christian has no reason not to live as God wants us to live, because His power that works in us has provided everything we need.  Why?

2 Peter 1:4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

Two things that a Christian must desire always – participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world.  To participate in the divine nature is to have the life of Christ working in us and seen in our lives and actions.  It is the desire of a true Christian to be Christ-like.

We all know of the corruption in the world.  A Christian’s desire is to escape it, live opposite the corrupt practices found in the world.  To be able to live this way, we need to add to our faith the qualities Peter shared with us.

5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

How important are these qualities?

2 Peter 1:8-9 (NIV)
8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

Our faith in, our knowledge of, our Lord Jesus Christ should move us to be effective and productive in this world.  Possessing these qualities keep us from being ineffective and unproductive as His witnesses, as His disciples in this world.

Many Christians are like what Peter said in verse 9 – nearsighted and blind, forgetting that we have been cleansed from our past sins, and continuing in them, thus joining in the corruption of the world, and being carnal instead of participating in the divine nature.

This is the mathematics of Christianity – addition.  Adding to our faith.  Through His divine power God has enabled us to have the qualities listed above, and therefore be effective and productive disciples of Christ in this world.

Will you add to your faith?

 

Colossians 1:28“We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.” Brought to you by BibleGateway.com. Copyright (C) . All Rights Reserved.