Christian Growth in Faith

Christian growth in faith is impossible for those who are not born again. In 2 Peter 1:5–7, Peter is speaking about the Christian growth of those who are born again. In the previous passage, Peter told us that we have been given all things necessary for life and godliness; we lack nothing. God has given us the holy Scriptures, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the holy church, and his holy ministers to preach the gospel to us sinners.

The Holy Spirit has given us new life through regeneration, and the gift of true repentance and saving faith in Christ. So we are vitally united with Jesus by faith, as branches are united to the vine. We are to bear much fruit for God’s glory. To bear fruit by the Spirit’s power is our responsibility, as is growth in faith. Fruit-bearing is our responsibility.

We find this idea of growth and fruit-bearing throughout the New Testament. Peter himself speaks of it in his last words to the church: “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18). Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful” (John 15:1–2). And Paul wrote, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God has foreordained that we should do them” (Eph. 2:10). He also said, “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, for it is God who works in you to will and to do according to his good pleasure” (Phil. 2:12–13). Paul also wrote, “We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor produced by love, and your endurance produced by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess. 1:3).

In our sanctification, we must cooperate with the Holy Spirit. In contrast, in regeneration, we do not act; rather, the Holy Spirit works unilaterally in us. This is because dead people cannot do anything to make themselves alive. But in sanctification we must cooperate with the Holy Spirit. Faith always works. James said, “Faith without works is dead faith” (James 2:17). Those with true faith in the Lord Jesus will also obey him.

This is the “obedience of faith” that Paul speaks of (Rom. 1:5; 16:26).  The Hebrews author also speaks of it: “And, once being made perfect, [Jesus] became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him” (Heb. 5:9). Elsewhere Peter declared, “We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him” (Acts 5:32). We are to trust and obey. In John 15, Jesus said that the branches without any fruit are cut off and burned. This is speaking about eternal hell.

The Holy Spirit dwells in a true Christian to govern his life and enable him to obey. Paul writes, “As many as are being led by the Sprit, they and they alone are the children of God” (Rom. 8:14, author’s wording). The Holy Spirit produces fruit that is evident in the lives of God’s people. Paul writes, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Gal. 5:22–23). The Hebrews writer exhorts, “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14). And John writes, “Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and the loud peals of thunder, shouting; ‘Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.  Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.’ (Fine linen stands for the righteous deeds of the saints.)” (Rev. 19:6–8).

Thus, in this passage, Peter is counseling true believers to grow up in their root of faith by bearing seven fruits: goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. We must grow up and be mature. The Hebrews writer says, “Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil” (Heb. 5:11–12). Paul says, “I can do all things through him who gives me strength” (Phil. 4:13).

We are to “supply”[1] the seven spiritual character qualities in verses 5 through 7 so that we may grow up and be mature. We are to assume responsibility in the family of God, not just receive all the time.

How can we do this? We are to make every effort, to do our very best, to cooperate with our resident Boss, the Holy Spirit. His power is always available to his children to do the will of God. Christians are to be industrious, not lazy. So Paul writes, “I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. . . .  I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being. . . . Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Eph. 3:7, 16, 20). He also admonishes, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” (Eph. 6:10). And about himself he says, “To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me” (Col. 1:29).

Yes, we are weak, but the infinite Holy Spirit who dwells in each believer is strong, and he will make us strong to do all his holy will. With the help of his mighty power, we can grow in faith and add these qualities to our spiritual lives. Then the world will know that we belong to Christ. Professing Christians who are ungodly are demonstrating that they, in truth, believe in a different Jesus, a different gospel, and a different spirit. Such people are cursed, as Paul writes: “Even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, le him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than the what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!” (Gal. 1:8–9).

Let us, then, examine the seven qualities the apostle tells us to add to our faith.

Goodness

Peter begins, “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness” (v. 5). The first quality we are to add to our faith is moral goodness, moral power in abundance (Gk., aretê). True believers are to be like Jesus, who is full of moral excellence (2 Pet. 1:3). He never sinned. He is just and righteous. He is our righteousness. He is holy (1 Pet. 1:15).

Jesus has called us effectually, as he called Peter (2 Pet. 1:4). He said, “The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him” (John 8:29). John wrote, “Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did” (1 John 2:6). We are to obey God immediately, exactly, and with joy.

Christians are those who obey our Lord Jesus. We are not like antinomian professors in seminaries and antinomian pastors in large churches. Antinomians are going to hell. But we trust and obey Jesus, whom we confessed. There is no other way to be happy in Jesus. The power of the Holy Spirit within us enables us to submit to God and resist the devil, the flesh, and the world. Saints of God are righteous and they will do righteousness. 

Knowledge

Second, we are to add “to goodness, knowledge” (v. 5). The word is gnosis, which means practical wisdom, a plenitude of knowledge. We are to study the Scriptures daily so that we may know and do God’s will and live to please God. We are to delight in God’s law, meditating on it day and night (Ps. 1). We must do so because the Scripture tells us how we must live at home and at work, how we must worship in the church, and how we must relate to the state. We receive knowledge from the Holy Bible. Christians are not to conform to the idolatry of the world; rather, they are to be transformed by the renewal of their minds by the word of God (Rom. 12:1–3).

We are to shine as light in the world by obeying the Scriptures as we face every situation in life. If we are students of Scripture, then we can know all reality truly as we see all things through God’s word. We will know about God, his creation, the fall of creation, God’s redemption, God’s new creation, God’s judgment, and the eternal life God gives his people. Those who do not know the Bible are truly ignorant of all reality.

As our knowledge of God and his word increases, our faith will also increase. Faith is not a leap in the dark. It is trust in the knowledge of God’s word (see, for example, Hebrews 11). Jesus defeated the devil by obeying God’s word and citing specific scriptures. For example, in Matthew 4:1–11, he cited Deuteronomy 8:3, 6:16 and 6:13 in answer to the devil’s temptations. He said, “Gegraptai,” “It is written.” We also are to obey what is written, and we can do so by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus treasured the knowledge of Scripture in his heart. In the same way, Paul says, we are to “let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” (Col. 3:16). The idea is that we will be controlled by the indwelling word. That is why we must read the Bible daily. 

Self-Control

Peter then says, “add to . . . knowledge, self-control” (v. 6). The next quality we are to add is self-control (Gk., egkrateia). Peter is speaking about inner power to control our pleasures. Self-control is not the positive thinking of the world. It is the Holy Spirit’s control of the regenerate Christian. That is why self-control is listed as a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:23).

Unbelievers cannot exercise such Spirit-produced self-control. In fact, Governor Felix trembled when Paul spoke to him of righteousness, self-control, and judgment. Felix trembled because he was an adulterer. He refused to believe in Jesus (Acts 24:25).

By the Holy Spirit’s control, we can say “No” to sin and “Yes” to God’s will as revealed in his word. When the Holy Spirit leads us, he will also give us inner power to submit to God and resist the devil. Paul writes, “So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other” (Gal. 5:16–17). He also says, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager [zealous] to do what is good” (Titus 2:12–14).

Pastors must have self-control (Titus 1:8). There are many pastors who lack self-control. And all Christians must say “No” to lying, sexual immorality, laziness, overeating, worldliness, and other sins. They can do so by the power of the Holy Spirit. We must heed Paul’s words: “Mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them” (2 Tim. 3:1–4). He also writes, “Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come” (1 Tim. 4:7–8).  And of himself he says, “I beat my body and make it my slave” (see 1 Cor. 9:25–27).

We can escape the corruption in the world caused by sinful desires. By the Spirit’s power, we can kill the sin that is within us. Paul says, “Put to death therefore, whatever belongs to your earthy nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips” (Col. 3:5–8). We must say “No” to sin. We must kill sin by the power of the Holy Spirit. We must control our lust, not be controlled by it (1 Cor. 6:12; 2 Pet. 2:19).

Perseverance

Then Peter says, “Add to . . . self-control, perseverance” (v. 6) The next quality we are to add is perseverance, endurance (Gk., hupomonê). Hupomonê means the ability to stand up under great pressure. What if we do not like pressure? We must consider the example of Paul:

Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? (2 Cor. 11:23–27)

Though we suffer, we are not to complain. Perseverance is the ability to stay under severe trials without murmuring but rejoicing. Such perseverance is the fifth point in Reformed theology. The acronym TULIP stands for total depravity, unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistible grace, and perseverance of the saints. Perseverance means to endure hardship to the end.

Those who came out of Egypt always complained. Though they had been slaves in Egypt, once Moses led them out, they began to continually complain. (PGM) But we are to embrace trials with joy. James writes, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2–4). Paul also speaks of this: “We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor produced by love, and your endurance produced by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess. 1:3). He also says, “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Rom. 5:3–4).

We can endure trials by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Hebrews writer exhorts, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Heb. 12:2–3).

Paul writes, “Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead” (2 Cor. 1:9). He also says, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28). God ordains all things, and we go through all troubles for our good. No pain, no gain. Trials are God’s way to holiness.

Godliness

Then Peter says, “Add to . . . perseverance, godliness” (v. 6). The word is eusebeia, which simply means good worship, acceptable worship, but we can call it godliness. We should not come to worship when we know that we have committed a sin. Jesus said, “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift” (Matt. 5:23–24). When we come in the right way, our worship will be accepted. How many people come and worship when sin is still there? We are to deal with sin quickly, before the sun goes down.

The ungodly are called asebeia. Some people, even many evangelical leaders, believe that Jesus saves us in our sins, not from our sins. They would say that our business is to sin, and God’s business is to forgive. But consider Paul’s words: “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Cor. 6:9–11). He also said, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body” (1 Cor. 6:19–20). He also wrote, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord” (Eph. 5:8–10).

The motto of John Calvin, the great theologian, was, “Coram Deo.” In other words, we live in God’s presence always. Eusebeia is practical awareness of God’s presence in every situation. He is in us, he is in front of us, he is behind us, and he is all around us. The Hebrews writer says, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have.” Then he gives the reason: “because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you’” (Heb. 13:5). We live Coram Deo. Consider Paul’s words: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31).

Brotherly Kindness

Then Peter says, “Add . . . to godliness, brotherly kindness” (v. 7). The word is philadelphia. We belong to God’s family, so we are brothers and sisters. Man came up with the idea of having a black church, a white church, a Chinese church, an Indian church, and all that. God has only one church, and all his people belong to that one church, so we are brothers and sisters. We are God’s inheritance, God’s treasure, God’s segullah, God’s sparkling jewels. God paid the highest price—the precious blood of his Son—to redeem us.

God loves his people without limit. Therefore, in Christ, we are also to love all our brothers and sisters. If we do not, we have committed a sin. Peter writes, “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers [the word is philadelphia], love one another deeply, from the heart” (1 Pet. 1:22). He also writes, “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins” (1 Pet. 4:8).

Brotherly love is costly. It is serious business. It is not just saying, “I love you.” John writes, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth” (1 John 3:16–17). In this church, if a person does not have food, the church will give him food. If he has no shelter, the church will give him shelter.

In 1 John 4:19–20, John begins, “We love because he first loved us.” Our love to God is responsive. John continues, “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.” Elsewhere Paul gives a description of the family of God: “Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all and is in all” (Col. 3:11).  We must not put a limit to our love, saying that we will love certain people in the church but not others. That is a sin. Christ is all and in all. The psalmist declares, “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! . . . For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore” (Ps. 133:1, 3).

Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34–35).  Notice, this is a command. We must love one another. And when we love God and God’s people without discrimination, we will fulfill the Lord’s command, the Ten Commandments. We will be emulating God. God the Father loved us and gave his Son for us. God the Son loved us and died on the cross for us. God the Holy Spirit sheds abroad in our hearts love. Paul writes, “Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law” (Rom. 13:10).

There should be no discrimination in God’s holy church where the Holy Spirit, whose first fruit is love, dwells. In Acts 2:42 we read that the early disciples devoted themselves, first, to the apostles’ doctrine, and, second, to fellowship. When we come to church, we want to spend time with God’s people. We want to know how they are doing and what their needs are. And as we communicate with our brothers and sisters, we pray for them, and they will pray for us and help us. I was brought up in revival and I knew what love is.

Love

Finally, we are to “add to brotherly kindness love” (v. 7). The word is agapê. Elsewhere we read, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’” (Luke 10:27). When asked which is the greatest commandment in the Law, Jesus himself said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandments. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’” (Matt. 22:37–39).

Love is the essence of the Ten Commandments. Some people draw a circle and they see themselves inside the circle, and say, “Bless us four and no more.” Such people are not born again. Love is interested in others. A sinful man is self-centered and self-focused, and he uses other people for his own benefit. Of such people Jesus said, “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold” (Matt. 24:12; see also Rev. 2:4). That is the condition in which we find ourselves today. Thank God for this church and all churches where the Holy Spirit works.

God is love in his very essence. John writes, “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. . . . And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him” (1 John 4:8, 16). Jesus is the incarnation of perfect love. Love serves others and dies for the beloved (Eph. 5:25–27). It is what I call Titanic love. When the Titanic sank, the husbands went down with the ship and died, so that their wives may live. We find such Titanic love in God triune.

Love is the fulfillment of the law, not the negation of the law. Some people, even seminary professors, teach ungodliness. They would say, “Our job is to sin; God’s job is to forgive.” But consider Paul’s words: “Love does not harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law” (Rom. 13:10).

We love God because he first loved us, who were his enemies. He regenerated us and gave us repentance and faith. The Holy Spirit dwells in us, teaching us the Scriptures and empowering us to do all things God wants us to do.

Love is responsive. So John writes, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God . . . . We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:7, 19).

All three Persons of the Godhead exemplify love that gives. God the Father gives, as we read: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). God the Son gives. Paul writes, “Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless” (Eph. 5:25–27). And, finally, the Holy Spirit gives. Paul says, “And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us” (Rom. 5:5).

The Bible says we love even our enemies (Matt. 5:44). We told the story once about a Korean pastor.  There was a great revival in Korea, but a pastor’s son was killed by a communist man. Later, however, the pastor adopted the killer, who subsequently became a believer in Jesus Christ.

What is love? Paul writes, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” How many people keep record of wrongs and die without forgiving! “Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. . . . Now these three remain: faith, hope and love. but the greatest of these is love” (1 Cor. 13:4–7, 13).

Application

In conclusion, consider the following questions:

1.  Are you born of God? Are you born again? If you are not born again, you cannot grow. We do not believe in decisional salvation. We believe in regeneration salvation, because dead people cannot do anything. So if you are born again, you will be godly. You will repent and believe daily. If you are not, I pray that you will cry out to God and he will save you. I believe in a Jesus who saves his people from their sins.
2.  Are you a sinning believer? Are you not growing but always sinning? If you are an elect and you are sinning, then God may even take you out of this world to deal with you, as we read in 1 Corinthians 5 and 11). God loves you so much that he will stop you from sinning even by death, if possible. My counsel is to stop, repent, and move on with God.
3.  What about those who are growing and maturing? I say to you: Keep doing it, and you will bear thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold fruit. Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches” (John 15:1–2). We are to bear fruit, more fruit, and much fruit, for God’s glory. He will give us all things necessary to do this, in the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the answer, and he will be given to all who ask (Luke 11:13).

[1] The Greek word means “to add to in abundant measure.”