Making a Difference By Adding

By Dr. Tom Walker

McDowell County

2 Peter 1:5-9 says: “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. 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.”

Faith is very precious and valuable. It is by grace through faith that we entered into the family of God. Jesus said it well when he said in Mark 11:22 “Have faith in God.” The sinful nature of mankind will often reject the invitation to faith, but it is wise to do what the Lord says. The Bible clearly states that we who are saved people have been accepted as children of God “by grace through faith” in the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph.2:8).

Faith is not designed to be left alone. In our text verses, we are told that we are to add specified traits to our faith. It is so important that we add the mentioned things in 2 Peter 1:5-9 because if these things are not in us and do not abound, then we will be spiritually barren and unfruitful in our knowledge of Christ. In addition, if this addition does not take place, it is as though we are blind, cannot see afar off, and have forgotten we have been purged from our old sins. We are to be constantly adding to our faith.

Add Virtue

Let’s begin to consider and contemplate what we are to add to our faith. We are to add “virtue” to our faith. It speaks of a virtuous course of thought, feeling, and action. It has reference to moral goodness and excellence. The thoughts of modesty and purity have somewhat been lost to our generation. In many churches, you do not see the modesty we ought to see from many congregations. Dress in many churches has become too loose. It is time we add the modesty our forefathers had when they came to the place of worship.

Joseph is a prime example of virtue. When Potiphar’s wife propositioned him concerning immorality, he refused to be involved (Gen. 39:8). Without any hesitation, he said “no” to the temptress. Joseph had enough good character to say “no” to sin. He stayed pure because he chose to remain pure.

The Bible says of Stephen, “For he was a good man and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith, and much people was added unto the Lord”(Acts 11:24).

Add Knowledge

“Knowledge” can refer to general intelligence or understanding. This particular N.T. word is a knowledge of experience, not one of just a mere intellectual understanding. This knowledge speaks of a developing and enlarging knowledge of the things of God. It is abnormal for something that is living not to grow.

We are told to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18). The idea is to keep on constantly growing in both grace and knowledge. If we are to apply the principles of God’s Word to our lives, it is essential to learn what it has to say to us. Since guidance comes from the Word of God, it must be studied. Jesus said, “Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures”(Matt. 22:29)

It has the idea of understanding what is lawful and what isn’t lawful. It speaks of a moral wisdom that will manifest itself in right living. If your knowledge of Christ is what it should be, you will have an enlarged and pressing responsibility to live the Christian life in total dependence upon the Lord Himself. It is a spiritual knowledge that comes through the Word of God and is focused on the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is knowledge that is gained by learning, effort, and experience. God places no premium on ignorance; instead, we are to expand our mental horizons constantly. There are enough unexplored truths in the Bible to occupy our thoughts for all of eternity. It will take that long for us to grasp all of the inexhaustible truths of God’s Word. Romans 11:33 says, “Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God, how unsearchable are His judgments, and his ways past finding out.”

Add Temperance

This word reminds us of our need for self-control. So many people today are living out of control because their lives are led by self instead of the Holy Spirit of God. It means that a person is to have his or her passions under control. Due to the fact, that man has basically not changed, and since everyone is born in sin, it is of extreme importance that Christians master their desires and passions, especially one’s sensual appetites.

Temperance comes from a word that means “strength.” What you and I learn spiritually, we must put into practice in our lives. Solomon had a vast degree of knowledge and was known for his wisdom, but his life digressed into scandal. Due to an oppressive reign as King, it incited an open revolt.

The key is being filled or controlled by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:18). When the Spirit of God fills us He controls us. Too often people yield to the flesh or the old nature. Those who are guided by the flesh cannot please God (Rom.8:8). You can never overcome fleshly desires without the assistance and power of God’s Spirit.

Add Patience

The word “patience” comes from two words, one meaning under and to remain. It means regardless of the circumstances, we have endurance, persistence, fortitude, and perseverance. Patience and longsuffering have much the same idea. The word is not passive; it is active. It is not the spirit that just sits back and puts up with the trials of life, taking whatever may come. Rather it is the spirit that stands up and faces life’s trials, that actively goes about conquering and overcoming them. When trials confront a truly justified man, he is stirred to arise and face the trials head-on. He immediately sets out to conquer and overcome them. He knows that God is allowing the trials to teach him more and more patience (endurance). “For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise” (Hebrews 10:36). “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing” (James 1:2-4). “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain” (James 5:7).

Add Godliness

The meaning of godliness is to be devout. It consists in doing things that God is pleased with in our daily walk for Him. When we are godly, we are God-like, reflecting the traits of our Heavenly Father. I Peter 1:15-16 says, “But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation. Because it is written, Be ye holy for I am holy.” 2 Corinthians 7:1 says, “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” If professing Christians would live godly, then many more people would come to Christ for salvation. We would have a positive impact on those around us.

God takes holiness seriously, although man may not do so. 2 Peter 3:11 says, “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness.” Saved people are to be holy people by design.

Add Brotherly Kindness

This speaks of brotherly love and affection. It must have reference to the love that exists between a loving family. There is to be a family kind of love among God’s people. Galatians 6:10 says, “As we  have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially to them that are of the household of faith.” Peter calls this kind of love the, “unfeigned love of the brethren”(I Pet.1:22).

Add Charity

Our English word “charity” comes from the word “agape” which is God’s love, divine love, a Calvary love. Our prime example of charity is John 3:16 which says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten son, that whosever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” It is a love that gives itself to the person or individuals who are loved. Some people are harder to love than others, but with divine love on the inside of us, we can even love the unlovely and the difficult-to-deal-with persons.

The indication in I Pet. 5:8 is: “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.” Make a recognizable difference in your life by adding these things to your personal faith in Christ Jesus.

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Dr. Tom Walker is President of Foothills Bible College and Pastor of Zion Hill Baptist Church in Marion, NC. You can read more good Christian News from Dr. Walker HERE.

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