7 Faith Additives
7 Faith Additives
For a Productive and Effective Life
Part One
In 2 Peter 1:5-8, we find a powerful exhortation to add to our faith seven ingredients that are essential for faith to be effective and productive. I call them – “Faith Additives”.
“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, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 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.” (NIV)
Faith is Like Gasoline for a Car
Faith is similar to gasoline for a car. Gasoline is the fuel that make a car go however, there are several key additives (oil, brake fluid, antifreeze, power steering fluid, water, etc.). These are all needed for the car to run smoother, quieter, longer, and better. Faith is our spiritual fuel, but it requires key additives to maximize its effectiveness. Let’s examine what these additives are and how they impact our faith.
1. Goodness
Goodness is also translated as virtue, character, and moral excellence. The apostle Peter is talking about having integrity meaning we make conscious choices that align our actions with godly principles. As we strive for virtuous living, we reflect the character of Christ and demonstrate the transformative power of faith.
Godly character is a safeguard against pride, greed, and selfishness. Faith without goodness is easily abused, it can become distorted and twisted. We need to diligently add goodness to our faith every day. Goodness is not something we can manufacture on our own. Peter instructions us to “make every effort” (vs 5), in other word we need to do our part, but the virtue we need only comes from God. When we abide in Him, He works in us and the spiritual fruit in us matures and we become more like Him
2. Knowledge:
Knowledge refers to understanding God’s Word and His ways. By diligently studying the Scriptures, we gain insight into His divine nature, His promises, and His will. Deepening our knowledge of God fosters a more profound relationship with Him and strengthens the foundation of our faith.
Faith without knowledge becomes dangerous. If someone takes off through traffic in an automobile and has no knowledge of how to drive or the traffic laws they quickly become dangerous to anyone else in their path. Faith is the same, if someone tries to use faith without knowing how faith works and what the laws of faith are they will hurt people in their life.
Hosea 4:6 says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” Unfortunately, many Christians are destroyed because they lack knowledge and understanding of God’s Word. This does not mean they miss heaven it means their life is not as effective and productive as God intended it to be.
Knowledge (spiritual truth) comes by hearing, meditation, and speaking the Word of God. It is an ongoing process throughout all our life.
3. Self-Control:
Self-control empowers us to master our desires, emotions, and impulses. It helps us resist temptations and make wise decisions that honor God. By practicing self-control, we allow the Holy Spirit to guide our actions, ensuring that our faith is not swayed by momentary distractions or fleeting desires.
Faith without self-control is – “Baby Faith”. It is like a baby in the natural that cries, throws fits, needs a diaper, and needs to be watched and kept so not to hurt themselves. We need to “grow up” spiritually. When we do we will have self-control and our faith will be consistently strong, not wavering, or wrongly influenced.
Next time we will examine the faith additives; perseverance, godliness, mutual affection (kindness), and love. In the mean make every effort to add goodness, knowledge, and self-controls to your faith and watch your life become more productive and effective. You can read the full teaching on the next 4 additives by – clicking here.