After one becomes a Christian by obeying the gospel (Romans 1:16), his faith must be supplemented with certain spiritual qualities (2 Peter 1:5-11). What are some of the qualities that we must add to our faith? Let’s take a look.

We must add virtue to our faith. This word often refers to moral excellence, but here it points to having the courage and confidence to live righteously and stand up for Jesus. We must not only believe; we must have the boldness to live by our beliefs. Growth in Christ comes by actively carrying out our mission to glorify God and spread the tenets of our faith. That takes virtue.

We must add knowledge to our faith. As they say, knowledge is power. Knowledge gives us the power to live according to God’s will (Matthew 7:21), guard against false teachers (1 John 4:1-2), stand against the wiles of the devil (Ephesians 6:10-17), and grow in Christ. Peter wrote, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby (1 Peter 2:2). The word produces knowledge, and knowledge leads to growing in the Lord.

We must add self-control to our faith. Self-control is the ability to take a grip of oneself. Have you ever heard the saying “get a grip?” That is what self-control is. With all of the sinful things that surround us, there is no way to grow in Christ without being in control of self. Self-control is about discipline, and spiritual growth takes discipline. For example, growing in Christ takes time. It takes time to study, pray, employ talents, etc. Self-control helps us to manage our time and put ourselves in position to make spiritual progress.

We must add steadfastness to our faith. The word steadfastness is the ability to abide under pressure, i.e., to endure. It has to do with having staying power. Without staying power, our labor for the Lord is in danger of being in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58). There are two aspects of steadfastness that help with growth. First, the ability not to quit when the going gets tough. If we give up at the first sign of trouble, we will never fully mature in Christ. In fact, sooner or later, we will probably fall away from Christ altogether. Second, being consistent in Christ goes a long way in helping us cultivate our talents and thereby grow in Christ.

We must add godliness to our faith. Vine says that godliness “denotes that piety which is characterized by a God-ward attitude and does that which is well-pleasing to Him.” Godliness, then, begins with proper thinking and ends in proper living. These are things that are not only imperative to growth but will enhance our growth. If we consistently think right and live right, we will, without exception, grow.

We must add brotherly affection to our faith. Loving one another in Christ is not optional, it is a divine directive. The Hebrews writer said, “Let brotherly love continue” (Hebrews 13:1). If you really want to grow in Christ, grow in your love for brethren.

We must add love to our faith. Loving brethren is not enough. We must love universally. The love here is agape. It is the highest kind love and is absolutely unconditional. It always acts in the best interest of others. It is active in nature and, therefore, lends itself to growth.

So, let us all grow in Christ by adding these qualities to our faith. Peter tells us that if we abound in these characteristics, we will neither be barren or unfruitful. Instead, we will grow stronger and stronger in Christ, and that should be the goal of all of us as Christian.

As you wind down for the night, think on these things.