Add to Your Faith

Everything We Need

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Paul wrote, “That I may know Him” (Philippians 3:10). The apostle Peter also wrote about knowing Jesus, in a letter to believers.

Precious faith (1:1). Peter wrote “to those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.” Faith is a precious gift, and believers receive it because of Jesus.

More and more (1:2). “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” Multiplied means growing bigger and bigger.

Growing together. As we get to know God and Jesus better, God’s kindness and peace grow in our lives. Grace is God’s kindness that we do not deserve. Peace is the calm that comes from being right with God and trusting Him.

Everything we need (1:3). “As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness.” Divine means belonging to God. God’s power gives us everything we need to live for Him.

Through knowing Him. These gifts come “through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.” Jesus called us. As we come to know Him, He gives what we need.

Called by Jesus. Jesus calls people to Himself. He called Peter, a fisherman, and He calls children today.

Glory and goodness. Jesus called us by His own glory and goodness, not because we were good enough. His call is a gift.

Great promises (1:4). God has given “exceedingly great and precious promises.” Exceedingly great means much bigger than we can imagine.

Away from evil. Peter said God’s promises help believers get away from the evil desires in the world.

Promises you can trust. God never breaks a promise. When you feel unsure, you can trust what He has said in His Word.

Not on our own. We do not have to make ourselves good enough. God’s power gives what we need.

Sin and the cross. We all sin. Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again so that we could be forgiven and know God.

Trust Him. Everyone who trusts Jesus receives this precious faith and comes to know Him.

Growing every day. Knowing Jesus is not a one-day thing. It grows as we pray, read His Word and follow Him.

What this means for you. Each morning this week, thank God that His power gives you everything you need to live for Him.

Paul longed “that I may know Him” (Philippians 3:10). Peter wrote of the same longing: everything a believer needs comes through knowing Jesus.

Like precious faith (1:1). “To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.” Faith is obtained, received as a gift. Peter calls Jesus both God and Savior.

Multiplied (1:2). “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” Knowledge is epignosis (say: eh-PIG-noh-sis), a full, personal knowing, not just information.

Growth through friendship with God. Grace and peace increase as a believer’s knowledge of God deepens. The more you know Him, the more you rest in His kindness.

Knowing, not knowing about. A person can know many facts about Jesus and still not know Him. This knowledge is the knowledge of trust: coming to Christ, resting on Him and walking with Him.

All things (1:3). “As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.” Nothing needed for a godly life is missing.

Called by glory and virtue. Jesus called His people by His own glory and goodness. Virtue here means goodness of character. The call starts with Him, not with us.

Promises (1:4). “By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises.” God’s promises are how believers grow and escape the ruin that evil desire brings into the world.

Given, not earned. Peter uses the words of gifts: obtained, given, called. A life that honors God is built on what God has already supplied.

The deeper problem. Every person has sinned and cannot produce godliness by effort.

The answer. “Christ died for our sins” and “He rose again the third day” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). He died on the cross for us, and faith in Him brings a sinner into this knowing.

Ongoing. Knowing Christ begins when a person trusts Him, and it keeps deepening for the rest of life.

Peace with God. The peace Peter prays for begins with peace with God, given when sins are forgiven, and it grows into a calm heart that trusts Him in hard days.

Application. Read 2 Peter 1:2-4 each morning this week. Write down one thing God’s power has given you for living His way.

Never Unfruitful

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Peter said God has given us everything we need. Then he told believers how to grow.

Because of His gifts (1:5). “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue.” For this very reason means because God has already given so much.

Diligence. Diligence means working hard and not being lazy. We work hard to grow, but God’s power helps us.

Faith first. Everything starts with faith in Jesus. Then we add good things to our faith.

A growing list (1:5–7). Peter wrote, “To virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance.” Each good thing is added to the one before it.

What the words mean. Virtue is goodness. Knowledge is learning more about God. Self-control is saying no to wrong choices. Perseverance is not giving up.

More good things. Then come godliness, brotherly kindness and love. Godliness is living in a way that honors God. Brotherly kindness is caring for other believers.

Love at the end. The list ends with love: caring for others the way Jesus does. Every good thing grows toward love.

Fruitful (1:8). “For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Barren means empty, like a field that grows nothing.

Never useless. A believer who keeps growing shows it by the good things in his or her life. Peter said these things keep us from being useless.

Do not forget (1:9). Peter warned about someone who “has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.” Remembering that Jesus washed our sins away helps us keep growing.

Washed clean. Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again. Everyone who trusts Him is made clean.

Not to earn love. We do not grow so that God will love us. We grow because He already does.

Step by step. Growing is slow, like a tree. A little more kindness and self-control each week adds up over time.

Growing together. Parents, teachers and friends at church can help us grow. God grows His children together in His family.

What this means for you. Pick one word from Peter’s list, such as kindness or self-control. Ask God to help it grow in you this week.

Peter’s list in 2 Peter 1:5-8 shows what knowing Christ looks like as it grows.

For this very reason (1:5). “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge.” The reason is what 1:3-4 just said: God has already given everything needed.

Add. Add is epichoregeo (say: ep-ee-khor-ay-GEH-oh), to supply generously. The word once named the gift of someone who paid for a whole choir out of his own wealth. Believers supply their faith with good things freely, because God first supplied them.

The full list (1:5–7). “To knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.”

Each quality. Virtue is goodness of character. Knowledge is a growing grasp of God’s truth. Self-control rules desires instead of being ruled by them. Perseverance keeps going under pressure.

Toward love. Godliness is honor for God shown in daily life. Brotherly kindness is warm care for fellow believers. Love, the last word, reaches every person.

Faith at the root. Faith is not one item on the list; it is the base everything else is added to.

Not a ladder. These qualities are not a ladder of steps to earn God’s approval. Each quality grows out of faith, in a life that has already been given everything it needs (1:3).

Growing in community. Brotherly kindness and love cannot grow alone; they need other people. God grows believers together in His family.

Fruitful knowledge (1:8). “For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Knowing Christ is meant to bear fruit.

Shortsighted (1:9). “For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.” Forgetting the gospel stunts growth.

Diligence and grace. Peter calls for “all diligence,” yet the power is God’s (1:3). Effort is the answer to grace, never the price of it.

The cleansing. Every person has sinned. Christ died on the cross for our sins and rose the third day; all who trust Him are cleansed from their old sins.

Remember first. Growth starts by remembering what Christ has done.

Application. Choose one quality from 1:5-7. Write one specific way it could grow this week, and pray about it daily.

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Complete all sections to finish!

Read each section and answer the questions correctly.