Faith

2 Peter 1:5-8 (Click on any Bible link in this article and you may choose to read the verses from other translations)

⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; ⁶and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; ⁷and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, 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. –New International Version 1984

I see in this passage a progression of growth. This premise is the basis of this Bible study. Verse 8 gives us an extra push to help us recognize the importance of growing in our faith. Who in their right mind would ever be satisfied to be ineffective and unproductive? If we are truly Christ’s servants, we will take seriously our efforts to grow in our knowledge of, and in our relationship with Jesus Christ.

We begin our journey when we step out in faith and believe in God. Meanwhile, God has also been reaching out to us preparing our hearts to put our faith in him. Ephesians 2:8 says “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” Faith is the first essential ingredient in our developing a relationship with God.

Where does our faith come from? In Hebrews 12:2 the Apostle Paul tells us to “fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…” And Romans 10:17 brings to mind the importance of hearing the message of Christ.

I don’t think faith always comes in the same proportions to all people. Our initial expression of faith might fall short of accepting all of the beliefs that various professing Christians say we must believe. I recall my first confession of faith to God. It was in a prayer I made in bed one night as I wrestled with understanding what it meant to become a Christian. I was in junior high school and my confession didn’t have much to do with sin or the cross, but it was what I understood at the moment. I asked Jesus to come into my heart based on a Bible verse I read that held special meaning for me. There is no doubt in my mind but that something happened at that moment, as I felt a sudden warmth come over my body that could have only come from the Holy Spirit. I believe God starts with us at whatever level of faith we posses in the beginning, and at that point he enters our lives and helps us to grow in our faith.

At first we might not have enough faith to boldly face down a college professor who is professing his atheism, yet we would have enough faith to witness to a friend who is trying to persuade us to do something the Holy Spirit has revealed to us that we should not do.

Hebrews 11 begins by saying faith makes us sure of what we hope for and it enables us to believe what we cannot see. The eleventh chapter of Hebrews is the great faith chapter in which God identifies the many early heroes in faith. God declared these men and women righteous because of their faith. And verse 6 brings it home to us by reminding us that without faith it is impossible to please God. Romans 3:22 also confirms that our righteousness comes from faith in Christ Jesus.

It is comforting to know that when we take our first step of faith with Jesus, God doesn’t leave us floundering to figure out how we should live a Christian life. Jesus promised us in John 14:26 that the Holy Spirit would come to teach us and to help us to remember what we need to know.

2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us that when we accept Christ Jesus we become new creations in him. God gives us new hearts with the desire to please and serve him when we open our hearts to him. Philippians 1:6 assures us that he will finish the good work he began in us once we begin our spiritual journey with Christ.

Faith is our beginning point, but we must not settle for a mediocre faith. Let us build on this foundation so that our walk with Christ will be effective and productive, and that we can become strong witnesses for Christ through the lives we live.

Father God, keep our hearts pliable that we may continually seek to know you better and to grow in our faith. Give us the will to be proactive in reaching out to you every day in Bible reading, prayer, and in exercising our faith around the people you have placed in our lives.

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

The Creation by Janice D. Green