Active Faith: Cultivating Virtue for Spiritual Growth

 

Summary

In the second epistle of Peter, chapter one, verses five to seven, we find a profound call to spiritual growth and discipline. The Apostle Peter urges believers to diligently add to their faith virtues such as knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity. This passage addresses the issue of spiritual depression, a condition where Christians find themselves barren, unfruitful, and lacking in joy and assurance. This state is a contradiction for believers who are meant to be vibrant and life-giving, reflecting the transformative power of the Holy Spirit.

The root cause of this spiritual malaise is often a lack of discipline and a misunderstanding of faith. Many Christians hold a magical or mystical view of faith, expecting it to work automatically without effort. However, faith is not passive; it requires active engagement and the cultivation of virtues. The Apostle Peter emphasizes the need for diligence and discipline in the Christian life. This involves a conscious effort to order one's life, prioritize spiritual practices, and resist the subtle distractions and indolence that the world and our adversary present.

The remedy for spiritual depression lies in a disciplined life that actively supplements faith with moral energy, understanding, self-control, and perseverance. This disciplined approach not only prevents spiritual barrenness but also leads to a deeper assurance of one's calling and election. It brings joy, peace, and a fruitful Christian life that is attractive to others and glorifies God.

Moreover, the promise of an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is given to those who diligently pursue this path. This is not about earning salvation through works but about living a life that reflects the divine nature we partake in as believers. The call is to be up and doing, to give all diligence, and to enjoy the fullness of the Christian life.

Key Takeaways:

- The Importance of Discipline: Spiritual depression often stems from a lack of discipline in our lives. Faith requires active engagement and the cultivation of virtues such as knowledge, temperance, and patience. Without discipline, our spiritual lives become barren and unfruitful. [10:06]

- Misunderstanding of Faith: Many Christians hold a magical or mystical view of faith, expecting it to work automatically. However, faith is not passive; it requires effort and the addition of virtues to grow and flourish. [12:18]

- The Role of Diligence: The Apostle Peter emphasizes the need for diligence in the Christian life. This involves ordering our lives, prioritizing spiritual practices, and resisting distractions. Diligence leads to assurance and joy in our faith. [22:14]

- The Promise of Assurance: By diligently adding virtues to our faith, we make our calling and election sure. This brings joy, peace, and a fruitful Christian life that is attractive to others and glorifies God. [41:12]

- The Reward of an Abundant Entrance: Those who diligently pursue spiritual growth are promised an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord. This is not about earning salvation but living a life that reflects the divine nature we partake in as believers. [43:05]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:10] - Introduction to 2 Peter 1:5-7
- [01:08] - Understanding Spiritual Depression
- [02:22] - The Subtle Causes of Spiritual Depression
- [03:51] - Description of the Condition
- [05:13] - Misconceptions About Christian Life
- [06:34] - Lack of Knowledge and Understanding
- [09:17] - The Cause: Lack of Discipline
- [11:07] - Misunderstanding Faith
- [12:40] - The Mystical View of Faith
- [16:17] - The Problem of Laziness
- [19:13] - The Challenge of Modern Life
- [22:14] - The Need for Diligence
- [23:11] - Historical Examples of Discipline
- [30:09] - Adding Virtues to Faith
- [39:18] - Encouragement and Assurance
- [43:05] - The Promise of an Abundant Entrance

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- 2 Peter 1:5-7

Observation Questions:
1. What virtues does the Apostle Peter urge believers to add to their faith in 2 Peter 1:5-7?
2. According to the sermon, what is the condition described as "spiritual depression," and how does it manifest in a believer's life? [01:08]
3. How does the sermon describe the common misunderstanding of faith among Christians? [11:07]
4. What does the Apostle Peter suggest is the root cause of spiritual barrenness and unfruitfulness? [10:06]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the sermon explain the relationship between faith and the cultivation of virtues like knowledge and temperance? [12:18]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that a lack of discipline can lead to spiritual depression? [10:06]
3. How does the sermon interpret the promise of an "abundant entrance" into the everlasting kingdom for those who diligently pursue spiritual growth? [43:05]
4. What does the sermon imply about the role of diligence in making one's calling and election sure? [41:12]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current spiritual practices. Are there areas where you lack discipline? How can you begin to address these areas this week? [21:20]
2. The sermon mentions a "magical view of faith" that some Christians hold. Have you ever found yourself expecting faith to work automatically? How can you actively engage your faith this week? [11:46]
3. Consider the virtues listed in 2 Peter 1:5-7. Which virtue do you find most challenging to cultivate, and what steps can you take to develop it further? [30:38]
4. The sermon emphasizes the importance of resisting distractions. Identify one distraction in your life that hinders your spiritual growth. What practical steps can you take to minimize it? [19:13]
5. How can you incorporate more diligence into your spiritual life to ensure you are neither barren nor unfruitful? What specific actions can you take this week to prioritize your spiritual growth? [22:14]
6. The sermon speaks about the joy and assurance that come from a disciplined spiritual life. Have you experienced this joy? If not, what changes can you make to experience it more fully? [41:12]
7. Think about someone in your life who might be experiencing spiritual depression. How can you support and encourage them in their journey towards spiritual growth and discipline? [02:04]

Devotional

Day 1: Discipline as the Foundation of Spiritual Growth
In the Christian journey, discipline is not merely a set of rules but the foundation upon which spiritual growth is built. Spiritual depression often arises from a lack of discipline, leading to a barren and unfruitful life. Faith is not a passive state; it requires active engagement and the cultivation of virtues such as knowledge, temperance, and patience. Without discipline, believers may find themselves spiritually stagnant, unable to experience the fullness of joy and assurance that comes from a vibrant relationship with God. The Apostle Peter calls for diligence in adding these virtues to our faith, emphasizing that a disciplined life is essential for spiritual vitality. [10:06]

"For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness." (2 Peter 1:5-6, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one area in your spiritual life where you lack discipline. What practical steps can you take today to cultivate discipline in this area?


Day 2: Faith Requires Active Participation
Many Christians mistakenly view faith as a mystical force that operates automatically without any effort on their part. However, true faith is not passive; it demands active participation and the intentional addition of virtues to grow and flourish. This misunderstanding can lead to spiritual stagnation and a lack of growth. The Apostle Peter urges believers to diligently engage with their faith, recognizing that it requires effort and commitment. By actively participating in our faith journey, we can overcome spiritual depression and experience the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. [12:18]

"So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." (James 2:17, ESV)

Reflection: Consider a virtue you need to actively cultivate in your life. How can you begin to incorporate this virtue into your daily routine starting today?


Day 3: The Necessity of Diligence in the Christian Life
Diligence is a crucial aspect of the Christian life, as it involves ordering our lives, prioritizing spiritual practices, and resisting distractions. The Apostle Peter emphasizes the importance of diligence, noting that it leads to assurance and joy in our faith. In a world filled with distractions and indolence, believers must make a conscious effort to remain diligent in their spiritual pursuits. This diligence not only prevents spiritual barrenness but also deepens our assurance of God's calling and election, resulting in a joyful and fruitful Christian life. [22:14]

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it." (1 Corinthians 9:24, ESV)

Reflection: What distractions are currently hindering your spiritual growth? How can you create a plan to minimize these distractions and prioritize your spiritual practices?


Day 4: Assurance Through the Addition of Virtues
By diligently adding virtues to our faith, we make our calling and election sure, leading to a life filled with joy, peace, and fruitfulness. This assurance is not about earning salvation through works but about living a life that reflects the divine nature we partake in as believers. The Apostle Peter encourages believers to actively pursue spiritual growth, as it brings a deeper assurance of one's relationship with God and makes the Christian life attractive to others. This pursuit of virtues leads to a life that glorifies God and draws others to Him. [41:12]

"Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall." (2 Peter 1:10, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a virtue you have successfully cultivated in the past. How did this virtue impact your assurance and joy in your faith?


Day 5: The Promise of an Abundant Entrance
Those who diligently pursue spiritual growth are promised an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord. This promise is not about earning salvation but about living a life that reflects the divine nature we partake in as believers. The Apostle Peter assures believers that a disciplined and virtuous life leads to a rich and rewarding entrance into God's eternal kingdom. This promise serves as a motivation for believers to remain diligent in their spiritual journey, knowing that their efforts will be rewarded with eternal joy and fellowship with God. [43:05]

"And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.'" (Revelation 21:3, ESV)

Reflection: How does the promise of an abundant entrance into God's kingdom motivate you to pursue spiritual growth today? What specific actions can you take to align your life with this promise?

Quotes


We are doing this of course because this is a condition in which no Christian should ever be found. It's a contradiction in terms. It sounds one miserable Christian, spiritual depression, and yet it is affect and it behooves us to face facts and we must do so not only for our own sakes but because it is such a bad testimony such a failure and especially as a time this with the world in the condition in which it is to be found. [00:01:43]

The Apostle deals will get another cause of this condition indeed is illogical viously in writing his letter whilst to deal with it he avoids to encourage people who are being discouraged and being discouraged to the point that they appear almost some of them to have been doubting the very faith which they had believed and accepted that is always something which arises as a very well danger in this condition of spiritual depression if it persists and continues it invariably leads to doubt and to uncertainty. [00:02:52]

The Apostle gives us himself a very perfect description of the condition he tells us a number of things about these people to whom he is writing for instance he puts it like this he says having given his exhortation he says him verse 8 if these things be in you and abound they make you will then become what you are not at the moment well what was that they make you that he shall be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. [00:03:39]

The first cause see seems to be that they have a wrong viva faith now this I find of course in the opening of the fifth verse he says and beside this offer this very cause if you like giving all diligence add to your faith supplement your faith furnish out your faith with the things he then proceeds to mention there surely is a suggestion that they had a wrong view of faith and this of course is something that is very common. [00:10:58]

There is what we must need to describe as a mystical viewer faith which certainly accounts for the trouble in the case of many people and when I mean a mystical view of faith I mean something like this it is a conception of faith which always thinks of it as a whole and always thinks of it in terms of the personal relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ putting it negatively I mean this that they're lima faith is such that these people do not break it up into these component parts as the apostle does here. [00:12:35]

There is a kind of general indolence or laziness which afflicts us all and is undoubtedly produced by the devil himself have we not all notice that huh when it comes to a question of the spiritual life we don't seem to have the same zeal and the enthusiasm and apply the same energy as we do with our calling a vacation a profession or business or our pleasure or something that we happen to be interested in him we all noticed that some or another when we've been working quite well if we turn to a season of Prayer we suddenly feel tired and fatigued. [00:16:52]

Most of us living lives which are seriously lacking in discipline and in order and in arrangement never perhaps is life being quite so difficult for the Christian as it is at the present hour the world and the whole organization of life roamed and about us it makes the thing almost impossible the most difficult thing in life at this moment is to order your own life and to manage it for this reason of course not anything else rarely compels you but that if you don't realize the danger and stand up to it you have gone down to it without knowing that anything's happened. [00:19:00]

The second is that we've got a supplement our faith add to your faith says this authorized version here supplement it says another furnish it out says another and no doubt that is the best the law and authorities will all tell you that this word add is a Greek word that was used in connection with the performance of the Greek dramas and it means the providing of a kind of course or a kind of orchestra if you wanted to do the thing really well you furnished out your performance with this Orchestra with this chorus as it were and it made it complete it was fully open and wounded off it was a perfect performance. [00:29:47]

The first thing he says he said to your faith virtue what do you mean by that well there again is a word the meaning of which has changed since this authorized version was produced it doesn't be in virtue in the sense that we mean it as we use it commonly at the present time otherwise he would be saying add to your faith virtue and then goes on to repeat various virtues no it means energy moral energy it means power or if you like it means vigor now this is very important you see the condition that the Apostle is dealing with is this language in disciplined slack kind of Christian life. [00:30:49]

The moment we believe in Christ we don't know everything we don't understand for me that's only the beginning there are these constant appeals and exhortations in the episodes to a growth in understanding that your love may even says Paul somewhere in understanding and that's the thing that the Apostle Peter is at this point he says it isn't enough you know that you believe in that you are not a Christian you better understand the Christian life you've got to see the subtle dangers that afflict you you've got to understand something about the ingenuity of Satan and of all the pixels that are around you and the heresies and the errors of the confusion you need understanding. [00:34:36]

The authorities again are assuring us constantly about this that most people are in a poor state of physical health because they probably eat and drink too much there's no question about it and that's something again that's a great tendency in the modern world it's thrust upon us it's there everywhere it's advertised it's made attractive and there are people who find themselves weary and tired and lethargic very often it's simply because of lack of temperance self-control they don't control their appetites their lusts their passions their desires we eat too much we drink too much we may sleep too much all along the line these things afflict us. [00:37:18]

If you do these things you shall never fall now it doesn't mean that you are being kept you see while you are doing nothing it's as you do these things you will not fall so you give all diligence to do these things so that you may not fall and then finally and how glorious it is listen for so he says an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ he's not talking about salvation there because these people are already saved he's talking about the ultimate entrance into glory. [00:42:47]

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Transcript
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