(9 minutes; 1783 words)
The Holy Spirit—fully God, just as the Father and the Son are fully God—now lives in your new heart. He will lead, guide, guard, and protect you until that “great day” when Christ returns.
Salvation is the beginning of your new life in Christ: salvation by grace, then growth in grace because of grace. The first phase of sanctification happens the moment you are saved—when God sets you apart from the world for a special use by Him. This is immediate and definitive. To be sanctified, the process of being made holy, means God loves you too much to leave you the same.
The second phase is the lifelong process of becoming more Christlike—growing in grace, obedience, and godliness through the power of the Holy Spirit. This process is evidence and assurance of your faith.
“Bring your salvation into full effect by actively pursuing Christlikeness and spiritual maturity. Use serious caution and self-evaluation to avoid anything that might offend God or discredit the name of Christ.” (adapted from Philippians 2:12–13)
Being a born again believer in Christ naturally produces righteous works (actions)—what you say, how you say it, and what you do. The standard is simple: If it is Christlike, pleases God and brings Him glory, say it and do it. If it is not or does not, turn from it immediately.
Equipped for Godliness
“Christ’s divine power has given us everything we need for a Godly life…” (2 Peter 1:3–4)
Christ’s power is the source of the believer’s sufficiency and perseverance.
The genuine Christian is eternal secure in his salvation and will persevere and grow because he has received everything necessary to sustain eternal life through Christ’s power.
To be godly is to live reverently, loyally and obedient toward God. God has already given you every spiritual resource to manifest, sustain and perfect godly living.
After salvation, Scripture calls us to add to our faith qualities that reflect Christ’s nature and to walk in the Fruit of the Spirit.
“Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.” (2 Peter 1:5–7)
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22–23)
Faith — complete trust in who Jesus is and what He has done
True faith relies on divine assurance and is a gift of God. Faith means being absolutely sure about what God has promised—even if you can’t see it yet—and living your life based on that certainty. Faith in Christ means: Trusting who He is and what He has done and surrendering your life to Him and relying on Him for salvation.
True faith manifests itself from the inside-out. It reveals itself by its ongoing righteous works (actions), doing what’s right and pleasing to God. Faith does not come from works, but works are the evidence of your faith. They work hand-in-hand. So just like the body without the spirit is dead, faith without “works” is also dead.
You, as a born again believer, work out what He works in you. Faith in Christ produces good, righteous works; righteous actions and reactions. Works are the actions… what you say and how you say it and what you do, as you live out how He’s made you new and alive in Christ. You have completely changed from the inside-out for all to hear and see. The standard of your behavior in all your thoughts and actions is: “It’s either Christ-like or it’s not and it pleases God and brings Him glory or it doesn’t.” If it is and if it does, then say it and do it. If it isn’t or if it doesn’t, immediately turn from it, do a 180, and forsake it. But if you say it or do it anyway, you must understand His wrath.
Faith produces: Bold witness for Christ, obedience to His Word, reliance on His promises, confidence and perseverance in Him in the midst of trials, a robust prayer life, righteous works, and a God-pleasing life . Faith is not passive belief, but active reliance that results in righteous living.
Goodness. Moral excellence. Virtue. — moral and spiritual excellence
Being helpful, constructive and productive. It’s moral and spiritual excellence, manifested in kindness. Believers are commanded to exemplify goodness. It’s positive and desirable in nature. Goodness is the nature of God. We can do good, but only God is perfectly good. God is good all the time. We are to model His goodness.
Goodness produces: integrity, generosity, justice, purity, kindness, and a powerful witness that draws others toward God. It is righteousness in action, reflecting God’s own goodness.
Knowledge — insight from God’s Word
Insight & understanding, by reading God’s Word every day, without exception; wisdom is the timely application of knowledge, discerning how to act and react in all situations. Wisdom, then, is the timely application of knowledge.
Knowledge produces: discernment, wise application, transformation of character, faithful teaching, protection against deception, and humble reverence for God. It is truth understood and lived out for righteousness.
Self-control — discipline over desires
Restraining passions and appetites of the flesh. It is restraint which requires discipline, which is doing things the way they are supposed to be done; doing the right things in the right way.
Self-control produces: resistance to temptation, disciplined words and thoughts, bodily purity, emotional steadiness, wise stewardship, and faithful perseverance. It is the Spirit’s strength directing human desires toward God’s will.
Patience — calm endurance
Steadfast and calm despite opposition, difficulty, adversity or inconvenience; a good attitude when waiting. It is also the ability to endure injuries inflicted by others. Perseverance, steadfastness, longsuffering, strength under delay or difficulty.
Patience produces: endurance in trials, restraint in conflict, repeated forgiveness, trust in God’s timing, perseverance in good works, and peace in relationships. It is steady faith in action, refusing to let frustration or discouragement rule.
Godliness — devotion to God
Simply put, Godliness is living a fruitful and obedient Christian life, with devotion to God; a relationship to Him that drives a different behavior from the inside-out… Christlike character reflected in your thoughts, attitudes, actions & reactions… how you think, what you say and how you say it and what you do in the every situation and circumstance in your life and even in the midst of all those trials and tribulation which we all as believers are promised, all which should be Christ-like and pleasing to God and bringing Him glory.
Godliness produces: worship, obedience, holiness, contentment, compassion, and witness. It is a life aligned with God’s character, displaying His holiness and love in everyday actions.
Kindness — tender concern for others
Kindness is a tender concern for others. It is reflected in a desire to treat others gently, just as the Lord treats all believers. Friendly and forgiving toward your brothers and sisters in Christ.
Kindness produces: compassion, generosity, gentle words, mercy toward enemies, hospitality, and burden-bearing. It is righteousness expressed through tenderhearted love in action.
Love — self-sacrificial service
Love is a virtue grounded in the nature of God; referring not to an emotional affection, physical attraction or a familial bond, but to respect, devotion and affection that leads to willing, self-sacrificial service to others. It means serving God and others by unselfishly seeking what is best for them and to do things for their benefit.
Love produces: self-sacrifice, forgiveness, generosity, truth with grace, unity, patience, and obedience to God. In short: love in the heart always results in righteousness in the mouth, hands and feet.
Joy — deep gladness in Christ that comes from salvation
Joy is the ongoing happiness that flows from your heart and is not determined by ever-changing external circumstances. It is a well-being experienced by one who knows all is well between himself and the Lord. Joy even occurs when circumstances are the most painful and severe. Joy is a gift from God and believers are to delight in the blessings that they already and always will have.
The assurance of salvation is the Christian’s highest joy. Rejoicing every day with the assurance of two heavens… one to come and one in the present, on the earth. You can enjoy all the blessings of salvation because you know you are saved.
Joy produces: thanksgiving, strengthens obedience, inspires generosity, fuels bold witness, nurtures unity, and enables patient endurance. It transforms inward gladness into outward righteousness.
Peace — inner calm in God’s sovereignty
Peace is freedom from internal and external distress (negative stress); anxiety, fear, doubt, pressure, for example. It is inner calmness that results from confidence in ones’ relationship with Christ; like joy, not based on circumstances.
Peace produces: reconciliation, patience, gentleness, unity, trust, and fairness. It turns inward calm into outward righteousness, making believers instruments of God’s harmony in a divided world.
Faithfulness — steadfast loyalty
Faithfulness is the act of being loyal and trustworthy; true to your word and commitments, as to what you have promised to be and do.
Faithfulness produces: promise-keeping, consistency in obedience, reliability in relationships, wise stewardship, endurance in trials, and a living testimony of God’s trustworthy character.
Gentleness — humble strength under control
Gentleness, best described as “meekness,” means a humble and gentle attitude that is patiently submissive in every offense, with no desire for revenge or retribution. It is a mild, kind, or tender temperament.
Gentleness produces: restoration, patient teaching, calm responses, humble service, peacemaking, and Christlike tenderness. It is strength under the Spirit’s control, always aiming for the good of others. Gentleness is not weakness.
These qualities grow as you yield daily to the Holy Spirit’s leading.
Why It Matters
“Do everything without complaining or questioning… so that you may prove yourselves… children of God… in the midst of a morally crooked and spiritually perverted generation, among whom you are seen as bright lights…” (Philippians 2:14–16)
Sanctification is not optional—it is the visible evidence of the life of Christ in you. In everything you say and do, let others see Him. Be ready to give an answer anyone who asks about your new attitude and how you have changed and the hope you have, speaking with gentleness and respect just as Christ would do (1 Peter 3:15).
And never be ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to all who believe.
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