(8 minutes; 1593 words)
“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 eternally 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, from 2 Peter 1:5-7 and to walk in the Fruit of the Spirit, from Galatians 5:22-23.
“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance (patience); and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection (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.
You are saved by grace through faith.
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)
“Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” — (Romans 10:17)
Faith is the belief, trust, and complete confidence—with absolute certainty— who Jesus is: He is the one true, sovereign God, with all authority in heaven and on earth and what Jesus has done: He died on the cross to pay the penalty for sin and was raised from the dead to give eternal life to all who repent and put their faith and trust in Him.
Faith is turning to, trusting in, and relying on Christ alone.
The Holy Spirit grants this faith when He deems it to be genuine — not temporary faith, where you believe for a while and then fall away, or intellectual faith, where your faith in Christ is in your head, but not in your heart or dead faith, where there are no actions to show the evidence of your faith — but real, “genuine” repentance and “saving” faith.
It is impossible for you to deceive the Holy Spirit when it comes to Him granting your faith.
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.
Faithfulness is the consistent practice of being loyal, trustworthy, and dependable—true to your word, your character, and your commitments—steadfast in what you have promised to be and do.
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.
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 (Perseverance) — 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 tribulations 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 (Mutual/Brotherly affection) — 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. Review them often. Live them out every day.
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