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Maturing as Believers -4

 

We are looking at what it means to grow spiritually as a believer. We looked at the foundation of the Christian life that must be faith in Jesus Christ. Then we must add virtue or courage as the word is defined, and then knowledge of God. Now what is next that we see in II Peter chapter 1.

2 Peter 1:5  And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 

2 Peter 1:6  And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 

We see here that we should add temperance as we mature in our Christian growth. In this usage temperance means one thing: self-control. 

This same word is used in Galatian 5:22 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 

Galatians 5:23 - Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 

Temperance is one of the fruits of the Spirit. I want to remind you that fruit trees do not bear fruit for their own consumption, fruit trees bear fruits for others and each of the fruits of the Spirit are to be used for others. The fruits are so that people will be able to see Christ in us, the Hope of glory. (see Colossians 1:27)

We are maturing in Christ, we’ve put our faith in the finished work of Jesus, we have added virtue or courage, we’ve added the knowledge of God by studying His Word and now we’ve grown in self-control. Let’s keep growing.