Discussion Point: "And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue;
and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound,
they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."
- 2 Peter 1:5-8
Faith (in God), Virtue (moral excellence), Knowledge (of Christ), Temperance (self-control),
Patience (perseverance), Godliness, Brotherly Kindness, and Charity (Christian Love). Notice that each fruit listed
here builds upon the fruit before it. When we start with faith in God, our end result is agape love, love that can
only come from a Power higher than ourselves, a result of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us.
"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen. Not only because
I see it, but because by it I see everything else." -- C.S. Lewis
The verse(s) we are attempting to memorize this week:
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which
I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Galations 2:20
Previous verses:
"For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak
in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you. Examine yourselves, whether ye be
in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you,
except ye be reprobates?" 2 Corinthians 13:4-5
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found,
he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Again, the
kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one
pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. Again, the kingdom of heaven is
like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: Which, when it was full,
they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
So shall
it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,
And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Jesus saith
unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord. Then said he unto them,
Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an
householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old." Matthew 13:44-52
"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh,
but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law
of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending
his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the
righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Romans 8:1-4
"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be
made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds
through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever
things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report;
if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned,
and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you." Phillipians 4:6-9
"That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire,
might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love;
in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the
end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls." 1 Peter 1:7-9
