Adding Growth

 

Here's an example of adding. The top and bottom numbers are to be added together. The answer will hold one more number than either of the numbers being added, so the teacher knows the expected answer.

Which reminded me of our Pastor's May first message about the elements of Christian growth. When we become Christians, we don't understand all the possilities at the same time. We definitely do not become perfect. Anyone who expects Christians to be perfect because God directs all of their daily movements doesn't understand God, Christians, or life itself.

Christians were first called so in Antioch:

And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. (Acts 11:26 KJV)

This was before the gospel was being preached to gentiles. According to verse 19, 

Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. (Acts 11:19 KJV)

Oh, some gentiles accepted that good news with open arms, but most didn't. Christians were persecuted. Petere was aware of this when he wrote:

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. (1 Peter 1:1-2 KJV)

Definitely written to Christians who accepted that Jesus was the Messiah promised throughout Jewish scripture. They knew God made and kept promises because it had been written down since Moses (Oh, yes - I have notes on that for a future blog!) The Bereans searched those same scriptures and became Christians. (Acts 17:10-12)

That's the beginning - then we grow through Christ's teachings to be more like Him, though we cannot do miracles. He still does, though, changing us as we follow, and Peter has some excellent growth instructions:

Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 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 1:4-8 KJV)

We begin with faith:

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)

I use that verse often, because it is the very base of Christianity. If you have faith that these three verses: Genesis 1:1, John 1:1, and John 3:16, you have the faith needed to add virtue. Virtue is showing high moral standards - the ones God has inspired in His word, just as he inspired these from Peter.

May I suggest that reading His word will not only help move from faith to virtue, but will continue growth as you become fruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ?