FAITH

2 Peter 1:5-7 (King James Version)
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

  • How is faith a distinctive part of Christianity?
  • How has faith made a difference in your life?
  • What are some things that you have done using your Christian faith?

The basic, bedrock quality that a Christian must have is faith. In this passage it is saving faith on which Christian character is built. Saving faith is essential, but there are other kinds of faith that the Christian needs to practice. The more we have established, developed, and practiced our faith, the more we will be able to develop the Christian characteristics that follow.

SAVING FAITH

Romans 5:1 (King James Version)
1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Romans 10:13 (King James Version)
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
1 John 5:12 (King James Version)
12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

SEEKING FAITH

Hebrews 11:6 (King James Version)
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (King James Version)
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

SEEING FAITH

Isaiah 26:3-4 (King James Version)
3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
4 Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:
Hebrews 12:2 (King James Version)
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

SHARING FAITH

Acts 1:8 (King James Version)
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
1 Peter 3:15 (King James Version)
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

SERVING FAITH

1 Peter 4:10-11 (King James Version)
10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

STRETCHED FAITH

James 1:2-4 (King James Version)
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

SUBMISSIVE FAITH

James 4:7 (King James Version)
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Ephesians 5:21 (King James Version)
21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.