Faith Supplements!
2 Peter 1:3-11
By Ysrael De la Cruz
Most of us or most people take supplements; a supplement is something that is added to something in order to make it complete. There are all kinds of supplements, hair loss, for losing weight; to fight anxiety, and so forth.
The Bible tells us about some supplements we are to add to our faith. As followers of Jesus, we also may experience deficiency in our walk, in our faith or even in the knowledge of how to live for God in a hostile world. God has given us everything we need to continue to grow in him, but sometimes we feel we may not be growing at the rate we want, our faith may be lacking in some areas.

Peter wrote two letters to Christians who were being persecuted throughout Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia. In his 2nd letter Peter’s tone is that of “I may not write to you again or see you again, but I want to remind you of these things even though you may already know them.”
2 Peter 1:3-11
Peter acknowledged that God has given his followers everything they need for godly living. This we know, through the knowledge we have of him. When we know him, the more we realize what he has done for us; what he is doing and what he will do in the future. (v.3)
God has given us what we need to live holy lives for him. His promises given to us make us partakers of the divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by sin. God has given us what we need in order to grow in him.

For this very reason, make every effort to add (supplement) to your faith…….
Make every effort; Peter just told us what God has done, now this is our part to do. Spiritual growth doesn’t just happen, it requires an intentional effort, hard work. Make every effort (NIV) Apply all diligence (NASB) This is going to require discipline, intentionality, hard work. Spiritual growth doesn’t happen automatic. You must pursue it.
“To pursue holiness is to take aggressive action to separate ourselves both from sin within us (pride, selfishness, a critical and judgmental spirit, irritability, impatience, sexual lust and so on) and also to take steps to separate ourselves from the ever-encroaching temptations of society around us.” (Growing your faith by Jerry Bridges)

Make every effort to add (supplement your faith with) to your faith:
Goodness (moral excellence, virtue: morally good behavior or character) Fruit of the Spirit (Gal.5:22)
To Goodness supply or add Knowledge (knowledge of what? Knowledge of God. In verse 3 we already talked about He has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of him. It’s by knowing him that we get to learn who he is and what he expects of us. Christians are constantly encouraged to continue to grow in Knowledge of Christ (2 Pet.3:18) How do you grow in knowledge? By reading and studying his word. He has revealed his plan through the pages of Scriptures because he wants people to know him. It is the application of knowledge that is called wisdom.

To knowledge add Self-control: (self-mastery, self-restraint) This is a fruit the Spirit that he produces in the believers.

To self-control add Perseverance: (endurance, to await, stand your ground, bear up against) James 1:12 blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. In the same chapter James said that it is the testing of the faith that develops perseverance. (James 1:2-3). This supplement of endurance is going to require tests, trials, hardships and it’s there that you will be able to develop it and see how much of it you have.

Supply perseverance with Godliness (piety, devotion for God). A godly person is the one who reveres God and tries to follow his word) Cornelius was known as a devout person Acts 10:2 “devout and God-fearing centurion” This is the same word for godliness (eusebian)

To godliness add Brotherly love (kindness or affection) Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

To brotherly kindness add Love: (agape love), the love God demonstrated toward us, the love we are to have for each other as followers of Christ. He said “love one another as I have loved you”! (John 13:34)

Why are these supplements essential to us? (v.8) Supplementing your faith with goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love.

These supplements will help you be effective and fruitful. (v.8) for if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, (these qualities abound in you). You won’t be useless (ineffective) nor unfruitful (unproductive). In other words; you will be productive and effective in the knowledge of Jesus.

Deficiency or Lack of these supplements make a person shortsighted, or blind; (v.9) this blindness is reflected in the fact that such person has forgotten what God has done for him in cleansing him from sins; also such person doesn’t understand God’s call in their lives and neglects the promises to which God calls them.

These supplements help confirm your calling. (v.10)
Once again Peter reminded his readers to be diligent in their pursue of their calling. Being diligent in proving that you have been called by God to live holy lives. Be diligent in making your calling certain; confirm it.

These supplements will keep you from stumbling or falling. (V.10) For if you do these things, you will never fall (stumble)l, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. These supplements abounding in the life of a believer will keep him from tripping over the corruption of the world) These qualities will keep you from stumbling over the knowledge of the Lord. A person stumbling or falling over is linked by Peter to someone having a deficiency of these supplements. If these things abound in your life in great measures, you will not stumble; you will be effective and fruitful in the knowledge of Jesus. (v8)

God has indeed given us what we need to live the lives he is calling us to live. But we must make every effort to supplement our faith in order to be fruitful and effective in the knowledge of Christ. These supplements will keep you from being contaminated by the corruption in the world. They will bring you into his eternal kingdom where God will welcome you.
As a follower of Jesus, do you feel stagnant in your faith? Do you feel useless or unproductive? Check out what kind of supplement you are lacking in your faith. Are you often tripping over the ways of the world and ineffective in the knowledge of Jesus?
What supplements are you lacking? The Lord provided them for us, it’s up to us to digest them.