II Peter 1: 5-7.
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.
I like the way this graphic turns the order of these characteristics into stair steps, starting with faith, which marks the beginning of our journey up the ladder of becoming Christ-like.
The importance of faith cannot be overstated. Hebrews 11:6 says, “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.”
We will be rewarded when we diligently seek Him. Added to our faith will be virtue, which is goodness of character. As we seek Him, we will gain knowledge of Him, which will help us with temperance (self-control),patience (perseverance), godliness (thinking and behaving in a Christ-like manner), brotherly kindness and brotherly love.
Does this list seem familiar to you? It should. Here is Paul’s version in Galatians 5:22-23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
It is clear that these two, Peter and Paul, were inspired by the same Holy Spirit as they wrote!
Linda's Bible Study 