Introduction 

At the end of the first gospel sermon ever preached, those who obeyed that gospel “gladly received his word” (Acts 2:41). This is what you did when you became a Christian.

To Become a Christian

• You heard the word of God (Romans 10:17).
• You believed in Christ as the Son of God (John 8:24; Mark 16:16).
• You repented of your sins (Acts 2:38).
• You confessed faith in Christ as the Son of God (Rom. 10:9-10). You were baptized for the remission of your sins (Acts 2:38). You have been added by the Lord to His church (Acts 2:47).
• You Are a Christian! (Acts 11 :26 )

You must be asking yourself, “Now that I am a Christian, what am I to be like and what am I to do?” The Bible answers these questions. In this study we will go to it for those answers and others which you will need to live as a Christian.

As a Christian you are a child of God (1 John 3:1) but you are just a babe—a babe in Christ (1 Peter 2:1-2). But you are not to remain a spiritual babe, you are to grow (2 Peter 3:18). You grow spiritually by feeding upon the word of God (Acts 20:32). Therefore, you must develop a spiritual appetite so that you will hunger and thirst after righteousness so you can grow as you should (Matthew 5:6).

In 2 Peter 1:5-11 the apostle Peter tells of the necessity and nature of such growth “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self control, to self control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (All emphasis mine—GT).

In order to grow as you should, those items mentioned in the above text must be added to your faith, i.e., they must be incorporated into your life as a Christian. If you are going to be able to add them to your life, you need to know what they are and why you need them.

“Virtue” is the determination to do right. “Knowledge” is knowledge of the word of God because it is the only source which can tell you what is right. “Self control” is the application of that knowledge in your life using it to govern your thoughts and actions. “Perseverance” is remaining steadfast to the Lord and His cause. “Godliness” is being like God, as He would have you to be. “Brotherly kindness” is tender affection toward brethren in Christ. “Love” is devotion to God, Christ and your fellow man which is expressed in obedience to God and service to man.

If you are to be fruitful in your service to Christ, these things must abound in your life. If you lack them, you are blind as to what your life in Christ should be. Therefore, you need to make a diligent effort to add them to your faith and to begin your development to maturity in Jesus. Such growth will make your salvation sure, will keep you from stumbling and will grant you entrance into the eternal kingdom of the Son.

This study is designed to help you begin that growth process. In it you will be studying the Scriptures so that you can start growing to be a faithful, dedicated and happy Christian.