The chapter of 1 Corinthians 13 is known as the love chapter however Peter neatly spells out the steps to moving from faith to love (charity) in 2 Peter 1-3-9.
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 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.
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.
8 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.
9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
Divine nature is the promise to every believer
The first thing we need to understand is that God has given us the ability, through the Holy Spirit, to partake in the divine nature once we have been saved and therefore escaped from the corruption of this world. When we were in the world we lusted after many things, whether it was drinking sessions with our friends, fornication, homosexuality, greed for money, drugs, cursing, fighting, and the general activities that created situations that caused stress, conflict, and strife.
In other words, we were slaves to the unrighteous or sinful nature of this world, and free from the righteous or the divine nature of God, where we now by the grace and mercy of God walk in as slaves to righteousness by faith in Jesus Christ’s faithfulness, and have become free from sin.
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
We practice each of the following steps to the end goal of love throughout the entire development of our walk with Jesus Christ to eventually attain love, however, each step is the goal that becomes endemic in our character to springboard us to the next step.
Step 1 – From faith to virtue is the first step
All believers who follow Jesus Christ, and who are born again, will have faith in Jesus Christ’s finished works of the cross where they received grace for the forgiveness of sins. The next step is to allow virtue (excellent or high moral standards) to grow within the heart of the believer and this is done by studying and doing the Word of God (WoG) and therefore God’s ways through love and the Holy Spirit. In my case, I learned God’s morals in a legalistic church because they mostly punt sin as they try to get people to become holy, which is good from one perspective, but not optimal if one does not awaken to the way of life based on grace. I remember one pastor saying that God had told him that no one in his church was sinning, and my discernment was that he thought he was doing a good job preaching. Boy, oh boy, was he wrong, and immediately I knew that he was being merely religious by blowing his own trumpet.
All believers sin on the road to virtue, and thereafter, but we are cleansed by the blood of Jesus through confession of sins and not by our good works. Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
This does not mean that we accept sin as a lifestyle, but rather, that we believe that when we do sin, which is normally out of weakness, God is just to forgive us our sins. In other words, when we sin, our spirit man is already cleansed because it was regenerated when we were born again, and protected by the Holy Spirit because we belong to God, but our soul, which has been purchased by God but not saved, needs to be released from the bondage of that sin, and thus we confess to release our soul from that sin, and therefore we remain righteous, 1 John 1:9-10. No man can progress in virtue with God without the grace that Jesus provided for us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Legalistic people will continue to feel guilt because their faith is more in how good they are instead of what Jesus did for them, therefore their conscience will keep on hurting them and the reason they are cursed, and therefore judgmental of others, i.e. to be cursed is when we have to work hard to continuously be free from sin by our own effort, which is impossible, instead of being set free by believing that Jesus’s death took our sins and the curse away. Galatians 3:10.
For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
However, Jesus made the yoke easy for those who were heavy-laden because the law was a difficult yoke to carry. Jesus was talking to the Jews of that time as He came for the Jews. Matthew 11:28-30.
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
In this way, a believer can progress easily down the virtuous road of God’s Word because they are set free from guilt which was removed through faith in that Jesus has cleansed them from all sin and unrighteousness, however, faith in what Jesus did is imperative. The problem with legalists is that they want those who are trying to walk by grace to be put into the bondage of the law like they are so that they can glory in the flesh of those who are of grace. Galatians 6:12-13.
12 As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.
13 For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.
Step 2 – From virtue to knowledge
The Holy Spirit ministers to us when we read and relay the WoG to others whereby we will realise that the Holy Spirit is helping as we speak. In other words, thoughts that we did not plan to relay will come to us as we speak and we become amazed at how we suddenly know something we did not know before. At least, that is what happened to me and it was very obvious that it was not me but the Holy Spirit. Also, when we read the WOG, a certain scripture will be quickened to us and we will understand what it means, and again, it will be obvious that it was the Holy Spirit. This is impossible for a secular person or a believer who is not born-again to experience because they do not have the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Knowledge and understanding are the most important and prudent things for believers to increase faith and to walk with God, however, knowledge and understanding raise pride and egos so self-control and humility will be necessary. Proverbs 18:15.
The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
Understanding and knowledge come from God and we should build a relationship with Him by studying the Word, praying, worshipping Him, and sharing the gospel because in that way God will unveil the knowledge he has to the believer, Colossians 2:2-3.
2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
This step takes time because knowledge of God and His ways is imperative to achieving the end goal of love through the Holy Spirit. Actually, this step never ends.
Step 3- From knowledge to temperance (self-control)
Knowledge can puff people up with pride and thus self-control is needed. Many people start to become legalistic when applying self-control which is a problem in itself. Self-control does not mean we apply Moses’s laws to ensure we walk in righteousness or love because God Himself was displeased with Israel because they walked according to their own righteousness instead of God’s righteousness. Romans 10:3.
For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
The self-control here should come because of experience in the Word and the power of the Holy Spirit Who sheds love in our hearts and assures us that God is with us and is changing our hearts to remove pride. We learn therefore to control our emotions and feelings which can be a challenge to the way we respond or react in situations.
Unfortunately in removing pride, we may undergo some painful experiences where things do not go our way until we surrender our will to God, which is why Paul says that he crucified himself and that Christ now lives in Him. Galatians 2:19-20.
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Paul had the self-control to allow the Word of God to be His guide and not allow His emotions or feelings to sway him from pillar to post. People who depend on emotions and feelings in every situation to get what they want are a problem because they are carnal and are therefore driven by the flesh. They will never understand a person who walks by grace with self-control.
Step 4 – Temperance to patience
When the Holy Spirit starts dealing with us in the previous step to attaining self-control because of pride and our reactive ways through emotions and feelings, we continue to go through situations that test our faith and those tests continue with longer intervals and fewer answers from God. Actually, in my case God became mute and His presence almost completely disappeared. It is these tests that grow our faith and teach us to depend solely on God and throw out those things that are damaging to our character. God does not advance us if we keep missing the trial or test. This in itself starts to build patience in the believer if the desire to succeed in God’s ways is still current, but many believers start to pull away from God’s promises.
When we start to be patient, we start to do things in a more relaxed manner and we learn to do things more methodically and accurately based on God’s Word. We no longer try to rush things, but rather, we are keen to find out if scripture conforms to what our actions are or should be. James 1:2-3.
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
Testing of our faith by our circumstances is God’s best way of teaching us faith and self-control. A person who loves the comforts of life and is never challenged through testing will never change because they will remain carnal, and always expect to be pampered by those around them. They may act patient but when the crunch comes, they lose their cool.
Step 5 – Patience to Godliness
The dictionary’s definition of godliness:
Godliness is the quality or practice of conforming to the laws and wishes of God. It is the reverent awareness of God’s sovereignty over every aspect of life, and the attendant determination to honor him in all one’s conduct. It is also defined as the quality of being godly. Godliness is characterized by devoutness and moral uprightness.
Patience helps us to be more quiet and reserved and we stop jumping to conclusions, gossiping, or telling fables, because of the truth in the believer’s heart which then helps us to become more like God as the Word also starts to sit deeper in our hearts. 1 Timoty 4:7.
But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
Many people believe that money or any gain is a form of godliness and thus they walk down the broad road of perdition because they are destitute of the truth. Do not even drug lords get rich? Of course, but are they godly or did God bless them? Of course not, they did it all by their deviousness, meaning that God was never in it, however, the devil was definitely in it. 1 Timothy 6:3-5/
3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
Only truth can lead believers to godliness where we are walking in the steps of Jesus Christ as per Titus 1:1.
Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;
When we really start to see the truth and how we can depend on God, money issues become less important as we walk by God’s direction. 1 Timothy 6:9-11.
9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
Please note that the scripture says the problem is the LOVE of money, not money itself as we all need money to survive. Money is great, therefore being rich is great, meaning that we have an abundance for God’s kingdom if we maintain the right heart for the kingdom of God and of Heaven.
Step 6 – Godliness to brotherly kindness
Godliness induces us to love more and thus we become kinder to our fellow believers which results in us finding more time for those around us. We all demonstrate kindness in one form or another throughout our walk with Christ but reaching this step means that kindness has become endemic in the believer, and they operate in that manner more consistently as they have achieved a godly manner deep in their character which has become part of their intuition and reaction to situations. This step even allows, and desires, those that are righteous to smite us and reprove us because it will not offend us because it is like an oil that anoints us with more knowledge and understanding of kindness and love, Psalms-141:5-6.
5 Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.
6 When their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall hear my words; for they are sweet.
Step 7 – Brotherly kindness to charity
When we impart our kindness to our fellow believers we increase the love in our hearts and we become a perfected Christian. Jesus was the epitome of love who left His deity in heaven to be in the likeness of man by being a servant and gave up His life for His friends through the death of the cross. This is the kind of love that should be every believer’s goal. We need to merely read 1 Corinthians 13 to see what love is all about, which will be my next article. Is it easy? No, because those around us are not all trying to achieve the same goal where selfishness and sin are dominant. People seem to love strife and being jealous or hateful of others, not realising they are controlled spiritually.