1. The Pursuit of Christian Character
“Add to Your Faith - Knowledge”

2. “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge” Peter 1:5 NIV

3. What this Knowledge is The Greek word gnosis
Practical knowledge, insight, understanding, a clear and certain perception
In the N.T. “knowledge” typically refers to spiritual truths – Colossians 1:9-10

4. What this Knowledge is It’s a Knowledge that comes from God’s Word
God has given us His Word to instruct and direct our lives 2 Timothy 3:16-17; John 8:31-32
Everything we need for life and godliness can be known from God’s Word – 2 Peter 1:3

5. “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1: NIV

6. Why this Knowledge is Important
To discern things spiritually
Without “spiritual knowledge” we discern everything from a worldly perspective – 1 Corinthians 2:10-16
Having spiritual knowledge, we’re able to discern things from God’s perspective – Philippians 1:9-11; Ephesians 5:15-17

7. Why this Knowledge is Important
It’s the only way to truly know God’s Will for our lives
God’s Will is often antithetical to the worldly perspective – Matthew 5 – 7; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
It is our duty to find out what pleases God and what His will is for our lives! – Ephesians 5:8-10, 15-17

8. “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Timothy 2:15 KJV

9. How this Knowledge is Attained
Through careful study of the Scriptures
A casual approach will not produce this kind of knowledge Peter 1:5; 2 Timothy 2:15
We must have a real eagerness and earnestness to know God’s Will – 1 Peter 2:1-3; Acts 17:11

10. How this Knowledge is Attained
Through prayer and meditation
We must pray that God will teach us this knowledge – Psalm 119:9-16, , 66
And meditate on it day and night! – Psalm 119:97-104

11. How this Knowledge is Attained
Through faithful obedience
We must test and approve what God’s will is – Roman 12:2
Knowledge without obedience is useless – James 1:22-25; Matthew 7:21, 24-27; Luke 6:46

12. “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it – he will be blessed in what he does.” James 1:22 NIV