Fruits of the spirit will prevent you from being either inactive or unfruitful

“For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:8 NIV)

5 Yes, for this very reason, by YOUR contributing in response all earnest effort,+ supply to YOUR faith virtue,+ to [YOUR] virtue knowledge,+ 6 to [YOUR] knowledge self-control, to [YOUR] self-control+ endurance, to [YOUR] endurance godly devotion,+ 7 to [YOUR] godly devotion brotherly affection, to [YOUR] brotherly affection love.+ 8 For if these things exist in YOU and overflow, they will prevent YOU from being either inactive or unfruitful*+ regarding the accurate knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (NWT)

5 For this very reason, put forth all earnest effort+ to supply to your faith virtue,+ to your virtue knowledge,+ 6 to your knowledge self-control, to your self-control+ endurance, to your endurance godly devotion,+ 7 to your godly devotion brotherly affection, to your brotherly affection love.+ 8 For if these things exist in you and overflow, they will prevent you from being either inactive or unfruitful*+ regarding the accurate knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (RefB)

they will prevent you from being either inactive or unfruitful  / Or “unproductive.”

(Titus 3:14): 14 But let our people also learn to maintain fine works so as to help in cases of urgent need,+ so that they may not be unproductive.*+

(Revelation 2:4): 4 Nevertheless, I hold [this] against you, that you have left the love you had at first.+

(Colossians 1:10):10 so as to walk worthily of Jehovah* in order to please him fully as you go on bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the accurate knowledge of God;+

The limited number of Christians chosen by Jehovah to be associated with Christ in the heavenly Kingdom government undergo “a new birth” as spirit-begotten sons of God. They are anointed with holy spirit to become kings and priests with Christ. (Revelation of the apostle John 20:6) Peter states that this “new birth” opens up to them “a living hope,” which he calls “an incorruptible and undefiled and unfading inheritance” reserved for them “in the heavens.” Small wonder that the anointed ‘greatly rejoice’ in their living hope! (1 Peter 1:3-6) The realization of that hope, however, depends on their faithfulness. Peter exhorted anointed Christians to ‘do their utmost to make their calling and choosing of themselves sure.’ (2 Peter 1:10) They must exert themselves to develop such qualities as faith, godly devotion, brotherly affection, and love. w12 3/15 3:4, 5

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Preceding articles:

Looking for True Spirituality 1 Intro

Looking for True Spirituality 2 Not restricted to an elite

Looking for True Spirituality 3 Mind of Christ

Looking for True Spirituality 4 Getting to Know the Mind of Christ

Looking for True Spirituality 5 Fruitage of the Spirit

Next: Looking for True Spirituality 6 Spirituality and Prayer

Dutch version of this article / De Nederlandse versie van dit artikel:

Vruchten van geest beletten hetzij inactief of onvruchtbaar te zijn

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Additional reading:

1. God let my compassionate affection be tolerant and kind
2. He has given us the Pneuma, the force, from Him
3. Self-development, self-control, meditation, beliefs and spirituality
4. Followers with deepening
5. Bearing fruit
6. You cannot change anything in your life with intention alone

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Self-control (fruit of the Spirit) (Photo credit: Joybot)

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