How Not To Be Ineffective - II Peter 1:5-8

Peter explains that Christians can live lives that are ineffective and unproductive for the Kingdom of God unless they make an effort to increase their knowledge of Jesus Christ. You grow and develop your knowledge of Jesus so that you can become like Him and participate fully in His divine nature (II Peter 5:4). Peter describes the process of becoming fruitful, productive Christians as a character-building process where one quality supplements the other: Faith <-- Virtue <-- Knowledge <--Self-Control <-- Steadfastness <-- Godliness <-- Brotherly Affection <--Love. Thus, possessing these qualities in increasing measure will keep you from being an ineffective or unproductive Christian.