Take These 8 Steps And Become A Better Christian Seeing Afar Off

Faith, Virtue, Knowledge, Temperance

Patience, Godliness, Brotherly Kindness, Charity

     Today let's learn 8 steps to become a better christian and see afar off. These 8 steps that one must climb on God's ladder to become a better christian are faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity. These 8 steps are listed at 2 Peter 1:5 that says And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 

     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. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.

     These 8 steps should be taken one at a time in order to be blessed and see Jesus afar off. I pray in Jesus name that anyone reading this will take the first step of faith and get saved. Get saved, repent, decide to stop sinning, confess that Jesus is God, and believe the gospel that Jesus died on the cross for you, was buried, and rose again. Let's take these 8 steps one at a time and be blessed while we see Jesus. Remember if you climb God's ladder and do these 8 steps, you shall never fall.

1) FAITH

     The first step to take on God's ladder to be blessed and a better christian is faith. One must first have faith in the Lord Jesus to get saved. Ephesians 2:8 says For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. It takes faith in Jesus without works to get saved. Get saved, repent, decide to stop sinning, confess that Jesus is God, and believe the gospel that Jesus died on the cross for you, was buried, and rose again.

     But after we get saved then we should bless the poor with good works to make our faith come alive. James 2:17 says Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. We don't live right to get saved. We live right because we are saved. Good works should occur after salvation to witness Jesus everywhere to lost sinners. Christians will receive rewards for their good works after the rapture at the bema judgment seat. Ephesians 2:10 says For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

     Faith is our beginning point in our ascent up God's ladder to seeing Jesus afar off and innumerable peaceful blessings. The bible says to add to your faith virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity. I'm going to discuss the other 7 steps on God's ladder to become a better christian and see Jesus afar off. I pray in Jesus name that my brothers and sisters in the Lord are willing to take a journey upward on God's ladder to become better christians and see Jesus afar off. How high are you willing to climb up these 7 steps?  Don't be like many christians who stop at faith and refuse to climb higher. 

                                                             2) VIRTUE

     Let's look at the second step called virtue that a saved person must take to become a better christian. The first thing a saint should do after they get saved is stop sinning their former sins and be virtuous. Determine to daily stop living your former sinful lifestyle and climb the second step by becoming virtuous. Quit committing fornication (premarital or extramarital sex), drunkenness, drug abuse, pornography, and revelling, where you listen to loud ungodly music all night. James 1:21 says Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity (past sins before salvation) of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted Word, which is able to save your souls.

     Pictured above Ephesians 5:3 says But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints. Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. 2 Corinthians 7:1 says Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Quit gambling at the casinos and buying lottery tickets that is idolatry and covetousness (the Hebrew definition for covetousness is a greed and lust for money when people idolize money and gamble at casinos). 

     Colossians 3:5 says Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, and concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry.  People at casinos aren't thinking about Jesus. The people at casinos are just thinking about money. Matthew 6:24 says No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon (money). Make the choice to serve and love the Lord Jesus instead of loving money that is the root of all evil. Money isn't bad. It's the love of money that's bad. 1 Timothy 6:10 says 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. 

                                                      3) KNOWLEDGE

     Let's move up to the third step of knowledge. After you stop sinning and become virtuous, move up to knowledge by learning all you can about the Word of God. Daily read, listen to, and memorize the bible. If you constantly memorize the bible, Psalm 1:1 and Psalm 107:20 promise that God will fix all your problems and heal you. Psalm 1:1 says Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. Psalm 107:20 says He sent his Word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

     The bible is your road map to overcome any trouble in this life. All the answers to any problem can be found in the bible. Pictured above Psalm 119:130 says The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. We need to get knowledge from the bible to have life and not die. Take heed to the prophet Hosea's warning to people who refuse to read their bibles and learn knowledge. Hosea 4:6 says My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

     Right now I pray in Jesus name that you can confidently say Job 23:12 to the Lord Jesus. Neither have I gone back from the commandment of His lips; I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food. Climb that 3rd step of knowledge and boldly say Jeremiah 15:16. Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts. Lord Jesus grant great peace to anyone who chooses to climb the 3rd step of knowledge because Psalm 119:165 says Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

                                                     4) TEMPERANCE

     After faith, virtue, and knowledge, take the 4th step of temperance defined as self control over your flesh. Notice also that temperance is defined as abstinence from alcoholic drink. One of your worst enemies beside the devil is yourself. When you memorize the bible daily, the Word of God will show you how to deny the sins of your flesh and stop drinking wine, beer, whiskey, and smoking pot. Determine today to have temperance and obey Luke 9:23 where Jesus said If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

     If you want to stop smoking cigarettes and marijuana, stop drinking alcohol, and taking drugs, instead of going to psychologists, psychiatrists, alcoholics anonymous, and drug rehab programs, read and memorize the bible, and the Word of God will give you the self control and temperance to stop drinking and taking drugs. Daily say I am crucified with Jesus Christ and your cravings for cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs will disappear and be destroyed forevermore. Jesus and the Word of God will give you victory over any drug or alcohol problem. 1 Corinthians 15:57 says But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 2:14 says Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

                                                        5) PATIENCE

     Let's move up to the 5th step of patience. It takes patience to deny your flesh. Our flesh wants to sin. But 1 John 4:4 says Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them (the devil and the world): because greater is He (Jesus) that is in you, than he that is in the world.. When our flesh wants to grumble and complain, thinking negative thoughts to rude unloveable people around us, we need to patiently deny and have our flesh love our enemies, speak kindly, and bless everyone. 

     Remember we reap what we sow. If you're friendly and kind, people will be friendly and kind to you. If you're mean and selfish, people will be mean and selfish to you. Galatians 6:7 says Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 

     Proverbs 18:24 says A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend (Jesus) that sticketh closer than a brother. Remember Brother Bob's motto for success. Avoid angry people, forgive forever, and always love your enemies. I went out to find a friend and could not find one anywhere. I went out to be a friend and friends were everywhere. Every time you enter the Walmart entrance or any store's entrance, tell your flesh to love everyone, even rude unloveable people.

     Everyday patiently stop yourself from grumbling, complaining, and thinking negative thoughts to rude people. Brother Bob has to daily try to love and speak kindly to everyone on a crowded city bus after a long day of work. Jesus told us at Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. 

     Love your enemies that make you suffer. Love them through the pain and Jesus will remove the pain. Proverbs 15:1 says A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. Avoid negative angry thoughts and words that take away strength and waste energy. Receive strength by being kind and forgiving everyone, even your worst enemies, while you witness Jesus everywhere.

     When you master this 5th step of patience and deny your flesh, you will be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. James 1:4 says But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. In other words we all need to get victory over ourselves and our flesh. Paul promised that with Jesus we can have victory over our flesh. Paul said at Romans 7:24 O wretched man that I am. Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

                                                        6) GODLINESS

     Notice that the first 5 steps of God's ladder try to better self and the flesh. If you successfully climb the first five steps of faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, and patience and improve yourself, then you can move on to truly see the Lord Jesus and climb the 6th step of godliness. Instead of looking at yourself, you will be looking upward at the Lord Jesus for your blessings. 

     If you look back it's bad, if you look around it's worse, but if you look up to the Lord Jesus, things are looking pretty good. The outlooks bad, the downlooks worse, but the uplook is looking pretty good. And if you have the right uplook, you'll have the right outlook and win souls to Jesus. Luke 21:28 says And when these things begin to come to pass (the troubles of the world), then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. What a blessing to have godliness and say 2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

     Claim your godliness and that Jesus Christ lives in you to overcome any burdens and problems. Right now say Acts 17:28. For in Him (Jesus) we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Say Galatians 2:20. 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. And finally rejoice and say Philippians 4:13. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. 

                                               7) BROTHERLY KINDNESS

     Notice that after you successfully climb the 6th step of godliness, the focus will be off yourself and on people around you. You will begin to be concerned for lost unsaved sinners around you and poor widows and orphans, while you climb the blessed 7th step of brotherly kindness. You will realize the importance of praying for and showing kindness to your brothers and sisters in your church. Romans 12:10 says Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another. Galatians 6:10 says As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto those who are of the household of faith. In other words go the extra mile to bless your brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus.

     Remember to give your life purpose and meaning show brotherly kindness to everyone and witness Jesus everywhere. Proverbs 11:30 says The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise. James 5:20 says Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way, shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. Jude 22 says And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. 

                                                            8) CHARITY

     Finally I pray in Jesus name that we can all climb the 8th step of charity and be able to see clearly afar off all the blessings of Jesus. Charity is the highest attribute where a person has completely given their life to the Lord Jesus to serve and bless everyone. Charity is the highest goal that we should all strive to reach. 1 Peter 4:8 says And above all things have fervent (without ceasing) charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 

     Once you have climbed the 8th step of charity, you have successfully completed your 8 story climb up God's ladder and can truly walk in the high places with the Lord Jesus hidden from the troubles of the devil. Habakkuk 3:17 says Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. 

     Isaiah 58:14 says Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. Deuteronomy 28:1 says And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth.

     Now that you know how to climb the 8 steps to become a better christian seeing afar off, take time to sing the words below of Higher Ground while you left click the following link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYCkqCG933M. Be blessed and climb the 8 steps on the upward way to higher ground and eternal peace with Jesus.

                I'm pressing on the upward way; new heights I'm gaining every day 

            Still praying as I'm onward bound; Lord plant my feet on higher ground

              My heart has no desire to stay; where doubts arise and fears dismay

     Though some may dwell where these abound; my prayer, my aim is higher ground 

             I want to scale the utmost height; and catch a gleam of glory bright

        But still I'll pray till heaven I've found; Lord lead me on to higher ground  

              I want to live above the world; though satan's darts at me are hurled 

        For faith has caught the joyful sound; the song of saints on higher ground

                Lord lift me up and let me stand; by faith on heaven's tableland

           A higher plane that I have found; Lord plant my feet on higher ground

     I pray in Jesus name that this bible study blesses multitudes everywhere with great joy, peace, and strength. Feel free to email Brother Bob anytime at rz9tlm@gmail.com or write to Brother Bob Malkin, 2233 Pinetree Lane, Apt. N., Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068. (614) 746-7071. Till we all meet again soon to lift up our Lord Jesus, everyone have a blessed day in Jesus name.