Let us start by considering the first step of the Christian ladder, for in everything we do the beginning is very important.

Virtue means moral excellence; goodness, or of good quality. When we possess moral excellence, the other steps (qualities) will be achieved without much struggle.

“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 can not see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from 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: for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (Verses 8–11).

We can therefore conclusively say that our spiritual barrenness and blindness is as a result of not paying much attention to the cultivation and climbing of our Christian ladder.

How important, then, is this Christian ladder?

“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and goodliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue [moral excellence]: 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 ” (Verses 3, 4).

Divine power has provided to every human being the necessary means of attaining to goodness through the highest calling extended to us—not by a fellow mortal being, but by the One who was there in the beginning and later came and “dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:14), who came not “to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Matthew 9:13).

In the world, people of the same social status will reciprocate invitations extended—and each may aim to outdo the display of the other. But our calling is the “highest” one because we “in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy” (1 Peter 2:10), “for ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8).

Let us now consider the five evils that are hindrances to our spiritual growth.

“Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speaking”(1 Peter 2:1).

Here the apostle uses plural not singular; he says “ ALL ”—not part, thus showing how serious and important it is to our spiritual growth that we lay aside all the following things:

This refers to all intentions to do evil to another, or tending toward the desire to tease. “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21).

“Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. . . . Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men” (1 Corinthians 5:8; 14:20).

“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice” (Ephesians 4:31).

This refers to all craftiness in our speech—deceit, cunning or sly behavior.

“Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile” (Psalm 34:13).

Speaking of those who have the seal of the living God, it is declared: “And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God” (Revelation 14:5).

Craftiness in speech has caused many to stumble and draw back, and even has caused some to become spiritual dwarfs by our belittling of the truth as it is in Jesus.

“There should be a continual effort to imitate the society we expect soon to join; namely angels of God who have never fallen by sin. The character should be holy, the manners comely, the words without guile,and thus should we follow on step by step until we are fitted for translation.”1

“Those who would have that wisdom which is from God must become fools in the sinful knowledge of this age, in order to be wise. They should shut their eyes, that they may see and learn no evil. . . . And they should guard their tongues, lest they utter corrupt communications and guile be found in their mouths. ” 2

“Hypo” means “below” and “crisy” is derived from the root word for “belief”—in other words, this is behaving at a level that is lower than what we believe. There are many ways this can happen, but it definitely includes all double dealings, pretenses, and dishonesty.

The apostle explains that our souls are purified “ in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren. ” He bids us “ see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently ” (1 Peter 1:22). Anything short of this is hypocrisy.

Our Master Teacher expounded more on all types of hypocrites in Matthew chapter 23, especially in verses 13–33.

A hypocrite will pretend to be a good Christian on Sabbath yet will appear worldly the rest of the week, thus deceiving himself/herself and others who are not climbing the Christian ladder.

Another way hypocrisy might occur is through morally impure behavior: “The unhappiness and degradation that follow in the train of licentiousness cannot be estimated. The world is defiled under its inhabitants. They have nearly filled up the measure of their iniquity; but that which will bring the heaviest retribution, is the practice of iniquity under a cloak of godliness. The Redeemer of the world never spurned true repentance, however great the guilt; but He hurls burning denunciations against Pharisees and hypocrites. There is more hope for the open sinner than for this class. . . .

“As Christ’s ambassador, I entreat you who profess present truth to promptly resent any approach to impurity and forsake the society of those who breathe an impure suggestion. Loathe these defiling sins with the most intense hatred. Flee from those who would, even in conversation, let the mind run in such a channel; for ‘out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.’ Matthew 12:34.

“As those who practice these defiling sins are steadily increasing in the world and would intrude themselves into our churches, I warn you to give no place to them. Turn from the seducer. Thou gh a professed follower of Christ, he is Satan in the form of man; he has borrowed the livery of heaven that he may the better serve his master. You should not for one moment give place to an impure, covert suggestion; for even this will stain the soul, as impure water defiles the channel through which it passes.

“Choose poverty, reproach, separation from friends, or any suffering, rather than to defile the soul with sin. Death before dishonor or the transgression of God’s law, should be the motto of every Christian. As a people professing to be reformers, treasuring the most solemn, purifying truths of God’s word, we must elevate the standard far higher that it is at the present time. Sin and sinners in the church must be promptly dealt with, that others m ay not be contaminated. Truth and purity require that we make more thorough work to cleanse the camp from Achans. Let those in responsible positions not suffer sin in a brother. Show him that he must either put away his sins or be separated from the churc h.” 3

Hypocrisy is manifested when professing to know God; but in works we “deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work and reprobate” (Titus 1:16).

This refers to all our feelings of discontentment at the excellence of others or their good fortune. It includes jealousy, bitterness, covetousness.

“But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth” (James 3:14). “Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying”(Romans 13:13).

“What is lying against the truth? It is claiming to believe the truth while the spirit, the words, the deportment, represent not Christ but Satan. To surmise evil, to be impatient and unforgiving, is lying against the truth; but love, patience, and long forbearance are in accordance with the principles of truth. Truth is ever pure, ever kind, breathing a heavenly fragrance unmingled with selfishness.”4

As we climb to the last step of our Christian ladder which is “charity,” we shall learn to suffer long, and be kind; and “charity envieth not, charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up” (1 Corinthians 13:4); and will lead us not to seek our own benefit, but rather that of others. “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself” (Romans 15:1–3).

“As Christ has pitied and helped us in our weakness and sinfulness, so should we pity and help others. Many are perplexed with doubt, burdened with infirmities, weak in faith, and unable to grasp the unseen; but a friend whom they can see, coming to them in Christ’s stead, can be as a connecting link to fasten their trembling faith upon God. Oh, this is a blessed work! Let not pride and selfishness prevent us from doing the good which we may do if we will work in Christ ’ s name and with a loving, tender spirit.” 5

To speak evil means to use words that are morally bad, wicked and harmful in nature.

The apostle Paul forewarned the believers in Corinth that he would not be pleased to hear such, and he wrote: “For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults ” (2 Corinthians 12:20).

Debates, backbiting, whisperings, swellings, and tumults, etc., all are forms of evil speaking that hinders the spiritual growth both of ourselves and others. Let us just consider two of these forms of evil speaking: swellings, and tumults:

Swellings: heaving or enlarging of sea waves that cannot break. With such a manner of speaking, Christian growth is impossible.

Tumults: angry demonstrations, uproar, riot, etc. Quarreling of any nature is strongly condemned in the word of God.

“Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned”(Matthew 12:34–37).

“What a world of gossip would be prevented if every man would remember that those who tell him the faults of others will as freely publish his faults at a favorable opportunity. We should endeavor to think well of all men, especially our brethren, until compelled to think otherwise. We should not hastily credit evil reports. These are often the result of envy or misunderstanding, or they may proceed from exaggeration or a partial disclosure of facts.Jealousy and suspicion, once allowed a place, will sow themselves broadcast, like thistledown. Should a brother go astray, then is the time to show your real interest in him. Go to him kindly, pray with and for him, remembering the infinite price which Christ has paid for his redemption. In this way you may save a soul from death, and hide a multitude of sins.

“A glance, a word, even an intonation of the voice, may be vital with falsehood, sinking like a barbed arrow into some heart, inflicting an incurable wound. Thus a doubt, a reproach, may be cast upon one by whom God would accomplish a good work, and his influence is blighted, his usefulness destroyed.Among some species of animals, if one of their number is wounded and falls, he is at once set upon and torn in pieces by his fellows. The same cruel spirit is indulged by men and women who bear the name of Christians. They manifest a pharisaical zeal to stone others less guilty than themselves. There are some who point to others ’ faults and failures to divert attention from their own, or to gain credit for great zeal for God and the church. ” 6

A true Christian will educate his/her tongue to speak well of others, by dwelling on positive traits of their characters than on the negatives.

“It is not the opposition of the world that endangers us the most; it is the evil cherished in the hearts of professed believers that works our most grievous disaster and most retards the p rogress of God ’ s cause. There is no surer way of weakening our spirituality than by being envious, suspicious of one another, full of faultfinding and evil surmising.” 6

We may be church members for many years, but if we remain slaves to these five evils, our spirituality will remain stagnant and we shall eventually leave the fold.

On the other hand, “those who, in the spirit and love of Jesus, will become one with Him, will be in close fellowship one with another, bound up by the silken cords of love. Then the ties of human brotherhood would not be always on the strain, ready at any provocation to snap asunder. ‘All ye are brethren’ will be the sentiment of every child of faith. When the followers of Christ are one with Him, there will be no first and last, no less respected or less important ones. A blessed brotherly fellowship one with another will bind all who truly receive the Lord Jesus Christ in a firm loyalty that cannot be broken. All will be equally one with Christ.”8

There are some words of hope and encouragement to every repenting sinner who, after realizing that any of the five evils mentioned above have had hindered spiritual growth due to any or all of the above problems, now desires “the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious” (1 Peter 2:2, 3). We shall echo the words of Jeremiah and Job: “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart” (Jeremiah 15:16). “Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food” (Job 23:12). Our wonderful experience will be spiritual strength.

“There is nothing more calculated to strengthen the intellect than the study of the Scriptures. No other book is so potent to elevate the thoughts, to give vigor to the faculties, as the broad, ennobling truths of the Bible. If God’s word were studied as it should be, men would have a breadth of mind, a nobility of character, and a stability of purpose that is rarely seen in these times.”9

It is by desiring and studying the sincere word of God that we shall finally possess the mind of Christ. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5).

“To adorn the doctrine of Christ our Saviour, we must have the same mind which was in Christ. Our likes and dislikes, our desire to favor self to the disadvantage of others must be overcome. Let the peace of God rule in your hearts. Christ must be in us a living, working power.”10

No true Christian will fail to attain to having the mind of Christ, for the scripture says “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13). “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2); we are to allow Him “which hath begun a good work” in us to “perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).

“We are fellow pilgrims, seeking a better country, even a heavenly. God will never say to us ‘ Well done, good and faithful servant, ’ at the end of our journey, if we now cherish a spirit which craves to crowd out and supplant others. Malice, guile, hypocrisy, envy, and evil speaking are things which God abhors, and no one who reveals those fruits in his life will enter the kingdom of heaven.”11

May the experience of our Saviour be ours too, Who, after He had accomplished His mission on earth said, “Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me” (John 14:30).

“We are not to serve God as if we were not human, but we are to serve Him in the nature we have, that has been redeemed by the Son of God; through the righteousness of Christ we shall stand before God pardoned, and as though we had never sinned. We will never gain strength in considering what we might do if we were angels. We are to turn in faith to Jesus Christ, and show our love to God through obedience to His commands. . . .

“Amid impurity, Christ maintained His purity.Satan could not stain or corrupt it. His character revealed a perfect hatred for sin. It was His holiness that stirred against Him all the passion of a profligate world; for by His perfect life He threw upon the world a perpetual reproach, and made manifest the contrast between transgression and the pure, spotless righteousness of One that knew no sin.This heavenly purity annoyed the apostate foe as nothing else could do, and he followed Christ day by day, using in his work the people that claimed to have superior purity and knowledge of God, putting into their hearts a spirit of hatred against Christ, and tempting His disciples to betray and forsake Him.”12

May we learn of Him who is meek and lowly in heart!