Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. 2 Peter 1:5-7

There are two aspects to this process. One is, a true Christian should exhibit at least a modicum of all these traits out of the box. Why, because he or she knows God now. The faith possessed is the same faith resident in the Apostle Peter. As a new member of the faith, one receives a virtual bounty of mind-altering promises, and everything pertaining to life and godliness. This should manifest itself in some fashion. The second aspect is the pyramid of growth that starts with actualized faith. This might be called the sanctifying process, each stage building on the other. That’s why Peter says if these traits are “yours and are increasing.” This letter focuses on both.