A Closer Walk With God
Growing In The Knowledge Of Jesus Christ
An important element in having a closer walk with God is fulfilling the command given by the apostle
Peter in 2 Pe 3:18 "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen." What does it mean to "grow in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ"? How can we be sure that we are growing in this "knowledge"? Peter has defined what is meant to grow in the knowledge of Christ, and his definition is found in 2 Pe 1:2-11. In this lesson, we shall: look more closely at what is involved in "growing in the knowledge of Jesus Christ" and consider the reasons why we should desire to grow in this "knowledge".
Let's look at what it means to in the knowledge of Jesus, noting the development of eight graces that Peter writes of in 2 Pe 1:2-11. These "graces" are listed in 2 Pe 1:5-7. Briefly defined, faith is "conviction, strong assurance", virtue is "moral excellence, goodness", knowledge is "correct insight", self-control is "self-discipline", perseverance is "bearing up under trials", godliness is "godly character out of devotion to God", brotherly kindness is "love toward brethren", and love is "active goodwill toward others". Now note carefully 2 Pe 1:8 "For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." We must "abound" in these eight graces. Only then can it be said that we are "growing in the knowledge of Jesus Christ" It is more than simply increasing our "intellectual" knowledge of Jesus! Such knowledge has a place, but it is just one of the graces necessary. Peter is talking about growing in a fuller and personal knowledge of Jesus Christ! Which comes by developing the "Christ-like" attributes listed in this passage. The more we grow in these "graces", the more we really "know" Jesus (for He is the perfect personification of these "graces"). That it involves more than intellectual knowledge is also evident from the Greek word used for knowledge in 2 Pe 1:2-3,8. The word is epignosis {ep-ig'-no-sis}, meaning "to become thoroughly acquainted with, to know thoroughly, to know accurately, know well" (Thayer). Such knowledge comes only as we demonstrate these "Christ-like graces" in our lives.
These graces are in conjunction with each other. Notice the word "add" (or "supply, supplement") in 2 Pe 1:5 "For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,". Before each grace mentioned, the word is implied. The word in Greek is epichoregeo {ep-ee-khor-ayg-eh'-o}; "Originally, to found and support a chorus, to lead a choir, to keep in tune"; "Then, to supply or provide". This word suggests the idea of "each grace working in harmony with the others to produce an overall effect". Notice also the preposition "to" (or "in") in 2 Pe 1:5-7. This implies "each grace is to temper and make perfect the grace that goes before it". To illustrate this point:
1) "to knowledge (add) self-control" - the grace of self-control enables one to apply properly the knowledge one has.
2) "to self-control (add) perseverance" - self-control in turn needs the quality of perseverance to be consistent day after day.
Therefore each grace is necessary! They must all be developed in conjunction with each other. We cannot be selective and just pick the ones we like and leave others behind.
Notice the repeated use of the word "diligence" - 2 Pe 1:5,10. It means "earnestness, zeal, sometimes with haste". To grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ requires much effort. We do not "accidentally" or "naturally" develop these graces! If we are not careful, we may be like the teacher in the following illustration:
In his book Folk Psalms of Faith, Ray Stedman tells a story of a woman who had been a school teacher for 25 years. When she heard about a job that would mean a promotion, she applied for the position. However, someone who had been teaching for only one year was hired instead. She went to the principal and asked why. The principal responded, "I'm sorry, but you haven't had 25 years of experience as you claim; you've had only one year's experience 25 times." During that whole time
the teacher had not improved.
We may have been Christians for a number of years; but unless we "add" to our faith these Christ-like qualities with all "diligence", we are simply repeating the first year over and over again!
Is the effort worth it? In the context of this passage (2 Pe 1:2-11) Peter provides five reasons why we
should "give all diligence" to grow in this knowledge of Jesus Christ... Grace and peace are multiplied. Grace and peace are common forms of greeting in the New Testament. Grace - a greeting which requests God's unmerited favor upon the person addressed. Peace - a greeting requesting the natural result of God's favor. Note that these two blessings are "multiplied" in the knowledge of Jesus Christ - 2 Pe 1:2 "May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord." All men experience God's favor and its result to some degree - Mt 5:45 "so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." But only in Christ can one enjoy the "fulness" of God's favor and peace - Ep 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,"; Ph 4:6-7 "do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" -- If you desire God's grace and peace to be "multiplied" in your life, it is through the knowledge (epignosis) of Jesus Christ; in other words, as you become more like Him!
We note that God provides all things pertaining to life and godliness through the knowledge (epignosis) of Him who called us to glory and virtue - 2 Pe 1:3 "His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,". "Life" in this context refers to our spiritual life and well-being. "Godliness" refers to the pious conduct which comes out of devotion to God. Only as we grow in this knowledge do we enjoy the true, full life available by God's divine power! Which includes "exceedingly great and precious promises" - 2 Pe 1:4a "by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises,". Which enables us to be "partakers of the divine nature" - 2 Pe 1:4b. Which can free us from the "corruption that is in the world through lust" - 2 Pe 1:4c. -- If we desire to have all that God offers related to life and godliness, it comes as we develop the Christ-like character!
Spiritual "myopia" and "amnesia" can be avoided. Our religion is "shortsighted" if we are not growing in the knowledge of Jesus! - 2 Pe 1:9a "For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind,". For what is the ultimate objective of being a Christian? Is it not to become like Christ? - also note Ro 8:29 "For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers."; Co 3:9-11 "Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all." As we have seen, this is what it really means to grow in the knowledge of Christ. Failure to so grow indicates we have forgotten why we were redeemed by the blood of Christ in the first place! - 2 Pe 1:9b "having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins." To have our sins forgiven, yes... But also to become what He wants us to be - like His Son! -- Unless we want to be guilty of forgetfulness and shortsightedness, we need to grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ!
Peter says "if you do these things you will never stumble" - 2 Pe 1:10. If you are diligent to make your calling and election sure. If you add to your faith virtue, etc. If you abound in these eight graces. This does not mean we will never sin - 1 Jn 1:8,10 "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." - "If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." The word "stumble" in Greek means "to fall into misery, become wretched; for example. the loss of salvation" (Thayer) we will never stumble so as to fall short of our ultimate salvation! -- But this assurance is true only if we are "giving all diligence" to grow in the knowledge of Christ and thereby "making our calling and election sure".
By "making our calling and election sure" there is an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom. This "everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" - 2 Pe 1:11. Is the "heavenly kingdom" referred to by Paul in 2 Ti 4:18 "The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen." In other words, the ultimate destiny of the redeemed! What is meant by the idea of an "abundant entrance"? "You may be able to enter, not as having escaped from a shipwreck, or from fire, but as it were in triumph." (Bengel). By possessing the eight graces, we will be able to live victoriously in this life and to joyously anticipate what lies ahead - 2 Ti 4:6-8 "For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing."
These five reasons should sufficiently motivate us to be diligent in growing in the knowledge of Jesus
Christ. Give all diligence to make our calling and election sure, and have a closer walk with God, by making every effort to add these "graces" to our lives! Or have we forgotten that we were purged from our old sins? We have, if we are apathetic in our desire to grow in these "graces"! If so, we need to repent and pray for forgiveness!
The following are some questions to stimulate your thinking...
Which of these "graces" do you think you have developed best?
In which are you most lacking?
Do you feel you are making progress in the "knowledge of Jesus Christ"?
If not, what can you do to begin making progress?
