The Importance of Knowledge

3/15/26 am

Text: 2 Peter 1:5–8 “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.”

Introduction:

Every since we were born, learning has been a huge part of our life. There are millions upon millions of books across the world today and they all have the same goal. To enlighten the reader. To allow them to be more knowledgeable in whatever subject that book is talking about.

There are many areas in which we are knowledgeable and it is important to be. Knowledgeable in your area of work. Knowledgeable in home improvement is always helpful...Mechanics, social skills. Many things are important for us to be knowledgeable in, but today we are going to look at the most important aspect to be knowledgeable in, and that is in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Outline

Knowledge of Salvation

This is the most important aspect of knowledge.

Knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ is very limited before salvation. Once salvation takes place it opens up a door of knowledge that would not have been able to be accessed unless salvation took place. (Example of what we knew before and after salvation; Why go to church? Why be pure?.)

Explain how someone can be saved.

Knowledge in the Lord Jesus Christ

Knowledge of the world

Common day Christianity is worldy wise and Godly ignorant.

We know an awful lot about the things of the world and in comparison with what we know about Christ the length of the lists are hardly comparable. The worldy list is way more filled in than the godly list.

Many churches have become like the Laodician church. Luke warm. We arent going to give up everything and go neo, but we sure dont mind participating in world activities that a Christian has no business doing…

If you know which way is right then do that which is right!!!

Backslidden Christians. They know what is right, but dont do it.

Just because you go to church does not mean that you are not backslidden.

You can be sitting in the pew and not taking this preaching seriously. You can have your little attitude of man there he goes again preaching on the same old thing. We need the same old thing!!!

The outcome of a backslidden Christian according to 2 Peter 2:19–20 “While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.”

If you are living with anything that you will stand before the Lord and regret, get it out of your life now…it will end better for you.

Knowledge of the Lord

Now in our text the Bible talks very highly of the knowledge of the Lord.

But there is a path to the knowledge

First you need faith (salvation) this is where it starts.

Add virtue (goodness, excellence, moral goodness)

Add knowledge (acquantance with, knowledge of, content of what is known; A clear and certain perception of that which exists.) Doesnt give room for opinion

Add temperance (self-control)

Add patience (perseverence, endurance)

Add godliness (devotion to God, piety, reverence to God)

Add brotherly kindness (Philadelphia, Love for a fellow believer, formal)

Add charity (Christian Love, God’s love)

Benefits of Knowledge

Know more about Christ.

Have a good relationship with Christ.

Save you from Hell (2 Peter 2:20 “For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.” )

Produce fruit (2 Peter 1:8 “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.” )

Con:

Knowledge is so important.

We ought to study God’s word, we ought to be under the teaching and preaching of God’s word often. We need to get where the knowledge is!

Fill our minds with the knowledge of Christ and get the knowledge of this world where it belongs. As far from our minds as possible.