Growing in Christ

Just a closer walk with thee. . .

So if the sum of all things is Jesus; and you want to walk closer with Him then it is important to grow in knowledge and grace as commanded.

2 Peter 3:18 NASB95

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.

When we grow in grace, or in this case today graces, and knowledge God gets the glory! Isn’t that what we want, to give glory to God?

What does it mean to grow in knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?

How can we know, how can we be sure, or assured that we are growing in this knowledge, the right knowledge, knowledge of Jesus Christ?

Peter defines what it means to grow in knowledge of Christ and it is found in 2Pt1:2-11 which will be our text today.

I. What does growing entail?

A. First it entails developing of the eight graces in our passage

2 Peter 1:5–7 NKJV

5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.

2 Peter 1:5–6 NASB95

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,

2pt1:

This is briefly described in our passage

Faith - conviction with strong assurance (Heb11:1)

Virtue - moral excellence, goodness (Psm23:6)

Self-control (aka: self-discipline) (Gal5:23)

Perseverance - bearing up under trials, tribulations (Rom5:3-4)

Godliness - Godly character out of devotion to God ((1Tim4:8)

Brotherly kindness - active love towards one another (Gal5:22)

Finally, love - active desiring the best for others in need

So there you go in general the eight graces now let’s continue

2 Peter 1:8 NKJV

8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2Pt1:8

So what do you notice about these qualities? They are your and are increasing if you grow in true knowledge

We must abound if we are to grow, abound in these graces will result in growing in knowledge of Jesus Christ. This is more than intellectual knowledge, and yes knowledge is one of the graces but it goes on and adds much more.

A. Developing of the graces

Each of these graces are “Christ like attributes” - more growth, means more knowledge, more knowledge means more graces and more graces means more like Christ.

2 Peter 1:2–3 NASB95

2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; 3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

2Pt1:2-3 uses the word knowledge and it is the Greek word

Epiginosko “to become throughly acquainted with, to know thoroughly, to know accurately, to know well. (Thayer’s Lexicon of New Testament)

So, if acquainted, know thoroughly, accurately and know well we will apply or demonstrate these graces

B. Second, developing these graces together

Let me show you what I mean.

2 Peter 1:5 NKJV

5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,

notice it says “add” and it will do such in each one, they work in conjunction with each other. In some versions it says the word “supply” both are OK.

Each of these graces work in harmony with each other to produce the result, Christ like character

So now look at 2Pt1:5-7 together and see it proved out

2 Peter 1:5–6 NKJV

5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness,

2 Peter 1:7 NKJV

7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.

2Pt

OK, so you see add, and you see “to” so “add to” some having the one characteristic adding to it and they work together. Each grace is made to fit together and make perfect the grace that proceeded it.

An Illustration: To knowledge we add self-control- this helps us to know how to properly apply the knowledge we have. - - to self-control (add) perseverance, this is needed so we can be consistent in our self control and the application of the knowledge we have

If you want to grow in Christ, mature in Christ, these graces must be deeloped in conjunction with each other. but I want you to know.

C. It involves diligent effort

2 Peter 1:5 NASB95

5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge,

2 Peter 1:10 NASB95

10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;

Maturing, growing in knowledge of Christ Jesus takes diligent effort, earnest zeal, much effort at times and it does not come naturally or accidently you have to develop these graces

Are you making the effort to develop these graces? Are you willing to make the effort?

So maybe you are wondering if the effort is worth it, well the next part of the passage tells us the reason why we should be growing in these graces.

II. Why should we grow in these graces

A. Multiplication of knowledge

2 Peter 1:2 NASB95

2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;

2Pt1:

Grace and peace are coupled together in many greetings in the N.T.

Grace the greeting which asks for God’s favor upon the person or people being greeted

Peace - the natural result of the favor of God to those being greeted.

These graces are multiplied in knowledge of Christ Jesus

Matthew 5:45 NKJV

45 that you may be sons of your Father 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.

All people receive some blessings for the rain falls on the righteous and the unrighteous, but to have the full measure you must be in Christ for that is where the full blessings are.

Ephesians 1:3 NKJV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

Philippians 4:6–7 NKJV

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Php

B. Everything needed comes through knowledge

2 Peter 1:3–4 NASB95

3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

All things pertaining to life: our physical life, our spiritual life; Godliness refers to godly conduct that comes from devotion to God.

Only when we grow in knowledge of Christ Jesus do we enjoy “all things” true things, full things and divine things unlocked by God’s power to the believer who is growing in these graces

Including precious and magnificent promises

Becoming partakers of God’s divine nature

Freedom and victory over the corruption that is in this world by lust

C. Don’t be spiritually blinded or short sighted

2 Peter 1:9 NASB95

For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.

Spiritual Myopathy

What happens as a result if you are not growing in these graces?

ase graces?

Our goal is the transformation process to be like Christ

Romans 8:29 NASB95

For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;

This is what maturity is, to grow more into His image.

Failure to grow is an indication that we have either forgotten why we were redeemed or become complacent.

We were redeemed to have our sins forgiven

So we could presented to God to be like His Son one day.

1 John 3:2 NKJV

Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

D. We will not stumble

2 Peter 1:10 NASB95

Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;

Now never stumble does not equate to never sin,

1 John 1:8–10 NKJV

8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

Stumble: (Thayer’s) to fall into misery, become wretched, the loss of salvation.

When we are growing, we will not fall short of our ultimate destination! Our final salvation. Remember that it takes effort, it takes diligence, it takes YOU! but You can make your election sure.

2 Peter 1:10 NKJV

10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;

It is only in growing, only in the knowledge of Christ Jesus can we make our election sure. We don’t want anyone to be a question mark Christian.

E. Entrance to Eternal Kingdom

2 Peter 1:11 NASB95

11 for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.

We know Narrow is the Gate right

Matthew 7:13 NASB95

13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.

To the one who is diligently growing in these graces the entrance is abundantly

2 Timothy 4:18 NKJV

18 And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!

2

This eternal kingdom, heavenly kingdom; our desired destination, our hope, for these who have been redeemed.

Commentator Bengel puts it like this.

“You may be able to enter, not as having escaped from a shipwreck or from fire, but as it were in triumph.”

We want to know, have that blessed assurance, to grow into the likeness of Christ and it comes from growing in these graces with a face set toward the promised future

2 Timothy 4:6–8 NASB95

6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 8 in the future 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.

To sum it all up

The reasons presented should be motivation to diligently pursue these graces

Diligence will result in making your election sure and a closer walk with thee

Don’t forget where you came from, or where you are going and press on

So some food for thought

Do you lack any of these graces?

What graces do you believe you excel in, is it evident?

What effort are you going to make starting today?

Lead to invitation

(insert closer walk with thee slide here)