Developing a Christ-Like Character

How it all came to be

I was discussing with Norma earlier this week how some of my messages come to be. I have taken to falling asleep while listening to scripture in the background. Sometimes it works out for me and I am lulled to sleep by the Word of God, and other times, it backfires because I hear something that reverberates in my spirit and sets my mind to racing, and still other times I fall asleep with a thought or a passage of scripture that stays with me into the next day. This is one such time. Not a sleepless thought, but a persistent thought.

I was listening to the second epistle of Peter and one particular passage caught my attention. The next day, I opened up my computer to my handy Bible Handbook to get a little bit of background information on Peter and his epistles.

The second epistle of Peter is certainly a poignant letter. The apostle wrote it with an awareness that his death was imminent.

2 Peter 1:14 NKJV

knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me.

He warned that false teachers would seek to lead them astray -

2 Peter 2:1–2 NKJV

But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.

And this next part I can relate to very personally. I was most desperate to reach out to my family and remind them that even though I was about to, as Peter put it, “put off my tent”, the one thing I could think to impress upon them was that they should cling to the knowledge that no matter what happened, “God is good.” With the knowledge of the fact that death was upon him, Peter’s most pressing desire was to remind of the words and commandments that they had received from the prophets, the scripture and the apostles.

2 Peter 3:1–2 NKJV

Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior,

It was Peter’s final command in this epistle are the ones that stuck with me and resounded in my spirit at 3:45 in the morning when Josie decided that we’d had enough sleep and it was time to play.

2 Peter 3:18 NKJV

but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

So the next day I dug in, I wanted to answer two questions.

What does it mean to grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ?

How can we be sure that we are growing in this "knowledge"?

Well, as you know, sometimes when you start looking into a topic in scripture - especially one as broad as this one, you end up with a vast wealth of revelation. Far beyond what is able to be presented in one sermon. Do with that I believe we have the makings of a new series which we will call, “Growing in the Knowledge Of Jesus”.

Today my goal is to define what Peter had in mind when he gave us his final charge, and to encourage growth and development in this knowledge of Jesus.

Lucky for us we don’t have to work to hard to get into Peter’s mid. He actually lays it all out in 2Pe 1:5-8.

2 Peter 1:5–8 NKJV

But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

What it means to grow in the knowledge of Jesus

The Grace Gifts

There are eight grace gifts that Peter talks about in this epistle. Let’s look at them together.

2 Peter 1:5–7 NKJV

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

Now for you dictionary addicts, let’s do a quick definition:

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"

Love is "active goodwill toward others"

Now look carefully at verse 8 because it has a key for us there.

2 Peter 1:8 NKJV

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

He says that we should “abound” in these eight graces in order to avoid being barren or unfruitful. In other words, only by abounding in these graces can it be said that we are “growing in the knowledge of Jesus”

Why is it significant? Well mostly because of what it doesn’t say to do. He doesn’t tell us to increase our "intellectual” knowledge of Jesus! There’s a place for that, sure, but it is just one of the graces necessary. What Peter is talking about here is growing in a fuller and personal knowledge of Jesus. One that leads to personal growth and transformation. One that comes by developing the “Christ-like” attributes listed in this passage. The more we grow in these “graces”, the more we really “know”Jesus. He is, after all, the perfect personification of grace.

That it involves more than intellectual knowledge is also evident from the Greek word used for knowledge used here.

The word is ἐπίγνωσις {ep-ig'-no-sis}, “to become thoroughly acquainted with, to know thoroughly, to know accurately, know well”

This kind of knowledge comes only as we demonstrate these Christ-like graces in our lives.

In Conjunction with each other

Now read this passage together with me.

2 Peter 1:5 NKJV

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

Notice the word “add” (or “supply”)? Before each grace mentioned, the word is implied I looked up the word in Greek and though I don’t like to get too much into the Greek and Hebrew, I absolutely fell in love with its meaning and how it applies here.

ἐπιχορηγέω {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, like layering different musical instruments on top of one another to produce something that has a synergistic effect. Like composing a symphony.

Now look at it all together

2 Peter 1:5–7 NKJV

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

Notice also the preposition “to” , this implies "each grace is to temper and make perfect the grace that goes before it.

In other words, look at it this way.

To knowledge (add) self-control - the grace of self-control enables one to apply properly the knowledge one has.

To self-control (add) perseverance - self-control then, needs the quality of perseverance to be consistent day after day

Therefore each grace is necessary!

See how 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.

With all diligence

Notice how Peter keeps using the word diligence.

2Pe 1:5,10

2 Peter 1:5 NKJV

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

2 Peter 1:10 NKJV

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

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 Peter 1:2–11 NKJV

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Peter provides five reasons why we should give all diligence to grow in this knowledge of Jesus.

Reasons to grow in the knowledge of Jesus

Grace and Peace are multiplied

Grace and peace are common forms of greeting in the New Testament. Grace is a greeting which requests God's unmerited favor upon the person addressed. Peace is a greeting requesting the natural result of God's favor. Peter says that these two blessings are multiplied in the knowledge of Jesus

2 Peter 1:2 NKJV

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

Matthew 5:45 NKJV

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.

But only IN Christ can one enjoy the fulness of God's favor and peace -

Ephesians 1:3 NKJV

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

Be anxious for nothing, 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 minds through 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, as you become more like Him!

All things pertaining to life and godliness provided

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 Peter 1:3 NKJV

as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,

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 Peter 1:4a NKJV

by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Which enables us to be partakers of the divine nature.Which can free us from the "corruption that is in the world through lust.

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” avoided

The way we practice our faith is myopic or shortsighted if we are not growing in the knowledge of Jesus! -

2 Peter 1:9a NKJV

For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

After all, what are we really trying to accomplish by being a Christian in the first place? The very meaning of the word Christian means “little Christ”. So then doesn’t it stand to reason that our whole existence should be to become like Christ? -

Romans 8:29 NKJV

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Colossians 3:9–11 NKJV

Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

So then this is what it really means to grow in the knowledge of Christ. By extension then, our failure to so grow means that we have forgotten why we were redeemed by the blood of Christ in the first place! -

2 Peter 1:9b NKJV

For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

But you see, Christianity is often sold as “fire insurance” a way to have your sins forgiven, and while that is true, it’s about so much more than that. It is about becoming what God wants us to be - like His Son! It’s hard enough to live in this world and if the very people who are supposed to represent who God is are making things harder, how does that make any sense? So if we are guilty of forgetfulness and shortsightedness, we become part of the problem, instead we need to grow in the knowledge of Jesus and be part of the solution!

We Will Never Stumble

Peter says “if you do these things you will never stumble”.

2 Peter 1:10 NKJV

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

If you are diligent to make your calling and election sure (does that sound familiar from our last series)? If you add to your faith virtue, etc. If you abound in these eight graces.

“We will never stumble” those words make it sound like he’s setting a very lofty expectation. Perfection almost, but is that what this passage really means? Is this not a contradiction of what John teaches?

1Jn 1:8,10

1 John 1:8 NKJV

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

1 John 1:10 NKJV

If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

Well it would certainly seem so, but remember, we are English speakers and we read a translation of the Word. The word “stumble” in Greek means to fall into misery, become wretched; and according to Thayer, the loss of salvation.

So what he’s saying is that we will never stumble so as to fall short of our ultimate salvation!

That gives it an entirely different meaning doesn’t it? As an aside, this illustrates (going back to our previous series) why it is so important that we not only study the word on our own, but also with other believers - especially with more mature believers who have a facility with the Word and can dig in to these kinds of very important details.

Back to our text, this assurance that we will never stumble is true only if we are “giving all diligence” to grow in the knowledge of Christ and thereby making our calling and election sure.

The next benefit is that of...

An abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom

2 Peter 1:11 NKJV

for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

This “everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” is the same as the “heavenly kingdom” referred to by Paul.

2 Timothy 4:18 NKJV

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!

In other words, the ultimate destiny of the redeemed! What is meant by the idea of an “abundant entrance”? You entrance is not as a survivor, as someone who just made it through an ordeal like a house fire or a car wreck, rather as a triumphant conquering hero of battle!

By possessing the eight graces, we will be able to live victoriously in this life and to joyously anticipate what lies ahead.

2 Timothy 4:6–8 NKJV

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

So what does that mean to us?

So, aren’t there enough reasons to grow in the Knowledge of Christ? I mean think about what is promised by getting this knowledge.

Grace and peace are multiplied

All things pertaining to life and godliness are provided

Spiritual myopia and amnesia are avoided

We will never stumble

An abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom will be ours!

And we get all of those, not just because. We get those because if we are growing in the knowledge of Christ that means we have done what is necessary to obtain it. Meaning, we have developed the eight graces in conjunction with each other with all diligence.

So if you’re as ready to start studying these eight graces, so that we can grow in the knowledge of Jesus as I am, then we are really going to reap the benefits of this series.