2 Peter 3:17-18| Growing pt.3

Series Reminder/ Summary:

Our identity in Christ is a vital part to our ongoing growth in grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is the slow and steady process of becoming “practically” who I already am “positionally” through the redeeming work of Christ in my life. So It is true that:

I have been crucified with Christ yet I am learning to live in Christ (Galatians 2:20)

I have died to Sin’s ruling power yet I am learning to walk in the newness of Christ’s Life (Romans 6.1-13)

I am a new creation: the old passed away yet I am learning to embrace the new that has come (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Textual Transition:

This learning process is a vital part of our Christian life where God grace meets us at the point of our everyday need. It here the Lord gives us all that we need to glorify Him with every part of our lives.

Yet many Christians fail to realize the importance of spiritual growth - with eternity seemingly in their back pocket, as some sort of cosmic insurance policy, they are content to chase fleeting treasure for most of their time.

They treat it like its an optional part of their present experience but they fail to recognize that the very calling of our life is to pursue Christ with all that we are.

To make matters worse, 2 Peter warns us that there are many who will take advantage of those who are careless with their faith. They will distort and twist the scriptures to gain an advantage over those who neglect their faith.

So Peter warned his readers to pay close attention to their spiritual life lest they stumble from their faith and seduced by error.

He does so by reminding them of the many blessings they have in Christ and encouraging them to keep on pursuing Him day by day.

So, this warning urges believers to prioritize their spiritual growth as a means to stand and withstand those who seek to lead them from Christ.

Transition: Peter provides 2 encouragements to his readers to help them safeguard their life against false teachers.

Be Prepared

Reminder: Conclusion to the letter which has challenged the reader to continue in the faith they have been taught and believed. Peter’s reminds his readers that their faith has been placed in the only sure place. They didn’t another lesson in this truth instead they needed to be reminded to keep looking to Jesus and not entertain any lesser rival that would draw them into error.

Warning: Problem of false teachers would twist the Scriptures in an attempt to lead some believers into error. They seemingly offered a sense of true spiritual liberty but instead they lead people into the chains of corruption (2 Peter 2:18-22). So instead of leading people toward Christ, they were actively persuading people away from their hope in Christ. They did so by secretly bringing in destructive teaching, subtle denials, and unethical practices in an attempt to exploit anyone who would listen to them. (2 Peter 2:1-3)

Pay Attention: Much of the latter portion of the NT sounds the warning call against the pervasive influence of false teaching in the church. As one of the defining characteristics of the last age, Paul warned Timothy that there would be many false teachers who would enter the church. Their far reaching influence would cause the love of many to grow cold and cause them to seek those who would tell them what they want to hear. Because this truth was so evident to the writers of Scripture they went to great lengths to teach their readers of the danger and the need to be alert. In the closing paragraph of his letter, Peter reminded his readers to be on guard against those who might try to distort or twist the Scriptures.

To be on guard or Beware. Carries the sense of being constantly alert, taking every precaution, or pay careful attention. The believer must be vigilant and take every precaution to guard themselves against the seductive influence of false teachers.

Stumble and Carry away. For their influence can lure you astray from a place of firm footing (Christ) into a place which has no stability at all. (error). They will lead you from faithfulness to Christ down a path that could lead to blasphemy or denial of the way of Christ.

Prioritize Growth

Encouragement: The believer is meant to do more than be on guard against the harmful influence of false teaching, they are meant to take positive action to help combat its influence. They must also grow in grace and knowledge of Jesus as a means of safeguarding their life against error. Instead of moving away from Jesus or even standing firm in there current faith, Peter encourages them to keep moving steadily toward Jesus.

“Grow is significant; it emphasizes...that it is not enough to refrain from being carried away or from losing your firm footing. More important than not falling is making a steady progress in your faith.” [Daniel C. Arichea and Howard Hatton, A Handbook on the Letter from Jude and the Second Letter from Peter, UBS Handbook Series (New York: United Bible Societies, 1993), 167.]

Believer has everything in Jesus: The ending paragraph of 2 Peter provides a fitting bookend to the letter. For Peter alludes back to the opening introduction to reinforce the concept that God has graciously supplied everything the believer needs to grow and experience the fullness of His promises. The believer lacks nothing because they are recipients of Christ life therefore they can be assured that they will be fruitful and can be secure in their faith . (2 Peter 1:2-4)

Grow in Grace and Knowledge: Growth is not an optional part of the Christian experience. It is not reserved for those who have bought in more than others. It describes the ongoing process and pursuit of the believer as learn to navigate life through faith. Therefore growing in grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ is a challenge that we are all meant to be pursuing until the moment we pass.

Growing in grace reminds us that we cannot produce spiritual life on our own. We are in desperate need for God to strengthen and empower us to live out who were are in Christ. Growing in grace represents “the ongoing process of walking in fellowship with God in obedient response to His word.” Boa, Conformed to His Image, pg 119. It is learning to depend on the Lord in the daily experiences while we steadily grow to trust His goodness and depend upon His grace.

Growing in Knowledge reminds us that we need help seeing our need of Christ. As we grow in knowledge of Jesus we learn to distinguish His sufficiency apart from any rival claims or offers. In short we learn to recognize the distortion of our faith by beholding the One in whom our faith rests.

Necessary Reminder that Jesus will always be the focal point.

Dependent Pursuit: Every believer needs the reminder that Christ is their life and there is no growth apart from him. We need to preach this truth to ourselves each day because we easily forget and think we can do it on our own.

Active Pursuit: Spiritual growth is something that every believer should be doing. Growth is not an optional part of Christianity, we are each meant to be growing in grace and knowledge of our Lord.

Furthermore growth is a necessity for it enables us to grow up in stature of the fullness of Christ instead of be tossed about by the changing winds of culture and philosophies .

Far too many Christians give little thought to how they pursue spiritual growth. They approach it in a haphazard or careless way instead of being intentional in their pursuit of it. Spiritual growth doesn’t happen by accident.

Intentional Pursuit: Spiritual growth is something that every believer should have a plan or purpose concerning spiritual growth. Can you name Something that you are doing to prioritize your spiritual health and growth each day or throughout the week.

Some take the approach of “let go and let God” leading to passive approach to spiritual growth where they put forth little effort. They approach their spirituality from a minimalist perspective where they expect great gain as a result of very little effort.

Spiritual growth doesn’t happen without active participation. We are told in practical terms work out our salvation (Phil 2:12), put to death what is earthly in us (Col. 3:5), put on the new man (Eph. 4:23), and fight the good fight of faith (1 Tim. 6:12).

Closing challenge:

Are you looking to Jesus as the means of your growth? Are you depending upon His grace to strengthen you to live by faith each day?

Are you prioritizing your spiritual growth? Are you intentionally doing something to pursue Jesus each day?