Growing in Grace and Knowledge

#6. Feb. 9, 2015

2015 Devotional. These passages are taken from: “100 Verses Every Christian Needs to Know” by Freeman-Smith. All passages are from the NIV.

II Peter 3:18   “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen”.

The context of I Peter is persecution from outside the church and II Peter addresses heresy inside the church. That is the background of the passage that we are looking at. The emphasis of II Peter is: 1. Biblical faith informing and conforming our everyday life. 2. Heresy is exposed by the knowledge of God’s Word, 3. The “Day of the Lord” is assured. The Lord is on the way! (my emphasis) Scripture in general is not only theological (about God) but also how it is applied and proclaimed in our lives by our thoughts and deeds. Peter gives us the reason for writing the book: he writes to remind believers that they should listen to the prophets and the commands of our Lord Jesus. In other words, know and apply the Word of God. (See II Peter 3:1-2)

This verse 3:18 should not be separated from what comes before it (II Peter 3:10-17). Peter is making a comparison of true believers to those who distort the Scriptures calling them lawless, ignorant, and unstable men/women. It appears that a very early stage of Gnosticism was rearing its ugly head in the church. As the last verse of the book, we see this as a benediction, but it is a benediction that instructs us.

“Grow in the grace and knowledge” of Jesus Christ. The grace of Christ! Are we able to attain it? We are saved by grace Eph. 2:8-9, “God’s grace to us is undeserved favor”. I believe we are to be like Jesus and extend His grace to others: having His compassion for sinners, for the sick, for the disenfranchised (Phil. 2:1-8). Peter adds: grow in the knowledge of Jesus. That means knowing and applying the Word. The Bible is a living book, the Holy Spirit instructs us as we read it. Further, the Bible is living in that it instructs us based on our need. The same passage may touch us in different ways at different times of our lives, when we depend on Jesus all Biblical knowledge is available to us. Jesus brings it to mind as the need arises. In contrast to those glorifying themselves in their esoteric knowledge, Peter gives all glory to Jesus “both now and forever! Amen”