Growing In The Knowledge of Jesus Christ
A. 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, while peace requests the natural result of God’s favor. These two blessings are “multiplied” in the knowledge of Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:2). All people experience God’s favor and its result to some degree (Matthew 5:45), but only in Christ can one enjoy the fullness of God’s favor and peace (Ephesians 1:3; Philippians 4:6-7). 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!
B. All Things Pertaining to Life and Godliness Provided
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). Life in this context refers to our spiritual life and well-being, while godliness refers to the pious conduct that 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), enables us to be “partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4b), and frees us from the “corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Peter 1:4c). If we desire to have all that God offers related to life and godliness, it comes as we develop the Christ-like character!
C. Spiritual “Myopia” and “Amnesia” Avoided
Our religion is shortsighted if we are not growing in the knowledge of Jesus (2 Peter 1:9a). The ultimate objective of being a Christian is to become like Christ (Romans 8:29; Colossians 3:9-11). Failure to grow indicates we have forgotten why we were redeemed by the blood of Christ in the first place (2 Peter 1:9b)—not only to have our sins forgiven, but also to become what He wants us to be, like His Son. Unless we want to be guilty of forgetfulness and shortsightedness, we need to grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ!
D. We Will Never Stumble
Peter says, “if you do these things you will never stumble” (2 Peter 1:10). This means being diligent to make your calling and election sure, adding to your faith virtue and abounding in the eight graces. While it does not mean we will never sin (1 John 1:8,10), the word “stumble” in Greek refers to falling into misery or wretchedness, such as the loss of salvation. We will never stumble so as to fall short of our ultimate salvation, but this assurance is true only if we are giving all diligence to grow in the knowledge of Christ and thereby making our calling and election sure.
E. An Abundant Entrance Into the Everlasting Kingdom
This “everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:11) is the “heavenly kingdom” referred to by Paul in 2 Timothy 4:18, the ultimate destiny of the redeemed. An “abundant entrance” means entering not as one who barely escaped, but in triumph. By possessing the eight graces, we can live victoriously in this life and joyously anticipate what lies ahead (2 Timothy 4:6-8).
Conclusion
Are these not sufficient reasons to grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ? Through such 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, and an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom will be ours. Because such knowledge requires the development of eight graces, in conjunction with each other and with all diligence, a careful study of these eight “graces” which lead to developing a Christ-like character is truly worth the effort!
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