FAITH - Growing in the Knowledge of GOD

True Faith Comes From God

2 Peter 1:1-2
Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours: Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

Peter reminds us of the source of our faith. True faith is received from God. We are reminded that the righteousness of God and Christ has made faith possible. That faith is as precious today as it was when the apostles first received it. True faith is not devised by cunning of men, but a faith based on knowledge from God.

True Faith Must be Validated

In Peter’s second epistle, Peter’s emphasis is on the knowledge of God. The word knowledge is used at least thirteen times in this short epistle. Peter emphasizes that God has given us all things that pertain to life through the knowledge of God.

2 Peter 1:3-4
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. (NIV)

Divine power to save is revealed through the knowledge of God through Jesus Christ. Peter says the goal of our faith is the salvation of our souls. (1 Peter 1:9) It is obvious that the goal of our faith is eternal life. Eternal life comes through knowing God. Jesus said, "This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou has sent." (John 17:3)

The word "know" does not mean a mere intellectual understanding of some truth, though that is included. It means a living participation in the truth in the sense that our Lord used it.

Nothing is more practical and powerful than a working knowledge of God. There is a vast difference in knowing about God and knowing God through a personal application of his truths to your life. There is a vast difference in one who can teach others about God and one who knows how to apply God’s truths in his/her life. Many have knowledge of God, but it is not a working knowledge.

2 Peter 1:3-7

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

Peter is concerned with our spiritual health. Most of us already know how to live healthier spiritual lives than we are living. Nevertheless, Peter doesn’t hesitate to remind us of our need to practice good spiritual health.

What are we doing to stay spiritually healthy? Again I don't mean what do we know about staying spiritually healthy. It is obvious that we can’t do the right thing without knowing the right thing. This is why Peter reminds us of the source of our faith, which comes through Christ. He also emphasizes that doing is a very important part of knowing.

So much theology is the discussion and debate over the difficult passages of the Bible, while overlooking the simple teaching of Christ. In the outset of this epistle Peter brings us back to the simple application of the gospel to our lives. It doesn’t get any simpler than this.

Faith—goodness—knowledge—self-control—perseverance—godliness—brotherly kindness—how much simpler could it be?

These are qualities, which must be added to faith to validate our faith. To subtract these qualities from the gospel of Christ is to rob the gospel of its power to save. Faith without these qualities leaves us barren.

2 Peter 1:7-11
For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (NIV)

If you walk around with your eyes closed, you will stumble! The growing Christian walks with confidence because he/she knows he/she is secure in Christ. It is not our profession of faith that guarantees that we are saved; it is our progression in faith that gives us that assurance. The person who claims to be a child of God whose character and conduct give no evidence of spiritual growth is deceiving self and heading for judgement.

Grace and peace are multiplied to us through a working knowledge of God. Peter writes, "Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord." (2 Peter 1:2 NIV)

Validating our faith through a practical obedience makes our calling and election sure.

Conclusion:

The Christian life begins with faith, but that faith must lead to spiritual growth. Faith leads to growth and growth leads to practical results in life and service.

-My Bits and Pieces from a sermon by Jim Davis-