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-

Christmas is a Gift

God’s gift of Christmas is the gift of His Son (Isaiah 9:6-7)

This Child was born for us. This Son was given to us.

The good we need is the good that is given to us through the person of Jesus Christ.

God’s will is that every lasting good and every satisfying blessing be experienced only because of Jesus.

Do you see this in the text? Verse one tells us there is no gloom, verse two tells us there is great light for those in darkness, verse three tells us there is great joy and gladness.

We are intended to ask why? Where does this come from? Why the change?

Verse 4 begins the answer. Notice the word ‘for’ it means because. You have those blessings because God is the restorer of those who are oppressed.

Then we ask how does God restore? Verse 5 begins the answer. Notice the repeated ‘for’ in that verse.

There is joy because there is restoration because God fights for us; burn your army boots and battle garments.

But how will God fight for us? How will we be restored? How will our joy overflow like it does in times of harvest?

Verse 6, because to us a child is born, to us a son is given. That little baby boy in the manger is our joy.

Do you see that the security of all these blessings does not come because of what this son will do? The security is ours simply because of his birth.

God’s purposes cannot be stopped. Jesus has come for us. This son is given to us. What we need for today and all of eternity is secured for us and given to us in Jesus Christ.

He is called Wonderful Counselor

Now these names, these things we call Jesus, are not meant to be simple markers or identifiers.

These are his names because these are what the presence of Jesus brings to our lives.

To the teaching and to the testimony is the call of Isaiah 8 verse 20. Go to true knowledge. Abandon lies. Do away with what is insufficient.

The wonderful counselor is here; listen to him. Jesus said in John 15:7, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

His counsel, his wisdom, is supernatural. What we have recorded in Scripture is not the common-sense wisdom of the day.

This is not the home-spun advice of generations gone by. Listen to the Christ. He was given to you. He came for you. Scripture is meant for our good.

We must be a listening people. We must be a bible-reading people. We must be a people who listen and then rest in his strength and rejoice in his promise.

And God intends for us to be this no matter what our circumstances are.

Call him Wonderful Counselor by listening to him and resting in his plans and in his power.

He is called Mighty God

He is the strong God. He alone has the power that is necessary to complete his will and counsel.

Do we sleep at night knowing that he will supply the power to accomplish the plans he has called us to?
There is no biological family that can give this strength. There is no job that can supply this security. There is no investment or amount of money that can make these promises.

Only Jesus is Mighty God. Only he can surely deliver what he promises no matter our circumstances.

It pleases God to show him self strong on our behalf. We see his strength when we are weak.

The Apostle Paul’s struggle over his own weakness is recorded for our benefit. The promise of Christ to him is the promise of Christ to us.

Hear Jesus, the Mighty God, speak to you out of his wonderful counsel, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.

He is called Everlasting Father

With Jesus there is wonderful counsel that is good for all of eternity. With Jesus is power that is good for all time. He is the Everlasting Father.

It is foolishness to think that this child that is born, this son that is given, is anyone less than God.

No one human king, no prophet’s son, can bear up under these names. This baby is a human and this baby is God.

He is father; He is creator. He is our eternal Sustainer.

Come to him today. Take the gift given to you and find was is everlasting. Find counsel, find might, find your Father who is full of love and peace.

Find the One called Prince of Peace

Through this name for Jesus we are meant to understand that we can find everlasting powerful peace in no one else but Jesus; with him is princely peace. And we are meant to understand that this Everlasting Father intends to give peace to his people.

Because of his strong shoulders there will be no end to his government; he cannot be overthrown our ousted.

Because of his strong shoulders there will be no end to the peace that he gives to his people.

Jesus sits on the throne of David in order to establish and uphold his kingdom.

Christmas is about a child being born so that we can receive him and all his blessings.

With him is justice and righteousness from right now unto forever.

BUT GOD’S PEOPLE ARE BEING CAPTURED!

Zebulun and Naphtali are brought into contempt. The rest of Israel and Judah are soon to follow.

You know this feeling: my life is falling apart. This is not what I bargained for. I cannot handle this. I am frustrated. I hate this.

The advice of others has made things worse - Jesus is called Wonderful Counselor.

I cannot go on I give up - Jesus is called Mighty God.

I am alone and abandoned - Jesus is called Everlasting Father.

I am empty and cannot find rest - Jesus is Prince of Peace.

What will do this for the people of Israel? What will do this for you this morning? Look at the end of verse 7.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

God’s passion for his own glory, his own Son, and his own people will accomplish all of this.

Today, like every day, like every Christmas, God is calling us to trust him no matter the circumstances.

For us a child is born. For us a son is given.

Right now, through Isaiah chapter 9, God is calling on us to trust him. Trust him in spite of circumstances and sin and darkness and shame.

Trust him because the reality of Christ and the wisdom of Christ and the power of Christ is far greater.

Receive the gift of Christmas. Repent, believe, and be saved.

(Countdown to Christmas, Merry Christmas)
-Author Unknown-