Grow In Grace and Knowledge (2 Peter 3:17-18)

Grow in Grace and Knowledge
2 Peter 3:18

INTRODUCTION:
Knowledge is necessary both for proper direction in walking and for success in warfare and the grace of God is needed in both.

When we are born, our spiritual knowledge is likely to be limited. Note 1 Peter 2:2; Heb. 5:12-14.

Life is never static. We must grow or else begin to shrivel and die.

JESUS GREW SPIRITUAL AND INTELLECTUALLY - Luke 2:52:
How His divine nature could divest and suppress itself so as to come into the world as a human infant is beyond our finite comprehension.

Luke 2:49 - As Jesus grew, it brought Him increasingly to the favorable attention of God and men by His own proper attitude and conduct toward them both.

STAND FIRM TO GROW - Ephesians 6:10-20:
We are to “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Tim. 6:12). Each Christian is a soldier (2 Tim. 2:3-4).

While God supplies the armor, we ourselves have to put it on. This is related to appropriating the word of God to ourselves and applying it in our lives, which we are expected to do constantly and progressively.

First - The Nature of our Warfare - Eph. 6:10-12.
We are to be strong in the Lord, not necessarily in politics or business, but in our religious life. Paul wrote that when he was weak, he realized he was strong (2 Cor. 12:10).

“Schemes” are strategies and tricks. We are not ignorant of how Satan operates. But he works unseen. The contest is not equal if we are fighting alone. The armor God has made available makes us stronger.

Second - The Description of the Panoply - Eph. 6:13-17.
The “evil day” is any time that evil comes upon us.

The belt - holds the other pieces into place and it makes the other tools accessible to the soldier. We need “truth” in the “inward parts” (Psa. 51:6). While “truth” certainly refers to biblical truth, we also need to wear truthfulness - honesty, sincerity.

The breastplate - protects the heart and other vital organs. Our righteousness protects us - a “right standing with God.” The commandments of God are “righteous” (Psa. 119:172; 1 John 3:7) so that we need habitual obedience to Christ’s teachings.

The shoes - or sandals with hobnails to give certain footing. This allows us to stand firmly and fight bravely when we cannot because we are uncomfortable or even a little cowardly in our conscience.

The shield - was a large, oblong shield with four corners, about 4’ long by 2 1/2’ wide - made from light wood and covered with heavy leather and often soaked in water to “quench the fiery arrows / darts / missiles.” Our shield is our faith, our confidence in God. This will protect us from the slander, ridicule, even threats from our friends, family, and enemies.

The helmet - protects the head. Spiritually, it is our salvation. We don’t have to fear those who can harm the body, if we know we are saved (Matt. 10:28).

Last, we have the only offensive weapon for the Christian - the sword - The tool of the Holy Spirit, the word of God (see also Heb. 4:12).

Third - The Necessity of Prayer - Eph. 6:18-20.
It is not our place to know all the ways in which God responds to earnest prayer, or all that He does to make our efforts effectual when otherwise they might not be. James 5:16.

Praying “in the Spirit” is a spiritual conversation, influenced by the Spirit and His teachings, His goals, His desires, His purposes. And we live in harmony with the Spirit’s teachings.

WALK TO GROW - Colossians 2:6:
This is motion, advancing by steps, pursuing a course of life moving toward heaven.

Christ calls on us to go on walking in accordance with the lessons we have received when we first learned about Him.

GROW IN GRACE & KNOWLEDGE - 2 Peter 3:17-18:
We “stand,” we “walk,” now we “grow.”

Just as Jesus grew in favor or approval and admiration with God, so we ought to do the same. We do that by “standing” for Him (Eph. 6), by “walking with Him” (Col. 2), and by “growing in grace and knowledge about Him and from Him” (2 Peter 3).

There is no place to stop in this process.

Take home message: Christ challenges us to grow in His grace and knowledge of His Truth. Let’s stand; let’s walk; let’s grow.