Growing in the Knowledge of God Part 1
2nd Peter 1:3-11- His divine power was granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind having forgotten that he has cleansed from his former sins. Therefor brothers be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities, you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
In reference to 2nd Peter 1:3: His divine power was granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence
1st Peter 1:5- Who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the Salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
1st Thessalonians 2:12- And so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth be delighted in wickedness.
The power to grow does not come from within us but from God. Because we don't have the resources to be truly godly, God allows us to participate in the divine nature. When we are born again, God by his spirit empowers us with his own moral goodness.
In reference to 2nd Peter 1:4- by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
2nd Corinthians 7:1- Since we have these promises dear friends to let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates us body and spirit. Perfecting holiness out of reverence for God
We will never be perfect not even close. There has and always will be one perfect human being that has walked on this earth and that is Jesus Christ. Ask for forgiveness - repent of your sins - Do the footwork - ask God to guide your path - stay in his word.
Being a Christian isn't so cut and dry a lot of these religious people make you think. They are so confident to tell you what to do, how to pray, how many times you should be in church. All of that from wise counsel is good and is very important but one thing they fail to mention is how does one handle the dark moments, when you have moments when all you can think about is the very thing you're trying not to do. Being a Christian is tough; it takes a lot of self-control, and that self-control comes from Jesus. Find other people that you can be completely honest with, not only with what you are struggling with but also with your walk with the Lord.
1st Thessalonians 4:7- For God did not call us to be impure but to live a holy life.
Leviticus 11:44- I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy. Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves about the ground.
God is so interesting, and the creator wants the created to know about him. He wants us to gain a better understanding of him. The more we know and understand God the closer we are to him.
2nd Peter 1:5- So make every effort to apply the benefits of these promises to your life, then your faith will produce a life of moral excellence. A life of oral excellence leads to knowing God better. (New Living Translation)
In reference to 2nd Peter1:5
Colossians 2:3-4 In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I tell you so that no one may deceive you by fine sounding arguments.
God has given us minds for learning. Never quit using yours. Center your learning around Christ.
Paul was combating in the Colossian church which was similar to Gnosticism from the Greek word knowledge. This heresy undermined Christianity in several basic ways.
Romans 16:18- Such people are not serving Christ as Lord they are serving their own personal interest by smooth talk and glowing words, they deceive innocent people
When reading books and/or listening to sermons check the content of what you are reading (even with what you are reading right now) or listening to. Don't be fooled by smooth style, Christians who study God's word cannot be fooled. Superficial listeners may easily be taken in.
Acts 17:10-11: The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the Jewish synagogue now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
2nd Peter 1:6- Knowing God leads to self-control, self-control leads to patient endurance and patient endurance leads to godliness.
In reference to 2nd Peter 1:6
God wants to produce his character in us. To do this He demands our discipline and effort. False teachers may teach that self-control isnt needed because deeds don't help believers anyways. Deeds cannot save us, that is true BUT! to say that they're not important is completely false.
We are saved so that way we can grow to resemble Christ and so that we can serve others.
2nd Peter 2:19- They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves to depravity for a man is a slave to whatever masters him.
No body is truly free, if people fail to follow God, they follow their own sinful desires and then become enslaved to whatever the body wants. Submitting our life to Christ free's us from slavery to sin. We are free to serve him a freedom that results in our ultimate good.
As we obey Christ who guides us by the spirit, we develop self-control not only with respect to food and drink but also with respect to our emotions.
Faith must be more than beliefs in certain facts it must result in action, Growth in Christian Character and the practice of moral discipline or it will die away.
James 2:14-17: What good is it, my brothers if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food If one of you say to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical need, what good is it? In the same way faith by itself it is not accompanied by action is dead.
Seeking God's wisdom delivers us from the need to compare ourselves to others and to want what they have.
Matthew 7:26- But anyone who hears my teaching and ignores it is foolish like a person who builds a house on sand.
Many people are headed to destruction not out of stubbornness but out of thoughtlessness. As believers we think about the bigger picture some may say we think about life's purpose. We as believers pay attention to other people as well and help shine the light of Jesus and sharing the gospel and the consequences when ignoring Christ's message.
