Jump Start # 3815
2 Peter 3:18 “but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”
Earlier in this second letter of Peter, the readers were told to “add” or “supply” knowledge to moral excellence. Here in our verse today, they are told to “grow” in grace and knowledge. That seems so simple, but is it? Many have been out of school for a long, long time. Some weren’t very good in school. Others admit that they are not much at “book learning.” Growing in grace and knowledge, it’s hard for some.
First, this is more than just memorizing facts about the Bible. This is how we operate in children’s classes. They first learn the books of the Bible. Then we move on to teach them the names of the apostles. Then the judges. So our children grow with head full of Bible facts.
Interestingly, of all the trees in the garden, God did not want Adam eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. God did not want His creation to know evil. But, we have learned evil. There are those who lay awake at night devising evil plans. There are those who envy the wicked.
The apostle John uses the word “know” more than any other N.T. writer. He said in 1 John 2:13, “I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning.” You know Him. That is the key to knowledge. It is knowing Him.
Now, those that know me, know that in baseball I am a Dodger fan. In college sports, it’s Purdue. In movies, it’s gotta be more action than talking. In desserts, it’s anything chocolate. Those that know me know that I love restoration history, especially, early Indiana church history. In music, it’s the 60s, especially British Invasion. I like working in the yard. I like everything back in it’s place at the end of the day. I like colorful socks and writing with fountain pens. I like my grandchildren calling me “PJ.” I hate snakes—all snakes. Real ones and plastic ones. My kids could say “yep,” to all of those things. That’s dad, or PJ, as they’d say.
So, when it comes to knowledge, it’s not just memorizing Bible facts, it’s understanding God. It is to say I know God. I know how God operates. I know what God is like. All those pages in our Bibles, from the wrong sacrifice of Cain, to Nadab’s strange fire, to Jeroboam’s temple in Dan, to Ananias’ lying, through Jonah’s complaining, we come to understand that God is holy and must be respected. And, when things are suggested that are out of bounds with the Bible, we can declare that they are wrong. How do you know they are wrong? We know God.
God has a kindness to those who are struggling and trying to do what is right. The father running to the prodigal with open arms, is our God. Jesus casting the demon out of a Gentile girl shows the heart of God. Jesus interrupting a funeral procession and raising a dead young man shows the compassion of God. God cares. How do we know that? We know God.
Some thoughts about growing in knowledge:
First, get a good grasp of the make up of your Bible. Become familiar with how it is put together. See how the different books fit together and tell the story of Jesus. Understand concepts, words and ideas. Why the fulness of time, as Galatians were told, makes sense. Why then? Why not earlier?
Second, knowledge leads to obedience and righteous living. Knowing God changes you.
Third, the greatest weapon against error is knowing the truth. Truth never fears questions. Truth never suffers from investigation.
Fourth, knowledge builds confidence and drives out fear.
Some spend more time reading about the Bible than they do actually reading the Bible itself. Don’t do that. Don’t come to a Bible class or a sermon without your Bible, a pen and some paper. Learning ears will find something useful to write down.
Finally, be humble. Recently, a dear brother who is in his 90s pointed out something in a recent Jump Start. He shared his insights, backed with passages and spoken with kindness. How easily I could have replied, “I know what I’m doing.” But, I think he was right. Learn from others. Learn from others older than you. Learn from others younger than you. Don’t think you have a monopoly on the truth. You don’t. And, it is the humble, learning heart that will grow and be thankful to learn from others.
We must not be spoon fed by our preachers. It’s time to grow up and feed ourselves. Ignorance is a powerful tool of the devil to lead a church in a direction away from the Lord. And, to deal with that, grow in knowledge. Add knowledge to your moral excellence and faith.
You know God…what a wonderful and refreshing place that is. Our Father, is how Jesus told the disciples to pray. Our Father. You know Him. You love Him. You follow Him. You trust Him.
Roger