Grace and Peace be multiplied
2 Peter 1:1-2 “Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have attained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ:
Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God , and of Jesus our Lord,”
“Grace and peace be multiplied unto you”. Peter is writing, considering that he will soon be martyred. And because of the persecution that the church will be under soon.
(Peter was writing in the apostolic age of the church….the church to Ephesus in Revelation is this church. There was beginning, even then, to be error and apostasy…..”thou hast lost thy first love”.
….But soon the age of Smyrna…the time of throwing Christians to the lions in Rome…would come upon them. And so Peter calls them to see the blessings that are in Christ….the importance for every Christian to grow in grace and peace…by growing in knowledge (experience with Christ).
Peter is praying for them that Christ’s grace and peace abound….or be multiplied to them. And telling them how it will be:
It is “through the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord”.
This is, of course, personal, experiential knowledge of God. That He is our God.
Have you ever thought of that term: God. It means Sovereign…over all. It means All powerful. It means Gracious, Merciful, and Holy.
But what does it mean to us? When I think of God, I think of when Jesus said….”I ascend to My Father, and Your Father; and My God, and your God.” John 20:17
He chose me,….
…..and when I was born again, I chose Him.
He is my God. Over all….the world…and my circumstances.
And He wants us to know Him.
They that know their God shall do exploits (Daniel 11:32)
And through the knowledge of “Jesus our Lord”.
Do you know Jesus as Savior, only? Or as Lord?
And what knowledge are we to gain?
2 Peter 1:3 “According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue:”. Notice how many times Peter stresses “knowledge of Him”.
It is knowledge through His Word;
2 Peter 1:4 “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
How important reading the Bible everyday is, for it’s guidance and help. (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
But it is laying hold on them for our everyday lives that counts. As we dare….be bold…and act in accordance to what these promises for us are….then we really “grow” in Christ. We begin to show HIs nature….His character…and have the reality of those promises.
How can we best know how to pray? Listen to the prayers of those written of here, in the scriptures.
(It is amazing that Jesus prayed all night many times….yet the prayers we have recorded are prayers He taught the disciples (Matthew 6:10-13, Luke 11:2-4)….and the two prayers of subjection to His Father:
Matthew 11:25-26 “…I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in Thy sight.”
And of course the prayers in the garden….”Not Mine will, but Thine be done.” What a lesson in these prayers!)
Knowledge of what He wants to do for us, today, in the very circumstances we are in; with the very people we are called to be around.
(Read Ephesians 6:1-9 for an exhortation in practical life in our homes and jobs!)
Knowledge of His peaceful, powerful, and encouraging Presence. What a blessing it is!
Psalm 3:5 “I laid me down and slept; I awake; for the Lord sustained me.”
Philippians 4:19 “But my God shall supply all your need according to HIs riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
And knowledge of what we need to put aside as we grow in grace,…..what we need to cast off.
2 Peter 1:9-10 “But he that lacketh these things is blind,…
(and Peter has just named the works of the Holy Spirit’s power within us, as we give all diligence to grow…[virtue or the force of the Holy Spirit, knowledge, self-control, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, love]…..
…..so if we lack these things being worked in us…we have become blinded by the world in some respect)
…and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for it ye do these things, ye shall never fall:”
“Fall” here means to trip, to err, to offend, to sin. It does not mean to fall away.
And here is the prayer of Peter. That, because I am going away, I will not be here to warn you….then seek to know your God, and Jesus Christ more. Much trouble is coming to the church….be strong in the Lord.
(And isn’t the church facing these very things again today in this age?)
True knowledge is experiencing victory. For the more we experience Christ…the more like Him we become.
2 Peter 1:11 “For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
Heaven is the Father’s house….and every believer, weak or strong, is welcome with the same title and love.
But the everlasting kingdom is one of reward….which is based on our devotion to Christ Jesus. (Paul stresses this in: 1 Cor. 13:1-3 2 John 8 “Look to yourselves, that ye lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.”)
Peter calls them to use the knowledge that they have….and grow in more knowledge of God and Christ Jesus….that will multiply unto themselves the blessings of grace and peace….which they and we….sorely need.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 