<< Previous | Index | Next >>"PASSAGES TO PONDER" Knowledge Of Christ INTRODUCTION 1. In this series, "Passages To Ponder", we have briefly examined these passages so far... a. "Beatitudes Of The Kingdom" - Mt 5:3-12 b. "Defilements Of The Heart" - Mk 7:21-23 c. "Qualities Of Love" - 1Co 13:1-13 d. "Works Of The Flesh" - Ga 5:19-21 e. "Fruit Of The Spirit" - Ga 5:22-23 f. "Unity Of The Spirit" - Ep 4:4-6 g. "Apparel Of Christ" - Col 3:12-17 2. Summarizing these passages, we have pondered... a. The character and blessedness of those who would be citizens of the kingdom of heaven b. The source of evil and sin that defiles mankind c. The kind of love that is possible in the lives of those who follow Jesus Christ d. The works of the flesh that can prevent one from entering the kingdom of God e. The fruit born in the life of those led by the Spirit of God f. The unity of the Spirit which we must be diligent to preserve g. The apparel we are to put on since we've been raised with Christ [Our last passage in this series focuses the "Knowledge Of Christ" (2 Pe 1:3-11). Note first the context in which we learn the value of this knowledge...] I. THE CONTEXT A. GRACE AND PEACE ARE MULTIPLIED... 1. Grace and peace are common forms of greeting in the New Testament 2. Note that these two blessings are "multiplied" in the knowledge of Jesus Christ - 2Pe 1:2 3. All men experience God's favor (grace) and its result (peace) to some degree - cf. Mt 5:45 4. But only in Christ can one enjoy the "fullness" of God's favor and peace - Ep 1:3 -- God's grace and peace are multiplied through the knowledge of Christ! B. ALL THINGS PERTAINING TO LIFE AND GODLINESS ARE PROVIDED... 1. Note that God provides all things pertaining to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us to glory and virtue - 2Pe 1:3 a. Life in this context refers to our spiritual life and well-being b. Godliness refers to the pious conduct which comes out of devotion to God 2. It is through this knowledge we enjoy the true, full life available by God's divine power! a. Which includes "exceedingly great and precious promises" - 2Pe 1:4a b. Which enables us to be "partakers of the divine nature - 2Pe 1:4b c. Which frees us from the "corruption that is in the world through lust" - 2Pe 1:4c -- All that relates to true life and godliness is through the knowledge of Christ! C. SPIRITUAL MYOPIA AND AMNESIA ARE AVOIDED... 1. Our religion is shortsighted if we are not growing in the knowledge of Jesus! - 2Pe 1:9a a. For what is the ultimate objective of being a Christian? b. Is it not to become like Christ? - cf. also Ro 8:29; Col 3: 9-11 2. Failure to grow indicates we have forgotten why we were redeemed! - 2Pe 1:9b a. To have our sins forgiven, yes... b. ...but also to become what He wants us to be - like His Son! -- Avoiding spiritual myopia and amnesia comes through the knowledge of Christ! D. WE WILL NEVER STUMBLE... 1. Peter says "if you do these things you will never stumble" - 2Pe 1:10 a. If you are diligent to make your calling and election sure b. If you add to your faith virtue, knowledge, etc. - 2Pe 1: 5-8 c. If you abound in these eight graces d. Which is what it means to grow in the knowledge of Christ (see below) 2. This does not mean we will never sin - cf. 1Jn 1:8,10 a. The word "stumble" in Greek means "to fall into misery, become wretched; cf. the loss of salvation" (Thayer) b. We will never stumble so as to fall short of our ultimate salvation! -- Assurance of our salvation comes through the knowledge of Christ! E. AN ABUNDANT ENTRANCE INTO THE EVERLASTING KINGDOM... 1. The "everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" - 2Pe 1:11 a. The "heavenly kingdom" referred to by Paul in 2Ti 4:18 b. In other words, the ultimate destiny of the redeemed! 2. What is meant by the idea of an "abundant entrance"? a. "You may be able to enter, not as having escaped from a shipwreck, or from fire, but as it were in triumph." (Bengel) b. By possessing the eight graces, we will be able to live victoriously in this life and to joyously anticipate what lies ahead - cf. 2Ti 4:6-8 -- An abundant entrance into the kingdom comes through the knowledge of Christ! [The overall context our passage reveals the advantages of growing in the knowledge of Christ. Now let's consider what growing in the knowledge of Christ actually means...] II. THE MEANING A. THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHRIST-LIKE GRACES... 1. The "graces" listed in 2Pe 1:5-7 2. Briefly defined... a. Faith is "conviction, strong assurance" b. Virtue is "moral excellence, goodness" c. Knowledge is "correct insight" d. Self-control is "self-discipline" e. Perseverance is "bearing up under trials" f. Godliness is "godly character out of devotion to God" g. Brotherly kindness is "love toward brethren" h. Love is "active goodwill toward others" 3. Now note carefully 2Pe 1:8 a. We must "abound" in these graces b. Only then can it be said that we are "growing in the knowledge of Jesus Christ" 4. It is more than simply increasing our intellectual knowledge of Jesus! a. Such knowledge has a place, but it is just one of the graces necessary b. Peter is talking about growing in a fuller and personal knowledge of Jesus Christ! 1) Which comes by developing the Christ-like attributes listed in this passage 2) The more we grow in these graces, the more we really know Jesus (for He is the perfect personification of these graces) 5. That it involves more than intellectual knowledge is also evident from the Greek word used or knowledge in 2Pe 1:2-3,8 a. The word is epignosis {ep-ig'-no-sis}, meaning "to become thoroughly acquainted with, to know thoroughly, to know accurately, know well" (Thayer) b. Such knowledge comes only as we demonstrate these "Christ- like graces" in our lives -- The true knowledge of Christ requires that we develop Christ-like character! B. IN CONJUNCTION WITH EACH OTHER... 1. Notice the word "add" (or "supply") in 2Pe 1:5 a. Before each grace mentioned, the word is implied b. The word in Greek is epichoregeo {ep-ee-khor-ayg-eh'-o} 1) "Originally, to found and support a chorus, to lead a choir, to keep in tune" 2) "Then, to supply or provide" c. This word suggests the idea of "each grace working in harmony with the others to produce an overall effect" 2. Notice also the preposition "to" (or "in") in 2Pe 1:5-7 a. This implies "each grace is to temper and make perfect the grace that goes before it" b. To illustrate this point: 1) "to knowledge (add) self-control" - the grace of self- control enables one to apply properly the knowledge one has 2) "to self-control (add) perseverance" - self-control in turn needs the quality of perseverance to be consistent day after day 3. Therefore each grace is necessary! a. They must all be developed in conjunction with each other b. We cannot be selective and just pick the ones we like and leave others behind -- The true knowledge of Christ requires that we develop all of these characteristics! C. WITH ALL DILIGENCE... 1. Notice the repeated use of the word "diligence" - 2Pe 1:5,10 2. It means "earnestness, zeal, sometimes with haste" 3. To grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ requires much effort 4. We do not "accidentally" or "naturally" develop these graces! 5. We may have been Christians for a number of years; but unless... a. We "add" to our faith these Christ-like qualities with all "diligence" b. We are simply repeating the first year over and over again! -- The true knowledge of Christ requires due diligence to grow on our part! [With this understanding of what it means to grow in the knowledge of Christ, let us conclude with the following exhortations in connection with...] III. THE APPLICATION A. WE MUST NEVER FORGET... 1. What we experienced in the past: a. Purification from our sins! - 2Pe 1:9 b. Escape from the corruption in the world through lust! - 2 Pe 1:4 2. What we experience in the present: a. Grace and peace multiplied! - 2Pe 1:2 b. All things that pertain to life and godliness! - 2Pe 1:3 c. Participation in the divine nature! - 2Pe 1:4 d. Making our call and election sure! - 2Pe 1:10 e. Ensuring that we never stumble! - 2Pe 1:11 3. What we will experience in the future: a. Exceedingly great and precious promises! - 2Pe 1:4 b. An abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom! - 2 Pe 1:11 -- We must remember all these blessings of growing in the knowledge of Christ! B. WE MUST MAKE THE EFFORT... 1. Spiritual growth does not come without effort 2. We must give all diligence! - 2Pe 1:5 3. We must be even more diligent! - 2Pe 1:10 4. Paul would concur with Peter - cf. Php 2:12-13; 3:8-14 -- We must make diligent effort to grow in the knowledge of Christ! C. WE MUST DEVELOP A CHRIST-LIKE CHARACTER... 1. Building on faith 2. Striving for excellence 3. Increasing in knowledge 4. Controlling the self 5. Bearing up under trials 6. Seeking to please God 7. Loving the brethren 8. With active good will toward all men -- That is what it means to grow in the true knowledge of Christ! CONCLUSION 1. When studying this passage with a new convert, he exclaimed: a. "This is what it is all about!" b. "This is what it means to be a Christian!" 2. I believe he was not far from the truth... a. Yes, being a Christian means more: we must keep all that Christ commands - Mt 28:20 b. But without developing a Christ-like character, we fall far short of the knowledge of Christ! By pondering on this passage and others like those examined in this series, diligently applying them to our lives, we shall more likely "make our calling and election sure" and truly experience that abundant entrance into "the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ"...! "but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen." - 2Pe 3:18<< Previous | Index | Next >>
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