2 Peter 3:17-18
You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. 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.
The trajectory of every biblical text assumes growth. But growth is not automatic. No one drifts into spiritual maturity. 2 Peter 3:18 says that we are to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, but what does that mean?
Grow in grace
Grace is God’s unmerited favor, it is God’s undeserved love mercy and compassion freely given to us. It is also the power God gives us to do what we should. To grow in Grace is to discover new dimensions of God’s love and acceptance of us as God’s children.
We can grow
We grow in our awareness of God’s grace in our lives
We also grow in our exercise of God’s grace in our lives
We also grow in our ability to offer grace to others
Grow in knowledge
The knowledge here is not just facts, it is intimate relational knowledge as well. We are to have a deepening experience of Jesus and an understanding of the truth of Christ. This knowledge should be ever increasing until Jesus comes. We grow in our knowledge of the implications of Jesus’ life, ministry, death and resurrection for our lives.
Why should we grow?
2 Peter offers at least three reason for why we should grow.
1. Because there are many false teachers
There are many influences in our lives. Many of them influence us to live for ourselves rather that for God. The influence comes from family, teachers, books, media and entertainment to name just a few.
2. Because we stand accountable to God
We will all stand before God one day and give an account of our lives. Can you imagine someone saying, “Well God, I just really wanted to get in heaven, I didn’t really care anything about living a better life or knowing you any better.”
3. Because we are called to live uprightly
We can not live uprightly if we resist God’s grace and refuse to know him more. We cannot be upright by ourselves, we need God’s grace. We don’t even know what an upright life is with God’s help. Life on our own terms is not an upright life.
4. The world needs godly people as a credible witness to the truth of Christ
Living a godly life is not boring or stale, it is living life in that adventure of God. It is being freed of all those things that make life rich and full and meaningful.
5. Living uprightly exposes error
When we live uprightly in this world a difference is seen between us and that will hopefully cause curiosity. We are then able to give a reason for the hope in us.
Growth happens when we simply grow in our knowledge and experience of God and act on it. The best way to do that is through Life Groups or Bible Studies. At the very least spend some time each day in God’s word and put into practice what you discover.
In the Chronicles of Narnia, Prince Caspian The four children find themselves back in Narnia. Although only a few years have passed for them, over a hundred years have passed in Narnia. As they continue their adventure, Lucy sees Aslan for the first time in this adventure.
“Aslan,” said Lucy “Your bigger.”
“That is because you are older Little one,” answered he.
“Not because you are?”
“I am not. But every year you grow, you will find me bigger.”
– Prince Caspian p. 148
As we grow Jesus becomes bigger. How big is Jesus in your life?