Scripture Text: 2 Peter 3
Memory Verse: But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
Lesson Aim: To inspire believers to pursue growth in the grace and knowledge of Christ.2 Peter 3:18
In 2 Peter 3:18, Peter admonished the saints to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. What does it mean to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord? We have understood grace to be God’s unmerited favor, the gift of His Son being the ultimate revelation of God’s favor. Strong’s Concordance also describes grace as the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life.
The word knowledge as used in this verse could be described as familiarity, awareness, or understanding gained through experience or study. The applicable definition for growth in this context would be development and maturity. Accordingly, Peter is admonishing us to develop, become mature in God’s favor (His divine influence upon our hearts) and in our familiarity, awareness and understanding of Christ.
All living things experience growth. Growth is normal. It is expected. In the natural, lack of growth will result in stagnation, stunting and at worse death. We expect our natural children to grow physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
Growth is necessary in order to bear fruit. When growth occurs, things change. Nothing grows from infancy to maturity overnight. It takes time and it happens in small increments. However, some things grow faster than others. For example, animals reach maturity far quicker than humans.
In some cases, outward growth appears to be quick, but it take more time to fully mature. Even though our children grow quickly, it takes years for them to mature. So it is with members of the Body of Christ. Not everyone grows at the same pace.
In order for anything to grow, it must be fed. It has to receive nourishment. As newborn babes, we must desire the sincere milk of the word so that we can grow thereby. As we grow, we must continue to hunger and thirst after God in order to develop and mature beyond infancy. Too many Christians are still stuck in spiritual childhood. Paul had to address it in the 1st Century church, but it still happens today. Many are still drinking milk when they should be eating meat.
We must exercise faith in order to grow in God’s favor. But faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Prayer is another vital factor that will impact our growth in grace and knowledge of the Lord. Time spent communing with the Father and experiencing His presence allows Him to cleanse and nourish us spiritually.
Heart-to-heart worship refreshes and allows us to tap into the flow of His Spirit. Fellowship with the saints provides opportunities for us to be edified, encouraged, strengthened and to practice the character of Christ. It is important that we value and increase our desire for the Word, prayer, worship and fellowship because these disciplines will impact our growth and our ability to bear fruit.
Peter admonished us to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord because he knew that as we develop and mature in the Lord we will be changed more into the image of Christ. We will become more like Christ and exhibit more of His character. We will better understand the depths of His sacrifice and the blessings available to us. Growth in the grace and knowledge of our Lord is necessary for us to go from glory to glory.
Interact with God’s Word
- Considering Peter’s admonition in 2 Peter 3:18, what does it mean to grow in grace?
- Why is it important that we grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord?
John 17:3; 2 Peter 1:1-4, 8; Ephesians 1:17-19; Philippians 3:10-11 - How do we grow in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior? Romans 10:17; 1 Peter 2:1-2
- What are some indicators of growth? 2 Thessalonians 1:3; 2 Peter 1:5-8