Episode 15 2 Peter 3:17-18 - grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus

Now, no verse could sum up our aim in these, uh, Bible studies and reflections better than verse 18, "Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ." So it's a call from God to grow, to deepen, to advance in our experiential knowledge of Jesus as our Lord, Messiah, and Savior.

I wonder, do you often feel that you're growing in religious and academic knowledge? You engage in Bible study groups, and it just seems to be academic discussion, and you know that we don't want a dead orthodoxy.

You know that what God wants is practical, real life godliness.

Well, with the help of the Holy Spirit, I trust that we will discover the Gospel path to growth i- in these studies, that we get what, uh, the Christian writer Dallas Willard called, "The vision, the intention, and the means to be able to set out the pathway of progress towards Christ-likeness by faith." Now, it's important to realize that everybody, believer, unbeliever, doesn't matter, is in a process of growth and development.

We don't stand still as human beings as we progress through this life, even if the process is one of decline.

And Galatians 6:7-8 says, "Don't be deceived.

God can't be mocked.

A man reaps what he sows.

Whoever sows to please their flesh will from the flesh reap destruction.

Whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life." Now, the lesson of these important verses is set out memorably in a little proverb that I have quoted times without number in sermons, "Sow a thought, reap a deed.

Sow a deed, reap a habit.

Sow a habit, reap a character.

Sow a character, and reap a destiny." So everybody is in a process of development of some kind spiritually, whether they are a believer or unbeliever, so it's how we grow to be more like Christ that we want to discover.