A call to spiritual growth
2Pet. 3:18;
18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
Growth is natural. It is the joy of every parent to see their children grow. If there’s so much desire for growth in the natural, then how much more in the Spirit.
Let’s see the background to this:
vs. 15-17;
15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness.
In verse 15, we see that God does not want any man to perish. Furthermore, in verse 16, Peter reveals that there are people who are unlearned and unstable.
The word ‘led away’ in vs. 17 is the Greek word ‘sunapago’ meaning to ‘take off’ or ‘condescend’. That is, to go off the truth. (used in Rom. 12:16; Gal. 2:12).
‘Error’ is the Greek word ‘planē’ meaning delusion.
This means there’s an error of the wicked one. The error of the wicked will be in deceit, meaning it will be masked. The wicked one will be the one who’s unlearned.
Again, Peter makes us know there is the unlearned.
‘Unlearned’ – ‘Amatheis’; The one without teaching. Actually, he has been taught but refused learning. He has been taught the truth but refuses it. Of course, the unlearned is also the unstable.
Peter makes us see that the way you don’t fall from steadfastness is to grow in grace.
There is no middle ground in spiritual growth. The believer is either growing spiritually or falling from from steadfastness. This means that spiritual growth looks like steadfastness.
Steadfastness in what?
Steadfastness – ‘stērigmou’ – stability.
Steadfastness or stability in grace is what spiritual growth is.
Grace here doesn’t mean unmerited favour. Peter goes ahead to explain what he would mean by growing in grace as to grow in knowledge. The use of the word ‘and’ there is explanatory. (1Pet. 3:18)
Spiritual growth is therefore stability in the knowledge of God.
1 Pet. 2:2;
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
The one growing spiritually is the one growing in God’s word. Hence, knowledge is paramount. This means that the ministry gifts via the local church will be very instrumental to your spiritual growth.
Eph. 4:11-14;
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
The purpose of the pastor is to equip the believer for the work of ministry. The church is for the knowledge of God.
In Eph. 4:14, Paul explains the character of a child – tossed to and fro. A child will be one who does not have stability in knowledge. Maturity will be in knowledge. So, the believer must seek to know. He ought to be strong in his pursuit of knowledge, that’s what makes him effective. A Christian is what he knows.
This year and beyond, be determined to know. Go for the word!
Daily Bible Reading Plan : Gen. 4 – 7