Growing In Grace – Finding Stability (2 Peter 1:1-4)
17You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. —2 Peter 3:17-18
We want to GROW in grace and knowledge this summer.
We GROW so we remain steadfast.
1Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: —2 Peter 1:1
Peter introduced himself with both humility and authority.
Peter wrote to a group of believers struggling to live in their new normal known as the Diaspora.
Couple Doses of Reality…
Reality #1: When struggle is present, human nature is to find
Reality #2: We are all
False Teaching – Any message that doesn’t present God, Christ, and the Gospel as the means of salvation and sanctification.
2Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, —2 Peter 1:2
Grace and peace are essential to holding fast.
Peter prayed that grace and peace would be MULTIPLIED.
Growing in grace occurs when we grow in knowledge of God and Jesus.
3As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. —2 Peter 1:3-4
To grow in grace and knowledge signifies that we possess
God gave us promises to
31Jesus asked, “Do you finally believe? 32But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. 33I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” —John 16:31-33
Peter wanted his readers to hear hope.
God wants us to hear hope.
Our hope is found in the divine nature given to us.