“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.” (2Peter 3:18)
Peter writes and commands us to grow in two things, in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus. This is to prevent us from being led away with the fallacy of the wicked, the unbelieving and perishing ones. Peter makes it clear that it’s possible to fall away from our devotion to the Lord and warns us that we can become treacherous and unfaithful to the Lord. “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 stedfastness.” (2Peter 3:17)
While Peter commands us to grow in grace and grow in the knowledge of Jesus, this little lesson will only be about growing in grace. If the Lord leads at some other time, we may study about growing in the knowledge of Jesus.
Grace is God’s unmerited, undeserved favor. How is it possible to grow in this? It’s the Lord’s gift to us. It was God’s grace that saved us. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” (Ephesians 2:8) We did nothing but believe to receive God’s gift of grace and favor that saved us. We didn’t work or strive to gain this grace. We didn’t earn it. And we certainly didn’t deserve it. We were in our sin, separated from God. Yet we have Peter’s warning to beware, be on your guard and avoid being led away by growing in grace. There are other terms in the Bible to consider about grace, more grace, all grace, sufficient grace and fullness of grace.
Let’s look at James who wrote, “But He giveth more grace. Wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” (James 4:6) So James leads us to believe that God gives more grace and there is more grace to be received. It’s given to the humble. The word that was translated “humble” actually means the humiliated in circumstance or disposition, the lowly or cast down. But the proud, those appearing to be above others and haughty, He resists or places Himself against them. The proud are the lovers of this world. (James 4:4,5) They are in danger of falling away and being led away by the fallacy of the wicked. (2 Peter 3:17) They are believers who love the things of this world and esteem them.
Brethren are you overlooked in your secular job because you don’t fit in with the crowd that lusts the worldly? More grace is given to you. Are promotions given to the loud and proud? More grace is given to you. Do you humbly and lovingly share your love and God’s gift only to be slighted? More grace is given to you. Are your gifts and talents not recognized? More grace is given to you. If there is any difficulty because of the Lord in your life, more grace is given to you. It’s very tempting to be led away by world, to desire the glam and glitter, to lust after the things of the world and to esteem them. But our hearts can be led away in error Peter warns.
God gives grace, His undeserved gift of favor, to those who are about doing good works. Any good work that we do brings glory to the Father. (Matthew 5:15) We do good works by the grace we have received because usually good works involve sacrifice, of time, energy and effort. God’s grace enables us to do it for His glory. “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:” (2Corinthians 9:8) He give us all and every grace that we need and more to excel in what we need to do so that He gets the glory. When we look at what we’ve done, we realize we couldn’t have done it without His grace. When others look at the work, they know that God had a hand in it and glorify Him. Good works are possible with all grace that He gives to be able to do it.
What kind of grace did God give Paul? He was suffering from a “thorn in his flesh.” (2Corinthians 12:7) Paul never explains in detail what this was, but it was bothersome enough to pray for the Lord to remove it. (2 Corinthians 12:8) But God’s response was, “...My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness...” (2Corinthians 12:9) God’s sufficient grace enables us to deal with the difficulties we may have in our lives, whatever they may be. It is enough to help us follow through them and lead holy, submitted and devoted lives unto the Lord in spite of them. The Lord’s power is shown in us as we continue our faithful walk in Him.
Jesus has fullness of grace. He was full of God’s favor when He walked this earth. “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) His grace is never ending and always overflowing. His grace is not the kind of grace that is consumed when needed, but a continual flow to those whomever He chooses to gift it. “And of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.” (John 1:16) He is the gift giver of God’s undeserved favor. It’s His gift of favor that has forgiven our sins and made us accepted in the beloved. “To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace; Wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;” (Ephesians 1:6-8) We have received through nothing we have done, but because of His love and mercy. Grow in His grace by depending on Him, trusting in Him and walking with Him.
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