2 Peter 3:18 - Growing in Grace.

2 Peter 3:18; Growing in Grace.

TEXT

2 Pet 3:18 (KJV)  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. 

OTHER TRANSLATIONS AND PARAPHRASES

2 Peter 3:18 (AMP) But grow in grace (undeserved favor, 
spiritual strength) and recognition and knowledge and understanding of our 
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (the Messiah). To Him [be] glory (honor, 
majesty, and splendor) both now and to the day of eternity. Amen (so be 
it)!  

2 Pet 3:18 (TLB)  But grow in spiritual strength and become 
better acquainted with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be all 
glory and splendid honor, both now and forevermore. Good-bye. Peter 

WORD STUDY

Grow. Be continually increasing in grace (as described in 1:5-7 
I.E. Faith,  Virtue (excellence, resolution, Christian energy), 
Knowledge (intelligence),  Self-Control, Steadfastness (patience, 
endurance), Godliness (piety), Brotherly Affection, Christian Love). [Ryrie 
SB] 

Grow. The tense implies "keep on growing."... Growth is 
characteristic of the true child of God as it is of all living things inasmuch 
as he has found a new life in Christ Jesus (cf. 1 Cor. 4:15). His 
goal is a character that resembles the perfect character of his Lord, 
and a mind that is able to think His thoughts after Him. He aspires 
to "grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ" 
(see on Eph. 4:15). In this life, and thereafter in the life to come, 
the Christian can look forward to endless growth in character and in 
understanding the will and ways of God. There will ever be new worlds of mind 
and spirit for him to conquer, new heights to climb, new doors of 
adventure and opportunity to open. [SDA Commentary] 

Grace. Grace is one of the spheres in which the Christian is to 
grow; he is to become still more firmly established in a personal 
experience of Christ's own gracious kindness. [SDA Commentary] 

Knowledge. The knowledge that makes one fully acquainted with 
the person, office, work, and power of Jesus Christ. This is a 
knowledge that can and should increase. Each day of the Christian's life 
should add to his understanding of his Master's mission for the world 
and for himself. [SDA Commentary] 

Knowledge This Greek word for knowledge usually connotes 
progressive, experiential, and personal knowledge; it is knowledge that can 
grow. We need to grow in our actual, personal knowledge of Jesus 
Christ; such knowledge is the greatest protection against false 
teachings. One of the prominent themes in this epistle is Peter's 
exhortation to the believers to attain a fuller, more thorough knowledge of 
Jesus Christ (1:8; 2:20; 3:18). [Nelson SB] 

INTRODUCTION

This concluding doxology emphasizes the characteristic theme of 
growth in grace and knowledge. [Believer's SB] 

Peter and Paul had very different backgrounds and personalities, 
and they preached from different viewpoints. Paul emphasized 
salvation by grace, not law, while Peter preferred to talk about Christian 
life and service. The two men did not contradict each other, however, 
and they always held each other in high esteem. The false teachers 
intentionally misused Paul's writings by distorting them to condone 
lawlessness. No doubt this made the teachers popular, because people always 
like to have their favorite sins justified, but the net effect was to 
totally destroy Paul's message. Paul may have been thinking of teachers 
like these when he wrote in Romans 6:15: "What then? Shall we sin 
because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!" Peter warned 
his readers to avoid the mistakes of those wicked teachers by 
growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus. The better we know Jesus, 
the less attractive false teaching will be. [Life Application SB] 

Peter's reference to Paul's letters, equating them with the 
"other Scriptures," indicates how early the writings now in our Bible 
were recognized as Scripture by the early church. 
Every once in a while I see an ad urging me to send for the rest 
of the Bible--for lost gospels, or lost letters, or newly recovered 
apocalypses. Actually all these writings have been known for untold years. 
They are early Christian or heretical writings that circulated much 
as do books from the modern Christian bookstore. Some were 
propaganda for cults. Some were devotional writings intended to strengthen 
the believer. But none of them were ever considered Scripture--as the 
books in our New Testament quickly were. 
No wonder Peter urges us to recall the words of prophet and 
apostle. And to ignore false teacher and scoffer alike. As we keep our 
hearts fixed on the inspired Word of God, we will grow in grace and be 
ready when Jesus comes. [The 365-Day Devotional Commentary] 

APPLICATION/COMMENTARY

Peter concludes this brief letter as he began, by urging his 
readers to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus 
Christ--to get to know him better and better. This is the most important 
step in refuting false teachers. No matter where we are in our 
spiritual journey, no matter how mature we are in our faith, the sinful 
world always will challenge our faith. We still have much room for 
growth. If every day we find some way to draw closer to Christ, we will 
be prepared to stand for truth in any and all circumstances. [Life 
Application SB] 

Sanctification is not the work of a moment, an hour, or a day. 
It is a continual growth in grace. We know not one day how strong 
will be our conflict the next. Satan lives, and is active, and every 
day we need to earnestly cry to God for help and strength to resist 
him. As long as Satan reigns we shall have self to subdue, besetments 
to overcome, and there is no stopping place. There is no point to 
which we can come and say we have fully attained.  {7BC 947.5}   

We need to keep ever before us the efficacy of the blood of 
Jesus. That life-cleansing, life-sustaining blood, appropriated by 
living faith, is our hope. We need to grow in appreciation of its 
inestimable value, for it speaks for us only as we by faith claim its 
virtue, keeping the conscience clean and at peace with God.  {7BC 
947.11}   

How is it possible that we may grow in grace? It is possible to 
us only as we empty our hearts of self, and present them to Heaven, 
to be molded after the divine Pattern. We may have a connection 
with the living channel of light; we may be refreshed with the 
heavenly dew, and have the showers of Heaven descend upon us. As we 
appropriate the blessing of God, we shall be able to receive greater 
measures of His grace. As we learn to endure as seeing Him who is 
invisible, we shall become changed into the image of Christ. The grace of 
Christ will not make us proud, cause us to be lifted up in self, but we 
shall become meek and lowly in heart. {7BC 947.6}   

We are to grow in that grace; but since grace is God's unmerited 
favor, how do we grow in it?  In part by feeding on the Word which 
enables us to grow in knowledge of our God; that knowledge enables us to 
make choices that please Him. [In His Time; Walk With Wisdom] 

"Grow in grace"-not in one grace only, but in all grace. Grow in 
that root-grace, faith. Believe the promises more firmly than you 
have done. Let faith increase in fulness, constancy, simplicity. Grow 
also in love. Ask that your love may become extended, more intense, 
more practical, influencing every thought, word, and deed. Grow 
likewise in humility. Seek to lie very low, and know more of your own 
nothingness. As you grow downward in humility, seek also to grow upward 
-having nearer approaches to God in prayer and more intimate fellowship 
with Jesus. May God the Holy Spirit enable you to "grow in the 
knowledge of our Lord and Saviour." He who grows not in the knowledge of 
Jesus, refuses to be blessed. To know him is "life eternal," and to 
advance in the knowledge of him is to increase in happiness. He who does 
not long to know more of Christ, knows nothing of him yet. Whoever 
hath sipped this wine will thirst for more, for although Christ doth 
satisfy, yet it is such a satisfaction, that the appetite is not cloyed, 
but whetted. If you know the love of Jesus-as the hart panteth for 
the water-brooks, so will you pant after deeper draughts of his 
love. If you do not desire to know him better, then you love him not, 
for love always cries, "Nearer, nearer." Absence from Christ is 
hell; but the presence of Jesus is heaven. Rest not then content 
without an increasing acquaintance with Jesus. Seek to know more of him 
in his divine nature, in his human relationship, in his finished 
work, in his death, in his resurrection, in his present glorious 
intercession, and in his future royal advent. Abide hard by the Cross, and 
search the mystery of his wounds. An increase of love to Jesus, and a 
more perfect apprehension of his love to us is one of the best tests 
of growth in grace. [Morning and Evening by Charles H. Spurgeon] 

It is the Lord's desire that His followers shall grow in grace, 
that their love shall abound more and more, that they shall be filled 
with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the 
praise and glory of God.... One of the divine plans for growth is 
impartation. The Christian is to gain strength by strengthening others. "He 
that watereth shall be watered also himself." This is not merely a 
promise; it is a divine law, a law by which God designs that the streams 
of benevolence, like the waters of the great deep, shall be kept in 
constant circulation, continually flowing back to their source. In the 
fulfilling of this law is the secret of spiritual growth.  {7BC 947}   

The spirit of unselfish labor for others gives depth, stability, 
and Christlike loveliness to the character, and brings peace and 
happiness to its possessor. The aspirations are elevated. There is no room 
for sloth or selfishness. Those who thus exercise the Christian 
graces will grow and will become strong to work for God. They will have 
clear spiritual perceptions, a steady, growing faith, and an increased 
power in prayer. The Spirit of God, moving upon their spirit, calls 
forth the sacred harmonies of the soul in answer to the divine touch. 
Those who thus devote themselves to unselfish effort for the good of 
others are most surely working out their own salvation.... The only way 
to grow in grace is to be disinterestedly doing the very work which 
Christ has enjoined upon us--to engage, to the extent of our ability, 
in helping and blessing those who need the help we can give them. 
Strength comes by exercise; activity is the very condition of life. Those 
who endeavor to maintain Christian life by passively accepting the 
blessings that come through the means of grace, and doing nothing for 
Christ, are simply trying to live by eating without working. And in the 
spiritual as in the natural world, this always results in degeneration and 
decay. A man who would refuse to exercise his limbs would soon lose all 
power to use them. Thus the Christian who will not exercise his 
God-given powers not only fails to grow up into Christ, but he loses the 
strength that he already had.  {SC 80}   

CLOSING THOUGHTS

"To him be glory both now and forever." - 2 Peter 3:18
Heaven will be full of the ceaseless praises of Jesus. Eternity! 
thine unnumbered years shall speed their everlasting course, but 
forever and for ever, "to him be glory." Is he not a "Priest for ever 
after the order of Melchizedek"? "To him be glory." Is he not king for 
ever?-King of kings and Lord of lords, the everlasting Father? "To him be 
glory for ever." Never shall his praises cease. That which was bought 
with blood deserves to last while immortality endures. The glory of 
the cross must never be eclipsed; the lustre of the grave and of the 
resurrection must never be dimmed. O Jesus! thou shalt be praised for ever. 
Long as immortal spirits live-long as the Father's throne endures-for 
ever, for ever, unto thee shall be glory. Believer, you are 
anticipating the time when you shall join the saints above in ascribing all 
glory to Jesus; but are you glorifying him now? The apostle's words 
are, "To him be glory both now and for ever." Will you not this day 
make it your prayer? "Lord, help me to glorify thee; I am poor, help 
me to glorify thee by contentment; I am sick, help me to give thee 
honour by patience; I have talents, help me to extol thee by spending 
them for thee; I have time, Lord, help me to redeem it, that I may 
serve thee; I have a heart to feel, Lord, let that heart feel no love 
but thine, and glow with no flame but affection for thee; I have a 
head to think, Lord, help me to think of thee and for thee; thou hast 
put me in this world for something, Lord, show me what that is, and 
help me to work out my life-purpose: I cannot do much, but as the 
widow put in her two mites, which were all her living, so, Lord, I 
cast my time and eternity too into thy treasury; I am all thine; take 
me, and enable me to glorify thee now, in all that I say, in all 
that I do, and with all that I have." [Morning and Evening by Charles 
H. Spurgeon] 

All Gone (2 Peter 3:10-18)
Someone has said there is only one real difference between a man 
and a boy. A man's toys are more expensive. 
There's probably more truth in that saying than we'd like to 
admit. It's really amazing how much time and money people spend on 
newer clothes, sportier cars, bigger screen TVs, and faster boats. 
Especially when one morning we're going to wake up, and find that 
everything we have is all gone. 
That's the point Peter wanted to make here. He didn't really 
care that he'd provided insight into how the world will end. He just 
wants us to know that, when "the heavens will disappear with a roar; 
the [very] elements will be destroyed by fire," those material 
playthings we love so much will be all gone. 
Of course, once we understand this, Peter wants us to act 
appropriately. "What kind of people ought we to be?" he asks. And he answers. 
"You ought to live holy and godly lives," as you look "forward to a 
new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness." Why clutch 
your playthings to you, when tomorrow morning they'll be gone anyway? 
And all you'll have left, is you. Why not invest that time, that 
enthusiasm, in building the new you? 
A holy and godly life, marked by growth in the grace and 
knowledge of Jesus, will secure eternal rewards. How much better a focus 
that provides for our life than toys that, very, very soon, will be 
all gone. [The 365-Day Devotional Commentary]