Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. (2Pet. 1:2-3)
Sometimes we make the Christian life more difficult than it need be. We complicate it by interjecting human reason into our walk that robs us of grace and peace. We unconsciously look to works in hope of a means of grace. We employ asceticism thinking we need to appease God or prove to Him we are worthy to be granted a blessing. These misguided efforts will only lead to despair. Peter tells us plainly that God has granted everything we need pertaining to life and godliness through the true knowledge of God.
It’s not complicated. If you want grace and peace in your life you need to increase your knowledge of God. That increase of knowledge is not to be interpreted as knowledge only in an academic sense. While raw facts about God are needed as faith comes from hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Rom. 10:17), the real need is for the soul to gain an intimate knowledge of God. His own glory and excellence has provide the way. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. (2Pet. 1:4)
As Peter has said already, everything we need pertaining to life and godliness has been granted to us through the true knowledge of God. Thankfully, we are not left to our own imagination as to how to realize this blessing. Instead, Peter gives us, in a sense, steps to follow.
Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. (2Pet. 1:5-7)
Peter says don’t delay, apply all diligence in your faith. In other words, be quick about it. If you find yourself in a condition of uncertainty, don’t delay for the issue at hand is a matter of life and death. Jesus expressing the need to be rich toward God tells a parable of a man who had an abundance of crops. The man decided he would tear down his old barns and build new ones, thinking he had many years of leisure ahead of him, however he only had that night to live (Luke 12:16-21). The point is we never know when our life will end, so we should always be ready for that day.
Therefore, Peter says supply moral excellence or add moral excellence to your faith. If you have faith, employ it to live circumspectly. There is a great risk in thinking, as a believer, it doesn’t matter how I live. Setting aside the risk that your faith may be spurious, there is no way to have assurance while living in sin. The Scriptures have several warnings about willful sins. Not the least of which is the following. For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES. (Heb. 10:26-27) The continuation of unchecked sin will produce a fear of judgment or, to say it another way, no assurance of heaven.
So you find yourself living a virtuous life; don’t stop there. Add to your moral excellence more understanding or knowledge. It’s important to increase your understanding of the whole truth of God. A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel (Pro 1:5).
In the absence of adversity, we tend to rest on our past victories. This will lead to staleness no matter where you are in your Christian walk. As believers we need a constant influx of truth. So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. (Rom 10:17) The more we know God, the greater that knowledge will impact our walk.
However, the knowledge we gain may be squelched by outside influences. Therefore, Peter urges believers to practice self-control or temperance. As you continue to increase your knowledge, put off those worldly things that detract from your walk with God. As Paul said, All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify. (1Cor. 10:23) You must be careful not to let anything draw you away from your devotion to Christ.
Perseverance is next in Peter’s list. This might be the most difficult aspect of growing in the knowledge of God. It is really important to keep God’s glory as the goal of your life. Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable (1Cor. 9:24-25).
The result of trusting in God’s promises, believing He desires to reveal Himself to you and seeking Him the way Peter describes, will result in godliness. This in turn will bring great assurance of faith. Why? Because godliness leads to brotherly kindness and love, fulfilling the two great commandments.
For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2Pe 1:8) Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you (2Pet. 1:10-11).
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