But Grow

Posted on April 25, 2018 by America's Keswick in Freedom Fighters

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.” — 2^nd Peter 3:18

One of the scariest things I’ve experienced is a carpenter who has read every book about carpentry but never used a tool. There’s nothing like experience, to have that “on the job” practical training is valuable. In some cases the knowledge that follows closely to experience is essential.

Peter ends his 2^nd epistle with the statement “but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever.”

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that he puts grace before knowledge. However either one without the other is incomplete. I think I spend a lot of time balancing the two.

To grow in grace means, to me, to be aware of the gift of salvation and to know that I am receiving what I don’t deserve, mainly a personal relationship with God and forgiveness of my sin. If I don’t follow grace with knowledge, I can become unaware of the price my salvation was purchased at and abuse the grace that has been given me. If I’m too far on the knowledge side, then I become prideful and arrogant and tend to think I have it all figured out. To grow in grace and knowledge is the perfect combination. But, too much of one over the other is like following a recipe and over doing it on one ingredient over the other.

Peter begins his 2^nd epistle with the statement, “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as 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”.

Peter begins with asking that “Grace and Peace be multiplied”, “In the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” I sometimes think the barometer of the lopsidedness of either grace or knowledge is the absence of peace. Grace and peace is multiplied by my being familiar with God and recognizing His character. If you’re like me and recognize when things aren’t right, the joy and peace we have experienced when our relationship with God isn’t where it should be. Maybe our lack of understanding of His grace or we have gotten away from our time spent with God in order to know Him more.

Sometimes I just need a reminder that the same grace through faith that saved me is the same grace through faith that keeps me. Paul says in Romans 5:1,2 “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God”.

So, let’s make sure that we are growing in the right proportions of Grace and knowledge so we can rightly divide the Word of truth. Amen!

Written by Rob Russomano: Rob Russomano is married to Terri, and serves with her as full time staff members. He is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and is also available as a speaker of the grace of God with a message of Hope for church events. You can contact him at rrussomano@americaskeswick.org.

The Daily Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 3-5 |You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “A born-again person ought to possess unspeakable peace in the spirit.” – Watchman Nee

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

Remember the word to Your servant, Upon which You have caused me to hope. Psalm 119:49