“But Grow in the Grace” (Godly Aspiration)

“BUT GROW IN THE GRACE”

(Godly Aspiration)

2 Peter 3:14–18

Key Verse: 3:18

1. Note the repetition of the word “waiting” (12,13,14a); for what are those who believe in Jesus waiting? In light of this future, what should we do (14b), and what does this mean?
2. What does Peter mean by “patience” (15a,9; cf. Rom.2:4)? How were some ignorant and unstable people twisting Paul’s teachings (15b–16; 2:19; cf. Rom.6:1,15; Jude 1:15)? How does Peter urge us (17), and what is this “stability”?
3. Read verse 18. In the context of verses 14–17, what is the “knowledge” of Jesus, what is the “grace” of Jesus, and how are these two related?
4. How can we “grow” in the knowledge of Jesus (see 1:5–9; 1 Pet.2:2; Col.1:9–10)?
5. Why do we all need to participate in Christian community to grow (Eph.4:15–16)?
6. How can we “grow” in the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (1 Pet.5:5b; Heb.4:16)?

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References:

Q2: 2 Pet.3:9: “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

Rom.2:4: “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?”

2 Pet.2:19: “They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.”

Rom.6:1: “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may abound?”

Rom.6:15: “What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!”

Jude 1:15: “...to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”

Q4: 2 Pet.1:5–9: “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in our knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.”

1 Pet.2:2: “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation…”

Col.1:9–10: “And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God…”

Q5: Eph.4:15–16: “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”

Q6: 1 Pet.5:5b: “Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’”

Heb.4:16: “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”