Introduction

‘For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge’. 2 Peter 1:5

In the second verse of the first chapter of Peter’s letter, he indicated that grace and peace are ours in abundance through the knowledge of God and Christ. Here, we have a specific form of knowledge. The knowledge of God and His Son. He went ahead in verse 5 to express the need for God’s people to add knowledge to goodness, founded on the essential principle of faith in God, which is the initial virtue that should characterise all of God’s people.

According to Solomon, knowledge of the Holy One (that is God) is understanding, Proverbs 9:10. One therefore lacks understanding if he is devoid of the knowledge of God.

In the words of John, we know that we have come to know Him if we keep His commands, 1 John 2:3-5. However we cannot keep His commands if we do not know them. Little wonder Paul instructs us to do our best to present ourselves to God as one approved………and who correctly handles the word of truth.

The Berean Jews were commended to be of more noble character than those in Thessalonica because they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. This shows that the Bereans had a desire to grow in the knowledge of God’s Word.

Paul prays for the Philippians that their love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that they may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.

‘And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.’ Philippians 1:9-11

‘So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.’ Ephesians 4:11-16

Prayer

Our God, the only Wise One, we thank You for revealing Yourself to us through Your Word. We ask that You help us to grow in the grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.