The Nugget:
2 Peter 3:18 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.
My Comment:
I take this verse as a commandment. We are to (1) grow in grace, and (2) grow in our knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Now, how do we best do that? To my mind, we should (1) read and study the Bible, particularly the New Testament, faithfully; (2) pray without ceasing; (3) have fellowship with other believers who are committed to growing spiritually and encouraging one another. For some, finding other believers who truly believe in the Bible and are committed to Bible study and spiritual growth may be very difficult. You can experience spiritual growth even without Christian fellowship if you will (1) study the Bible; (2) pray; (3) share your faith with others who have not yet found Christ. Just prior to this verse, Peter cautions us to not fall from our own stedfastness by being led astray with the error of the wicked. Those who are led astray by false teachers might have remained faithful to the Scripture and its teachings had they grown in grace and their knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
For those who desire to DIG DEEPER into this subject:
(1) Consult the cross references given in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible on page 1470 for 2 Peter 3:18.
(2) Consult the cross references given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on page 1488 or in Logos 5 Bible software for 2 Peter 3:18.
(3) Lacking access to those two resources, consult the cross references for this passage as I have developed them as given below:
2 Peter 3:18. grow. T#667. Ps *92:12 14. Ho 14:5. Ml 4:2. Mt 13:33. Mk 4:26 28. Jn +10:28 (T#515). 2 C 4:16. Ep *4:15. Col +**1:10. 2 Th *1:3. 1 P +**2:2n. the knowledge. Gr. gnōsis (S#1108g, Ro 11:33). 2 P *1:3, 5, 8. *2:20. Pr +*18:15. Ho +*6:3. Jn **17:3. 2 C 4:6. Ep +*1:17. Ph *3:8. Col +**1:10. 3:10. our Lord and. 2 P *1:1, 11. T +*2:13n. Saviour. ver. 2. 2 T +*1:10. To him. Jn **5:23. Ro +11:36. 2 T +*4:18. 1 P *5:10, 11. Ju *25. Re 1:6. **5:9 14. for ever. Gr. aion, Mt +6:13. lit. unto the day of eternity, or, unto a day of an age. ver. 8. FS22D4B, Da +7:9. Amen. Mt +*6:13. 28:20.
psm 99.5 exalt ye the lord our god, and worship at his footstool.
11 pe 3.18 but grow in grace and in the knowledge of our lord and
saviour jesus christ. to him be glory both now and forever.
alot of real encouraging cross references on this verse in the bible.
1. eph 4.15 but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in
all things, which is the head, even christ:
2. col 1.9-10 for this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not
cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the
knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
vs 10 that ye might walk worthy of the lord unto all pleasing, being
fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of god
3. 11 thess 1.3 we are bound to thank god always for you, brethren,
as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the
charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth:
4. 1 pe 2.2 as new born babes, desire the sincere milk of the word,
that we may grow thereby:
5. 2 pe 1.3 according to his divine power hath given unto us all
things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge
of him that hath called us to glory and virtue;
6. 2 pe 1.8 for if these things be in you, and abound, they make you
that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our
lord jesus christ.
7. 2 pe 2.20 for if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world
through the knowledge of the lord and saviour jesus christ, they are
again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with
them than the beginning.
8. jn 17.3 and this is eternal life, that they might know thee the only
true god, and jesus christ, whom thou hast sent.
9. 2 co 4.6 for god who commanded the light to shine out of darkness,
hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory
of god in the face of jesus christ.
10. eph 1.17 that the god of our lord jesus christ, the father of glory may give
unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
11. ph 3.8 yea doubtless, and i count all things but loss for the knowledge of
christ jesus my lord: for whom i have suffered the loss of all things, and do
count them but dung, that i may win christ.
12. ph 3.10 that i may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the
fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death:
13 jn 5.23 that all men should honour the son, even as they honour the father.
he that honoureth not the son honoureth not the father which hath sent him.
14. 2 tim 4.18 and the lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve
me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. amen
15. jude 25 to the only wise god our saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion
and power, both now and ever. amen
growth in grace is not increased head knowledge or tireless activity; it is
increasing likeness to the lord jesus. knowledge means acquaintance with
lord through the word. growth in knowledge means increasing study of and
subjection to his words, works, and ways. always remebering that the ultimate
reason for our existence-to glorify him!!!
rev 5.12″ worthy is the lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom,
and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.”