Spiritual Growth

Here is the benediction I proclaim every Sunday: "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 Peter 3:18). Instead of falling prey to the deceptive lies the of false teachers, pursue a life of personal holiness. Seek to become more like Christ every day. If you do, then you will find yourself in a pattern of spiritual growth.

"Grow" (v. 18a), in Greek, means "to advance, or increase in the sphere of" (MacArthur New Testament Commentary: 2 Peter & Jude, [Moody Publishers: Chicago, 2005], 136). You are to grow in grace through the "knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (v. 18a). You are forgiven by God's grace, and in turn, you are to feed on His Word, growing in your knowledge of Him. In 1 Peter 2:2, Peter said, "As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby." As you grow spiritually you become better prepared to ward off false teachings and you learn to remain firm in the faith. Stay the course. Grow in grace.

Peter's closing doxology, "To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen" (2 Peter 3:18b), is a call to all believers to worship God and give Him the glory. You are to worship and glorify God now, and you are to worship and glorify God throughout all eternity.

The reference is to Christ, indicating that He is deity; He is one with God. He is to be glorified, because He is God and He is our Lord and Savior. In Isaiah 42:8, He declares, "I am the LORD, that is My name; and My glory I will not give to another, nor My praise to carved images."

Peter reassured us of the certainty of Christ's return (2 Peter 3:1-10). Now he exhorts us to live our lives in light of that reality (vs. 11-18). Paul said, "If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory" (Col. 3:1-4). Amen.