Grow in Grace - 2 Peter

 2 Peter 3:18 (ESV Strong's)

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

Grow in Grace

Peter gives us much to learn and remember throughout both his first and second letters.   In this second letter he starts out by telling the readers “what” growth in Christ looks like:

2 Peter 1:5-7 (ESV Strong's)

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. 

He then tells them “why” they should grow:

2 Peter 1:8 (ESV Strong’s)

For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Finally, in the above text that ends the letter for Peter, he tells them “how” this growth takes place:  In God’s Grace.   It would be easy for the reader to read a portion of the letter and walk away thinking that their own efforts are what produces growth in their live.  Yet, Peter ends the book by telling them that growth is only possible as a gift of God via His grace.   It would be easy to read and think we are to “do” things to produce what Peter is writing about in the first chapter of his letter.  But, it is the last chapter of the letter, the last verse, that tells us to remember that all growth is an act of God’s grace.   Our growth is not based upon our strength or our efforts.  It is simply believing in His word and all how His word to sanctify us:

John 17:17 (ESV Strong's)

Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.