Consider 2Peter 1:
“In the KNOWLEDGE of God”
“In the KNOWLEDGE of …Jesus our Lord”
Peter is asking that “something” be multiplied to the recipients of this letter. The “multiplication” of this “something” happens in and through the knowledge gained of God and Jesus our Lord.
That “something” is GRACE and PEACE.
Grace: unmerited favor from the God of all creation
Peace: a true state of tranquility and calmness of heart in all circumstances, – a unexplainable calm given by God to His children
In verse 3, Peter expands what is granted to God’s children “through the knowledge” of God:
“All things that pertain to life and godliness.”
You could say Christianity is about gaining knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. Yes, learning Biblical “ways” will bring you “worldly” success; however, true wisdom is understanding that the greatest knowledge you can ever gain is the fear of God. As we learn in Proverbs 1:7; “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge”.
Some define the “fear of the Lord” as a reverence and awe of God.
Some define it as a terrified fear of God, who has promised eternal hell for those that die in their sin.
I would contend it is both:
Before a man is born-again, he has no genuine concern for God, there is no fear of God in him.
But then, if that same man is granted a glimpse of who God is, and the Light of Truth is shone in the darkness of his depraved heart, it will leave him terrified of what he deserves, and he will then understand ‘it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God’. That man will tremble at the thought of the One that can and will carry out the wages of sin.
If that man, seeing his true condition, repents and trust in Christ to save him from the Wrath to Come, that man will be rescued, redeemed, reconciled, and regenerated by the Blood of Christ, resulting in complete awe of who God is and what could have, and should have become of him for eternity – that is also the fear of God. That man is now eternally thankful to God, seeing who God is, sovereign over all, on Heavens Throne, looking upon Him with reverence and awe.
Scripture to Support this Post:
2Peter 1:2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
2Peter 1:3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence,
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Romans 3:18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
Hebrews 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Mark 1:15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel.”
Colossians 1:22 He has now reconciled in His body of flesh by His death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him,
Titus 2:14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession who are zealous for good works.
Titus 3:5 He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
2Corinthains 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
1Thessalonians 1:10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the Wrath to come.
