GRACE AND PEACE - August 24, 2010
KNOWLEDGE OF GOD AND CHRIST EQUALS GRACE AND PEACE
There's a direct connection between our effectiveness in life and our knowledge of Jesus. There's also a correlation between our peace and our knowledge of Jesus.
2 Peter 1:2 says Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, (KJ2000) Let's explore this verse.
Grace is the ability that God imparts. A sinner receives grace, and his sins are wiped out. He also receives a supernatural ability to live above sin in a corrupt world. If he presses further, he is enabled to do these works and greater. He can forgive offenses against himself, while praying for the offender, he can heal the sick, cast out devils and do other things far beyond human limits. He will enjoy favor from unexpected quarters. The strains which wear others ragged will have little impact on him. Lacking what others deem necessary, he'll still come out ahead. His may be a poorer diet, but he'll be healthier than those sated with the king's portion. That is grace. It comes only from God.
Next, let's look at peace. Peace is a rest that is beyond the norm. While all around there's turmoil, the one who has peace will be calm. Tomorrow holds no fears for this one. Death, disease, financial ruin and other legitimate fears have no hold on him. Some may view his calm as a false bravado, others may see it as naivety and still others may despise his overconfidence. Needless to say, they would all be wrong. His courage is not a put on,it is real. He is far from being naive. In actuality, he knows what truly matters. Knowing what he knows, it is impossible for him to be anything but confident.
Peter wrote that this grace, this peace comes through the knowledge of God and of Jesus. Our knowledge of God and Jesus is the source. A better, greater knowledge of God would invariably result in an increase, in fact, a multiplication of grace and peace. Several other Scriptures support this truth.
Psalm 9:10 And they that know your name will put their trust in you: for you, LORD, have not forsaken them that seek you. (KJ2000) A knowledge of God's name implies a deeper knowledge than the casual. Our God has many names. His different names reveal different sides of His person, character and power. Knowing His name in this sense means knowing the particular quality or attribute of Him that the name implies. Knowing that name enables the believer to trust Him in that area. Many a believer are walking around under a crushing weight of guilt because they are yet to know God's name to be Jehovah Tsidkenu... the Lord our righteousness, our sanctifier. Diseases ravage our bodies, and we don't know Jehovah Rapha. We've heard of the name, no doubt. But we have not cultivated a relationship with God based on that side of His person.
Blessed are those who hunger for Righteousness for they shall be filled. The Lord God Himself, is our Righteousness. When Lord, will we be thirsty enough for the Fountain of Living Water and stop trying to salve our thirst at broken cisterns that can hold no water?
There's a direct connection between our effectiveness in life and our knowledge of Jesus. There's also a correlation between our peace and our knowledge of Jesus.
2 Peter 1:2 says Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, (KJ2000) Let's explore this verse.
Grace is the ability that God imparts. A sinner receives grace, and his sins are wiped out. He also receives a supernatural ability to live above sin in a corrupt world. If he presses further, he is enabled to do these works and greater. He can forgive offenses against himself, while praying for the offender, he can heal the sick, cast out devils and do other things far beyond human limits. He will enjoy favor from unexpected quarters. The strains which wear others ragged will have little impact on him. Lacking what others deem necessary, he'll still come out ahead. His may be a poorer diet, but he'll be healthier than those sated with the king's portion. That is grace. It comes only from God.
Next, let's look at peace. Peace is a rest that is beyond the norm. While all around there's turmoil, the one who has peace will be calm. Tomorrow holds no fears for this one. Death, disease, financial ruin and other legitimate fears have no hold on him. Some may view his calm as a false bravado, others may see it as naivety and still others may despise his overconfidence. Needless to say, they would all be wrong. His courage is not a put on,it is real. He is far from being naive. In actuality, he knows what truly matters. Knowing what he knows, it is impossible for him to be anything but confident.
Peter wrote that this grace, this peace comes through the knowledge of God and of Jesus. Our knowledge of God and Jesus is the source. A better, greater knowledge of God would invariably result in an increase, in fact, a multiplication of grace and peace. Several other Scriptures support this truth.
Psalm 9:10 And they that know your name will put their trust in you: for you, LORD, have not forsaken them that seek you. (KJ2000) A knowledge of God's name implies a deeper knowledge than the casual. Our God has many names. His different names reveal different sides of His person, character and power. Knowing His name in this sense means knowing the particular quality or attribute of Him that the name implies. Knowing that name enables the believer to trust Him in that area. Many a believer are walking around under a crushing weight of guilt because they are yet to know God's name to be Jehovah Tsidkenu... the Lord our righteousness, our sanctifier. Diseases ravage our bodies, and we don't know Jehovah Rapha. We've heard of the name, no doubt. But we have not cultivated a relationship with God based on that side of His person.
Blessed are those who hunger for Righteousness for they shall be filled. The Lord God Himself, is our Righteousness. When Lord, will we be thirsty enough for the Fountain of Living Water and stop trying to salve our thirst at broken cisterns that can hold no water?