2 Peter 3:17-18 Podcast
17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. (2 Peter 3:17-18)
In his heart man knows there is a God, this is why there are so many religions in the world. Pride is at the heart of religion. It is the fuel for man's desire to measure up to God. And, it is natural for the human heart to give safe haven to pride.
This is why the apostle Peter advises us in v.17 to not be self-confident, but we should be on guard "so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position." How are we protected from the error of the lawless? The answer is given in v.18.
In v.18 Peter says, "grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." Growing in the grace of the Lord Jesus is the answer. The antidote to deception and destruction is growth in the grace and knowledge of Christ.
Through God's grace, believers in Christ have become "partakers of the His nature," the penalty and power of sin has been broken. We have been set free from the demands of the law, set free to live for Christ, motivated by the gratitude that grace creates in our hearts.
The more we grow in the grace of God, the more we find that He is extending to us His undeserved favor. This creates a greater pathway for us to know Him. This knowledge does not encourage us to take His grace lightly, or to live apart from His definition of life for us; rather we are challenged to live fully for Him.
In v.18 Peter's last words are, "To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen." The apostle turns his eyes away from himself toward Jesus, and prays that his Lord may be glorified.
The book of Revelation, tells us that Jesus is the Overcomer. In fact, He has won! We are on the winning side. He is coming back to set things right, and in the light of His coming, Peter tells us that our priorities should be about the rule of God in our lives and through our lives. Ironically, we have been rescued from the distortions of the enemy, so that our lives would play a role in others being rescued as well.
