Advancing Encouragement By:
Bishop James Jr. Hairston
2Peter: 3:18: But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
Why it is important to grow in grace and knowledge and what part does it play in your life? This verse is linked to what was said before in the previous verses because of the conjunction or continuative word but. I want to encourage you not to fall into this age of Universal Doctrines of Men (error of the wicked) they call Christianity, verse 17. UDM underlining theme (you read the term here first) is twisting the scriptures to live the way they want to live, verse 16, (to wrest is to pervert or twist) and 2Peter 2:18-19. In this UDM age many people are being taught to deal with their immoral behaviors while asking Jesus Christ to help them and to forgive them for their sins. That way you can still live the way you want to live and to say I am just human and all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God as an excuse to continue to deal with your immorality because we have been justified freely by His graced through His redemption, Romans 3:23-24. Instead we should be learning how to put off our immoral behaviors, Ephesians 4: 22-32 to live holy, pure and righteous lives. Be encouraged to be aware lest you also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness’, verse 17 (is what I call the UDM age leading people away from the truth). This is why I encourage you to grow in Grace and Knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! To grow mean in the text; too grow (up) and (give the) increase. How do you give the increase? You must study to show yourself approved of the Lord, 2Timothy: 2:15 and even if you are a new born start off by desiring the milk of the word that you may grow thereby unto salvation, 1Peter 2:2. Eventually you will start to eat solid meat for whereby you are full-grown and will be able to judge and to discern both good and evil, Hebrews 5:14! At this stage in time your knowledge of the word of God and our Lord and savior Jesus Christ is being solidified where you cannot and will not be led astray. Why, knowledge here mean, the act of knowing, you are living out the truth of the word of God for yourself in all its Holiness, Purity, and Power in Jesus Name…
(Tomorrow I will encourage you to be led by a spiritual father to help while you are growing up to make sure you are being ministered the proper milk or meat.)
James Jr. Hairston