Peter writes in 2 Peter 1:1-2 to those who have received a faith equal to ours through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ 2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God…

Peter, though a “first follower” and leader, an Apostle chosen by God in Christ, did not think he had something that others could not have, but recognized that all can receive equal grace, equal promises fulfilled, because it’s all about, from, and through Jesus to all who believe.

So, may grace be multiplied to you…

Then he teaches such powerful things about growth in Christ in chapters one and two. And as he must have been aware that his days were numbered by both age and the attack of evil which would take his life as a martyr in the faith, he shifts to understanding that our days are numbered…

Since 3:11 these things are to be dissolved… so we should be holy and godly 12 as you wait…

If you live 5, 10, or 100 years, a “day” for the Lord… v8 is like 1000 years for us. So my life, over 60 years, has only been like about 90 minutes by the Lord’s watch. (if you know watches… I’m sure the Lord’s Watch must be a “Doxa” that’s why I have one)

So, if MY life has only been about 90 minutes… it’s only been about “two days” since Peter wrote these words, and then “any day now” he could come… or maybe in “5 or 10 or 90 minutes”.

With that understanding, focus on the right things, while you wait

v14 while you wait for these things…

• Be found without spot… at peace
• Recognize delay = salvation for someone else
• be on your guard… not led away by error… which can move us away from truth and purpose

Then 3:18

• Grow in Grace and Knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

Oh my, sadly I know people who “seem” to be growing in Knowledge” but don’t seem to be growing in Grace – charis = grace, kindness, blessing, concession, favor.

I won’t make more of it than to say – Grow IN – axiano = to make grow, cause growth, full grown. It is a verb in the Present, Active, Imperative tense. That means “Right Now, you MUST cause to grow toward full growth and maturity.”

So, we don’t grow TO grace, that is a gift of God, but we are to grow IN Grace. We don’t achieve grace, but we do need to grow IN it.

I was born to my family, but then IN my family I did need to grow up to be who we are, love what we love, do what we do.

We raised our sons that way, “this is who we are, grow into that, or do not do this or that because that’s not who we are, so put that aside.”

Knowing that any day now Jesus is coming again, I want to grow up to be more like him today in grace, and know who he is, what he expects, what he does, and what he doesn’t do – then seek to be that.

In Grace – Grow to be Gracious, Grace Filled, Grace Giving, Grace revealing…

… So that I become more Special? Famous?… NO

3:18 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

Grow in Grace to Glorify Jesus, Make His Name Great, Make Him Famous, Make Him Glorious