“GRACE AND PEACE BE MULTIPLIED TO YOU, through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord…” (2 Peter 1:2)
First, let’s consider the significance of this awesome treasure we are blessed with. We often hear grace referred to as the unmerited favor of God and it is but Paul tells us that grace is more, it’s: “God WORKING IN YOU, GIVING YOU THE DESIRE AND THE POWER TO DO HIS WILL.” (Phil. 2:13) So, when we are seeking the Lord for what He would have us do, He will put in us the desire and empower us to do it. Then He will give us PEACE of heart and mind, “LORD, YOU WILL GIVE PERFECT PEACE to anyone who commits himself to be faithful to you. That’s because he trusts in you.” (Isa. 26:3)
What’s really amazing about this, is that God will MULTIPLY all of that to us. You know how sometimes we may worry about “What shall we eat? What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?” The Lord tells us, “…seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things WILL BE ADDED TO YOU as well.” (Matt. 6:31-33)
God adds worldly things but MULTIPLIES SPIRITUAL THINGS, wow!
Continuing on in this verse, “through the knowledge of God…” There are two Greek words for knowledge gnosis and epignōsis. gnosis: knowing or knowledge. epignōsis: knowing in a personal and intimate manner. The word used in verse 2 is epignōsis. Our relationship with God is very personal and intimate. “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—HEIRS OF GOD AND CO-HEIRS WITH CHRIST…” (Rom. 8:16-17)
Your personal Pastor -Bill Stockham