“Grace and peace be multiplied to you THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, and of JESUS OUR LORD,” (II Pet. 1:2) Grace: the desire and power to do God’s will. “For it is God which works in you both to WILL [desire] and to DO [power] His good pleasure.“ (Phil. 2:13) Peace: harmony between man and God, state of rest and contentment. “…since we have been justified through faith, we have PEACE WITH GOD (harmony, rest and contentment) through our Lord Jesus Christ…” (Rom. 5:1)
This being at peace with God allows us to: “…seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED UNTO YOU.” (Matt. 6:33) Even though “Things” are necessary, THEY WILL NOT HELP US GET CLOSER TO THE LORD. Peace with God, and the desire and power (Grace) to do His will-THIS IS WHAT WILL HELP US GET CLOSER. How do we do it? …through the knowledge of God…knowing about God??? Knowledge: epignosis: two words: epi – marked, ginosko – A RELATION BETWEEN THE PERSON KNOWING AND THE PERSON KNOWN -or- union AS BETWEEN HUSBAND AND WIFE. i.e. “Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And KNEW (ginosko) HER NOT till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus.” (Matt. 1:24, 25) The result (fruit) of this kind of relationship OR THE ‘MARK’ OF THEIR INTIMACY is a child. No one knows if there is intimacy, but if pregnancy results…everyone knows! Look at what John says: “And hereby WE DO KNOW THAT WE KNOW HIM, IF we keep His commandments. He that says, I know Him, and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” (I John 2:3, 4)
THE MARK (FRUIT) OF OUR INTIMACY WITH GOD IS GRACE AND PEACE MULTIPLIED! The more we know Him, the more WE WANT TO KNOW HIM. “…His divine power HAS GIVEN US ALL THINGS that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue:“ (2 Pet. 1:3)
WE CAN HAVE BRIGHTNESS, SPLENDOR, AND CHRIST-LIKENESS!
-Bill Stockham