The Knowledge of God

2 Peter 1:5 (NKJV)
But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge

The next quality that Peter encourages us to add to our faith is knowledge. Upon starting in faith, we need to display virtue and purity. But we need to express this purity in the knowledge and wisdom of God. The use of anything without knowledge and practical experience is dangerous and can be harmful. We all know that a small amount of knowledge in the wrong hands is dangerous. Even so, we need godly virtue displayed with wisdom and knowledge.

Knowledge comes in many forms. Many people merely know about God, but this does not get us to heaven. Each person born on this earth has been instilled, by God, with knowledge of a greater being than themselves. But it is our decision as to what to do with it. We need to believe in Christ, and then, we can know God to a greater degree and to a deeper level. Knowing God personally, intimately, how He works and what He thinks comes from faithfully spending time in His word and prayer. Walking in obedience to God is the greatest way to find out who He is. God is never too big or too busy to spend time with us. In fact, He is delighted when we bow before Him and spend time with Him. We need reverence and awe to come to God. Solomon says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction”, (Proverbs 1:7).

Peter tells us, in verse 2, about the knowledge of God. He says, “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord”, (2 Peter 1:2, NKJV). Gaining the knowledge of God allows us to be blessed with amazing amounts of grace and peace. All people are seeking peace. Many are seeking it by acquiring money, popularity, things, sex and/or many other ways. But the only way that we will obtain peace is by knowing God. What greater way in there to be at peace than to receive the grace of God. Receiving a reward when we deserve judgment, obtaining a pardon when we deserve a sentence, what greater peace of mind is this?

Verse 4 of this same chapter says that by the knowledge of God we can be “partakers of the divine nature”. Isn’t this tremendous? When we know God greater, we can share His very nature. We can be a partner or an associate with the very nature of God. Experiencing God at the very core of His being and knowing Him to this degree is available for every one of us. We can know Him personally, uniquely and awesomely if we flee corruption and put our complete trust in the grace and goodness of God. The depths of the goodness of God are ours to share, we just need to want them.

Thoughts, comments, objections, prayer requests.



Daniel A. Smith