This Week’s Connection Topic
Salvation by Grace: We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:8-9
8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast.
We are in week 8 of our 9 week message series entitled “Amazing Grace: Welcome to Graceland.” The goal of this series is to help us understand and experience the grace of God in our lives.
Connecting to Us: (2 Peter 3:17-18)
Our key verse for today is 2 Peter 3:17-18:
17Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. 18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
Peter writes (through the use of a scribe) his second letter to the churches in Roman Asia Minor. These people are most likely gentiles who have converted to Christianity. In chapter three he is admonishing believers not to fall prey to false teaching and mockery concerning the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. These false teachers and mockers falsely taught or argued that Jesus Christ would not return. They asked, “Where is this coming that he promised?” It is important to understand that the early believers expected Jesus’ return to take place in their lifetime. When Jesus ascended into Heaven they fully expected that he would return very soon. The early believers had witnessed other believers die without ever seeing the return of Jesus Christ. Thus, it is highly plausible that some of them had begun to doubt that Jesus would return. Peter encourages them to be patient and wait for the return of Jesus Christ. He tells them that our timing and God’s timing are different. So the question becomes: “What do we do while we wait?” Thousands of years from the time of Peter and the early church, we who believe in the Risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ must ask ourselves: “What do we do while we wait?” 2 Peter 3:17-18 provides two answers to this question. First, Peter tells the people to be on guard so that they are not led astray by false teachers and false prophets. Secondly, he tells them to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. How are these instructions to the early believers instructive to us in our present context? First, we must remain on guard because some of the same pitfalls that existed for the early believers are present for us today. In today’s context, there are people who deny the actual resurrection of Jesus Christ. They also deny that Jesus is coming back! There are also people who attempt to pervert the gospel for personal gain. In other words, they tell people what they want to hear in exchange for money. When we fail to be on guard, we may backslide. As a result, we can fall from our secure position. Perhaps, it is best to think of the secure position as a fence. For example, when one goes to the zoo there is typically a fence or barrier of some kind separating the people from the animals. People are in a secure position as long as they stay on their side of the fence. However, if a person climbs onto the fence, loses their footing, and falls into the lion’s den; they should expect to be eaten or at least lose a limb.
No reasonable person would climb onto a fence knowing that in all likelihood they would fall into the lion’s den. No one is that foolish, right? Unfortunately, many of us flirt with both sides of the fence on a daily basis. This is a game that many of us play that can cause us to lose our secure position. As long as our faith remains in Jesus Christ, we are in a secure position. When we follow false teachings, follow the ways of the world, or try to play both sides of the fence, we lose our footing and fall into the mouths of the lions.
Secondly, we should grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ carries us forward towards the following: Christlike maturity, union with God, union with our neighbors, and the transformation of the world. Therefore, growth means moving forward while we wait for the return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. During the course of this discussion we will refer to growth in grace as growth grace. Growth grace is a manifestation of sanctifying grace. Growth grace is a gift from God. We cannot earn it and we do not deserve it. God has made this gift available to us through Jesus’ death and resurrection. However, we must lay claim to this gift. We lay claim to it by responding in faith. In the early stages of our conversion experience this is done by accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Likewise, throughout our Christian journey we must respond in faith to the grace that God has made available to us. We experience this grace through the Holy Spirit. The more we respond in faith: the more grace will abound in our lives. The more grace: the more growth. Perhaps, it is helpful to see our growth as a movement towards Christlike maturity, and this growth rests upon the wings of the dove which is the Holy Spirit. We must respond in faith by deciding to ride the wings of the Holy Spirit. We must respond in faith by trusting that the dove will fly us in the right direction. We must have faith that the dove will not drop us. The Holy Spirit moves us closer to our destination, Christlike maturity. It moves us farther from the gates of Hell and closer to the gates of Heaven. Also, it moves us closer to the day when Jesus Christ will return.
Lastly, we should grow in knowledge. How do we grow in knowledge in order to achieve Christlike maturity? We should study the things that Jesus did in the gospels. Also, we should study the rest of the biblical canon. This requires us to search the scriptures for transformation rather than information. Information about Jesus will not save us. Even Satan has information about Jesus. Although we believe God’s word to be true about Jesus, people are not saved through information about Jesus. They are saved through a transformational experience with the Triune God to which they say, “yes” to Jesus and “no, thank you” to Hell. In other words, they are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
We must approach scripture with an open heart and an open mind. So that we are open to what God is saying to us through God’s holy Word. We must spend time listening for God’s response to us. The grace of God illumines our minds and helps us properly understand the things of the Spirit. Therefore, grace helps us properly understand the bible. When we understand the things of the Spirit, we can discern when people are attempting to lead us astray. Also, we can properly discern where the Spirit is leading us. Growth in grace and knowledge do not take place in isolation, but are done in community with other Christians. Therefore, I suggest participating in at least one of the following: bible study, Sunday school, prayer group, Neighborhood Group or some other small group ministry. Brothers and sisters ride upon the wings of the Holy Spirit. To God be the glory both now and forever! Amen.
Connection Points
Connect Heads:
What is growth grace?
How do Christians grow in knowledge?
Connect Hearts:
Has anyone ever attempted to lead you astray concerning the word of God? What was your response? Be specific.
Have you ever doubted Jesus’ return? How did you overcome your doubts?
Connect Hands:
Take this time to join hands and pray for the needs of members of your group. Also, pray for all of the false teachers, atheists, agnostics, backsliders, and all who have been led astray. Pray that they will accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Connect Homework:
Pray
Search the scriptures for transformation
