Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
Grace and peace are multiplied to those who have obtained like precious faith, through personal knowledge of God and of Jesus as Lord. That knowledge is not mere words or feeling, but experimental acquaintance with Christ and His righteousness, His work for sinners, and His relation to God. Believers work on the plan of addition by diligently adding grace to grace, and God works on the plan of multiplication by multiplying grace and peace to them. Through that same knowledge His divine power gives all things that pertain to life and godliness, with exceeding great and precious promises by which they become partakers of the divine nature. Giving all diligence to add faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity makes calling and election sure and ministers an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom.
Recipients and Greeting
The greeting is addressed to those who have obtained like precious faith through the righteousness of God and of Jesus Christ, including those newly in the faith and those striving for immortality. That faith is not grounded in human righteousness but in the righteousness of God and Christ, and daily faith in the unseen Christ reveals His character, while abiding in Him makes Him visible in word and deed. It opens the ladder with eight rounds that is Bible sanctification, connecting multiplied grace and peace with God's provision of all things needed for life and godliness and with growth in Christian virtues. The multiplied grace and peace is God's eternal life-insurance policy instead of worldly insurance, given to those who add grace to grace and to be repeated as protection and encouragement to one shown to be in danger.
It names both God and Jesus our Lord as the ones through whose knowledge the blessing comes, calling Jesus our Lord. Through Christ moral power is provided so that everyone may lay hold of the divine nature, and this knowledge is the means by which believers receive what they need for life and godliness and enter the promises and growth in Christian character described in the following verses. The same verse belongs to instruction for educational work, where young people should be trained in circumstances that help form strong characters able to withstand the world's evils.
It is spoken as a blessing that grace and peace be multiplied, left as a closing word to stir remembrance and establish in present truth. Its precious truths are given for encouragement and comfort to all who have obtained like precious faith, and when they fill heart and mind they give strength to resist every temptation to look on the dark side and to talk discouragement. They point to a Helper who cannot err, never makes a mistake, and is filled with all wisdom and knowledge, so believers can press the battle firmly and decidedly in faith and hope, for the Saviour hears and answers the contrite heart, granting the blessings needed in the struggle against besetting evils. The greeting is therefore connected to a practical plan of faithful work and growth in godliness, belonging to a chapter especially relevant to the church and to be read and obeyed in both letter and spirit with full purpose to carry out its instruction, including care in speech and in the spirit shown toward others.
Meaning of Knowledge
Grace and peace are increased through knowing God and Jesus our Lord, and this increase belongs to the divine plan for growth in grace and the development of Christian character. That knowing is experimental and personal acquaintance, a real religious experience bound up with holiness and sanctification that comes through doing the Word, not ignorance, not acting as the world acts, not mere words, heightened feelings, or self-righteousness. As persons learn more of God they see their own weakness and sinfulness more clearly and are led by faith to take hold of Christ as personal Saviour and Redeemer, becoming children of God and sharers in the divine nature through intelligent faith in Him. Divine power has already supplied all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called to glory and virtue, with exceeding great and precious promises by which to become partakers of the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world through lust, so there is no excuse to remain in weakness and spiritual poverty but it rests with those for whom Christ died whether they will believe and be filled with all the fullness of God. This knowledge is worth more than silver or gold or precious stones, and through the merits of Jesus those who consecrate themselves to Him with determined purpose to live the Christian life are made clean and white in character, fitted for heaven under the plan of election for which Christ has paid the price for every person so that none need be lost.
It means knowledge of God and of His relation with Christ and of Christ's relation to God, centering on Christ and His righteousness and leaving no room for glorifying self. Faith must be in constant exercise because all spiritual life is from Christ, and knowledge of God inspires faith in Him as the only channel to convey heaven's blessing to the soul. As understanding of the mediatorial work of Jesus Christ increases, the rich promises that come through the righteousness of Christ are seen and grasped, and the increase comes on conditions by influences working through every soul who considers and weighs the matter and thinks intelligently with all brainpower to understand what the Word says. It is not static but calls for continual advancement in every stage of knowing Christ, through which comes eternal life, with daily faith in the unseen Christ revealing His character and abiding in Him making Him visible in words and deeds through strict attention to character formation. It means having Christ as only hope and sole dependence, coming to Him with little trials and large perplexities and telling them all to Jesus as helper, strength, and sympathizing Friend who is touched with the feeling of infirmities, confessed by erecting the family altar in every home, presenting petitions morning and evening, bringing the whole family before God in dependence upon Him, and acknowledging Christ as Leader, Captain, and divine Teacher.
That knowledge is the source of all spiritual power and brings heaven's blessing to the soul, elevating, ennobling and refining it toward glory and virtue, with faith kept in constant exercise and continued progress in grace and holiness. It is life and salvation to all who respond to it, offered to all because the Spirit of Christ draws all and the gracious invitation goes forth to all, with God quickening the perceptions of all who inquire and come so they may understand perfectly the way of life. By that knowledge humanity with all its capabilities and powers is brought into obedience to God and placed under the control of divinity, on which future eternal happiness depends, with the privileges and opportunities granted in Christ who as representative was tempted in proportion to His elevation of mind yet would not yield to weaken His divine power. It means a personal seeing of Jesus as He is, full of compassion, courteousness, divine politeness, goodness, mercy, and forgiveness toward sinners, coming by looking unto Jesus, contemplating the character of Him who first loved us and His matchless love, and coming into living connection with God to drink the water of life which is the life of Christ springing up into everlasting life. By that contemplation believers are transformed into His image and take upon them His nature, becoming representatives of God's character who can keep His commandments by depending wholly upon God, with increased confidence, hope, patience, courage, and humble grateful trust replacing unbelieving fear, and this invitation is open to all mankind and not limited to the rich, wise, learned, or honored, for light shines from God's throne and Christ lifted up draws all.
How Knowledge Is Gained
The knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord through which grace and peace are multiplied comes through reading the Word and personally applying it, beholding Christ until changed into His image with words made like His. It is the means of sanctification by the Holy Spirit, with God's Word serving as counselor and teacher. That knowing means putting oneself in the channel where one can follow on to know the Lord, by searching the Scriptures and carrying them out in daily life through prayer, watchfulness, and service to God. It comes through Jesus Himself, and must be sought while in this world with reliance on Christ's strength in order to live faithfully, prepare for heaven, and be an example to those around. It centers on Christ and His righteousness, leaving no room for self-righteousness or glorifying self, and is learned diligently in the school of Christ.
The practice of the Word confirms religious experience, keeps believers established in present truth, gives assurance, makes calling and election doubly sure, and gives right to abundant entrance through the gates into the city of God and the everlasting kingdom. The increase comes on conditions, working through every soul who considers and weighs the matter and thinks intelligently, using all brainpower to understand what the Word says about God and His relation with Christ and Christ's relation to God. This knowledge is gained by turning from frivolous things and seeking to learn of Christ through obedience to God's commandments, diligently adding Christian qualities to faith and putting God-given abilities to work. In Christ there is inexhaustible fullness, and as men follow on to know the Lord they lead souls to the Word of God where His going forth is prepared as the morning, while the rubbish of vanity, self-love, evil thinking and evil speaking keeps souls powerless and hinders the multiplication.
It is not static but calls for continual advancement in every stage of knowing Christ, through which comes eternal life. Growth in grace comes in proportion to advance in knowledge of heavenly things and of God's Word, and it is the privilege to gain this knowledge daily and to grow daily in grace and in knowledge of the truth, with God multiplying mercy as grace is added to grace. This knowledge grows through a life of daily spiritual addition — growing in grace, knowledge, and faith — requiring prayer and attention to what strengthens knowledge of the Lord and Saviour. As learners daily add to their store of the knowledge of God and of Christ by advancing in study of the Word, God works for them by multiplying grace and peace. As people seek this knowledge and grow in Christian virtues, their knowledge increases, and God imparts education, wisdom, and solidity of character that make them useful.
Multiplication Through Cooperation
Believers work on the plan of addition while God works on the plan of multiplication, and grace and peace are multiplied through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord as they diligently add to character faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity. Christ multiplies grace and peace to those who heed the instruction of the first chapter of Second Peter, reading and practicing it day by day in practical godliness and adding grace to grace to fulfill its requirements, while Christ gives the grace to work out the sum of addition. Abounding in these added graces keeps believers from being barren or unfruitful in the knowledge of Christ. The adding is done through constant diligence and through the grace of Christ, by a faith that works by love and purifies the soul, with no graduation in the school of Christ, and by doing these things calling and election are made sure with an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Those who do this work will become victors at last and secure eternal life through Christ, who gave His life to make it possible, received through grace and obedience to the law of God.
The multiplication is Christ's work for those who cooperate with divinity and pursue the growth in character described in the chapter, and the teaching must be repeated because people forget it. God's power supplies what is needed for life and godliness, and His precious promises enable believers to share in the divine nature and escape the world's corruption, while believers with all diligence add virtue, knowledge, self-control, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love to faith, and as these qualities grow they become fruitful in knowing Christ. That knowledge is the source of all spiritual power, and faith must be in constant exercise because all spiritual life is from Christ, inspiring faith in Him as the only channel to convey heaven's blessing to the soul, elevating, ennobling and refining it and bringing it up to the high attainments of glory and virtue. As understanding of the mediatorial work of Jesus Christ increases, the rich promises that come through the righteousness of Christ are seen and grasped, and the more divine grace is received the more is done on the plan of addition. The assurance of divine help is given on condition of complying with the conditions, giving all diligence to take step after step up the ladder of progress in obedience to all of God's commandments, without retrograding, so that ground is gained in peace and grace and holiness, and as believers add grace to grace God multiplies their growth and prepares them for eternal life.
Growth in grace comes in proportion to advance in knowledge of heavenly things and of God's Word, and it is a privilege to gain this knowledge daily and to grow daily in grace and in knowledge of the truth. As grace is added to grace God multiplies mercy, and in the life of Christian character the Giver multiplies grace and peace. This knowledge comes through looking to Jesus and studying His character, strengthening a person to follow Him, and as grace is added to grace God multiplies the Holy Spirit's influence, bringing spiritual strength and a joyful religious experience. The chapter's promises encourage believers to grow by adding grace to grace, and as they meet its conditions God works by multiplication. God grants the blessings His faithful people need as they struggle against evil, and He is ready to hear and answer the contrite heart, and this multiplication accompanies the continuing work of sanctification in which believers cooperate with God through persevering effort and by adding grace to grace.
Power and Promises Received
Through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, divine power gives everything that belongs to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called to glory and virtue. That knowledge is the means by which grace and peace are multiplied and by which believers receive the divine power, promises, and qualities needed for life and godliness and growth in Christian character. Beholding God's purity and holiness brings power through the Holy Spirit to become like God in character and to overcome the selfishness of the natural heart. Through Christ moral power is provided so that everyone may lay hold of what is needed, and Christ Himself showed the pattern by laying off His royal robe and kingly crown, coming as a little child and taking the liabilities of human nature to teach perfect, faithful, cheerful labor without defect, with time and thought for heaven and gladness expressed in psalms and songs.
With that gift come exceeding great and precious promises by which believers may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. The multiplication of grace and peace begins this provision and grows into positive assurance only as the Holy Spirit works from inward to outward and believers give diligence to add the Christian graces. This is the beginning of a life of growth in which faith developed by addition makes believers fruitful in knowing Christ and prepares them for entrance into His everlasting kingdom.
These privileges come through the sacrifice of the Son of God, for God joins His divine power with human effort so that people may overcome. Christ covers divinity with humanity, and with His human arm He encircles the race while with His divine arm He grasps the throne of the Infinite, thus bridging the gulf that sin made and uniting finite humanity with the infinite God. As representative He was tempted in all points in proportion to His elevation of mind yet would not yield to weaken His divine power, proving what humanity may be in obedience, and the knowledge of His work in the plan of redemption reveals both the depth of humanity's fallen condition and the restoration made possible through His death. Through Him believers receive power to overcome as He overcame, coming to Him needy and dependent to receive that power, and when divinity and humanity work together fallen man becomes more than conqueror through Christ Jesus, enabled to reflect the divine image and even to sit with Him in His Father's throne.
The giver identified with this multiplied grace and peace is the source of all power, the great Chief Physician. The knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord is personal knowledge that Jesus is my personal Saviour, that He pities me, and that upon His sympathizing heart He bears the wounds of my transgressions. This Jesus is the great Medical Missionary, the greatest Medical Missionary that ever stood on earthly soil, standing in the midst of a wicked world ready to help at any time.
Growth in Christian Virtues
Grace and peace are multiplied through knowing God and Jesus our Lord, and that knowledge supplies by divine power everything needed for life and godliness through Him who called to glory and virtue, with exceedingly great and precious promises by which to share the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world through lust. Diligence is therefore required to add grace to grace, to faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge temperance or self-control, to temperance patience, to patience godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness charity or love. Believers work on the plan of addition while God works on the plan of multiplication, so as they diligently add these traits to character Christ multiplies grace and peace to them. That addition grows by constant diligence through the grace of Christ, by a faith that works by love and purifies the soul, with no graduation in the school of Christ and no time to be lost but continual improvement and daily advancement. The pattern for accomplishing this work was shown when Christ laid aside His royal robe and kingly crown and came as a little child taking the liabilities of human nature, doing perfect, faithful, cheerful labor without defect even in handling tools, keeping time and thought for heaven with gladness expressed in psalms and songs, as the example for learning lessons and understanding and doing duty.
Peter's ladder beginning with multiplied grace and peace through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord is Bible sanctification, an opening ladder of eight rounds given to those who have obtained like precious faith. It pictures cooperation with God in salvation, climbing step by step while looking to and clinging to Christ. Christ is the ladder connecting earth with heaven, through whom God multiplies grace as it is needed and through whom all blessings come.
When the added qualities are present and abound they keep believers from being barren or unfruitful in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, making that knowledge fruitful. He who lacks them is blind, cannot see afar off, and has forgotten cleansing or purging from old sins, corrupting his ways before God and unable to discern the value of holiness. Diligence to make calling and election sure in this way keeps from ever falling and provides an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
This knowledge bears fruit in genuine conversion and progressive sanctification, with faith and growth in godliness, acceptance of God's promises by faith, and reflection of the divine image in daily life. It is the foundation for spiritual growth and for receiving the grace and power needed to live a godly life, by which parents and children may grow together in Christ's grace. God's power supplies what is needed for life and godliness and gives promises that enable believers through the Holy Spirit to become like God in character, and beholding God's purity and holiness helps them overcome the selfishness of the natural heart. That growth is central to the believer's constant advancement in Christian character.
Assurance and Eternal Inheritance
Grace and peace multiplied through knowing God and Jesus Christ is the beginning of a life of growth in which divine power supplies all things needed for life and godliness and precious promises enable sharing in the divine nature and escape from worldly corruption. That growth requires giving all diligence to add to faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge self-control, and to self-control patience, and to patience godliness, and to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love, with constant improvement and no time to be lost. The Lord works on the plan of multiplication while believers work on the plan of addition, multiplying grace as they diligently cultivate it through constant diligence and through a faith that works by love and purifies the soul, never graduating in the school of Christ. When these qualities are present and abound they keep believers from being barren or unfruitful in knowing Christ and make them fruitful, while lacking them is blindness and forgetting cleansing from old sins. Giving diligence in this way makes calling and election sure, even doubly sure, keeps from ever falling, and ministers an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, with right to abundant entrance through the gates into the city of God. That assurance is confirmed by putting oneself in the channel where one can follow on to know the Lord, by searching the Scriptures and carrying them out in daily life through practice of the Word, prayer, watchfulness, and service, which establishes in present truth.
The multiplied grace and peace is God's eternal life-insurance policy, to be taken hold of now while the Saviour is at hand and not afar off, instead of worldly insurance such as a Freemason life insurance policy. It is the best life insurance, an insurance policy to eternal life and a life-insurance policy endorsed by the Lord God who created him, giving God's guardianship in this world and immortal life in the world to come. Through knowing God and Jesus the soul who approaches God as Father enters partnership with Him and the Lord enters into vital relation with him, heaven becomes his home, he becomes a member of the royal family and a child of the heavenly King, and all who hold it are linked with the family of the redeemed by a tie which cannot be broken. If he consents to place himself under pledge to God, God pledges His word that if he does the things named he shall never fall, and an entrance shall be ministered abundantly into the everlasting kingdom. Received through faith in Christ as personal Saviour, it gives even those in humble place title to a home in heaven as heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ to an immortal inheritance, for those cut loose from secret orders and worldly policies and made free indeed. This assurance grows into positive assurance only as the Holy Spirit works from inward to outward, requiring full consecration without divided service that imperils the soul, refusing to mingle the common with the sacred, gaining clear spiritual eyesight to discern between the sacred and the common, and not taking common fire and exalting and praising and cherishing it. It is to be repeated as protection and encouragement to one shown to be in danger.
Its precious truths are given for encouragement and comfort to all who have obtained like precious faith, and when they fill heart and mind they give strength, comfort, peace, joy, and assurance. They give strength to resist every temptation to look on the dark side of circumstances and to talk discouragement, pointing to a Helper who cannot err, never makes a mistake, and is filled with all wisdom and knowledge, so believers can press the battle firmly, decidedly, in faith and hope. Growing in knowledge by receiving and living out the light and instruction God gives day by day, constantly adding to the fund of knowledge and carrying out instruction received, strengthens believers to overcome temptation and stand on vantage ground. Those who do this draw nigh to God so He draws nigh to them and lifts up a standard against the enemy, and studying the chapter brings help, strength, and blessing to resist the enemy. Those who accept the hope offered through faith in Christ and follow the plan of addition receive multiplied peace, joy, and assurance, giving a secure foundation and preparing them to meet the King, yet the knowledge that multiplies grace and peace is still largely unattained, not a hundredth part of what is possible, because the light given day by day is not walked in.
Daily Life and Mission
Grace and peace multiplied through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord is full of instruction for those engaged in educational work for youth. Those in positions of responsibility are to give it special study in managing matters connected with establishing new schools for training children, so that youth may be surrounded by circumstances most favorable for forming a character strong enough to withstand the evils of this world. Students in school have the privilege and opportunity to increase in that knowledge and in grace toward perfection of Christian character. The words of the first chapter of Second Peter strike the keynote of victory and force truth impressively upon the mind, and are to be studied abundantly and practiced, especially by youth pursuing education, so that they make Christ their all in all, go to God for strength in their weakness, and stand against contaminating influences instead of giving their minds wholly to study and losing all that enriches life. The Bible in which this knowledge is found is to be the lesson book in homes and schools, and as children and adults learn to know God they grow in the life of faith. The experiences of that first chapter fit men and women to become efficient workers for God, and all who offer themselves for service should study it to be directed to work they can do.
That knowledge is the foundation for spiritual growth and for receiving the grace and power needed to live a godly life, and parents and children may grow together in Christ's grace. It means having Christ as only hope and sole dependence, coming to Him with little trials and large perplexities, telling them all to Jesus, and believing He will be helper, strength, and sympathizing Friend because He is touched with the feeling of infirmities, for strength is in the Lord Jehovah. This is confessed by erecting the family altar in every home, presenting petitions to God morning and evening, bringing the whole family before God in dependence upon Him, recognizing the claims of His service, keeping eternal reality before every member, and acknowledging Christ as Leader, Captain, and divine Teacher.
The knowledge through which grace and peace are multiplied is the mark of wisdom given by God whose course of action is in harmony with the will of God and gives those connected with him confidence in his wisdom to devise and plan for the progress and advancement of the work of saving souls that are ready to die. When people of like precious faith heed Peter's instruction, they are led to share the light of the gospel with the world, and those who receive God's grace have a responsibility to seek the salvation of others. The chapter gives valuable instruction to every worker and calls each person to apply it individually, presenting everlasting life as a privilege that can be secured. Those who take the name of Christian must obey its instruction to honor that name, having the mind thoroughly cultivated and forbidding no aspirations or enterprises that pure religion sanctions, and those who obey will be richly blessed.
God's grace and peace multiplied through knowing God and Jesus Christ belong to provisions Christians are to understand and follow, and the surrounding verses are essential principles of righteousness that must be obeyed. That chapter teaches Jesus Christ as the only hope and the one on whom believers depend entirely, to whom they can bring both small trials and great perplexities, trusting Him as helper, strength, and sympathetic friend. Its words are especially relevant to the church and are to be read and obeyed in both letter and spirit, with a full purpose to carry out its instruction, calling for care in how people speak and in the spirit they show toward others.
Grace and peace are multiplied to those who have obtained like precious faith, through personal knowledge of God and of Jesus as Lord. That knowledge is not mere words or feeling, but experimental acquaintance with Christ and His righteousness, His work for sinners, and His relation to God. Believers work on the plan of addition by diligently adding grace to grace, and God works on the plan of multiplication by multiplying grace and peace to them. Through that same knowledge His divine power gives all things that pertain to life and godliness, with exceeding great and precious promises by which they become partakers of the divine nature. Giving all diligence to add faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity makes calling and election sure and ministers an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom.
Recipients and Greeting
The greeting is addressed to those who have obtained like precious faith through the righteousness of God and of Jesus Christ, including those newly in the faith and those striving for immortality. That faith is not grounded in human righteousness but in the righteousness of God and Christ, and daily faith in the unseen Christ reveals His character, while abiding in Him makes Him visible in word and deed. It opens the ladder with eight rounds that is Bible sanctification, connecting multiplied grace and peace with God's provision of all things needed for life and godliness and with growth in Christian virtues. The multiplied grace and peace is God's eternal life-insurance policy instead of worldly insurance, given to those who add grace to grace and to be repeated as protection and encouragement to one shown to be in danger.
It names both God and Jesus our Lord as the ones through whose knowledge the blessing comes, calling Jesus our Lord. Through Christ moral power is provided so that everyone may lay hold of the divine nature, and this knowledge is the means by which believers receive what they need for life and godliness and enter the promises and growth in Christian character described in the following verses. The same verse belongs to instruction for educational work, where young people should be trained in circumstances that help form strong characters able to withstand the world's evils.
It is spoken as a blessing that grace and peace be multiplied, left as a closing word to stir remembrance and establish in present truth. Its precious truths are given for encouragement and comfort to all who have obtained like precious faith, and when they fill heart and mind they give strength to resist every temptation to look on the dark side and to talk discouragement. They point to a Helper who cannot err, never makes a mistake, and is filled with all wisdom and knowledge, so believers can press the battle firmly and decidedly in faith and hope, for the Saviour hears and answers the contrite heart, granting the blessings needed in the struggle against besetting evils. The greeting is therefore connected to a practical plan of faithful work and growth in godliness, belonging to a chapter especially relevant to the church and to be read and obeyed in both letter and spirit with full purpose to carry out its instruction, including care in speech and in the spirit shown toward others.
Meaning of Knowledge
Grace and peace are increased through knowing God and Jesus our Lord, and this increase belongs to the divine plan for growth in grace and the development of Christian character. That knowing is experimental and personal acquaintance, a real religious experience bound up with holiness and sanctification that comes through doing the Word, not ignorance, not acting as the world acts, not mere words, heightened feelings, or self-righteousness. As persons learn more of God they see their own weakness and sinfulness more clearly and are led by faith to take hold of Christ as personal Saviour and Redeemer, becoming children of God and sharers in the divine nature through intelligent faith in Him. Divine power has already supplied all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called to glory and virtue, with exceeding great and precious promises by which to become partakers of the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world through lust, so there is no excuse to remain in weakness and spiritual poverty but it rests with those for whom Christ died whether they will believe and be filled with all the fullness of God. This knowledge is worth more than silver or gold or precious stones, and through the merits of Jesus those who consecrate themselves to Him with determined purpose to live the Christian life are made clean and white in character, fitted for heaven under the plan of election for which Christ has paid the price for every person so that none need be lost.
It means knowledge of God and of His relation with Christ and of Christ's relation to God, centering on Christ and His righteousness and leaving no room for glorifying self. Faith must be in constant exercise because all spiritual life is from Christ, and knowledge of God inspires faith in Him as the only channel to convey heaven's blessing to the soul. As understanding of the mediatorial work of Jesus Christ increases, the rich promises that come through the righteousness of Christ are seen and grasped, and the increase comes on conditions by influences working through every soul who considers and weighs the matter and thinks intelligently with all brainpower to understand what the Word says. It is not static but calls for continual advancement in every stage of knowing Christ, through which comes eternal life, with daily faith in the unseen Christ revealing His character and abiding in Him making Him visible in words and deeds through strict attention to character formation. It means having Christ as only hope and sole dependence, coming to Him with little trials and large perplexities and telling them all to Jesus as helper, strength, and sympathizing Friend who is touched with the feeling of infirmities, confessed by erecting the family altar in every home, presenting petitions morning and evening, bringing the whole family before God in dependence upon Him, and acknowledging Christ as Leader, Captain, and divine Teacher.
That knowledge is the source of all spiritual power and brings heaven's blessing to the soul, elevating, ennobling and refining it toward glory and virtue, with faith kept in constant exercise and continued progress in grace and holiness. It is life and salvation to all who respond to it, offered to all because the Spirit of Christ draws all and the gracious invitation goes forth to all, with God quickening the perceptions of all who inquire and come so they may understand perfectly the way of life. By that knowledge humanity with all its capabilities and powers is brought into obedience to God and placed under the control of divinity, on which future eternal happiness depends, with the privileges and opportunities granted in Christ who as representative was tempted in proportion to His elevation of mind yet would not yield to weaken His divine power. It means a personal seeing of Jesus as He is, full of compassion, courteousness, divine politeness, goodness, mercy, and forgiveness toward sinners, coming by looking unto Jesus, contemplating the character of Him who first loved us and His matchless love, and coming into living connection with God to drink the water of life which is the life of Christ springing up into everlasting life. By that contemplation believers are transformed into His image and take upon them His nature, becoming representatives of God's character who can keep His commandments by depending wholly upon God, with increased confidence, hope, patience, courage, and humble grateful trust replacing unbelieving fear, and this invitation is open to all mankind and not limited to the rich, wise, learned, or honored, for light shines from God's throne and Christ lifted up draws all.
How Knowledge Is Gained
The knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord through which grace and peace are multiplied comes through reading the Word and personally applying it, beholding Christ until changed into His image with words made like His. It is the means of sanctification by the Holy Spirit, with God's Word serving as counselor and teacher. That knowing means putting oneself in the channel where one can follow on to know the Lord, by searching the Scriptures and carrying them out in daily life through prayer, watchfulness, and service to God. It comes through Jesus Himself, and must be sought while in this world with reliance on Christ's strength in order to live faithfully, prepare for heaven, and be an example to those around. It centers on Christ and His righteousness, leaving no room for self-righteousness or glorifying self, and is learned diligently in the school of Christ.
The practice of the Word confirms religious experience, keeps believers established in present truth, gives assurance, makes calling and election doubly sure, and gives right to abundant entrance through the gates into the city of God and the everlasting kingdom. The increase comes on conditions, working through every soul who considers and weighs the matter and thinks intelligently, using all brainpower to understand what the Word says about God and His relation with Christ and Christ's relation to God. This knowledge is gained by turning from frivolous things and seeking to learn of Christ through obedience to God's commandments, diligently adding Christian qualities to faith and putting God-given abilities to work. In Christ there is inexhaustible fullness, and as men follow on to know the Lord they lead souls to the Word of God where His going forth is prepared as the morning, while the rubbish of vanity, self-love, evil thinking and evil speaking keeps souls powerless and hinders the multiplication.
It is not static but calls for continual advancement in every stage of knowing Christ, through which comes eternal life. Growth in grace comes in proportion to advance in knowledge of heavenly things and of God's Word, and it is the privilege to gain this knowledge daily and to grow daily in grace and in knowledge of the truth, with God multiplying mercy as grace is added to grace. This knowledge grows through a life of daily spiritual addition — growing in grace, knowledge, and faith — requiring prayer and attention to what strengthens knowledge of the Lord and Saviour. As learners daily add to their store of the knowledge of God and of Christ by advancing in study of the Word, God works for them by multiplying grace and peace. As people seek this knowledge and grow in Christian virtues, their knowledge increases, and God imparts education, wisdom, and solidity of character that make them useful.
Multiplication Through Cooperation
Believers work on the plan of addition while God works on the plan of multiplication, and grace and peace are multiplied through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord as they diligently add to character faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity. Christ multiplies grace and peace to those who heed the instruction of the first chapter of Second Peter, reading and practicing it day by day in practical godliness and adding grace to grace to fulfill its requirements, while Christ gives the grace to work out the sum of addition. Abounding in these added graces keeps believers from being barren or unfruitful in the knowledge of Christ. The adding is done through constant diligence and through the grace of Christ, by a faith that works by love and purifies the soul, with no graduation in the school of Christ, and by doing these things calling and election are made sure with an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Those who do this work will become victors at last and secure eternal life through Christ, who gave His life to make it possible, received through grace and obedience to the law of God.
The multiplication is Christ's work for those who cooperate with divinity and pursue the growth in character described in the chapter, and the teaching must be repeated because people forget it. God's power supplies what is needed for life and godliness, and His precious promises enable believers to share in the divine nature and escape the world's corruption, while believers with all diligence add virtue, knowledge, self-control, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love to faith, and as these qualities grow they become fruitful in knowing Christ. That knowledge is the source of all spiritual power, and faith must be in constant exercise because all spiritual life is from Christ, inspiring faith in Him as the only channel to convey heaven's blessing to the soul, elevating, ennobling and refining it and bringing it up to the high attainments of glory and virtue. As understanding of the mediatorial work of Jesus Christ increases, the rich promises that come through the righteousness of Christ are seen and grasped, and the more divine grace is received the more is done on the plan of addition. The assurance of divine help is given on condition of complying with the conditions, giving all diligence to take step after step up the ladder of progress in obedience to all of God's commandments, without retrograding, so that ground is gained in peace and grace and holiness, and as believers add grace to grace God multiplies their growth and prepares them for eternal life.
Growth in grace comes in proportion to advance in knowledge of heavenly things and of God's Word, and it is a privilege to gain this knowledge daily and to grow daily in grace and in knowledge of the truth. As grace is added to grace God multiplies mercy, and in the life of Christian character the Giver multiplies grace and peace. This knowledge comes through looking to Jesus and studying His character, strengthening a person to follow Him, and as grace is added to grace God multiplies the Holy Spirit's influence, bringing spiritual strength and a joyful religious experience. The chapter's promises encourage believers to grow by adding grace to grace, and as they meet its conditions God works by multiplication. God grants the blessings His faithful people need as they struggle against evil, and He is ready to hear and answer the contrite heart, and this multiplication accompanies the continuing work of sanctification in which believers cooperate with God through persevering effort and by adding grace to grace.
Power and Promises Received
Through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, divine power gives everything that belongs to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called to glory and virtue. That knowledge is the means by which grace and peace are multiplied and by which believers receive the divine power, promises, and qualities needed for life and godliness and growth in Christian character. Beholding God's purity and holiness brings power through the Holy Spirit to become like God in character and to overcome the selfishness of the natural heart. Through Christ moral power is provided so that everyone may lay hold of what is needed, and Christ Himself showed the pattern by laying off His royal robe and kingly crown, coming as a little child and taking the liabilities of human nature to teach perfect, faithful, cheerful labor without defect, with time and thought for heaven and gladness expressed in psalms and songs.
With that gift come exceeding great and precious promises by which believers may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. The multiplication of grace and peace begins this provision and grows into positive assurance only as the Holy Spirit works from inward to outward and believers give diligence to add the Christian graces. This is the beginning of a life of growth in which faith developed by addition makes believers fruitful in knowing Christ and prepares them for entrance into His everlasting kingdom.
These privileges come through the sacrifice of the Son of God, for God joins His divine power with human effort so that people may overcome. Christ covers divinity with humanity, and with His human arm He encircles the race while with His divine arm He grasps the throne of the Infinite, thus bridging the gulf that sin made and uniting finite humanity with the infinite God. As representative He was tempted in all points in proportion to His elevation of mind yet would not yield to weaken His divine power, proving what humanity may be in obedience, and the knowledge of His work in the plan of redemption reveals both the depth of humanity's fallen condition and the restoration made possible through His death. Through Him believers receive power to overcome as He overcame, coming to Him needy and dependent to receive that power, and when divinity and humanity work together fallen man becomes more than conqueror through Christ Jesus, enabled to reflect the divine image and even to sit with Him in His Father's throne.
The giver identified with this multiplied grace and peace is the source of all power, the great Chief Physician. The knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord is personal knowledge that Jesus is my personal Saviour, that He pities me, and that upon His sympathizing heart He bears the wounds of my transgressions. This Jesus is the great Medical Missionary, the greatest Medical Missionary that ever stood on earthly soil, standing in the midst of a wicked world ready to help at any time.
Growth in Christian Virtues
Grace and peace are multiplied through knowing God and Jesus our Lord, and that knowledge supplies by divine power everything needed for life and godliness through Him who called to glory and virtue, with exceedingly great and precious promises by which to share the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world through lust. Diligence is therefore required to add grace to grace, to faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge temperance or self-control, to temperance patience, to patience godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness charity or love. Believers work on the plan of addition while God works on the plan of multiplication, so as they diligently add these traits to character Christ multiplies grace and peace to them. That addition grows by constant diligence through the grace of Christ, by a faith that works by love and purifies the soul, with no graduation in the school of Christ and no time to be lost but continual improvement and daily advancement. The pattern for accomplishing this work was shown when Christ laid aside His royal robe and kingly crown and came as a little child taking the liabilities of human nature, doing perfect, faithful, cheerful labor without defect even in handling tools, keeping time and thought for heaven with gladness expressed in psalms and songs, as the example for learning lessons and understanding and doing duty.
Peter's ladder beginning with multiplied grace and peace through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord is Bible sanctification, an opening ladder of eight rounds given to those who have obtained like precious faith. It pictures cooperation with God in salvation, climbing step by step while looking to and clinging to Christ. Christ is the ladder connecting earth with heaven, through whom God multiplies grace as it is needed and through whom all blessings come.
When the added qualities are present and abound they keep believers from being barren or unfruitful in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, making that knowledge fruitful. He who lacks them is blind, cannot see afar off, and has forgotten cleansing or purging from old sins, corrupting his ways before God and unable to discern the value of holiness. Diligence to make calling and election sure in this way keeps from ever falling and provides an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
This knowledge bears fruit in genuine conversion and progressive sanctification, with faith and growth in godliness, acceptance of God's promises by faith, and reflection of the divine image in daily life. It is the foundation for spiritual growth and for receiving the grace and power needed to live a godly life, by which parents and children may grow together in Christ's grace. God's power supplies what is needed for life and godliness and gives promises that enable believers through the Holy Spirit to become like God in character, and beholding God's purity and holiness helps them overcome the selfishness of the natural heart. That growth is central to the believer's constant advancement in Christian character.
Assurance and Eternal Inheritance
Grace and peace multiplied through knowing God and Jesus Christ is the beginning of a life of growth in which divine power supplies all things needed for life and godliness and precious promises enable sharing in the divine nature and escape from worldly corruption. That growth requires giving all diligence to add to faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge self-control, and to self-control patience, and to patience godliness, and to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love, with constant improvement and no time to be lost. The Lord works on the plan of multiplication while believers work on the plan of addition, multiplying grace as they diligently cultivate it through constant diligence and through a faith that works by love and purifies the soul, never graduating in the school of Christ. When these qualities are present and abound they keep believers from being barren or unfruitful in knowing Christ and make them fruitful, while lacking them is blindness and forgetting cleansing from old sins. Giving diligence in this way makes calling and election sure, even doubly sure, keeps from ever falling, and ministers an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, with right to abundant entrance through the gates into the city of God. That assurance is confirmed by putting oneself in the channel where one can follow on to know the Lord, by searching the Scriptures and carrying them out in daily life through practice of the Word, prayer, watchfulness, and service, which establishes in present truth.
The multiplied grace and peace is God's eternal life-insurance policy, to be taken hold of now while the Saviour is at hand and not afar off, instead of worldly insurance such as a Freemason life insurance policy. It is the best life insurance, an insurance policy to eternal life and a life-insurance policy endorsed by the Lord God who created him, giving God's guardianship in this world and immortal life in the world to come. Through knowing God and Jesus the soul who approaches God as Father enters partnership with Him and the Lord enters into vital relation with him, heaven becomes his home, he becomes a member of the royal family and a child of the heavenly King, and all who hold it are linked with the family of the redeemed by a tie which cannot be broken. If he consents to place himself under pledge to God, God pledges His word that if he does the things named he shall never fall, and an entrance shall be ministered abundantly into the everlasting kingdom. Received through faith in Christ as personal Saviour, it gives even those in humble place title to a home in heaven as heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ to an immortal inheritance, for those cut loose from secret orders and worldly policies and made free indeed. This assurance grows into positive assurance only as the Holy Spirit works from inward to outward, requiring full consecration without divided service that imperils the soul, refusing to mingle the common with the sacred, gaining clear spiritual eyesight to discern between the sacred and the common, and not taking common fire and exalting and praising and cherishing it. It is to be repeated as protection and encouragement to one shown to be in danger.
Its precious truths are given for encouragement and comfort to all who have obtained like precious faith, and when they fill heart and mind they give strength, comfort, peace, joy, and assurance. They give strength to resist every temptation to look on the dark side of circumstances and to talk discouragement, pointing to a Helper who cannot err, never makes a mistake, and is filled with all wisdom and knowledge, so believers can press the battle firmly, decidedly, in faith and hope. Growing in knowledge by receiving and living out the light and instruction God gives day by day, constantly adding to the fund of knowledge and carrying out instruction received, strengthens believers to overcome temptation and stand on vantage ground. Those who do this draw nigh to God so He draws nigh to them and lifts up a standard against the enemy, and studying the chapter brings help, strength, and blessing to resist the enemy. Those who accept the hope offered through faith in Christ and follow the plan of addition receive multiplied peace, joy, and assurance, giving a secure foundation and preparing them to meet the King, yet the knowledge that multiplies grace and peace is still largely unattained, not a hundredth part of what is possible, because the light given day by day is not walked in.
Daily Life and Mission
Grace and peace multiplied through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord is full of instruction for those engaged in educational work for youth. Those in positions of responsibility are to give it special study in managing matters connected with establishing new schools for training children, so that youth may be surrounded by circumstances most favorable for forming a character strong enough to withstand the evils of this world. Students in school have the privilege and opportunity to increase in that knowledge and in grace toward perfection of Christian character. The words of the first chapter of Second Peter strike the keynote of victory and force truth impressively upon the mind, and are to be studied abundantly and practiced, especially by youth pursuing education, so that they make Christ their all in all, go to God for strength in their weakness, and stand against contaminating influences instead of giving their minds wholly to study and losing all that enriches life. The Bible in which this knowledge is found is to be the lesson book in homes and schools, and as children and adults learn to know God they grow in the life of faith. The experiences of that first chapter fit men and women to become efficient workers for God, and all who offer themselves for service should study it to be directed to work they can do.
That knowledge is the foundation for spiritual growth and for receiving the grace and power needed to live a godly life, and parents and children may grow together in Christ's grace. It means having Christ as only hope and sole dependence, coming to Him with little trials and large perplexities, telling them all to Jesus, and believing He will be helper, strength, and sympathizing Friend because He is touched with the feeling of infirmities, for strength is in the Lord Jehovah. This is confessed by erecting the family altar in every home, presenting petitions to God morning and evening, bringing the whole family before God in dependence upon Him, recognizing the claims of His service, keeping eternal reality before every member, and acknowledging Christ as Leader, Captain, and divine Teacher.
The knowledge through which grace and peace are multiplied is the mark of wisdom given by God whose course of action is in harmony with the will of God and gives those connected with him confidence in his wisdom to devise and plan for the progress and advancement of the work of saving souls that are ready to die. When people of like precious faith heed Peter's instruction, they are led to share the light of the gospel with the world, and those who receive God's grace have a responsibility to seek the salvation of others. The chapter gives valuable instruction to every worker and calls each person to apply it individually, presenting everlasting life as a privilege that can be secured. Those who take the name of Christian must obey its instruction to honor that name, having the mind thoroughly cultivated and forbidding no aspirations or enterprises that pure religion sanctions, and those who obey will be richly blessed.
God's grace and peace multiplied through knowing God and Jesus Christ belong to provisions Christians are to understand and follow, and the surrounding verses are essential principles of righteousness that must be obeyed. That chapter teaches Jesus Christ as the only hope and the one on whom believers depend entirely, to whom they can bring both small trials and great perplexities, trusting Him as helper, strength, and sympathetic friend. Its words are especially relevant to the church and are to be read and obeyed in both letter and spirit, with a full purpose to carry out its instruction, calling for care in how people speak and in the spirit they show toward others.