\n\t\t\t\t\t\tDownload Audio\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\tText: II Peter 1:1-4<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I. Christianity is the life of following Christ<\/p>\n
A. To follow anyone, you need to know who you are following<\/p>\n B. Jesus prayed that his followers would know the only true God and His Son – John\n17:3\n 1. He told his disciples that if they knew Jesus, then they would know the\nFather as well – John 14:6-11\n
2. That is because Jesus is the expressed image of God – Colossians 1:15<\/p>\n
3. He is the exact representation of God’s nature – Hebrews 1:3<\/p>\n 4. The light of God’s glory is seen in the knowledge of His Son – II\nCorinthians 4:6\n C. Thus, it is essential for Christians to attain the knowledge of Christ – Ephesians\n4:13\n
1. It is why Jesus came into this world – I John 5:20<\/p>\n
2. It is worth more than anything in this world – Philippians 3:8<\/p>\n 3. Unity in love results in a full assurance of the knowledge of Christ –\nColossians 2:2\n D. The Greek word epignosis<\/i> (ep-ig’-no-sis) means to be thoroughly acquainted, to\nknow accurately, or to know well.\n
II. Grace and peace is multiplied – II Peter 1:2<\/p>\n A. A common Hebrew greeting was to wish another peace – I Samuel 25:5-6; Luke\n10:5\n B. A common Greek greeting was say “rejoice” or “greetings” – Luke 1:28; Matthew\n28:9\n C. Paul and Peter often started their letters with both greetings, showing a unity of\nJews and Greeks under God.\n D. But II Peter 1:2 says that these greetings and what they wish for are multiplied in\nthe knowledge of Christ\n
1. All experience God’s favor to some degree – Matthew 5:45<\/p>\n 2. But in Christ we experience the fullness of God’s favor – Ephesians 1:3;\nPhilippians 4:6-7\n
III. Gives us everything we need for live and godliness – II Peter 1:3<\/p>\n
A. “Life” refers to the things we need to know to live life properly<\/p>\n
B. “Godliness” refers to how we can live more like God (God likeness)<\/p>\n
C. The knowledge of Christ changes us and improves our outlook – II Peter 1:4<\/p>\n
1. Precious and Magnificent Promises<\/p>\n a. Make certain of his calling by practicing the things we learn – II\nPeter 1:10-11\n
b. We anticipate with joy what comes next – II Timothy 4:6-8<\/p>\n
2. Partakers of the Divine Nature<\/p>\n
a. We can become like Christ. How? – II Peter 1:5-8<\/p>\n b. These are the qualities we need to develop to have knowledge of\nChrist\n
c. These qualities make us useful in the knowledge of Christ<\/p>\n
3. Having escaped the corruption of lust<\/p>\n a. It is through these qualities that we remember and don’t lose sight\nof the fact that we were purified from sin – II Peter 1:9\n
(1) Our objective is to become like Christ – Romans 8:29<\/p>\n
(2) Renewed according to the image of Christ – Colossians 3:9-11<\/p>\n
b. And as the next verse tells us, we won’t stumble<\/p>\n
(1) “stumble” means to fall into misery, to become wretched<\/p>\n (2) Thus, we don’t fall so far into despair that give up our\nsalvation\n
IV. Are you growing in the knowledge of Christ?<\/p>\n
A. Does it show in the way you live?<\/p>\n
B. There is an opportunity today to start on the path of salvation.<\/p>\n
\n
based on a lesson by Mark Copeland<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: II Peter 1:1-4 I. Christianity is the life of following Christ A. To follow anyone, you need to know who you are following B. Jesus prayed that his followers would know the only true God and His Son – John 17:3 1. He told his disciples that if they knew Jesus,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[119,32],"tags":[642,73,1093],"class_list":["post-93697","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-audio","category-sermon","tag-christianity","tag-jesus","tag-knowledge"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":52330,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/perfected-in-unity\/","url_meta":{"origin":93697,"position":0},"title":"Perfected in Unity","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 7, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: John 17:13-26 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In Jesus\u2019 final prayer to the Father before his arrest, Jesus expressed his desire that his followers be united, just as he and the Father were one - John 17:22-23 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0That \u201cone\u201d is not numerical, but a unity in purpose and action.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":93701,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-excellence-of-the-knowledge-of-christ-jesus\/","url_meta":{"origin":93697,"position":1},"title":"The Excellence of the Knowledge of Christ Jesus","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 8, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Philippians 3:1-11 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Saul was an outstanding member of the Jewish religion during his time \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0He had all the right qualities - Philippians 3:4-6 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0He was advancing faster than his peers - Galatians 1:13-14 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0But he changed when he came to know who\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":64515,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-do-i-pray-for-someone-i-do-not-have-anything-particular-to-request\/","url_meta":{"origin":93697,"position":2},"title":"How do I pray for someone I do not have anything particular to request?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 10, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Good evening, I wanted to ask you something that came to my mind recently. I am trying to get better at praying for others; specifically, people who have not given me any ways that I can pray for them. How can I pray for someone if I do not\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":14361,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-jesus-the-wisdom-of-god\/","url_meta":{"origin":93697,"position":3},"title":"Is Jesus the wisdom of God?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 21, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I have read that Jesus is called the \"wisdom of God\" in I Corinthians.\u00a0 Is he also the wisdom in Proverbs 8? If not, please do show me what or who the wisdom is in Proverbs 8. Thank you, sir. Answer: \"For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":61360,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/examining-christianity\/","url_meta":{"origin":93697,"position":4},"title":"Examining Christianity","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 12, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Corinthians 13:1-8 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Most religions in the world surround themselves in mysteries \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Followers are asked to accept things without full knowledge \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Only a select few are granted special insight \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0But God\u2019s teachings are not like these religions \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0God challenges us to reason about the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":40623,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/knowledge-the-key-to-security-in-christ\/","url_meta":{"origin":93697,"position":5},"title":"Knowledge: The Key to Security in Christ","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 31, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"by Rob Speer God and I","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93697","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=93697"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93697\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=93697"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=93697"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=93697"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}