How do we increase our experience with Jesus?

From 2 Peter 1:2-4

2Pe 1:2-13 WEB 2 Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 seeing that his divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and virtue, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and exceedingly great promises; that through these you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust.


In reading this passage, I did some digging further on the Greek. The word for knowledge is epignosis.

It's a word for experiential knowledge. In my youth we would have referred to it as hands on knowledge and experience.
It's the kind of knowledge that we gain from "getting our hands dirty."

So, it seems like our experience of grace and peace is increased as we grow in our understanding, learning, and experiencing Jesus and God.

In verse 3 we learn that everything we need to live a godly life is given to us through the knowledge (epignosis) of him who called us by his own glory and virtue.

Thus, again, we see that we can obtain a greater understanding of what we need to live a godly life as we increase our knowledge, understanding, learning and experience with Jesus and God.

We then get into vs 4, and it strikes me that the lid is blown off the proverbial storage container.

We see that through his glory and virtue, God has given us many exceedingly great and precious promises that by them.... we are able to become partakers of his divine nature and.... escape the corruption that is in this world because of lusts/evil desires....

To me.... as a retired craftsman, I see what appears to me to be the most completely stocked toolbox in the history of the human race.
Tools for every, and any situation we could possibly encounter....

Then, combined together with John 14:26, and 16:12-15..... we have a teacher who knows exactly who we are and how we learn and perceive/understand things we face....

So.... imagine you're an apprentice, or a newbie on the job. You have absolutely no idea what you're doing or how to do it.

The Holy Spirit comes along with the toolbox and says- I'm your teacher and here are all the tools you'll need to do the tasks appointed by God for you to do.
If you get stuck, just ask, I'm right here.
You of course are curious about the tens of thousands of other tools you see others using. So you ask.... what about them, and their tools.
He responds-- don't worry about them, you focus on what Jesus said is important today ....








5 Yes, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence; and in moral excellence, knowledge; 6 and in knowledge, self-control; and in self-control, perseverance; and in perseverance, godliness; 7 and in godliness, brotherly affection; and in brotherly affection, love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to not be idle or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.


The next thing that I see here..... those promises that God has given us.... remember what Jesus said in John 8, about learning the truth and the truth setting us free.

I see those promises and the power of God, setting us free to no longer have to focus on keeping the commandments, but learning to grow these attributes described in vss 5-7.


Then, as we see in vs 8, growing these attributes will result in a fruitful/active relationship with Jesus.


9 For he who lacks these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins.


This passage describes the problem with not focusing on increasing those previously stated attributes in our lives.




10 Therefore, brothers, be more diligent to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never stumble.

Never stumble....
How would you like to be able to live in such a way that you never stumble?

So, what things is Peter referring to?
Those attributes...
Faith, virtue, knowledge, self control, perseverance, brotherly kindness and love.....
Focus on investing your life in developing these godly traits.



11 For thus you will be richly supplied with the entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.



Anyone want to enjoy a massive celebration when you go be with Jesus? I don't know why, but this makes me think about the parades that celebrated the returning soldiers in the major cities, from World War 2.
Ticker tape confetti, musical bands, celebratory people lining the Blvd and shouting, and celebrating those soldiers....

This is apparently what awaits us who do this in our lives, and help others do the same.





12 Therefore I will not be negligent to remind you of these things, though you know them and are established in the present truth. 13 I think it right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you,


When I was younger I used to really resent when people would tell me things that I believed I already knew. My typical response says-- yeah, yeah! I already know that!
Look again at what Peter tells us...

.....Though you already know and are established in them.....


I get the impression that Peter had a forgetful nature too.

Remember, Jesus told him...

When you are converted, encourage your brothers too....

As I've grown older I have come to the realization that I have a tendency to forget what I have previously learned, and thought I was well-ensconced in them.

We are, by nature, easy forgetters.


Pete is saying that he thinks that it's right to remind us, as long as he lives.... and he's written them down, so we'll always have them handy for easy access.

So...

Encourage each other.

You're no longer enslaved to trying to be able to keep the law, commandments, etc...

Focus on the promises of God. They're what gives us the wherewithal to escape the corruption that we live with due to the lusts that we have in us, and are around us.

You are a new creation in Christ.

Learn to understand what that is and means to be able to live it out.