Grow In The Grace And Knowledge Of Our Lord And Savior Jesus Christ

 by  Mr. Francis D'Souza

Every year the group meets on the night of 31st December through to the 1st of January for prayer and recollection. A lot of time is spent thanking the Lord for all the past blessings and also for what He will do in the new year.
This year the Lord revealed the theme in the words of 2 Peter 3:18. “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen." (NIV)
Same words are used in six different versions of the Bible

This theme is good not only for JTRV, but for every human being not only for a year but for a lifetime.
Lets look at three words to draw important lessons for our life:
I. Grow
II. Grace
III. Knowledge
Grow: Continuously theme of the Bible.
Synonymous words are maturity, progress, effective, productive.
He who is not progressing is regressing. Not to go forward is to go backward. No growth results in stagnancy. Decay begins where growth ends.

Grace: Mercy is not receiving what we truly deserve (i.e. God’s wrath because of our sins) Grace is receiving what we do not deserve. (a student receives grace marks in the examinations)

Conditions: Come, receive

Knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ:
Importance:
John 17:3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

Paul’s greatest desire: Philippians 3:8,10
• 8What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ
• 10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death

Basic Catechism lesson: Why did God make me? God made me to know Him, love Him and serve Him.

We express this when we sing the hymn “The greatest thing in all my life is knowing you”

THE ‘HOW’ OF GROWTH
Staying connected to the Vine. John 15 tells us that the branch must remain in the vine if it has to fulfill its call to become fruitful.

We can stay connected through the following:

Prayer - is the oxygen to the soul. Fresh air promotes good health. Good health results in growth.
Intimacy with the Lord also results in growth. This intimacy with the Lord in personal prayer gives greater meaning in community prayer, thereby causing growth in the body as well. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray at all times”

The Word of God – Act 20:32 … to the word of grace which is able to build you up……………..
1 Peter 2:2 drink of the pure milk of the word………………
Along with the food i.e. the Word of God exercise is also beneficial for growth The exercise is obedience Jam 1:22 says do not only be hearers but also doers of the Word.

Fellowship - Hebrews 10:25 do not give up the habit of meeting together as some of you are already doing. God dwells among His people. The following poem will help us to understand this.

I sought to hear the voice of God
So I climbed the topmost steeple
But declared go down again
I dwell among my people

We can be in contact with God by being in contact with his people because God’s dwelling place is among His people.

Service - Your group needs to be complimented for the works of mercy that they carry out through the Prem Aangan Trust. This is in the complete sense continuing the work of Jesus and His command to preach the Gospel. Matthew 25 tells us that when we serve the needy we are actually serving the Lord and we meet him through the poor and needy. As often as you did it to the least of my brethren you did it unto me.

Eucharist - Jesus says in the Gospel of John chapter 6 “I Am The Bread Of Life” over and over again. This food is available to us in the Eucharist. The partaking of the Eucharist results in us having the same body, same nature. The result is growth.
Growth in the knowledge of Jesus Christ is an ongoing process

We can never say we have made it rather we have to keep striving Philippians 3:12-14

There is no room for complacency 2 Peter 1:5-7 Progressive Steps Of Maturity.
• Faith
• Goodness
• Knowledge
• Self-Control
• Perseverance
• Godliness
• Brotherly-Affection
• Love

There is nothing called instant maturity. There is no short cut. From glory to glory He’s changing me

Romans 8:29 God wants to perfect in us the image of His son Jesus.