Pastor Peter had a burden to see believers grow and become mature. His second epistle was written specifically to encourage Christians to grow in grace and in the knowledge of God, while warning them that there were those who would corrupt their faith and hinder their growth.
Before Peter begins to discuss the specifics of spiritual growth, he lays some very important theological groundwork in 2 Peter 1:3-4. Such an important topic requires one crucial, foundational understanding. Spiritual growth cannot be accomplished with God’s help. The kind of “spirituality” that is achieved independent of God is, by definition, self-righteousness. This is the kind of religion that Jesus warned against, when He said, “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:20)
God has called all Christians to reject self-righteousness and to let God work in us to make us what He wants us to be. We can grow in grace, but we must grow God’s way to else God will not get the glory that He should get from our lives.
Before Peter begins to discuss the specifics of spiritual growth, he lays some very important theological groundwork in 2 Peter 1:3-4. Such an important topic requires one crucial, foundational understanding. Spiritual growth cannot be accomplished with God’s help. The kind of “spirituality” that is achieved independent of God is, by definition, self-righteousness. This is the kind of religion that Jesus warned against, when He said, “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:20)
God has called all Christians to reject self-righteousness and to let God work in us to make us what He wants us to be. We can grow in grace, but we must grow God’s way to else God will not get the glory that He should get from our lives.