WHAT THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD HAS DONE FOR US
II PETER 2:1-10
INTRODUCTION:
Knowledge has the meaning of: the act, fact or state of knowing, learning or enlightenment
1. IT HAS BEEN MULTIPLIED UNTO ME IN THE CROSS
We experience a measure of this peace through receiving God’s grace in the matter of our salvation We place our hand of faith in God’s hand of grace
II Peter 2:2 says; that grace and peace are “multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ our Lord.”
II Peter 3:18 says… “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
II Peter 3:18 is a command, which means you have to decide to do it.
Every command that God makes in the Bible is something that you have to decide to do.
It also means that it is possible that you not do it.
Unless a Christian grows, this grace is and peace that is NOT multiplied to him in the sense that Peter is speaking, and he doesn’t enjoy many of the family privileges of being a child of God.
Multiplication has this meaning: the process of finding the number or quantity obtained by repeated additions of a specific number of quantity. Webster’s
Can we come to that process of finding number in the Grace and Peace that comes from the Lord?
Here are some other things the Knowledge of God has done Mathematically
A. THE CROSS “TAKES AWAY” SOVEREIGN SUBTRACTION
Our SUBS-TITUTE did some SUB-TRACTION!
Colossians 2:13-14 says…
And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
Hebrews 10:9-12 says…
Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
PTL and GLORY HALLELUJAH I‘ve been Subtracted from Hell !!!!!
B. THE CROSS “DIVIDES” DIVINE DIVISON
The cry around the world is for Unity…amen?!…but God Divides
Light from Darkness Right from Wrong Heaven from Hell
The Birth of Christ brought God to Man, but it took the Cross of Christ to bring Man to God
John 10:19-19 says…
No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.
There is some Division that is bad math.
Division in the Home
Division in the Church Music
Division in the Body of Christ
Sin Divided Man from God.
Exodus 8:23a says…
And I will put a division between my people and thy people:
Genesis 3:14-24 says…READ
C. THE CROSS “MULTIPLIES” MESSIANIC MULTIPLICATION
Acts 12:24 says…
But the word of God grew and multiplied.
Acts 6:1 says…
And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
II Peter 1:2 says…
Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
D. THE CROSS “ADDS” ALMIGHTY ADDITION
Let me Clarify by saying Salvation is Grace PLUS Nothing
PLUS is a Latin word meaning MORE
John 10:10 says…
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Matthew 6:33 says…
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Acts 5:14 says…
And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.
E. THE CROSS IS THE “ANSWER” HOLY ARITHMETIC
Philippians 2:6-8 says…
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross
CLOSING:
The Lord Jesus Christ SUMMED it up in these words…
John 19:30 says…
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
Special thanks to Pastor John Keeter for his time and talent on putting these points together some years ago in his message “The Mathematics of the Cross” that I may glean from them today…..what a blessing he and this message is and I hope it to be for the church tomorrow
For the Cause
Rev. Jerry Stepp
Victory M.B. Church
3-15-11
