INSTEAD OF "FALLING FROM OUR OWN STEADFASTNESS", Christians ARE ENCOURAGED TO "GROW IN GRACE" (2 Pet 3:17,18)(as well as GROW IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST). It is important to look at the context of scriptures in which Christians are encouraged to "grow in GRACE", because it's for example, set versus "falling from steadfastness" in 2 Pe 3:17,18, and in this sense it teaches us that the topic of "growing in grace" has much to do with "keeping steadfast" (not just growing in grace towards others...).
Falling from grace vs. Growing in grace:
To ADD TO FAITH is not just about growing in grace, but also "growing in knowledge" (specifically referring to THE TRUTH)(http://warechristene.blogspot.com/p/die-waarheid.html). We need faith in order to receive grace, but FAITH comes from hearing THE WORD OF GOD (Rom 10:17). So we see how important it is to grow in knowledge because we need the truth in order to add to our faith -and need to add to faith in order to grow in grace! (because if grace is shown to those WHO have FAITH in Christ Jesus, then naturally, "adding to that FAITH" (2 Pe 1:5), will have to effect that we "grow in GRACE" (2 Pe 3:18)).
Following the TRUTH is very important in order to be seen as blameless when Jesus comes back. Paul talks about this in 1 Cor 1, about how the Lord will confirm them unto the end so that they can be "blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ (1Co 1:8)... In v.10 he beseech them to be ONE in Christ - "to speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among them but be perfectly join together in the same mind and in the same judgment". Christians are supposed to think the same and follow the same truth - the truth that came through Jesus, but sadly this is not always the case because many times it's rather about WHO they trust not about "WHAT IS THE TRUTH". To the saints in Philippi Paul wrote to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling (Php 2:12). Now why will they have work out their own salvation almost like they don't have it yet? He further instructed them to obey the Lord and do all things without murmurings and disputings.....and then he also used this particular words: -"that they may be BLAMELESS and harmless", the sons of God...as lights in the world (v. 14,15). To be seen as the BLAMELESS (in these scriptures) refers to those who obey Jesus Christ without complaining, and who seek and stay in His truth (thus believe in Him and believe in His words). Compare this with 2 Pe 1:10,11 in which brethren are encouraged to give diligence TO MAKE THEIR CALLING AND ELECTION SURE... - with the promise that if they do that THEY WILL NEVER FALL! Again we see here that it has to do with this topic of what it means to grow in grace, and by doing that we make our calling and election sure. But if a Christian don't GROW IN GRACE it might have to effect that they fall from grace - which will have to effect that their calling and election is not sure anymore...
A Christian cannot GROW IN KNOWLEDGE if he serve his own will or put his trust in worldly wisdom. Such a Christian will not be blameless when Jesus comes back. A Christian cannot add to his FAITH if not "growing in knowledge"..., which also have to affect that he will not grow in GRACE... Christians that don't commit to keeping steadfast to their (renewed) souls (labour by adding to their faith, for example - keep fast to truth, love your brother etc.), are in danger of falling from grace... (fail, lack, suffer need, come short etc. - as in reversal/separation from God's favour, i.e. "might not be acceptable in the end")(Hebr. 12:15). Indeed the Christian's soul is renewed (spiritually) when he gets born-again (now "spiritual man"), but every Christian should commit to KEEP his soul (to the Lord in well doing)(1 Pe 4:19), for the time is come that judgement must begin at the house of God (1 Pe 4:17). (1Pe 4:18 - "And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?").
Compare this with the parable of the sower of those who have no root in themselves (Mat 13:21) and only endure for a while because they got offended when tribulation or persecution arose... Also compare it with the third group in this parable (Mat 13:22) of the ones whose FRUIT (those already bearing fruit!) got choked from the cares and pleasures of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and they became UNFRUITFUL. If a Christian becomes unfruitful, he's clearly not "growing in grace", but rather "falling from grace"! - rather, "falling from the steadfastness" IN WHICH HE IS (2 Pe 3:17)(you cannot fall from something if you're not already in it). In what manner will this Christian be when Jesus comes back? Will he be seen as without spot and blameless? The truth is that faith without works is dead (Jas 2:18,20,26). Christians must be diligent to ADD TO THEIR FAITH! In this context some "labour" is needed, but NOT meant as "works in order to receive salvation", but meant as "works of faith" - works of those already saved". So yes, virtue is important!; knowledge is important!; as is self-control, endurance, holiness, brotherly love and charity..., etc. Christians that don't add these things to their faith, for example:
- those that don't add self-control but rather do their own will, will find that instead of growing in grace they will fall from their steadfastness (fall from favour) and even be given over to their own desires if they don't repent (Rom. 1:24,26)...
- Christians that don't add brotherly love and charity to their faith will not grow in grace; for example, they will not be merciful to others!
- Christians that don't hold fast to the truth but accept false doctrines will not bear the "fruit to eternal life"...
etc.
In the 7 letters to the 7 congregations in Rev 2 and 3, there's a few examples of Christians that didn't "ADD TO THEIR FAITH"... For example, in the letter to the church in Pergamos (Rev 2:12), some held to false doctrines (thus, they did not keep fast to the truth). Even though these people were Christians and "UNDER THE GRACE OF JESUS CHRIST" (and a church that did not deny their faith in Jesus Christ even when some of them were martyred), the Christians in this church that followed false doctrines were not "growing in grace" but were rather "falling from their stedfastness - they were warned that if they don't repent, the Lord Himself will come and fight against them with the sword of His mouth... (v.16).
In these 7 letters Jesus confirmed many promises but only to those who HOLD FAST! (Rev 2:25; 3:1,3). In several other letters to Christian churches, christians were also admonished to HOLD and STAND FAST:
- (2Th 2:15) Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
- (1Th 5:21) Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
- (2Ti 1:13) Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
- (1Th 3:8) For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.
- (Php 4:1) Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.
- (Php 1:27) Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
- (Gal 5:1) Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
- (1Co 16:13) Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
Also, take a look at what was written to Christians in the book of Hebrews:
(Heb 12:15-17 - "Looking diligently lest any man fail of ("fall from") the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears".
What we learn from Hebr 12 is that it is indeed possible for a Christian to FALL FROM GRACE, or "to fall from his own steadfastness" if he don't keep the faith or add to his faith:
-also compare this with (2Pe 3:17) "Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness". Every Christian has the responsibility to make their calling and election sure! (faith + works; not "works of the law" but "works of faith"). If any Christian already started to fall from steadfastness and strayed from the truth, he should REPENT... (Rev. 2,3) and aim to "add to his faith" and "grow in grace"! - something we must DO ourselves ("works of faith"). (2Pe 1:10,11) "Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ".
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.