Add to Your Faith: Knowledge
Not Merely Knowing About God, But Knowing Him
In my last letter, we looked at the first quality Peter tells us to add to our faith: virtue.
Virtue is faith becoming visible. It is the moral courage to live out what we claim to believe.
But courage alone is not enough. A person can be sincere, passionate, determined, and even courageous while still heading in the wrong direction if they lack knowledge.
In a sense, virtue asks: “Am I willing to follow God?”
Knowledge asks: “Do I actually know Him well enough to follow Him wisely?”
That is why Peter immediately follows virtue with knowledge:
“And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;” ~ 2 Peter 1:5
🌼 Faith gets us started.
🌼 Virtue gets us moving.
🌼 Knowledge helps us move in the right direction.
Knowledge is More Than Information
When we hear the word “knowledge,” we often think of facts, information, education, or intelligence.
I’m convinced that the knowledge Peter is talking about is much deeper than simply accumulating information. The Greek word used here is gnosis, which speaks of knowledge gained through understanding, experience, and relationship.
In Scripture, knowledge is rarely presented as merely knowing about something. It is often about truly knowing someone. There is a world of difference between knowing facts about a person and actually knowing that person.
Many people know facts about God. Far fewer know Him. Jesus Himself said:
“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” ~ John 17:3
Notice that eternal life is not described merely as possessing information. It is described as knowing God.
The Christian life is not simply about learning doctrines, memorizing verses, or winning theological debates. All of those things have their place, but the ultimate goal is to develop a very real and personal relationship with our Creator and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
God wants us to know Him.
My husband often quotes Paul and his astonishing desire to get to know the real heart of God, even if it meant giving up everything he had attained in life and enduring suffering in order to do so.
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; ~ Philippians 3:8-10
What Paul is describing is not merely knowing about Him. But truly knowing Him.
Getting to Know God Through His Word
If we want to know God, we must spend time where He has chosen to reveal Himself. The primary way God reveals His character, His purposes, His promises, and His ways is through His Word.
The Bible isn’t just a ‘book about God’ but rather it is His living, breathing Word, and the ultimate revelation of Jesus Christ, who is the Word made flesh.
John lays this out pretty clearly:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made… …And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” ~ John 1:1-3, 14
Spending time reading God’s Word is, in fact, spending time with Jesus; getting to know Him on a deeply personal level by reading His pages and talking to Him through prayer. It’s asking Him to help you understand how these words apply to your own daily life.
This is why Peter says earlier in the chapter:
“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him...” ~ 2 Peter 1:3
Notice the connection. Everything we need for life and godliness comes through the knowledge of Him.
The more we know God, the more we trust Him, and the stronger our faith becomes.
The more we understand His character, the more wisdom we have to make godly decisions in every aspect of our lives.
The more we know God through His Word, the more clearly we begin to understand the world around us as well. Creation declares His existence. Human nature confirms what Scripture teaches about the heart. The brokenness of the world reminds us that sin truly entered God's once-perfect creation. Far from disproving God, the wickedness in the world around us continually confirms what He has already told us in His Word.
When we read Scripture, we begin to see the consistent character of God woven throughout every page.
🌼 We see His holiness in Isaiah.
🌼 His compassion in the Gospels.
🌼 His longsuffering with Israel.
🌼 His justice toward sin.
🌼 His faithfulness to keep promises.
🌼 His mercy toward failures.
🌼 His sovereignty over nations.
🌼 His love demonstrated at Calvary.
The goal of Bible reading is not merely to finish chapters. It is to know the Author. I have been reading the Bible for 50 years, and daily for over 35 years. I am still growing and getting to know Him.
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. ~ 1 Corinthians 13:11-12
I can’t see it all clearly yet nor understand Him completely, but I so look forward to the day when I see Him face to face. I love Him so much, and I can only imagine what it will be like when I know Him as He knows me.
Getting to Know His Ways
As children, most of us learned what pleased our parents because we spent time with them and understood their expectations. Whether we obeyed out of joy or fear, we could usually figure out what they would want us to do because of our knowledge and experience of being their child.
Some of you may have been blessed like I was to have a parental relationship that was precious and treasured. That’s the kind of relationship I had with my mom. She was the best person I’ve ever known, and I longed to please her in everything I said and did. It gave me joy to bring her joy.
This same principle is true in our relationship with God. The more we know Him, the more we understand what He desires from us. The more we know His mind, the more we can please Him and revel in the joy of doing so.
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: ~ Philippians 2:5
Scripture teaches us:
🌼 How to speak
🌼 How to think
🌼 How to work
🌼 How to treat others
🌼 How to respond to suffering
🌼 How to handle success
🌼 How to use our resources
🌼 How to love our enemies
🌼 How to raise our children
🌼 How to walk in wisdom, and so much more…
God has not left us guessing.
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105)
Knowledge gives direction. Without it, we stumble. With it, we walk confidently.
This is one reason spiritual growth stalls for so many believers. Many people want encouragement, but neglect instruction. They desire inspiration, but avoid study. They want strong faith, yet spend little time getting to know the God in whom they claim to have faith.
We cannot grow beyond what we know.
I read an amazing book as a teenager, In His Steps by Charles Sheldon. I would highly recommend it. It is the story of a group of people in a community who committed themselves to living one full year of asking themselves, “What would Jesus do?” about every decision in their lives and then doing that.
It was an inspiring and challenging novel. The book eventually led to a Christian trend or fad with people wearing bracelets, etc., that said WWJD?
I wholeheartedly agree with the premise, and have tried to live my life accordingly, though I’ve never worn the bracelet. However, I’ve discovered that you can’t answer the question, “What would Jesus do?” if you don’t know Him well. You can’t really know Him well if you don’t know His Word well.
Knowledge, Understanding, and Wisdom
The book of Proverbs frequently links knowledge, understanding, and wisdom together. They are closely related, but not identical.
🌼 Knowledge is learning the truth.
🌼 Understanding is seeing how the truth fits together.
🌼 Wisdom is applying the truth correctly.
For example:
Knowledge says:
“God commands forgiveness.”
Understanding says:
“I see why forgiveness matters and how bitterness damages the heart.”
Wisdom says:
“Therefore, I will choose to forgive.”
God never intended knowledge to stop with information. Knowledge is meant to transform our thinking, shape our character, and guide our decisions. It all begins with getting to know God and fearing Him.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever. ~ Psalms 111:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. ~ Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. ~ Proverbs 9:10
My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. ~ Proverbs 2:1-5
In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge. ~ Proverbs 14:26
Everything begins with a right view of God. When we grow in our knowledge and understanding of Him, we will have the wisdom, desire, and confidence to know what is right to do and to do it.
Growing Beyond Spiritual Infancy
One of the recurring concerns in the New Testament is believers who stop growing. You may have heard the phrase, ‘baby Christians.’ While a newborn baby is a wonderful and precious thing, if that baby never grows, it is considered abnormal and of great concern.
Paul addressed believers who were still “carnal” when they should have been growing in discernment and understanding.
And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
~ 1 Corinthians 3:1-3
God never intended us to remain babies in His family. Once we’ve been born again, we must begin to grow.
“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” ~ 2 Peter 3:18
Notice, again, the connection - We grow in grace. We grow in knowledge.
Growth is expected.
Growth is intentional.
Growth is part of the Christian life.
Knowledge - The Fertilizer of Our Faith
Knowledge is far more than gathering information about God. It is learning to know Him, understand His ways, and see the world through the lens of His truth.
Faith begins by believing God. Virtue moves us to obey Him. Knowledge teaches us who He is, what He desires, and why His ways are always right. Wisdom is the application of that knowledge every single day.
The more we know Him, the more we trust Him. And the more we trust Him, the more our lives begin to reflect His character.
Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD. ~ Jeremiah 9:23-24
That’s really what Peter is calling us to add to our faith. Not merely more information, but a growing knowledge of God Himself.
Blessings,
Angie
P.S. If you've ever felt intimidated by Bible study, don't be discouraged. The goal isn't to become a Bible scholar. The goal is to know God better. Read a little. Think deeply. Ask questions. Pray often. Fifty years into my journey, I'm still discovering new things about Him every day, and I suspect I always will.