Invitation delivered by: Jerry Gallman
To grow in the favor of God, it is necessary to know God’s will for man. Growth in knowledge through study leads to growing in the favor or grace of God (cf. 2 Peter 3:18).
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Invitation delivered by: Jerry Gallman To grow in the favor of God, it is necessary to know God’s will for man. Growth in knowledge through study leads to growing in the favor or grace of God (cf. 2 Peter 3:18). This lesson is a sequel to one preached on June 26, 2011. In this lesson an emphasis is placed on the danger of being ignorant of God’s word. We need to know of God’s goodness and righteousness; what is required for the conversion of man; the jurisdiction of the law; and the nature of the Christian’s hope. An ignorance of these things can cost a man his soul. Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here . Sermon Audio: Click Here . This sermon by Josh Cox examines the text of 2 Peter 1:5-11 to determine the characteristics that make for Spiritual Maturity. (Virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love). Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here . Sermon Audio: Click Here . This sermon is an exegetical treatment of Colossians 1:9-19. The text relates Paul’s prayer on behalf of the Colossians, “that you may be filled…” Also, the Preeminence of Christ is revealed and discussed. Sermon Audio: Click Here .
Philippians 1:9-11 This prayer of Paul is interesting in that it is on behalf of the Christians at Philippi, and expresses his desire for their continued growth. He prays for their love to “abound more and more”, but notice how the apostle links love to knowledge and discernment. Why is it that love must be with discernment? So that “you may approve the things that are excellent.” In our day, love is undiscerning, and tolerant even of error and evil. When evil is tolerated by God’s children, it has the unhappy effect of compromising purity and godliness. It is Paul’s desire that the Philippians (and we) be “sincere and without offense.” In order for that to happen, discernment had to accompany their (and our) love. We must avoid being influenced to evil. Christians should be careful to develop sufficient knowledge of what God approves, that we might instead be “filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Christ.”
1 Corinthians 8:1 “Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.” Someone might, in reading this statement, think that Paul was “anti” knowledge. This is certainly not so. Paul does not condemn, or even minimize, the value of knowledge. Rather, he here condemns certain attitudes that can be present in those who have knowledge. If it is not tempered by love, knowledge can cause a man to be prideful and dismissive of others. This was the case with regard to the eating of meat offered up to idols. Some knew such was acceptable to God, and as a result were dismissive of their weaker brethren who did not have that knowledge. Rather than refraining from eating, to protect their brother, they instead were willing to risk their brother’s eternal welfare as they flaunted their superior knowledge of God’s will. Such is antithetical to Christ’s cause (vs. 12-13). Love must temper our knowledge! Bill Crews’ sermon notes the passage from Isaiah 55:6-11, indicating that God’s wisdom and will are beyond man’s knowledge, outside of His revelation to us. Sermon Audio: Click Here . The second in Peter’s list of attributes to be added to our faith, (cf. 2 Peter 1:5-11), is “knowledge.” The English term knowledge is derived from the Greek (gnosis). It is defined by Vine as “primarily a seeking to know, an enquiry, investigation. Denotes, in the N.T., knowledge, especially of spiritual truth. (Vol. 2, page 301). |
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