Growing in Grace and Knowledge: The Way of Godliness

Growing in Grace and Knowledge: Coming Full Circle

We’ve journeyed through Peter’s entire epistle together—from divine power over corruption in chapter one, through recognizing false teachers and God’s faithfulness in judgment in chapter two, to God’s patient delay and living in light of eternity in chapter three. Now Peter brings his letter to a close with a final, urgent exhortation that encapsulates everything he’s been teaching: grow in grace and knowledge.

In Peter's final charge to believers, his parting words of pastoral care tie together all the warnings, promises, and instructions he's given. He calls believers to be diligent—that same word for earnest, maximum effort we encountered in chapter one. Peter's final exhortation focuses on five progressive areas where this diligence must be applied, each building on the previous to create stability and maturity in Christ.

First: Be Found in Peace

"Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace." Peter's "therefore" points back to everything we just studied about the Day of the Lord and the new creation. Because Christ is returning, judgment is certain, and the new heavens and new earth await—be diligent to be found in peace when He comes.

This peace has two dimensions. First, it’s the peace with God we have through justification (Romans 5:1)—the settled reality that we’re reconciled to Him through Christ’s work. Second, it’s the practical peace of a clear conscience, knowing we’ve been faithful, obedient, and diligent in our walk with Him. When Christ returns, He should find believers with no fear or worry about the Day of the Lord because they have full assurance of their faith.

How do we cultivate this peace? Through a life of obedience and adding virtue to our faith—exactly what Peter taught in chapter one. The peace we’ll experience when Christ returns flows directly from the faithfulness we practice now. This isn’t earning salvation but enjoying the confidence that comes from walking closely with the One who saved us.

Second: Maintain Spotless Character

As believers grow in peace with God, they should also grow in Christlike character: “be diligent to be found by Him…without spot and blameless.” This continues the progression—peace leads to purity. Christians growing in grace and knowledge should have a spotless character and blameless reputation as they are growing more and more like Christ.

“Without spot” refers to internal purity—no hidden sins, no secret compromises, no areas of life we’re keeping from Christ’s lordship. “Blameless” refers to external reputation—how others perceive us, the testimony we bear in the world. We pursue holiness not just privately but publicly, not just in our hearts but in our conduct, because we’re being transformed into Christ’s image (2 Corinthians 3:18).

This is progressive sanctification, becoming more like Jesus day by day, allowing the Spirit to produce His fruit in us (Galatians 5:22-23). Every time we choose obedience over sin, every time we extend grace instead of bitterness, every time we love sacrificially—we’re growing in grace and knowledge, becoming more spotless and blameless.

Third: Seek Others’ Salvation

Peter then shifts our focus outward: “consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation.” He reminds believers that God’s patient delay in judgment is divine mercy. God is longsuffering, not willing that any should perish but that all He has called would come to Him (2 Peter 3:9).

This truth should create urgency in us. If God delays judgment out of love for His elect who haven’t yet believed, we should be diligent to seek the salvation of others for the Kingdom of God. Growing in grace and knowledge includes growing in evangelistic passion. The more we understand God’s heart for the lost, the more we should share the gospel. The more we grasp the reality of coming judgment, the more urgent our witness becomes.

Believers who are truly growing don’t just focus on their own spiritual development—they actively participate in God’s rescue mission. They share Christ with family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers. They support missions, pray for the lost, and live in a way that makes the gospel attractive. Because they know God is waiting for His children to come home before ushering in the final day.

Fourth: Guard Against False Teaching

Now Peter’s tone shifts to warning: “as also our beloved brother Paul…has written to you…in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction.” Peter warns believers that false teachers have already arisen and will continue to do so, distorting the teachings of God’s Word.

Notice Peter’s example: even Paul’s inspired writings—Scripture itself—are twisted by false teachers. Peter specifically mentions Paul’s teachings about future events (likely referring to passages about Christ’s return and the Day of the Lord) that false teachers were distorting. Growing in grace and knowledge requires vigilance against error.

Believers are forewarned that this will occur more as time goes on. We must be vigilant and weigh every teaching against God’s Word. This is why the previous points matter so much—if we’re not growing in peace, purity, and evangelistic passion, we become vulnerable to deception. Spiritual maturity and doctrinal stability go together. The more we grow in grace and knowledge, the better equipped we are to recognize and reject empty promises and twisted teaching.

Fifth: Grow in Grace and Knowledge

This brings us to Peter’s climactic command, the goal toward which everything else points: “but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” This is both the antidote to false teaching and the culmination of everything Peter has taught. Growing in grace and knowledge is Peter’s final charge, the ultimate expression of diligence, the path to stability in Christ.

“Grow in grace” means increasingly experiencing, understanding, and marveling at God’s undeserved favor toward us in Christ. It’s not just knowing about grace theologically but living in the reality of it daily—amazed that God saved us, keeps us, transforms us, and will glorify us entirely by His grace. The more we grow in grace, the less we trust ourselves and the more we trust Christ.

“Grow in knowledge” means deepening our understanding of Christ Himself—not just information about Him, but intimate, personal knowledge of who He is and what He’s done. Remember from chapter one: this is the transforming knowledge of God that enables godly living. We grow in knowledge by saturating ourselves in Scripture, prayer, obedience, and walking closely with Jesus day after day.

Peter encourages believers to pursue maturity and knowledge in Christ, which leads to stability and lessens the risk of being led astray. This is the progression: peace with God → spotless character → evangelistic passion → doctrinal vigilance → continual growth in grace and knowledge. Each builds on the previous, and all work together to produce mature, stable believers who can weather any storm and resist any deception.

To Him Be the Glory

Peter concludes with a doxology: “To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.” After all the warnings about false teachers, the instructions about holy living, and the promises about the coming day of the Lord—Peter ends by pointing us to Christ. Christ alone deserves glory for saving us, keeping us, transforming us, and bringing us safely home.

This is fitting. Growing in grace and knowledge isn’t ultimately about us becoming better Christians. It’s about Christ being glorified as we’re transformed into His image, as we live in a way that showcases His worth, as we invite others into relationship with Him, as we remain faithful until He returns. Everything points to His glory—now in this life, and forever in the new creation.

The Call to Diligence

So here’s Peter’s final charge to you: Be diligent. Pursue peace with God and peace in your conscience. Grow in purity of heart and blamelessness of reputation. Actively seek the salvation of others while God’s patience extends. Guard vigilantly against false teaching by measuring everything against Scripture. And above all, never stop growing in grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, which is the natural response to everything God has done for us in Christ.

Peter has warned us, instructed us, encouraged us, and equipped us. Now he calls us to diligent, lifelong growth in grace and knowledge. To Him—our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ—be the glory both now and forever.

Amen.

Reflection Questions

1. Of the five areas Peter calls us to be diligent in (peace, purity, evangelism, doctrinal vigilance, growth), which one most challenges you right now? What specific step could you take this week to grow in that area?
2. How have you been growing in grace and knowledge over the past year? What evidence of spiritual growth can you identify? Where have you stagnated?
3. Peter warns that even Scripture can be twisted by false teachers. How can you better equip yourself to recognize and resist false teaching?
4. As you finish this series through 2 Peter, what’s the one truth or command that has impacted you most? How will you apply it going forward?

Prayer

Consider Peter’s entire epistle and his final charge to grow in grace and knowledge. Thank God for His Word and ask Him to help you apply everything Peter has taught throughout this letter.