Peter suggest that grace information is to be found in all of Paul's grace epistles.

What does Peter mean in saying “… grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord… ?”

“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen” (2 Peter 3:18 KJV).

It has been my personal experience, contrary to popular belief, that the Holy Bible can be understood and enjoyed. Every believer must come to realize just how wrong the denominational systems are! We must toss aside ours, and others’, long-held opinions, that we might better align our minds with that of Almighty God. What a delightful, insightful journey it has been for me over my past 50 years... as I’ve studied His word.

Paul wrote; “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ” (Col. 2:8). The wisdom of God far exceeds the wisdom of men, so philosophy is not the means whereby we grasp spiritual truth. The traditions of men and the rudiments of the world are of no use to us either because none of them lead us to the living Lord Jesus Christ.

The Scriptures below not only portray the evil world system in which we live, but also how Father God has labored so mightily with His Son Jesus Christ to deliver us from it. Satan’s Sin-spirit is responsible for the pervasive difficulties and profound suffering all around our world.

 “And you hath he [Father God] quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; [2] Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: [3] Among whom also we all had our conversation (manner of living) in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. [4] But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, [5] Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;).” (Eph. 2:14)

Yet, in the midst of such pitiful plights, we still men are saved and can “grow in grace.”

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, [12] Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; [13] Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” (Tit. 2:11-13)

God’s grace was never a secret (cf. Gen. 6:8), but it was not a dispensation based upon pure 100% grace until the Apostle Paul’s salvation.

“For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward” (Ephesians 3:1-2).

Paul said “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” (Acts 20:24). Beginning with Paul’s salvation in Acts 9 and his ministry that developed through out Act and after, God began to manifest His grace (favor toward undeserving man) in a very special manner. Grace, once limited to the nation Israel (Matthew 20:28), has now been extended to “all men” (Titus 2:11, above).

“For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; [4] Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. [5] For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; [6] Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. [7] Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.” (1Tim. 2:3-7)

Notice verse 7 (above)! Paul was the first to proclaim that Christ Jesus gave His life “a ransom for all.”

We will now look at today’s Scripture in context to see what the Holy Spirit says through the Apostle Peter writing to the Nation Israel. Before the Holy Spirit penned our key text Scripture, He established this context:

“[3] Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, [4] And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” (2Peter 3:3-4)

The Apostle Peter’s earthly life and ministry are nearly over (2Peter 1:13-14). Jesus Christ had died, was buried, resurrected, and ascended into Heaven 35 years earlier. For four decades, unbelieving, Christ-rejecting, Israel has been warned of God’s coming judgment.

So, where is this judgment? Was it a hoax? A bluff? A figment of the Apostles’ imaginations? A cheap scare tactic? Why has Jesus Christ not yet returned to consume them in fiery wrath? Before the chief Israeli Apostle, Peter, expires, the Holy Spirit will use him to answer these mockers.

“For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: [6] Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: [7] But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. [8] But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. [9] The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. [10] But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” (2 Peter 3:5-10)

Why has the Divine wrath of God’s prophetic program for Israel not yet been manifested?

When will Jesus Christ return to address evil and punish unbelievers? Notice verse 9. Peter the Apostle is writing his second and final epistle for the following reason: “Wherefore I (Peter) will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth” (1:12).

Israel’s believing remnant, whether back in the Book of Acts or beyond our day, needs some doctrine to believe, that Satan’s lie program not deceive them. One way the Devil troubled (and will trouble) the “Little Flock” of Jesus’ believing Jews is use scoffers to mock the promise of Christ’s Second Coming in fiery wrath. This mockery then causes the believing Jews to grow disheartened, and possibly wonder if Christ will return at all!

“[13] Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle (body), to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; [14] Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. [15] Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance. [16] For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.” (2 Peter 1:13-16)

Peter reminds them and argues, “we have not followed cunningly devised fables.” Jesus Christ is in fact returning to judge God’s enemies, redeem Israel, deliver her into His kingdom, and reign gloriously on Earth. It is not a lie; while certain, it just is not the appropriate time. Something is holding back that magnificent return of Christ; while the wrath has been delayed. Israel’s believing remnant needs to “be established in the present truth” (verse 12, above).

What is the “present truth?” This brings us to the close of Peter’s farewell epistle.

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering (patient) to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

The Lord is not lazy, unreliable, or deceitful. Rather, He is longsuffering, tolerant, purposely procrastinating. What is this “longsuffering?” Who are these “all” whom God wants to come to repentance? Well, keep reading!

“And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; [16] As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest (twist), as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.” (2Peter 3:15-16)

God’s “longsuffering” concerning the repentance of “all” is the Apostle Paul’s ministry. Titus 2:11: “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to ALL men….” 1Timothy 2:6-7: “[Christ Jesus] Who gave himself a ransom for ALL, to be testified in due time. Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, … a teacher of the Gentiles….”

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. [16] Howbeit for this cause I (Paul) obtained mercy, (so) that in me (Paul) first (Gk. protos, as a prototype) Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering (His patience), for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.” (1Timothy 1:15-16)

Paul, being converted in Acts 9, was the “pattern” of God’s longsuffering in today’s Grace age! So, Father God placed all unbelieving Jews (including Saul) on the fallen spiritual level of the Gentiles, thus affording them all equal access to Calvary’s cross. Paul’s Gospel, that Jesus Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again the third day (1 Cor. 15:3-4) explains the delay of prophetic wrath. Father God wanted to give all Jews and all Gentiles opportunity to escape the wrath to come!

2 Peter 3:18 is the very last verse God the Holy Spirit penned through the Apostle Peter. It is the conclusion of Peter’s farewell epistle. The Spirit of God moved Israel’s chief Apostle to leave the Circumcision believers of Israel, Jesus’ “Little Flock” (Luke 12:32) with the mind-boggling thought of “grace.” This was not ordinary grace, but rather God’s grace manifested in a very special way. That unique exhibition of grace was committed to “our beloved brother Paul” (verses 3:15-16). Before passing off the scene and being with his Saviour and Lord, Peter reminds Israel’s believing remnant to remember the drastic dispensational changes that occurred with the Apostle Paul’s salvation and ministry.

As we can see so clearly in Pauline doctrine of Rom. 9-11, 2 Thes. 2, that prophecy has not been fabricated or canceled but merely delayed. The God of the Bible has temporarily departed from the prophetic timeline, so that He might form “the Church the Body of Christ” that consist of all Jews and all Gentiles who will simply come to Him by faith alone in His Son’s finished crosswork alone; this is “the gospel of the grace of God” that is in effect until the rapture.

God’s earthly kingdom, that will come by Christ’s Second Coming in wrath, power, and great glory is indeed literal and physical, it is only postponed for a time. As Paul’s own testimony shows, all those worthy of God’s judgment can be spared it (1 Timothy 1:15-16)!

When Peter wrote, prophecy had been delayed for about 40 years. He had no idea, and neither did Paul, that we would be here 2,000 years later with “the Dispensation of the Grace of God” still operating, and prophecy is yet on hold.

Do you see why Bible preservation is necessary? Once our dispensation terminates at the Rapture with our gathering together unto Christ—Israel’s prophetic calendar will resume from where God paused it. Believing Israel will read today’s Scripture, just as they did when our dispensation first started long ago. They will have an answer to all the scoffers of their own day. We can appreciate God’s wisdom in having Peter write those last verses in his finishing chapter!

Let’s summarize: “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 stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”

Peter bids farewell to the Circumcision believers of Israel, supplying them with information needed to avoid the “error of the wicked.” These various doctrinal and practical sins; i.e., false teaching, confusion, doubt, non-dispensational Bible study, and so on are to be replaced with an updated view of God’s program for man.

Israel’s “Little Flock” is to grow in the doctrines of grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ as revealed to the Apostle Paul. They must appreciate why their earthly kingdom has been momentarily suspended (but certainly not abolished!). Despite ignorant mockers’ accusations, God’s promise to send His Son again stands firm. He has not forgotten about Israel; He has merely postponed her program to operate our mystery program. Rather than pouring out wrath, He is offering mercy to the whole world, to Jews and Gentiles alike, without any racial distinction. (Rom. 11:25-32)!

If God wanted the Circumcision Saints long ago and yet future to be “established in the present truth” (1:12), how much more does He desire it for us? After all, “the present truth” is that we (the Church the Body of Christ) and the mystery program have currently/presently interrupted and delayed Israel’s prophetic program. We are the reason why the Antichrist has not yet been revealed. The Dispensation of Grace, the Body of Christ, prevents the prophetic program from operating (cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-14).

At the Rapture, our gathering together unto Christ in Heaven, our dispensation will close, causing the prophetic program to recommence. The Antichrist will rise, reign for seven years, and ultimately be destroyed by Jesus Christ at His Second Coming. Here, unbelievers are judged, including the scoffers who assumed that fiery wrath was fiction! Finally, Israel becomes God’s kingdom of priests, redeemed, and ready to enter the Millennium. May we also “grow in grace”!