2 Peter 1:3: “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence.” (ESV)
Do we understand and believe the truth this scripture is teaching? Do we truly believe that God’s Word is enough for everything we need for life and godliness?
We quickly answer yes but if we were to take inventory of our prayers we would find that our words we pray testify against us that we don’t truly live in the eternal truth that God’s Word is enough.
We pray and request things that God has already promised to give us in His Word. Instead of praying for these things we should be thanking God for what He already has provided.
Paul states we are called to pray about everything (Philippians 4:6) but as we pray, our words should include thanksgiving because we have been given God’s Word of promises that resolve our needs. When we saturate our prayers with God’s Word it confirms that we not only believe His truth is sufficient but also that we know that all of God’s promises are true.
Peter writes his letter to believers who are being persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ. He wants to remind them that even though their outward circumstances are not easy and many will probably be killed for following Jesus, that God has not abandoned them and is still with them. Peter comforts them by stating they have have grace and peace not because of their circumstances but because of the Sovereign God who reigns over all things.
Peter states in 2 Peter 1:2-“grace and peace is multiplied to them in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” How are they to experience the multiplication (abounding) of God’s grace and peace in their life? Through the knowledge of God and Jesus. How do they find the knowledge of God and Christ? His sufficient Word. The believer finds grace and peace in Jesus not in this world of trouble because He has overcome the world. (John 16:33)
True knowledge of God’s Word is the power the believer needs for life and godliness. This is why Peter states in verse 3 that the things we need for life and godliness directly come from the “knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence.”
In John 17:17 Jesus prayed. “sanctify them in the truth, your word is truth.” God has chosen the Word of God as the means by which we are sanctified (set apart from sin and made holy for God’s use). The work of sanctification by God in the believer validates a person is truly saved. Salvation and sanctification go together. You cannot have one without the other. Every person who is saved will be sanctified, it is not optional but is the evidence of a truly transformed life. All of those who are truly saved will be conformed into the image of Jesus Christ. God use His sufficient Word to sanctify all believers.
A professed belief in the sufficiency of scripture is only validated inwardly in our prayer life and outwardly by God’s work of sanctification (becoming like Jesus).
The two places we can test our belief in the sufficiency of scripture is in our prayers and God’s work of sanctification. Record your prayers and see if they align or contradict scripture. If they contradict change your prayer to align with scripture and experience God’s peace and grace by knowing that God is doing exactly what He has promised to do!
For further reading read Ephesians 1:3; John 1:1-16; I Corinthians 1:4-5; II Corinthians 9:8; John 15