Syllabus                                                        PDN-4                   

Partaking of the Divine Nature

Lesson 4 – Knowledge

 Theme:  To show the necessity of Christian growth.  

INTRODUCTION:

A.                 Peter exhorts Christian growth

II Peter 3:18 – “But ______ in ______, and in the ________ of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  To him be ______ both now and for ever.”  

B.                 God has provided everything necessary

II Peter 1:3 – “According as his _______ power hath given unto us _____ _______ that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.”  

C.                Knowledge doesn’t come without effort on our part.

II Peter 1:5 – “And beside this, giving all __________, add to your faith _________; and to ______ ___________.”

 II Timothy 2:15 – We must do what to show ourselves approved?

 

Hebrews 3:1 – Who must we consider and confess?

 

Psalm 1:1-3 – Who is blessed?

What does he delight in?

         

D.                One must add knowledge to his life.  This is not an option in our walk with God it is a command, we must add knowledge and we do this by constantly keeping ourselves in the study of God’s Word.

 

I.                   Man’s Quest for Knowledge

A.     Man has made great advancement in knowledge of the world.  He learns more each and every day through scientific advancement among other ways.  However, there is still One who knows all there is to know and who some refuse to listen to and or acknowledge.   God does and will deal with those who refuse to acknowledge Him:  

Romans 1:28 – “And even as they did not like to ________ ______ in their knowledge, _____ gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.”  

The world views achievements as THEIR achievement, in most cases not even considering that these achievements were only possible because God allowed them to be.   

II.                 True Knowledge Is from God – Proverbs 1:7 – “The fear of the Lord is ____________ of ____________: but fools dispise _______ and ____________.”  

A.    Proverbs 2:3-5 – How will we understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God?  

B.    Proverbs 8:8-11 – Wisdom is better than what? 

What does not compare to wisdom?  

C.         Definitions:

1.     “Gnosis” – Strong’s - knowledge

Lexicon – knowledge in respect of Christian character

2.     “Epignosis” - discernment; recognition (of wisdom of God)

a.     “Epi” – over; upon; at; by

b.     “Epignosis” – knowledge beyond; recognition and discernment of the things of God

D.         Knowledge more precious than silver and gold

Colossians 1:9 – Prayed that they would be filled with what?

 

John 8:31 -32 – What did the Jesus tell the Jews to continue in?

What shall make one free?

 

III.               Knowledge and Wisdom

A.     “Gnosis” – to know what God wants us to do

B.     “Sophia – wisdom to apply what we know – ability; knowledge plus enlightenment

C.     Warnings against ignorance concerning God’s word

Acts 17:30 – What won’t God now do?

 

II Peter 3:14 -16 – We are to be what?

 

CONCLUSION:

A.                 God does not want mankind to perish.  God’s hope for us has always been that we would obey Him.  II Peter 3:9 – “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is _______________ to us ward, ____ willing that ______ should _______, but that ______ ________ _______ to _____________.”

 

B.       Christians must seek knowledge:

          Matthew 6:33 – What should we seek first?  And why?

          I Peter 2:2 – What should we desire? And why?

 

 

          II Peter 3:18 – We should grow in what and what?

 

 

          II Peter 1:5 – We should give diligence to what and add what?

 

 If we learn nothing else in the study of this lesson let us learn that without study of God’s Word we will never be able to learn and add to our lives what we need in order to gain a life in heaven with Him.  Nothing man can write can give us more than God’s Word can, if we have to choose between reading a book by man and reading God’s Word may God’s Word always be what we choose!  We need only God’s Word to direct us and guide us in this life.

 Beverly Rainwater

RainwaterB3@aol.com