GROWING IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD’S WORD (KNOWN AND UNKNOWN SIN)
When we first come to Jesus. It is based on faith alone and also on all the knowledge that God has revealed to us at any given point of our conversion. After we come to Jesus by faith and recieve his peace and joy we are babes in Christ because we do not know much and at this time we are all held accountable to God for what we know and not what we do not know in the truth of his Word.
At this time we are to GROW in Christ to have a closer walk with him day by day. This is the provess of Sanctification and as some say is the work of a lifetime growing every day in and learning how to walk in faith in the KNOWLEDGE of God's WORD. The Holy Spirit as we continue in God's WORD will help us to have a closer walk with Jesus as we learn of him through his WORD God expects us to change our lives and to live up to all the light he reveals to us through his Word.
2 PETER 3:17-18 [17], You therefore, beloved, seeing you know these things before, beware lest you also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. [18], But grow in grace, and in the KNOWLEDGE of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
2 PETER 1:1-8
[1], Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ:
[2], Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, AND OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST,
[3], According as his divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the KNOWLEDGE of him that has called us to glory and virtue:
[4], Whereby are given to us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
[5], And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue KNOWLEDGE;
[6], And to KNOWLEDGE temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
[7], And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
[8], For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that you shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the KNOWLEDGE of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Now in times of IGNORANCE when we do not know any better as we are babes and children growing in the KNOWLEDGE of God's WORD, God does not hold us accountable to things we do not know and to things he has not revealed to us or has not taught us.
ACTS 17:30 [30], And the times of this ignorance God winked at [does not hold us accountable]; BUT NOW [WHEN A KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH HAS COME] commands all men every where to repent.
When God reveals to us a KNOWLEDGE of the truth, then he expects us to change [REPENT] and to BELIEVE and FOLLOW his WORD. At this time God has revealed to us a new KNOWLEDGE to help us to have a closer walk with him.
At EVERY POINT in the Christian life, as we grow in grace and in the KNOWLEDGE of God's WORD, we have a decision to make. Do I NOW BELIEVE AND FOLLOW GOD'S WORD? Or do I not BELIEVE God's WORD and not change our lives?
If we choose NOT to BELIEVE AND FOLLOW God's WORD or simply BELIEVE but DO NOT FOLLOW God's WORD because we LOVE SIN more then having a closer walk with Jesus until we REPENT and BELIEVE and FOLLOW God's WORD we become "UNBELIEVERS" No unbeliever has part in the KINGDOM of HEAVEN because they have fallen from Grace.
JAMES 4:17 [17] Therefore to him that KNOWS to do good, and does it not, to him it is sin.
If we reject God's WORD when Jesus is calling us to GROW in GRACE and in the KNOWLEDGE of his WORD it is the same as rejecting Jesus.
HEBREWS 10:26-27 [26], For if we sin willfully after that we have received the KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH, there remains no more sacrifice for sins,[27], But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
It is only as we CONTINUE in God's WORD gainig a KNOWLEDGE to Follow Jesus that we continue to be his disciples.
JOHN 8:31 [31], Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, IF YOU CONTINUE IN MY WORD, then are you my disciples indeed [this means CONTINUE TO GROW in the KNOWLEDGE of God's WORD, BY BELIEVING AND FOLLOWING God's WORD]; [32], And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
If we fail to CONTINUE in his WORD BELIEVING AND FOLLOWING God's WORD then at that point we no longer are his Children. Many Christians will be lost come judgment day because when God revlealed more of his WORD to them to help them to have a closer walk with Jesus they choose their SINS over the WORD of God.
JOHN 3:19 [19] And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
SIN is the breaking of God's Commandments (James 2:9-11; Romans 7:7; 1 John 3:4) God's 4th commandments is not a Shadow law. It is one of the 10 Commandments that give us a KNOWLEDGE of sin. If we knowingly break it when God asks us not to we stand guilty before God of committing sin (James 2:8-12). If we do not seek him in repentance and forgiveness we are in danger of the Judgement (Hebrews 10:26-27)
Please prayerfully pray about this my brother. I believe God has written these words for your consideration.