2 Peter 1:5
And in [exercising] virtue [develop] knowledge (intelligence)
Gnosis is more than just intellectual ascent. It is experiential. It is like a man knows a woman - in the biblical sense of the word. To know is to understand through experience. Job says in Job 42:5, "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees You;". Hearing something about God from a Sunday School teacher/Pastor/Teacher/Preacher is different than SEEING HIM.
Is it then a life of virtue ... morale excellence ... that leads to knowing God better? Romans 12:2 says, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." (NIV) By applying virtue and renewing of our minds - we will know what God's will is. We wont have to ask Daddy for a yes or no ... we will already know His heart and what He desires.
But I believe in addition to knowing God more ... which is what Paul said he counted all things loss (Phil. 3:8) ... is that as we reach out in faith to apply the virtue of the Lord ... that we do not merely do it out of intellectual ascent ... but practically work out the virtue in our lives. Exercise morale excellence ... so as to know how it works out ... and even more so ... that in KNOWING God better leads to a life of virtue. That is - not our idea of what virtue is ... not man made religion ... but rather KNOWLEDGE in what IS virtue.
Experiential knowledge. 2 Peter 3:18 "Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ". True spiritual gnosis (knowledge) is going to govern the way you live.
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