Grow in Grace part Two
Our Text for consideration is 2 Peter 3:18 “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.” As this is a very broad concept, I will quote from some books that capture the essence, so why reinvent the wheel.
“I must grow in grace at home and wherever I may be, in order to give moral power to all my actions. At home I must guard my spirit, my actions, my words. I must give time to personal culture, to training and educating myself in right principles. I must be an example to others. I must meditate upon the word of God night and day and bring it into my practical life. The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, is the only sword which I can safely use.” {AH 180}
“The work of sanctification begins in the home. Those who are Christians in the home will be Christians in the church and in the world. There are many who do not grow in grace because they fail of cultivating home religion.” {CG 481}
“In giving us the privilege of studying His Word, the Lord has set before us a rich banquet. Many are the benefits derived from feasting on His Word, which is represented by Him as His flesh and blood, His spirit and life. By partaking of this Word, our spiritual strength is increased; we grow in grace and in knowledge of the truth. Habits of self-control are formed and strengthened. The infirmities of childhood–fretfulness, willfulness, selfishness, hasty words, passionate acts–disappear, and in their place are developed the graces of Christian manhood and womanhood.” {CG 505}
“Strength comes by exercise. All who put to use the ability which God has given them, will have increased ability to devote to His service. Those who do nothing in the cause of God, will fail to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth. A man who would lie down and refuse to exercise his limbs, would soon lose all power to use them. Thus the Christian who will not exercise his God-given powers, not only fails to grow up into Christ, but he loses the strength which he already had; he becomes a spiritual paralytic. It is those who, with love for God and their fellow men, are striving to help others, that become established, strengthened, settled, in the truth. The true Christian works for God, not from impulse, but from principle; not for a day or a month, but during the entire period of life.” {ChS 106}
“It is the privilege of every soul to make advancement. Those who are connected with Christ will grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Son of God, to the full stature of men and women. If all who claim to believe the truth had made the most of their ability and opportunities to learn and to do, they would have become strong in Christ. Whatever their occupation—whether they were farmers, mechanics, teachers, or pastors—if they had wholly consecrated themselves to God they would have become efficient workers for the heavenly Master.” {CCh 68}
I like a good collection of books by Christian Authors, as when one gets stuck for words or concepts, there usually is always some thoughts available to clarify a point to get one up and going again, and often by sending one back to the Bible again. From this we find that Grace is not a static, “Once Event,” but a continuous growth and development process as admonished by Peter.
If a plant will not grow, then we become concerned, if our child is born, and then stays in exactly the same state, decade after decade, we are very, very, worried, so what do you think our wonderful Lord Jesus thinks when he looks at us, and we are not feasting on the bounties provided and are still the same. Paul ran into the same problem in Corinth, 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, [even] as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able [to bear it], neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas [there is] among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?”
Are you, or am I, still a Christian Baby, still on baby formula instead of a real solid diet of something substantial to chew over, something to get the teeth into, digging still deeper in “The Word” and growing in grace and knowledge? We need an improved spiritual diet of good solid food, good workout exercises to build up strength and then to put that all to working for our Master, Jesus Christ, by living and sharing as per the “Gospel Commission.” Back to our opening text 2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in grace, and [in] the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”
Paul in Ephesians has this to admonish with, Ephesians 6:11-13 “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
Grace has done its work of growth, and the baby Christian is now a mature and strong “Soldier of the Cross,” and we have depicted here as an armour clad warrior, with powerful muscles who is wrestling and overcoming, being victorious and conquering that which is before. Dear reader, please stand up and step out as a Dedicated Soldier of the Cross, saved by Grace through Faith.
