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Latest revision as of 13:50, 4 May 2015

2 Peter 3:17-18

Growing in Grace

Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

     God wants you to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior. But how? How do you who are in Christ grow in a proper and healthy manner? Like a vine growing on a wall, without a solid root and good light, it will die. You too, without a solid root in Christ and without His light of the Word, would shrivel up spiritually.  
     Like all things that live normal lives, there is a beginning and maturity.

  1. Introduction
    1. The Christian Life begins with a Birth
      1. Upon receiving Christ we are born again. "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God -- 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God" (John 1:12-13).
      2. Nicodemas and the new birth (John 3)
        1. Jesus said to Nicodemas, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
    2. This is what separates the gospel from religion.
      1. Religion is man's effort to reach up to God; but Christianity is God reaching Man.
        1. In his heart man knows there is a God. That is why there are so many religions in the world, because man has invented so many to account for the knowledge that is in him.
      2. Salvation is God coming down to man and making him a new creation.
        1. Not religion, but relationship.
    3. But after birth comes growth.
      1. If there is no growth after birth, then there is no life.
    4. This is what it means to Abe in Christ." To be saved.
  2. What is growth in Grace and Knowledge?
    1. First, let's look at what it is not.
      1. It is not becoming more saved than at the moment of conversion.
      2. It is not becoming more pardoned than when converted.
      3. It is not becoming more justified than at salvation.
    2. What Christian growth is
      1. It is learning more of what God wants through His Word.
      2. It is being able to do more of what God wants.
      3. It is living more of the love of God.
    3. Consider the expectations of physical growth
      1. In a child, a flower, a tree.
      2. The gardener and his garden.
    4. Consider Bible evidences of growth in men. This growth resulted in change.
      1. Peter: From backsliding to blessing
      2. Paul: From the Damascus road to the Roman Road
      3. John: From the Son of Thunder to the disciple of love
  3. What are the evidences of Growth in Grace and Knowledge?
    1. An increase of love
      1. "May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you" (1 Thess. 3:12, NIV).
      2. "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:35 ).
      3. "We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers" (1 John 3:14 ).
      4. We are nothing without love (1 Cor. 13).
    2. An increase of faith
      1. "We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing" (2 Thess. 1:3).
      2. Most of us are but in the kindergarten of faith.
        1. We have a great need to grow in faith. To learn how to live by faith. To trust God with all that we have, we are, and hope to be.
    3. An increase of the knowledge of God
      1. "And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God," (Col. 1:10)
      2. "For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge" (2 Pet. 1:5).
      3. What you saw in Christ when you accepted Him compared to now.
        1. What changes have undergone in your understanding from when you first accept Christ.
    4. An increase in the fruit of the Spirit
      1. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (Gal 5:22 -23).
      2. "You will know them by their fruit" (Matt. 7:20 ).
        1. Have you taken inventory lately of the kind and quality of fruit that you are producing in your life?
        2. Are you increasing in godliness, in patience, in love, forgiveness, gentleness, joy and peace?
  4. What are the means that God uses to help you grow in Grace?
    1. He uses His word: "Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation," (1 Pet. 2:2) .
      1. You never outgrow your need for milk.
        1. You need to grow continually. You always need the Word of God.
      2. There's a new you coming every day.
        1. You are growing every day: through the good and the bad.
      3. Look in the Bible first
    2. He uses trouble and experience
      1. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything" (James 1:2-4).
    3. He uses the private devotional life.
      1. In His presence you mature, your soul is affected, holiness becomes more of a part of you.
    4. He uses public worship and service.
      1. In worship your heart is lifted to Him, and you discover there one of the purposes for your creation C to truly praise and worship God.
      2. In service you learn humility, compassion, and patience. These virtues help keep unstained your fellowship with God.
    5. He uses the fellowship of believers.
      1. How your needs are met by others (1 Cor. 12)
        1. Other Christians have spiritual gifts.
        2. Gifts are used for the benefit of the body of Christ. "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit... 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines... 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other" (1 Cor. 12:4).
      2. What friendships and fellowships do to you.
        1. They stretch you
        2. They strengthen you
    6. He uses communion - the Lord's Supper.
      1. It is a means of grace to strengthen you and bless you with His presence.
  5. Conclusion
    1. Are you growing?
      1. Growth is a sign of life.
      2. Growth is sometimes painful.
      3. Growth is always good.
    2. If not...Why not?
      1. Is there unrepentant sin?
        1. Then confess.
      2. Is there a lack of desire?
        1. Then pray.
    3. Look to God.