A Spiritual Growth Check (1)

Dr. Peter Masters

Growth means dependence upon God, communion with Christ, daily engagement in holiness, prayer and proclamation. We cannot select one or two of these but must engage in all.

‘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’ (2 Peter 3.18).

This well-known command to grow in grace and knowledge was given by Peter as the essential antidote to backsliding and apostasy, the apostle having just written: ‘Beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.’ From the second chapter of this epistle, Peter has warned of false teachers who claimed to know Christ, but later ceased to respect the Scriptures, twisting passages to give themselves licence to do whatever they wanted to do.

You find this today, even among Bible believers. There are many who justify their wholesale adoption of modern entertainment culture in their worship as well as in their personal lives, by twisting various passages of Scripture, and ignoring others. It is in the light of all this that Peter gives the final verse of the epistle: ‘But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.’

The command is to grow, but this means much more than simply growing larger or increasing in knowledge. Growth illustrations in the Scripture are very full of meaning, such as that used by Peter when he speaks of growing like babies. Growth through infancy, childhood and youth is more than growth in size. A babe, for example, cannot speak, but slowly learns to do so in an increasingly sophisticated way. Constantly he acquires various skills and powers, becoming stronger all the time, and soon requires no help in feeding and dressing. Numerous skills are rapidly added, and ultimately the person becomes a productive adult, supporting others. Growth is far more than the enlargement of limbs; it is the appearance and refinement of many new factors.

Other growth illustrations (used by the apostle Paul) feature a tree or plant or building. The point about a tree is not so much that it becomes very large, but that it puts down roots, enabling it to thrive despite drought or tempest, to be hospitable to birds and insects, to produce flowers and fruit, and to propagate. Similarly, the Christian develops spiritual stability and endurance, with skills to refute and reject Satan, and to witness and minister to others.

Here we shall briefly set out five aspects of the Christian life in which we must consciously seek growth, but first we should note that growth in grace is mentioned before growth in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, and this is significant. It is not that one is more important than the other, because growth in grace and in knowledge go hand in hand. You cannot have growth in grace without growth in knowledge. However, you can have growth in knowledge without growth in grace. Perhaps this is why knowledge is placed second in this verse.

Sometimes believers run further ahead in knowledge than in grace. They want to argue, discuss and display their prowess in the learning process, but they are sometimes stunted in growth of grace, the great fruits of Christian character being small in their lives.

How shall we define growing in grace? It is the ongoing Christian walk of proving the free favour of God in daily forgiveness, answered prayer, help in holiness and progress in service. It includes advancing in obedience to the Lord and communion with him. Here are five vital aspects of growth to monitor.

1. Growing In Dependence Upon Grace

First, we should all be growing in dependence upon grace, for this is the basis of the life of faith. When we come to the Lord, we are made aware of the extent of our sin, and realise that we cannot secure the favour of God. We see that there is so much the matter with us that we deserve only rejection and punishment by God, and we therefore repent and trust wholly in the Christ of Calvary for redemption. However, as we grow in grace we gain an even keener awareness of our unworthiness and unfittedness, and an even deeper realisation of our need of Christ. Accordingly our gratitude to him overflows for what he has done.

The veteran saint, who you may think has made wonderful progress, will often be on his or her knees pleading with God for forgiveness, having seen even more clearly all that is wrong and unworthy within, and feeling increasingly dependent upon the Lord’s atoning death.

The question is – do we also grow in dependence upon and appreciation of grace? Or do we tend to leave this dependence behind, so that we now take Calvary for granted? Do sin and failure now seldom hurt or shame us, leading to the loss of dependence on Christ, together with the overwhelming sense of gratitude that we once possessed?

Self-examination and reflection are essential in order that we may feel more keenly than ever how much we need Christ’s great work in bearing our sin away.

One hears of objections made by some Christians to the grand old practice of dedicating a Sunday service to evangelistic preaching. They say they cannot see the point of attending such services as they have been saved for many years. However, believers who are growing in their -dependence upon grace just love to hear the word of saving grace declared and unfolded. It means so much to them that it is almost their highest point of worship. They do not need it in the sense that they are already saved, but they constantly increase in their love and appreciation of redemption, for the reason expressed in the old hymn of Henry Twells:

And none, O Lord, have perfect rest,
For none are wholly free from sin;
And they who fain would serve thee best
Are conscious most of wrong within.
So, do we grow in dependence upon grace?

2. Growing in Application of Grace

Secondly, do we grow in the application of grace to our own lives, for progress in holiness? Grace is an ongoing experience of the pardon and the power of God in holiness and service, and we must receive it by daily repentance and prayer for help. Where did I fail today? How did I sin? What duty or service did I shrink from? Not only must I repent, but I must also make my pledge to the Lord to do better, praying for a lively conscience and for help in responding to it. I especially need to pray for help over my more frequent sins, and for a greater awareness of the watching eye of the Lord. This is the application of grace to the walk of righteousness.

Do we daily review our walk, and seek the grace of God in improvement? Are we more patient today than we were a year ago? Are we more committed to the Lord’s service; more self-controlled in word and deed; less selfish; less infected by pride; less covetous, and more considerate? Are we growing through the daily application of grace in our life?

3. Growing in Privileges of Grace

Thirdly, we should grow in the privileges of grace. The favour of God brings enormous privileges to believers, including the spiritual capacity to grasp, learn and explore the Word of God. We also have the privilege of proving the Lord day by day as we call upon his name for blessing in employment, witness, health and help for others, and the resolution of numerous problems. Further, we have the uplifting privilege of that certainty and assurance which fills the heart as we express our love to God in personal prayer – the grace of communion with him.

Do we constantly prove the privilege of prayer and its effectiveness and power? Have we experienced daily the privilege of making intercession for lost people? There is no greater privilege than that of being able to prevail with God on high through prayers which were heard before the foundation of the world by the God of all grace. Have we seen the people for whom we interceded become open to the Gospel through a surprising softening of heart, and a dawning sense of need?

Do we grow in our use of these privileges of grace, or do we fail to call upon the Lord in every trouble and distress? Do we fail to study precious truths which we have been given the power to understand? Do we listen only vaguely to ministry? Do we look for the sweet surprises of communion with the Lord? It is a wonderful development to be growing in the use of the privileges of grace.

4. Growing in Proclamation of Grace

Fourthly, we should be growing also in the proclamation of grace. Every true convert has a testimony, and should be developing in skill to speak to others about the way of salvation. Some Christians have very little opportunity to witness to others in their place of business, but most would be able to participate in corporate witness, assisting their church in the various outreach endeavours. There is a place and need for every believer in the operation of Sunday Schools, Bible classes, neighbourhood visitation, literature distribution, and various other methods for reaching lost souls. Do we participate and steward to help such work? Are we growing in wisdom in speaking to others, and proclaiming the message of grace?

5. Growing in Defence of Grace

Fifthly, we should be growing in the defence of grace. This is a tremendous responsibility for every believer, failure at this point having been the tragedy of the last hundred years. So much has been lost by evangelicals; so many churches; so much of the great legacy of past blessing. Are we sensitive to error? Do we recognise it? Would we, if we had to move to a new area, go placidly to a church which seemed to be Bible-believing on the surface, but had fallen into serious error in doctrine or practice? We should be growing in the defence of grace because there are so many destructive trends assailing churches in these days.

Satan’s operations are always intensely cunning and deceptive. He sets up people in our churches who become famous as Bible-believing preachers, their books sell by the million, but on close examination their teaching shows they are not truly converted. They deny penal substitution, the very essence of the Gospel of Christ, together with other essentials of the faith, and they get away with it. By using biblical, evangelical language, they deceive undiscerning Christians, who go along with their errors, buy their books, and altogether fail to defend grace. Such Christians approve of the acceptable morsels in the teaching of popular heretics, but fail to notice what is missing, or what is twisted and opposed to the Word. Are we growing in the defence of grace? Do we detect the errors of false teachers? If Christian people who possess the benefits of grace would only be sensitive to error, churches would never fall into the hands of superficial, worldly so-called Christians, ultimately to close.