A Spiritual Growth Check (2)

Dr. Peter Masters

The ‘grow in grace’ picture of 2 Peter 3.18 is one of persistent growth. It is a tragedy to be spiritually stunted and immature. It is also a picture of uniform growth as believers grow in every Christian grace at the same time, with no glaring omissions. It should never be said of anyone, ‘He is a good Christian man, and has grown in knowledge, but not in conquering the world in his life.’ Or, ‘She is a fine Christian woman, believing in Calvary and trusting the Lord, but she knows so little about doctrine, and never reads anything.’

Another person may have a pleasing manner and a good knowledge of doctrine, but you would never catch him engaged in witness or Christian service, or working with fellow believers in the great mission of Jesus Christ. What a disaster it is to be lop-sided in growth.

We should all want to grow uniformly in all respects, becoming like a great tree, stable, hospitable, beautiful, fruitful, and drawing life from great depths.

Growth in grace is to grow in dependence upon grace, in the application of grace, in the exercising of the privileges of grace, in the proclamation of grace, and in the defence of grace.

Growing in knowledge

This brings us to the second part of the verse – ‘Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.’ Growth in grace must take place alongside growth in knowledge, which clearly means biblical knowledge, and especially the great doctrines of the faith. Have we ever read a book of doctrine? Thomas Watson’s A Body of Divinity is a superb 17th-century summary of all the major Christian doctrines so that the reader can see the entire system of doctrine, and how each component fits in with the whole. It is very sad if a long-standing Christian has never read a worthy doctrinal book.

Have we ever thoughtfully read John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress? I remember at the age of about twelve that this was one of the books we had to study in English literature. I thought it was so boring as we pored over it line by line, paragraph by paragraph, noting its structure and literary devices. How we yawned and squirmed!

Later when I was converted as a late teenager, someone said to me, ‘You must read Pilgrim’s Progress.’ Why should I read that book I remembered having to toil through, equal only to Homer’s Odyssey for dreariness? However, I read it again, and soon thought to myself, ‘This is not the book I read years ago. This is an entirely different book.’

Once one’s heart is opened, and spiritual light has dawned, that old book springs to life, showing us the temptations, pitfalls and triumphs of the spiritual journey as no other book outside the Bible has ever done. Of course, the Bible is everything, but books that explain and illuminate the message of Scripture have helped thousands upon thousands of Christians.

Are we growing in the knowledge of Truth? In addition, do we have knowledge about the current dangers confronting the cause of Christ? What are the battles currently raging? What is the devil trying to do to us today? There are at least six major points of attack that Satan is launching against churches and individual Christians at this present time, but do we know what these are? Are we on the watch?

The Tabernacle ‘Read for the Lord’ programme includes books which alert believers to the issues of today.

Moving beyond books, are we growing in the knowledge of the personal lessons we have received from the Lord? We have made great mistakes, but do we remember them, and the wonderful way in which the Lord lifted us out of them, and taught us the right way? Are such lessons inscribed in our hearts? In addition, have we learned the way of seeking the guidance of God? All these matters are part of growing in knowledge.

If we are among those believers who have not grown in knowledge, but have stood still, then we will be easily brought into a backslidden state by Satan. The apostle’s command is so essential – ‘Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.’

The reiteration of this text here leads us to explore further information on the kind of knowledge we need. Significantly, Peter employs the Lord’s full name and offices, saying – ‘our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ’. He means us to read his words this way: ‘Grow in the knowledge of the Lord, and in the knowledge of the Saviour, and in the knowledge of Jesus, and in the knowledge of Christ.’ He is one person, of course, presented under his different offices and names to teach us that we should advance in the knowledge of him in each respect.

Christ as Lord

In other words, are we learning more about Christ as Lord? This comes first. Have we bowed to his lordship or rule over us and his providential overruling in our lives and circumstances? Have we yielded up every aspect of our lives to him? Have we, for instance, yielded up in recent times some coveted idol which we had put before Christ and his service, and which had blunted our obedience? To younger people I ask – have you in recent years thrown out all those worldly CDs you once possessed, or is your pleasure still the music and rhythm-drug of this world, the entertainment so intimately associated with self-rule, self-indulgence and immorality? You wanted it, needed it, and fed upon it, allowing it to corrupt and spoil your spiritual tastes, but at last you bowed entirely to Christ’s lordship, and put it out of your lives.

Are we in this position? To grow in the knowledge of our Lord, means that he becomes the Lord of our life in every aspect. We then gladly part company with everything which bears the indelible stamp of a fallen world, ordering our priorities for him. There are young people who, sadly, have not increased in the knowledge of Christ as Lord, and still hang on to pursuits that are antagonistic to the faith and offensive to the Lord. Sometimes such young believers will get together with others in the same condition to enthuse about their remaining worldly delights. ‘Have you heard this?’ they will say, ‘and what do you think of such-and-such?’ They are not out-and-out for Christ, and do not realise that their chosen entertainments war against the life of the soul.

Christ as Saviour

To grow in the knowledge of Christ as Saviour means that we cast out undisturbed and perhaps secret sin, because we cannot any longer offend the one who went to Calvary for us. It may have gone unconfessed for years, blocking from us the full kindness and power of God.

Has there been, for example, something of the gossip resident in us, or some covetousness? To grow in the knowledge of Christ as Saviour means that we look to him as our continuing Saviour, who enables his people to cast out these sins. We have confessed them and heard in our hearts the voice of the Saviour saying, ‘The Lord has put your sin away.’

Christ as Jesus

To grow in the knowledge of Jesus, the Lord’s personal name, surely refers to a growing sense of communion with him, and a growing love for him. We can use his personal name because we are his and he is ours.

Do we continue to know devotions when we are lost in wonder, love and praise that we know him, and that the Saviour of the world has made himself ours? Have we known liberty in prayer, and in the expressing of love and devotion to him? Have we reflected on his person and ways, while reading the Word, and admired him? Such knowledge of him deepens increasingly, and especially as we catch the spirit of his love for the lost. May we grow in the knowledge of Jesus, that is, of his personal affection for us, and the closeness of that love.

Christ as Messiah

To grow in the knowledge of Christ – the Messiah or anointed one – means to identify more with his entire messianic mission and timetable. He is now the rider on the white horse of Revelation 6, going forth conquering and to conquer over the hearts of his redeemed people, and soon he will return in power and glory. To grow in the knowledge of Christ, or Messiah, is to understand the whole picture of redemption and to look and work for his return. Do we meditate on the course and completion of his mission, and reflect on the great day of his appearing? Let us seek to know him more and more as Lord, then as Saviour, as Jesus, and as Christ.

This is both a searching and encouraging text, being both simple and rich, and referring to a form of growth which can never inflate the ego, because every aspect is humbling as well as uplifting. As if to mark this, the inspired verse concludes – ‘To him be glory both now and for ever.’

Let us grow, dear friends, no matter how long we may have been on this glorious journey, never standing still, so that we may be strong and much used of the Lord.