GROWING IN GRACE 

2 PETER 3:18 

            As we look around at all that is alive about us, we understand that living tissue has a growth cycle.  For example mother frogs lay eggs, the eggs hatch into tadpoles the tadpoles grow into baby frogs and finally into adult frogs and the cycle continues.  (Plants).  In humans a egg is fertilized by a sperm, to form a embryo, which with growth develops into a fetus, which at birth is called a baby.  The baby then grows through several stages until he finally reaches adulthood and the cycle repeats itself.  Since we see life growing around us every day, we may begin to think of growing as a natural thing.  But growth is not automatic.  In fact just the opposite is true; decay is automatic.  You do not have to do anything to innate decay in a living organism.  If left alone without proper nourishing live being will simply began to decay.  So decay is natural.  Growth on the other hand must be nurtured.  Something must be done to promote growth; a baby must be fed, loved and cared for; plants must be watered, fed with fertilizer and given light.  Something must happen in order for growth to occur.  Note also, that in humans as probably is the case in all living substances, we are either in the growing state or the decaying state.  Cells in your body are decaying every day.  We replenish those cells and grow new cells by properly nourishing our body each day.  When we are not properly nourishing our bodies, we may not see the decay right away, but eventually with poor dietary habits over a period of time, the decay will show up.  You will begin to experience physical symptoms in the body; colds and diseases, aching bones, anemia, etc.

            So it is with our spiritual lives as well.  Peter tells us here to grow and he says it almost as if it is a natural thing.  He give no instructions on how to grow.  He simply says grow.  But something must be done to promote growth.  Many times when we first get saved we are all excited about reading the Bible, praying, fasting and fellowshipping with other saints. These things promote growth.  As time wears on the excitement lessens and if we are not careful we participate in growth activities less and less.  If we are not growing then we are decaying.  You see we use up spiritual energy every day in this battle that we are fighting.  If the energy is not being replaced and the spirit is not being properly nourished, then decay is occurring.  You may not notice it right away, but one day it will show up.  It may show up as failures in areas of your Christian walk, where you at one time thought you had the victory.  It may show up as a lack of understanding on certain principles that you thought you clearly understood.(ER- Forgot Lord’s prayer)  It might show up in a lack of desire to remain saved and live holy.  The ultimate goal of decay is total destruction.  Jesus told his disciples that Satan our enemy comes to steal, to kill and to destroy.  Satan’s goal is not to just kill the spirit in you, but to destroy the entire being that is you.  But Jesus came to give mankind life and living things grow.

            So Peter here tells us to grow. We are to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus.  I know that we are accustomed to thinking of grace always as God’s unmerited favor shown to man, but Webster gives as one definition of grace ‘an attractive quality feature or manner’.   This is the kind of grace that I would like for us to consider growing in today.

II Peter 1:1-11

            What is Peter saying here? He is saying okay Christians, yes the doctrines of faith in Jesus Christ have been committed unto us; yes we have been given all that is necessary to live godly in this world; yes we have great a valuable promises from God; and yes the nature of God abides in us through the Spirit of God.  All of these things are true.  But given that all these things are true, we as Christians must now build on this foundation of truth.  God has granted us these truths, but they are to be foundations that we are to build upon.

            So in verse 5 Peter begins by saying “and besides this” meaning, not withstanding or discounting what God has done. Not trying to diminish what has already been given to you, but with all diligence, or furnishing all earnestness, you need to add to what you have been given.  Although God has made certain provisions for us as believers and for mankind in general he has still left us with some responsibility in maintaining the new life we have obtained in Christ.  We must nurture that life in us that we might grow.  In our growth process Peter says that we are to add 7 things; virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity.  Based on Webster’s definition of grace as an attractive quality feature or manner, I would like to term these seven things as graces.

            Now Peter tells us to add to our faith.  Faith is fundamental; it is the foundation upon which we are to build.  Faith here is not only the set truths and doctrines that we believe, but also our personal faith in Jesus Christ.  Yes we have doctrinal truths.  But being saved is not about a bunch of words on a piece of paper.  It is about a personal relationship with the one spoken of on the paper.  Is being married about having a license or is it about having a relationship with the person whose name is also on the license.  Some who are not saved will say that they have faith.  What they are really saying is that they have a head knowledge of who Jesus is. Having faith in that sense is much like a woman who has a marriage license to show, but her husband has long sense run off.  In actuality is she any better off than a single woman.  In other words, if you are here today and would say that you have faith in Jesus and yet you lack a personal relationship with Him, are you any better off than the person who does not believe in him and therefore has no relationship with Him.  The foundation upon which we are to build is faith and that faith must be rooted in a relationship with Jesus Christ.  Our relationship with Jesus is like the soil upon which the foundation of the house (our doctrines, principle and beliefs) is built.  What are we told to add to this foundation of faith?

            Virtue

            Virtue is strength of character leading courageous deeds and moral excellence.  In our growth process we are to develop a courageous character that will enable us to profess our faith even in times of persecution and to live out our faith in moral excellence.  We are to live a life that is not only scripturally above reproach but also denotes excellence in customs and manners.

I Thess. 5:22 

            Note that this verse did not say abstain from all evil.  It said abstain from all appearance of evil.  If it appears to be evil, abstain.  In other words to not go close enough to the boundaries of evil as to lead others into believing that you actually touched, tasted or handled it.  We are to add to our faith, spotless character.