Grow In Grace

“But grow in grace”
2 Peter 3:18

The New Covenant is a ministration of His grace, power, and life. The language of God pulsating throughout the New Testament scriptures denotes movement, growth, and exhortations to “go on,” “obtain,” and “apprehend.” There is nothing static about the press of the “Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus.”

Peter’s last written words to the people of God, before he was to be martyred for his testimony of Jesus, was to “grow in grace.” There is something latent within the hearts of those in whom the Love of God resides. We do not see Peter pleading for prayers and legal intervention concerning his “departure.” His concern was for the quality of the faith residing in The Church.

“But I deem it right, so long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by a reminder, knowing that the putting off of my tabernacle is soon, as indeed our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. And I will also be diligent to cause you always to have memory of these things after my departure.”
2 Peter 3:13-15

May God grant us the power of His Spirit to so interact with His people to “stir up” their hearts to grow in grace:

“by giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity” (2 Peter 1:5-7)

The writer of the Book of Hebrews is passionately urging the people of God to “go on” into the deeper ministrations of His Spirit:

“Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment…”
Hebrews 6:1-2 (NJKV)

“But Grow in Grace”

Many today would not comprehend the above exhortation. To many, grace is something we receive and not a wonder into which we are exhorted to grow. May we consider the consequence of God’s true grace imparted to those who walk carefully before Him.

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.”
Titus 2:11-12

Grace is the means that leads us to godly living. It is that ever present power that moves us to make decisions whereby we renounce ungodly passions and lead godly lives in this “present age”. It is an affront to the mercy of God to receive the person of Christ into our lives only to refuse the workings of His grace within.

There is a stern warning to which we would do well to take heed:

“Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
Hebrew 10:29-31

In our day, we see the unraveling of morals, the slow but inexorable trend away from holiness, and the acceptance of sin in our ranks, all in the name of grace!

“For certain men stole in, those of old having been written before to this judgment, ungodly ones perverting the grace of our God into unbridled lust, and denying the only Master, God, even our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Jude 1:4 (LITV)

Jude goes on:

“But I intend to remind you, you once knowing these things, that the Lord having saved a people out of the land of Egypt, in the second place destroyed the ones not believing.”
Jude 1:5 (LITV)

The early church knew this sobering truth: The Lord, having saved a people out of Egypt, also destroyed the ones who did not believe. How we have strayed from the primitive truth that galvanized and purified those who were recipients of God’s grace.

Paul also speaks of these same preachers/teachers who handled the truth in unrighteousness and perverted the grace of God into sensuality. (Or, as one Greek scholar translates the word, “absence of restraint”).

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.”
Romans 1:18 (ESV)

Within the church and without, the wrath of God will be revealed against ALL who suppress the truth: those who teach salvation apart from the fear of the Lord, those who suppress the call to holiness and purity of heart, those who preach a gospel for the masses that does not include the sharp sword of the Spirit whereby men and women may be made free from sin.

The day of judgment is upon us. The loose morals of a “seeker-friendly” gospel that has infiltrated the church of our day in our land will be laid bare. The folly of a gospel that allows for drunkenness, adultery, and all forms of sinful and deviant behavior, all in the name of grace, hastens the day of judgment.

“ ’twas grace that taught my heart to fear…”

May we grasp the age-old truths of the power and the purpose of grace. It was grace that saved me from a life of multiple addictions, some instantaneously, while others were and are forsaken by the ongoing growth of grace within my heart. Faith is the inspiration and grace, the power to war, a good warfare that we may stand at the last overcome by a grace that will present us faultless before His Throne in Glory (Jude 1:21-24).

The promises of God to every generation are presented to the seven churches in the Book of Revelation: “To him that overcometh…” The promises are spoken to the church in every region, yet only to those who overcome the culture and the error of their respective locations are the promises fulfilled. The admonition that preceded every promise offered:

“He who has an ear,
let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
To him who overcomes, I will give…”

Related Post: Grace The Power Of God

“If grace does not make us differ from other men,
it is not the grace which God gives His elect.”
Charles Spurgeon

BT