Lesson 6.
GROWTH
Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (2
Peter 3:18)
This is a vital matter for those who are serious about their commitment to
holiness. They need to sometimes ask, Am I making progress in my religion? Do I
grow? Perhaps birthdays, or at Christmas, or before joining in the Lord's
supper are suitable times for such self-examination. There are three points
about this spiritual growth which I wish to stress.
1. The reality of growth in spirituality
There is such a thing as growth in grace. In saying this, I would like to make
it clear that I do not mean that we, by our own efforts, can make any
difference to our justification in God's sight. We cannot ever be more
pardoned, more forgiven, more justified than we are at the first moment we
believe. The growth which I refer to is growth in the graces given to us by the
Holy Spirit - our repentance, our faith, hope, love, humility, zeal and
courage. We can, and should, make continual spiritual progress by growth in
each of these graces.
Growth in grace is taught in the Bible.
Your faith is growing more and more, and the love everyone of you has for each
other is increasing (2
Thessalonians 1:3).
Bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God
(Colossians 1:10).I
pray that your love may abound more and more
(Philippians 1:9). And there are many more such exhortations.
But personal experience also confirms that the possibility of growth in grace
is a fact. The difference between the degree of faith and knowledge when first
converted, and what is true after some years of walking with the Lord, is
evidence in itself that there has been growth. I want to emphasise that our own
best interests are in this matter of growth. For example:
a) Growing in grace is the best evidence of spiritual health. Anything that is
alive proves its health by steady progress in growth. What does not grow is not
alive.
b) Growing in grace is one way to be happy in our religion. There is a link
between our comfort and our holiness. The believer who feels the most joy and
peace in believing and has the clearest `witness of the Spirit' in his heart
(Romans 8:16) is the believer who is growing spiritually.
c) Growing in grace is one secret of our usefulness to others. Our influence on
others depends greatly upon what they see in us. The believer who sets the
world thinking is the believer who is continually improving and going forward.
d) Growing in grace pleases God. It may seem remarkable that anything we do can
please God. But Jesus told his disciples,
This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to
be my disciples
(John 15:8). The Lord takes pleasure in all his people, but especially in those
that grow spiritually.
e) But, above all else, let us realise that growing in grace is not only
possible, but is something for which we are accountable. Whose fault is it if a
believer does not grow? It is clearly not the fault of God. Believers have a
duty to grow. Neglect of growth robs the believer of privileges, grieves the
Spirit, and dulls the soul. We ourselves are to blame, and no one else, if we
are not growing spiritually.
2. The results of growth in spirituality
How may we find out whether we are growing in grace, or not? I answer that
there are certain results of such growth, and wherever we see such consequences
we see a growing soul. Let me indicate some of these results.
a) One result of growing in grace is the possession of a greater humility. As
we draw nearer to God, and know more of his holiness and perfection, so the
more we are aware of our own unworthiness in his sight. We feel the centurion's
words (Matthew 8:8) could be ours - Lord, I
do not deserve to have you come under my roof.
Or, in the words of the Prodigal son (Luke 15:19)
I
am no more worthy to be called your son.
The more believers mature and ripen for heaven's glory so the more, like corn,
they hang down their heads.
b) Another result of growing in grace is increased love toward the Lord Jesus
Christ which, in turn, deepens faith in him. No doubt the believer thinks much
of Christ when first believing. But growth in grace makes Christ more and more
desirable. This is a result of growth to look for!
c) Another result of growing in grace is an increase of holiness in the life.
There is more watchfulness over weakness in our character. There is a stronger
resistance to the devil and to sin. It is a sign of not growing in grace if we
find ourselves less troubled about sin.
d) Another result of growing in grace is more spirituality in our desires and
thoughts. The believer who is growing will faithfully discharge
responsibilities of home and life. But the best loved things will be spiritual
things. Amusements and ideas which once were all-important will seem to lose
their value. Such things may not be sinful in themselves, but will gradually
seem trifling things to the growing believer.
e) Another result of growing in grace is a greater love toward all people, but
especially toward other believers. A growing soul will try to put the best
interpretation on another person's conduct. The surest sign of a decrease in
grace is a willingness to find faults and see weak points in other people.
f) The last result of growing in grace which I will mention is growing interest
in evangelism. How we think about and work for missions, at home and abroad, is
a most reliable sign of the growth of our souls. If we want to know whether or
not we are growing spiritually, let us see if there is a growing concern for
the salvation of others.
3. The resources to be used to assist spiritual growth
Whoever wishes to grow in grace must use the God-given means of growth.
Every good and perfect gift is from above
(James 1:17). This is as true of the resources for the encouragement of growth,
as it is of every other gift of God. Since God has made these resources
available it is the responsibility of every Christian believer to make best use
of them.
a) Our private prayers, our Bible reading and our private meditations are the
best helps towards the growth of the soul. To be careless and lazy about these
things is to be wrong everywhere! I know we live in an age full of dangers
-much hurry and pressure of many activities. I suspect that English Christians
two hundred years ago read their Bibles more than they do today (Ryle wrote at
the end of the 19th century - Ed.). Personal and private religion must receive
our first attention if we wish our souls to grow.
b) Also essential to spiritual growth is the careful use of the public means of
grace. Regular meetings for praise and worship of God, joining in the Lord's
supper, hearing the message of the Scriptures preached - these are public
resources to assist growth in grace. The danger is that our familiarity with
these things is apt to make us careless. If we would grow we must be on our
guard lest the regular doing of the same things causes us to lose our appetite
for them.
c) Watchfulness over our conduct in the small things of life is important. Life
is made up of small things: our everyday moods, the fulfillment of our regular
duties, the way we use our time, are all important matters. We must aim to have
a Christianity which, like the sap of a tree, runs through every twig and leaf
of our character and sanctifies all.
d) There must be caution about the people with whom we mix and the friendships
we form. Disease can be passed from one person to another, but health can not.
If, among our friends, there are those who are not friends of God how will our
spiritual growth be helped? Mistakes in friendships and marriage engagements
are the whole reason why some believers have not grown.
Bad company corrupts good character
(1 Corinthians 15:33).
e) There is one more thing which I believe is of great importance. Regular
communion with the Lord is essential to spiritual growth. I do not mean merely
the attendance at the public means of grace. I mean a growing understanding of
the relationships between the Lord and ourselves as believers. He is the
Bridegroom to us as his bride; he is the Head to us as his members; he is the
Physician to us as his patients; he is the Advocate for us as his clients; he
is the Shepherd for us as his sheep; he is the Master for us as his disciples.
Getting close to the Lord in these relationships is what I mean as something
essential to spiritual growth. We must learn what it means to say, with Paul,
For me, to live is Christ
(Philippians 1:21). We must realize what it is to turn to him first in every
need, to talk to him about every difficulty, to consult him about every step,
and to spread before him all our sorrows and joys.
Last of all, if we are growing in grace, or earnestly seeking to grow, we must
be prepared for hardship. We may have to go through many trials and much
affliction in this life. One of our Lord's striking sayings, of the
relationship between himself and his disciples, is,
Every branch in me that does bear fruit he trims clean so that it will be even
more fruitful
(John 15:2). When God corrects us by some circumstance it is meant for our
instruction and our growth! No
discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on however it
produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained
by it
(Hebrews 12:11). So let us ask ourselves the question: In our religion, in the
things which concern our peace of mind, in our holiness - are we alive? Are we
therefore growing?
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