Grow In Christ-like Graces

2 Peter 1:5-7

Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

2 Peter 3:18 Grow in the grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Jeremiah Dyke, of Epping in Essex

True grace is growing grace. Where there is no growth of grace, there is no truth of grace (2 Thessalonians 1:3).

Octavius Winslow Daily Walking With God

Opposed by indwelling sin, assailed by Satan, and impeded by the world, every step in advance is only secured by a battle fought, and a victory achieved.

There is an idea fatal to all true sanctification, which some believers, especially those who are young in experience, are prone to entertain - that nothing is to be done in the soul after a man has believed, that the work of conversion having taken place, all is accomplished. So far from this being the case, he has but just entered upon the work of sanctification - just started in the race, just buckled on the armor. The conflict can hardly be said to have begun in conversion; and, therefore, to rest composed with the idea that the soul has nothing more to do than to accept of Christ as his salvation - that there are no corruptions to subdue - no sinful habits to cut off no long-existing and deeply imbedded sins to mortify, root and branch - and no high and yet higher degrees in holiness to attain, is to form a most contracted view of the Christian life - such a view as, if persisted in, must necessarily prove detrimental to the spiritual advance of the believer. The work of sanctification, beloved, is a great and a daily work. It commences at the very moment of our translation into the kingdom of Christ on earth, and ceases not until the moment of our translation into the kingdom of God in heaven.

The work of sanctification is the work of a man's life. "When sin lets us alone, we may let sin alone." (John Owen, The Mortification of Sin) But when is the day, yes, when is the hour, that sin does not strive for the mastery, and in which the believer can say he has completely slain his enemy?

Peace through the atoning blood being obtained, the movement is to be progressive, the course onward; each day, if possible, augmenting the measure of our grace, and adding to the number of the Spirit's graces. Reconciliation with God is but the starting-post in the divine life, not the finish-line; it is the commencement, and not the end, of our course. In other words, vast numbers rest in their first reception of Christ. They are hopefully converted, they unite themselves with a particular section of the Church of God, and settle down under an attached ministry. But here they seem to abide. There is no advance, no progress, no forgetting of the things that are behind, pressing upwards to higher rounds in the glorious ladder, which a gracious Father has let down out of heaven, by which we may ascend to heaven. Content with having placed the foot upon the first step, there they remain. There is no "following on to know the Lord." (Hosea 6:3) And yet why has the Lord removed the burden from the shoulder, but that we might mount upward? Why has He broken the chains from our feet, but that we may go forward? Thus are we constantly forgetting that the cross is our starting-point in our race, and yet ever to be kept in view- while holiness, breathed after upon earth, and in some blessed degree attained, but perfected in heaven, is our bright and certain goal.

On 2 Corinthians 13:9 "This also we wish, even your perfection."

If you are satisfied with your present measure of grace, a worse sign you could not have. To be content with being stationary in the divine life places you in a doubtful position. Beware, too, of any neglect of the means of grace. God has appointed His channels of conveyance. A neglected sanctuary - a forsaken throne of grace - an unread Bible - will soon bring leanness into your soul. God has as much ordained the means of grace, as He has appointed the grace of the means.

On Romans 8:29 "Those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of the Son..."

Look not every man on his own circle, his own family, his own gifts, his own interests, comfort, and happiness; upon his own Church, his own community, his own minister. Let him not look upon these exclusively. Let him not prefer his own advantage to the public good. Let him not be self-willed in matters involving the peace and comfort of others. Let him not form favorite theories, or individual opinions, to the hazard of a Church's prosperity or of a family's happiness. Let him yield, sacrifice, and give place, rather than carry a point to the detriment of others. Let him, with a generous, magnanimous, disinterested spirit, in all things imitate Jesus.

Let him seek the good of others, honoring their gifts, respecting their opinions, nobly yielding when they correct and overrule his own. Let him promote the peace of the Church, consult the honor of Christ, and seek the glory of God, above and beyond all private and selfish ends. This is to be conformed to the image of God's dear Son, to which high calling we are predestinated; and in any feature of resemblance which the Holy Spirit brings out in the holy life of a follower of the Lamb, Christ is thereby glorified before men and angels.

C.H. Spurgeon Morning and Evening

"Grow in grace”—not in one grace only, but in all grace. Grow in that root-grace, faith. Believe the promises more firmly than you have done. Let faith increase in fullness, constancy, simplicity. Grow also in love. Ask that your love may become extended, more intense, more practical, influencing every thought, word, and deed. Grow likewise in humility. Seek to lie very low, and know more of your own nothingness. As you grow downward in humility, seek also to grow upward —having nearer approaches to God in prayer and more intimate fellowship with Jesus. May God the Holy Spirit enable you to “grow in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour.”

He who grows not in the knowledge of Jesus, refuses to be blessed. To know Him is “life eternal,” and to advance in the knowledge of Him is to increase in happiness. He who does not long to know more of Christ, knows nothing of Him yet. Whoever hath sipped this wine will thirst for more, for although Christ doth satisfy, yet it is such a satisfaction, that the appetite is not cloyed, but whetted. If you know the love of Jesus—as the deer pants for the water-brooks (Psalm 42:2), so will you pant after deeper draughts of his love. If you do not desire to know Him better, then you love Him not, for love always cries, “Nearer, nearer.” Absence from Christ is hell; but the presence of Jesus is heaven.

Rest not then content without an increasing acquaintance with Jesus. Seek to know more of Him in His divine nature, in His human relationship, in His finished work, in His death, in His resurrection, in His present glorious intercession, and in His future royal advent. Abide hard by the Cross, and search the mystery of his wounds.

An increase of love to Jesus, and a more perfect apprehension of his love to us is one of the best tests of growth in grace.

Thomas Guthrie, Way To Life, “The Christian’s Growth”, 1863

https://books.google.com/books?id=gMJAAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA223

Ephesians 4:13 “…grow into a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.”

The head, the heart, and the hand, doctrine, devotion, and work, should each have their due share of our time and attention; it is by growing equally in the knowledge, and the love, and the life of Christ, that we are to reach the true model of a Christian.

Search the Scriptures (Acts 17:11, 2 Timothy 2:15)—Watch unto prayer (1 Peter 4:7b)—Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17)—Fight the good fight of faith (1 Timothy 6:12)—Labour for the bread that never perisheth (Matthew 4:4, John 6:27)—Give all diligence to make your calling and election sure (2 Peter 1:10)—Work out your salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12)—See that no man take your crown (Revelation 3:11).

While all our hopes of salvation centre in the cross of Christ, and all our hopes of progress hang on the promised aids of the Holy Spirit, let us therefore exert ourselves to the utmost; reaching forth to higher attainments, and aiming at daily increase in every holy and Christian habit.

Saving Knowledge: Addressed To Young Men, 1870

Let every day see some sin crucified, some battle fought, some good done, some victory won. Let every fall be followed by a rise, and every step gained become, not a resting place, but a new starting point for further and higher progress.

J.C. Ryle Holiness

"Growth In Grace"

http://www.gracegems.org/Ryle/holiness7.htm

When I speak of a man growing in grace, I mean simply this—that his sense of sin is becoming deeper, his faith stronger, his hope brighter, his love more extensive, his spiritual–mindedness more marked. He feels more of the power of godliness in his own heart. He manifests more of it in his life.

If there is any one feature about a growing soul which specially marks him — it is his deep sense of his own unworthiness. He never sees anything to be praised in himself. He only feels that he is an unprofitable servant and the chief of sinners. It is the godly, in the picture of the judgment day, who say, "Lord, when did we see You hungry — and feed You?" (Matthew 25:37).

"The Ruler of the Waves"

I am afraid that many who profess Christ in our day have lost sight of our Lord's person. They talk . . .more about salvation — than about their only Savior, and more about redemption — than the one true Redeemer, and more about Christ's work — than Christ Himself. As ever you would grow in grace, and have joy and peace in believing — beware of falling into this error. Cease to regard the Gospel as a mere collection of dry doctrines. Look at it rather as the revelation of a mighty living Being in whose sight you are daily to live. Cease to regard it as a mere set of abstract propositions and abstruse principles and rules. Look at it as the introduction to a glorious personal Friend. This is the kind of Gospel that the apostles preached. They did not go about the world telling men of love and mercy and pardon in the abstract. The leading subject of all their sermons, was the loving heart of an actual living Christ. This is the kind of Gospel which is most calculated to promote sanctification and fitness for glory.

A.W. Tozer

Renewed Day by Day

We once heard a call to take up the cross; but instead of following toward the heights, we (began to) bargain with the Lord! We felt an urge to be spent for Christ, but instead of going on, we started asking questions. We began to bicker and bargain with God about His standards for spiritual attainment. This is plain truth, not about unbelieving “liberals” but about those who have been born again and who dare to ask, “Lord, what will it cost me?” (And then stop walking and start shrinking.)

That Incredible Christian

The work of the Spirit in the human heart is not an unconscious or automatic thing. Human will and intelligence must yield to and cooperate with the intentions of God. I think it is here that many of us go astray. Either we try to make ourselves holy and fail miserably, as we certainly must; or we seek to achieve a state of spiritual passivity and wait for God to perfect our natures in holiness as one might sit down and wait for a robin egg to hatch or a rose to burst into bloom. So we work feverishly to do the impossible or we do not work at all. The New Testament knows nothing of the working of the Spirit in us apart from our own moral responses. Watchfulness, prayer, self-discipline and intelligent acquiescence in the purposes of God are indispensable to any real progress in holiness.

John Newton - “I Asked The Lord”

I asked the Lord that I might grow

In faith, and love, and every grace;

Might more of His salvation know,

And seek, more earnestly, His face.

’Twas He who taught me thus to pray,

And He, I trust, has answered prayer!

But it has been in such a way,

As almost drove me to despair.

I hoped that in some favored hour,

At once He’d answer my request;

And by His love’s constraining pow’r,

Subdue my sins, and give me rest.

Instead of this, He made me feel

The hidden evils of my heart;

And let the angry pow’rs of hell

Assault my soul in every part.

Yea more, with His own hand He seemed

Intent to aggravate my woe;

Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,

Blasted my gourds, and laid me low.

Lord, why is this, I trembling cried,

Wilt thou pursue thy worm to death?

“’Tis in this way", the Lord replied,

"I answer prayer for grace and faith."

"These inward trials I employ,

From self, and pride, to set thee free;

And break thy schemes of earthly joy,

That thou may’st find thy all in Me.”

Johann Lavater - “O Jesus Christ, Grow Thou in Me”

O Jesus Christ, grow Thou in me,

And all things else recede;

My heart be daily nearer Thee,

From sin be daily freed.

Each day let Thy supporting might

My weakness still embrace;

My darkness vanish in Thy light,

Thy life my death efface.

In Thy bright beams which on me fall,

Fade every evil thought;

That I am nothing, Thou art all,

I would be daily taught.

More of Thy glory let me see,

Thou Holy, Wise, and True;

I would Thy living image be,

In joy and sorrow too.

Fill me with gladness from above,

Hold me by strength divine;

Lord, let the glow of Thy great love

Through all my being shine.

Make this poor self grow less and less,

Be Thou my life and aim;

Oh, make me daily through Thy grace

More meet to bear Thy name.