GROWTH


A. "BUT GROW IN THE GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST" - 2 PETER 3:18
  1. Throughout the New Testament:
    1. Christian character is regarded as growth
    2. Sometimes the growth is architectural; the growth of a building - I Pet. 2:9-11
    3. Sometimes it is physiological, Christ being the head, and the believers the body - Eph. 4:11-22
    4. Sometimes it is generic growth as in the case of the vine - John 15:1-11
  2. The capacity of growth is that which, more than anything else, distinguishes one mind from another:
    1. Here we are told to grow in grace and the knowledge of Jesus Christ
    2. Note, please, we do not grow into it, but rather in grace and the knowledge of Jesus Christ
    3. We are in grace and in the knowledge, and grow in both B. THE KIND OF GROWTH COMMANDED - "GROW IN THE GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR"
  3. What is grace?
    1. In this instance the root of the Greek word is a verb which means to rejoice, or be glad - Phil. 4:4; 3:1
    2. The word "grace" sums up the manifold gifts of God - the gift of the divine life - including eternal life, these and many other blessings of the Holy Spirit are all the free gifts of grace - 2 Pet. 1:2-8
  4. The knowledge of Christ and its meaning:
    1. Paul was very eager to make headway in the knowledge of both the Father and the Son, "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou has sent" - John 17:3
    2. John adds his emphasis to the importance of the knowledge of Jesus Christ in these words, "That we may know Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life" - I John 5:20
  5. The naturalness of growth:
    1. Growth is dependent on life and health, if these be absent there can be no growth; this is the basic law of growth, we cannot have one without the other. Whatever there is that arrests development is a malfunction in the organism
    2. Growth is spontaneous; it does not come by effort; a doctor has no prescription for growth
    3. Growth is an act of God in both the physical and the spiritual realm C. LET US CONSIDER, BRIEFLY, THREE SPECIAL FACTORS IN GROWTH
  6. The requisite of growth:
    1. The first requisite of growth is vital force; a plant cannot grow unless it is rooted in its native element
    2. The Psalmist had a foreglimpse of it when he said, "I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness" - Ps. 17:15
    3. Writes John, "Beloved, now are we children of God, and it is not yet made manifest what we shall be. We know that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is" - I John 3:2
  7. The direction of growth:
    1. The direction of growth is upward; it is toward Jesus Christ our Lord
    2. "Unto each one of us was the grace given that we may grow up in all things into Him, which is the head, even Christ" - Eph. 4:15
    3. There is a growth downward, that is in that knowledge of our own heart, "Know thyself and in knowing thyself thou shalt be wise"
    4. There is, finally, the growth outward - our influence spreads as did the influence of Abraham - Gen. 12:1-6
    5. Paul states this growth in these words, "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and the length, and the depth, and the height; and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge" - Eph. 3:17-19
  8. The test of growth:
    1. Our test of growth is a warmer and more useful love
    2. That we outgrow our human weakness
    3. Our fruitfulness in the Spirit - Matt. 17:16


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