(Christian Living Sermon) Hillside 10/97
Filename: How to Grow in Grace

HOW DOES A CHRISTIAN GROW IN GRACE?

INTRODUCTION-- In 2 Peter 3:13-18, Peter writes to us, "But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. 14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, 15 and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, 16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. 17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen."
  1. The Apostle Peter tells us to be diligent to seek peace with God, and the be spotless and blameless (Vs. 14).
  2. He says that untaught and unstable people are likely to distort the scripture, so we are to guard against being carried away by error and falling from our own stedfastness.
  3. The solution is to "grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ."
    1. Growing in Knowledge is a matter of reading and studying the Word of Christ. This is the easy part.
    2. Growing in the Grace of Christ is more ambiguous. How do we do it?

LESSON--

  1. Grace is defined in this way.
    1. Deference toward, favor, lovingkindness.
    2. In regard to sinners, it is defined as "unmerited favor," but "Growing in Grace" does not seem to compare to the favor that saved us. (In other words, can we be more saved that we are?)
  2. When we speak of grace, we generally think of the grace of God. However, many passages speak of the grace of Christ.
    1. Dozens of times in the New Testament, the writers commend their readers to the grace of Christ. (Aa well as to the grace of God.)
    2. Jesus was full of Grace. John 1:14-17 "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John *testified about Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.'" 16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. 17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ."
    3. People receive it from Him as a gift. "But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift." (Ephesians 4:7)
  3. What benefits do we receive from the grace of Christ?
    1. We grow into a sense of the glory of the name of Christ. 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 "To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ."
      1. The "name of Christ" is equivalent to the "authority of Christ." Colossians 3:17 "Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father."
      2. The "name of Christ" is also equivalent with the "reputation of Christ." Philippians 2:9-11 "(Because Christ fulfilled His mission) God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
    2. Salvation is a benefit of the grace of Christ. "But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are." Acts 15:11
      1. Compare Romans 5:15-21. "But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. 16 The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification. 17 For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. 18 So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. 19 For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. 20 The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
      2. Paul did not want to be misunderstood by what he said in Vs. 20, so he wrote, "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2 May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?" Romans 6:1-2
    3. We can gain spiritual riches. 2 Corinthians 8:9 "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich."
    4. We can receive gifts to enable us to work for him.
      1. Paul had such a gift. Romans 1:1-5 "Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, 4 who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name's sake"
      2. Though we may not have the glorious apostleship Paul had, by the same grace we can use our lesser gifts. Romans 12:6-8 "Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness."
    5. Strength and comfort through hope. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 "Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, 17 comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word."

APPLICATION--
  1. Jesus knew how to grow in Grace. "And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men." Luke 2:52
  2. If He knew how, he has a right to tell us, through the words of the Apostle Peter, "Grow in the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."