GROW IN GRACE
2 Peter 3:14-18 2Pet 3:14 Wherefore, beloved,
seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in
peace, without spot, and blameless.
2Pet 3:15 And account [that] the
longsuffering of our Lord [is] salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also
according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
2Pet 3:16 As also in all [his]
epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be
understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as [they do] also
the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
2Pet 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved,
seeing ye know [these things] before, beware lest ye also, being led away with
the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
2Pet 3:18 But grow in grace, and
[in] the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him [be] glory both
now and for ever. Amen.
Introduction:
1. Growth “in grace and
knowledge” produces steadfastness, which is a hedge against falling and being
led away into error.
2 Pet. 3:17-18 2Pet 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved,
seeing ye know [these things] before, beware lest ye also, being led away with
the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
2Pet 3:18 But grow in grace, and
[in] the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him [be] glory both
now and for ever. Amen.
a. Growth is necessary for our
steadfastness (“keep on growing”).
b. Must continually advance in
the faith to persevere and avoid falling.
2. Grow: Enlarge; “Increase in
the image and favor of God”.
3. Grace: “Favor freely given;
lovingkindness, gift.”
a. Received through Christ.
(Jno. 1:16-17) Jn 1:16 And of his fulness have
all we received, and grace for grace.
Jn 1:17 For the law was given by
Moses, [but] grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
We stand in grace;
(Rom. 5:1-2) Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified
by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Rom 5:2 By whom also we have
access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the
glory of God.
Not to receive it in vain;
(2 Cor. 6:1) 2Cor 6:1 We then, [as] workers
together [with him], beseech [you] also that ye receive not the grace of God in
vain.
Be strong in grace.
(2 Tim. 2:1) 2Tim 2:1 Thou therefore, my son,
be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
b. Principle: Good stewards of
God’s grace.
(1 Pet. 4:10) 1Pet 4:10 As every man hath
received the gift, [even so] minister the same one to another, as good stewards
of the manifold grace of God.
4. We are taught to “continue in
the grace of God”.
(Acts 13:43) Acts 13:43 Now when the
congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed
Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the
grace of God.
5. Having received grace, how do
we grow in grace? That is, how do we develop and enlarge grace within us (a
gracious character), and therefore, God’s favor?
I. GROW IN GRACE
BY GROWING IN KNOWLEDGE.
(2 Pet. 3:18) But grow in grace, and [in] the
knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him [be] glory both now and
for ever. Amen.
A. Knowledge of Christ is
Essential for Growth in Grace.
(2 Pet. 1:2) 2Pet 1:2 Grace and peace be
multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
(1 Pet. 2:2-3) 1Pet 2:2 As newborn babes, desire
the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
1Pet 2:3 If so be ye have tasted
that the Lord [is] gracious.
B. God’s Grace Teaches Us.
(Tit. 2:11-12) Tit 2:11 For the grace of God
that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying
ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly,
in this present world;
1. To obey its instruction is how
we increase in God’s grace.
2. Avoid error – Be established
in grace.
(Heb. 13:9) Heb 13:9 Be not carried about
with divers and strange doctrines. For [it is] a good thing that the heart be
established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have
been occupied therein.
3. Knowing truth (obeying it)
builds up and secures heaven.
(Acts 20:32) Acts 20:32 And now, brethren, I
commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you
up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
II. GROW IN GRACE
BY GENUINELY LOVING CHRIST
(Eph. 6:24) Eph 6:24 Grace [be] with all them
that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. Written from Rome unto the
Ephesians by Tychicus.
A. The Means of Receiving Grace.
(John 14:15, 21, 23) Jn 14:15 If ye love me, keep my
commandments.
Jn 14:21 He that hath my
commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me
shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to
him.
Jn 14:23 Jesus answered and said
unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him,
and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
1. The Christian who lovingly
obeys Christ has God’s favor.
2. Obey from the heart as a slave
of righteousness.
(Rom. 6:15-18) Rom 6:15 What then? shall we sin,
because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
Rom 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom
ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey;
whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Rom 6:17 But God be thanked, that
ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of
doctrine which was delivered you.
Rom 6:18 Being then made free from
sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
III. GROW IN GRACE
BY HUMBLY ELIMINATING SIN FROM OUR LIVES
(James 4:5-8) Jas 4:5 Do ye think that the
scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
Jas 4:6 But he giveth more grace.
Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
Jas 4:7 Submit yourselves
therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Jas 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he
will draw nigh to you. Cleanse [your] hands, [ye] sinners; and purify [your]
hearts, [ye] double minded.
A. God Gives Grace to the Humble.
Grow in grace by growing in humility before God, and ceasing sin.
(James 4:6) Jas 4:6 But he giveth more grace.
Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
B. Grace Will Not Abound Where
Sin Resides.
(Romans 6:1-2, 12-14) Rom 6:1 What shall we say then?
Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Rom 6:2 God forbid. How shall we,
that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Rom 6:12 Let not sin therefore
reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Rom 6:13 Neither yield ye your
members [as] instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto
God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members [as] instruments
of righteousness unto God.
Rom 6:14 For sin shall not have
dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
-Conversely, sin will not abound where grace resides.
C. Grow in Grace by Denying
Worldliness and Living Godly.
(Titus 2:11-12) Tit 2:11 For the grace of God
that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying
ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly,
in this present world;
IV. GROW IN GRACE
BY LIVING GRACIOUS LIVES OF SERVICE
(2 Thessalonians
2:16-17) 2Thes
2:16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath
loved us, and hath given [us] everlasting consolation and good hope through
grace,
2Thes 2:17 Comfort your hearts,
and stablish you in every good word and work.
A. By Serving Others.
1. God’s love gave us eternal
comfort and hope through grace.
2. We grow in grace by giving
others love, comfort, and hope.
3. We imitate God’s grace for
us by freely being gracious to others.
B. By Using Gracious Speech.
(Ephesians 4:29) Eph 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin
not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
(Colossians 4:6) Col 4:6 Let your speech [be]
alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer
every man.
1. Giving grace by words that
meet a need, that edify another.
2. Grow in grace by developing
and using speech that is kind, thoughtful, generous, and helpful.
C. By (the) Sacrificial,
Sincere Giving (of ourselves to others).
1. Their singleness of heart
was proof of God’s grace at work in them.
(2 Cor. 8:1-2 2Cor 8:1 Moreover, brethren, we
do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
2Cor 8:2 How that in a great trial
of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto
the riches of their liberality.
2. Like Christ, we are to
abound in sincere giving.
(2 Cor. 8:6-9)
2Cor 8:6 Insomuch that we desired
Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace
also.
2Cor 8:7 Therefore, as ye abound
in every [thing], [in] faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and [in] all
diligence, and [in] your love to us, [see] that ye abound in this grace also.
2Cor 8:8 I speak not by
commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the
sincerity of your love.
2Cor 8:9 For ye know the grace of
our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became
poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
3. Zealous giver receives
grace to give more and more.
D. By Our Worship of God.
1. Give God honor and piety
through worship.
(Hebrews 12:28) Heb 12:28 Wherefore we receiving
a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God
acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
2. By singing with
lovingkindness toward God, your praise is heard and received.
(Colossians 3:16) Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ
dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in
psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the
Lord.
3. The true worshiper abounds
in God’s grace.
5. GROW IN GRACE IN LOVING LOST PEOPLE YET MORE AND MORE.
(Philippians 1:9-10) [9]And this I pray, that your
love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;
[10]That ye may approve things
that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of
Christ;
* That Christians abounding in fulfilling the great commission of the
Lord Jesus Christ for we that He is coming soon.
( Philippians 1:5-6) [5]For your fellowship in the
gospel from the first day until now;
[6]Being confident of this very
thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the
day of Jesus Christ:
Conclusion:
1. Continue to grow in grace by growing in knowledge, by genuinely
loving Christ, by eliminating sin, and by living graciously toward others (in
speech, giving, worship).
(2 Pet. 3:18) 2Pet 3:18 But grow in grace, and
[in] the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him [be] glory both
now and for ever. Amen.
2. “The grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ be with you” (May the grace of
God accompany you).
(Romans 16:20) Rom 16:20 And the God of peace
shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ
[be] with you. Amen.
* God bless you all always *
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