Growth In Grace

// Filed in: Grace

What Is The Growth Of Grace?

It is another way of expressing the idea of an increase in the power of the Holy Spirit in the activities of the whole of Christianity. That increase is realized in all of the manifestations of the Holy Spirit, e.g., Love, Joy, Peace, Long suffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, Temperance (Galatians 5:22, 23)

Along with this is connected an increase in the knowledge of Messiah as our Lord & Savior.

Knowing Messiah As Lord

Knowledge is either speculative (theoretical) or it is experiential, but it cannot be both at the same time apart from Messiah.

Both forms of knowledge must be united, and the object of these two forms of knowledge is Messiah as our Lord & Savior.
  • Romans 2:20
  • Romans 10:2

As Lord, it includes his divinity and his incarnation, as it is the *theanthropos whom we recognize as Lord. An increase in this knowledge of his entire person must include:
  • A clearer understanding of God (the Word) electing to become a man himself.
Isaiah 9:6, John 1:1, 14
  • A clearer understanding of his glory.
Ephesians 3:16
  • A clearer understanding of his exaltation and dominion.
Increase in the inward knowledge stemming from the relation which we bear to him as Lord, who rules in us, reigns over us, and subdues all enemies, both his and ours.

Knowing Christ As Savior

This includes,

A firsthand knowledge of what he does for us in this character.
Inward experience of his saving work on our own souls.

2 Corinthians 5:17-19

Means Of Growth In Grace

The necessary conditions of all growth are light, food and exercise.

Light and warmth. This is, so far as spiritual life is concerned, the favor of God, the assurance of it, the experience of it. We must bring our souls under the direct influence of God’s love. The more this is done, the more life shall we have. However, it must be in the way the gospel prescribes.
The food of the soul is truth.
a. This must be pure, i.e., scriptural
Hebrews 5:12, 13
1 Peter 2:2
b. It must be daily received.
c. It must be appropriated, and applied.
The exercise of grace. This includes,
All acts of worship.
All exercises of faith and love, etc.
All outward duties performed in obedience to God and to promote his cause.

Evidences Of Growing In Grace

We are not taking about being zealous or being either guided or driven by feelings/emotions. Nor is it about enjoyment, per se. We are speaking of an increase in—
Our submission to the truth.
Our conformity to Christ.
Philippians 3:10
Our power to resist sin and to hear and to do the will of God.
*The word theanthrōpos refers to the entire, concrete person of Messiah—one person in two natures—rather than viewing the matter from one or the other of the natures in an abstract manner.

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