The Essential of Growing In Grace
Growing In Grace Part 3
II Peter 3:18
The Essential of Growing In Grace
Growing in Grace is absolutely
essential in the life of the believer because it…
A. Portrays a Healthy
Christianity
The simple fact
remains; anything that is healthy is growing.
·
Luke 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and
stature, and in favour with God and man.
Jesus grew intellectually,
physically, spiritually and socially.
Question: Besides growing
physically – how do you rate in the other three categories?
Jesus grew as a man. We should also.
Christianity is portrayed
by the media and by the world as a bunch of close-minded buffoons.
Illustration: Lowes slogan = Never Stop Improving; North
Face outdoor gear slogan: Never Stop Exploring
God forbid that we think because we’re saved and on our way to Heaven
that’s all we need!
Laodicea church “had need of nothing” in their own mind, but actually
was in great need of many things.
Jesus increased. Are we as
Christians accurately representing Him by increasing in wisdom and in favor?
Notice Christianity First Mention Principle
·
Acts 11:26 And when he had found him, he
brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled
themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were
called Christians first in Antioch.
B. Prevents a Hardened
Complacency
1. Complacent to
Truth
·
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a
workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2. Complacent to
Teaching
·
Colossians 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and
teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in
Christ Jesus:
C. Produces an Honorable
Continuation
·
1 Timothy 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the
doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and
them that hear thee.
·
Col. 1:21-23 And you, that were sometime alienated and
enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of
his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable
in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be
not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was
preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a
minister;
Illustration: I heard about a church up North that went two
years without a pastor, yet they continued to grow, people were getting saved
and joining the church almost weekly!
That is a perfect example of a group of people that had been grounded
and were growing. They didn’t have to
have a pastor cracking a whip over their head; they “got it”. They understood that their growth was
essential to their very existence and continuation.
The Pastor’s job is
to lead his people; not to drive them.
Growing Christians have an inward motivation; an inward desire to please
God.
