Growth in Grace
Grace Defined
God’s willingness to use his ability on our behalf even though we do not
deserve it.
What is The Growth Of Grace?
It is another form of expressing the idea of the increase in the power
of the Holy Spirit in the activities of Christendom. It is an increase
at once of the principle itself and of all its manifestations, e.g., Love,
Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, Temperance
(Galatians 5:22, 23)
With this is connected an increase in the knowledge of of Christ as our
Lord and as our Savior.
Knowing Christ as Lord
Knowledge is speculative (theoretical) and experimental.
Both forms of knowledge must be united. The objects of this knowledge is
Christ, as Lord and as Savior.
As Lord, it includes his divinity and his incarnation, as it is the Theanthropos
whom we recognize as Lord.
Increase in this knowledge includes,
1.
Clearer understanding of his glory.
2.
Of his exaltation and dominion.
3.
Increase in the inward feelings belonging to the relation which we bear
to him as Lord, who rules in us, reigns over us, and subdues all his and
our enemies.
Knowing Christ as Savior
This includes,
1.
Knowledge of what he does for us in this character.
2.
Inward experience of his saving work on our own souls.
Means of Growth in Grace
The necessary conditions of all growth are light, food and exercise.
1.
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 influence of the love of God. The more this is done the more
life shall we have. It must be in the way the gospel prescribes.
2.
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.
3.
The exercise of grace. This includes,
a.
All acts of worship.
b.
All exercises of faith and love, etc.
c.
All outward duties performed in obedience to God and to promote his cause.
Evidences of Growing in Grace
1.
Not fervor of feeling.
2.
Nor enjoyment.
3.
But increase in,
a.
Our acquiescence in the truth
b.
In our conformity to Christ.
c.
In our power to resist sin and to do and to bear the will of God.
