How to Grow in Grace – 2 Peter 3:18

Imagine finding a tribe of people where hardly anyone grows beyond the toddler stage. They reach the age of two and their physical development stops. Sure, a few make it to adulthood, but those who do spend every waking hour feeding the others and changing thousands of dirty diapers.

Such is the church that doesn’t grow in grace.

Every Christian starts out with grace, but not every Christian grows in grace. They may have enough grace to walk, but they’re incapable of looking after others, and they occasionally soil themselves with sin.

I think the Apostle Peter knew something about this because he wrote these famous words:

Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 3:18a)

Why would Peter write this unless there was a danger that we might not grow in grace? Perhaps Peter knew people who needed to grow up. Perhaps he had certain individuals in mind. “I’m looking at you, Beverly. You too, Brian.”

The truth is, we all need to grow in grace. But what does that mean, and how do we do it?

What does it mean to grow in grace?

Let me give you some wrong answers first. We don’t grow in grace by:

• trying to draw closer to God
• studying the Scriptures and praying every day
• keeping short accounts by quickly confessing sins
• pursuing holiness and crucifying the flesh
• fasting, tithing, or Sabbath-keeping
• attending conferences and events
• praying for revival
• reading Christian books and articles (like this one!)

Now, before you hammer me in the comments, note that I deliberately included a mix of good and bad activities to make you think. Of course, it’s good to study the Scriptures and pray. But did you know you can study the Scriptures and pray every day and not grow?

Remember what Jesus said to the religious leaders:

You study the Scriptures, because you think that in them you will find eternal life. And these very Scriptures speak about me! Yet you are not willing to come to me in order to have life. (John 5:39, GNB)

You can read your Bible and pray every day, go to church three times a week, fast and tithe like a Pharisee and remain a spiritual infant your whole life. You will become one of those old Christians who needs to be regularly fed because you are incapable of feeding yourself or others. And you will have pooey spiritual diapers.

How do we grow in grace?

Peter tells us how:

Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18)

We grow in grace as we grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. As we allow the Spirit of Christ to reveal more of the Lord’s goodness to us, we grow in grace. That’s it.

Spiritual growth is not something we manufacture through effort or discipline. It is the Vine that produces the growth in the branches. He is the Living Word who imparts life and the good seed who bears his fruit in our lives.

Spiritual growth happens without any effort on our part because that is how God ordained it. We cannot produce his fruit, and we cannot make ourselves grow. Growth is the Lord’s work. From start to finish, he does it all. All we can do is hinder the process by trying to make things happen in our own strength.

Mary sat at the feet of Jesus and received. This is why I say “receive” is just about the most important word in the new covenant. In the new covenant, every blessing comes to us as a free gift from God. Knowing what you have received will keep you from being deceived.

What happens to a toddler who receives good food? They grow. No parent expects their toddler to hit the gym or run five miles. They just want them to receive.

As in the natural, so in the spiritual. God does not expect you to do a hundred different things in order to grow. He wants you to receive. And it’s really not hard. You have already received by faith the gift of salvation. Keep doing that.

Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him. (Colossians 2:6)

We live in exciting times. A Grace Revolution is sweeping the church and the toddlers are growing up. I’ve called it a movement of nobodies, but really it’s all about Somebody, and the more we know this Somebody, the more we will become like him.

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. (2 Peter 1:2)

The more you know Jesus, the more of God’s grace and peace you will experience in your life.

—

Question of the week: “Paul, I’ve heard the Grace Commentary is free. How do I get it?” Visit thegracecommentary.com to access more than 10,000 entries covering most of the New Testament. Thanks to our supporters, it’s totally free!

Got questions about God, life and everything? Check out our growing list of FAQs.

This week on the Tour of Thessalonians: “Your Part in God’s Story: How the Gospel Went Viral in Greece.”