“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 Peter 3:18, KJV
Here, the Apostle Peter admonishes the saints of God to live a life of growth. The Christian life is designed to be one of continual growth: from one level of grace to another, from one level of faith to another, day after day. It is a life that has no room for stagnation. True Christianity is alive, and because it is alive, it must grow.
“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.”
Hebrews 4:12, NLT
One of the characteristics of life is growth. In the Scripture above, God’s Word is declared to be living. Whatever is living carries the power to effect changes and produce growth. So, it is no surprise that in our opening verse, the Apostle Peter instructs us to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Today I’d like us to unpack what this life of growth looks like for a Christian.
A life built on the knowledge of God is a life programmed for growth. Your increasing knowledge of God’s Word is a guarantee for true growth, a growth that is all encompassing. Everything you will ever need for life is packaged in His Word. It is accurate enough to address the specifics of things, and broad enough to account for every area of life — leaving nothing untouched. That is why Hebrews 4:12 does not only call God’s Word alive, but also sharp. In other words, precise, accurate, and able to reach the deepest parts of man.
Changed by what we behold
“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
2 Corinthians 3:18, KJV
The Christian is one who has direct access to behold the glory of God. The veil has been torn away, and we now have the privilege of knowing God in truth by His Holy Spirit. He is the One given to guide us into all truth.
The remarkable thing about the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church is the declaration that those who behold the glory of God do not merely see it; they are changed into the very image of what they behold. That is the power of God’s Word! It does not only reveal the beauty and excellence of the Christian life; it also makes you into the very thing it talks about. Wow, how amazing is that! Glory to God!
How exactly does this work, you may ask? Well, in the same way a seed goes into the soil and, over time, produces a fruitful tree, the seed of God’s Word in the heart of man produces the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
The vine and the branches
In the life-giving relationship we share with the Lord Jesus Christ, He refers to Himself as The Vine and to us as the branches (John 15:5). This biblical allusion to plant biology paints a clear picture of our relational roles. The vine happens to be the structure containing and supplying all parts of the living organism with the necessary nutrients for life, while the branches are the part bearing its fruit — multiplying and producing more of its kind. This is what God expects of every Christian — Fruit. This fruit is an outward manifestation of the inner influence of God’s Holy Spirit in your life. It is the reflection of God’s word in and through You. For “…as He is, so are we in this world.” (1 John 4:17). As you walk with God, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works [fruit], and glorify your father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
Guard the garden
Now that we’ve unpacked how growing in grace and in the Knowledge of Christ makes you a fruitful garden, it is important for you to know that you must protect this garden from the weeds and parasites of life.
“Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life.”
Proverbs 4:23, KJV
The principle of beholding applies both ways: the same way beholding God’s Word produces in you the right fruit, beholding the wrong things plants the wrong seeds in your heart. These are seeds of corruption, seeds that grow like weeds in the garden of your heart — choking and challenging the good fruit that God’s Word has produced.
In the age of social media, we have access to more information in a single day than many people would have had access to in an entire lifetime just 100 years ago. As incredible as this is, it also comes with its dangers. Be diligent about the information you consume, because as we have seen from Scripture, what you behold shapes who you become. Remember your eyes are His eyes. Your ears are His ears. Refuse to entertain what would grieve His Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30) (1 Corinthians 6:19–20).
Feed on the Word
My final admonition to you today, for a life of growth in Christ Jesus, is to develop a voracious appetite for God’s Word. Program your life to feed on the right substances always. Let your spiritual diet be based on God’s word — whether through spiritual songs, tape messages or set out times of daily devotion and bible study. It does not only set your life upon the right foundation; it makes you into the very thing it talks about. Hallelujah!
Dare to believe God’s word. Everything you’d ever need for a life of continual growth and true success can be found in it. Just follow the blueprint and you’d be sure to end up on a path where you are everything He has planned for you to be. Glory to God!
God bless you saints and much grace to you.