My subject this morning is this. What is it to grow in grace? What is it to grow in grace? And my text is taken from Ephesians
chapter 4. The Apostle Paul wrote this. Let us be no more children tossed
to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine.
But speaking the truth in love, that we may grow up, that we
may grow up into Christ who is our head. And the Apostle Peter
wrote this about spiritual growth. He said, let us grow in grace,
let us grow in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, to
whom be glory both now and forever. And the great preacher Charles
Spurgeon wrote this, He who knows Jesus Christ will long to know
Him better. He who knows Jesus Christ will
long to grow in the likeness of Jesus Christ. But he who does
not know Christ, who does not know the dear Redeemer, does
not want to know Him better. really knows nothing of Christ. So here's my subject. What is
it to grow in grace and the knowledge of Jesus Christ? Well, in the
first place, there must be grace and life given by God before
there could be any growth in grace. The Apostle Paul wrote,
by grace are you saved through faith. And faith is not of yourselves,
faith is the gift of God. So life and faith is the gift
of God. And every good gift and every
perfect gift is from above and cometh down from the Father.
So a person can never grow in grace until God gives that person
His grace, spiritual life in Christ Jesus. I know this, and
you know it too. If there's no grace of life,
there can be no growth. But to whom God gives spiritual
life in Christ Jesus, there will be, there must be, growth in
grace. The Apostle Paul said this to
the Thessalonians. He said, We are bound to thank
God for you, brethren, because your faith grows. Your faith
grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you towards one
another grows and abounds. The Apostle Peter wrote this,
as newborn babes in Christ desire the sincere milk of the word
of God that you may grow thereby if so be that you have tasted
that the Lord is gracious. Let me point out several things
about saving faith and the growth of faith. It will grow. It will
grow in the believer. First of all, faith. Faith will
grow, the Apostle said, exceedingly. 1 John chapter 1, the Apostle
Paul, John wrote this, I write unto you, little children, because
your sins are forgiven for Christ's sake. I write unto you, young
men, because you're strong, and the Word of God abides in you.
And I write unto you, fathers, because you've known him from
the beginning. That's it. I write to children,
I write to young men, I write to fathers. And we're talking
about a growth in grace from childhood to a father. Faith grows. How does it grow?
Well, I'll show you. Faith grows in simplicity. Faith
will rest and trust in Christ alone, and it will grow in the
simplicity of faith. And faith grows in perseverance. It's not shaken. Faith is not
shaken by every wind of doubt. And you know what one of the
old writers wrote? I shall not be moved. I'm planted
by the river of the water of life, and I shall not be moved. And then faith not only grows
in simplicity, in perseverance, but it grows in strength, embracing
all the Word of God and all the promises of God. Old Isaac Watts
wrote this hymn. Faith is a grace divine, a gift
so rich and free. made this blessing mine, and
God revealed faith to me. To Jesus Christ and His blood,
I look for life and peace. The words and promises of God
in love and faith increase. Yes, sir, faith grows. It grows
in simplicity, it grows in perseverance, and it grows in strength. We
know that our Redeemer liveth, and in these last days He shall
stand on this earth. We know that. All right, here's
the second thing. Not only will faith grow, but
love will grow. I know that the love of God,
which is shed abroad in the hearts of believers, will grow. and
it will increase as we learn more and more of His Word, of
His will, of His love. Consider three things. Love is
of God, for God is love, and God's nature is to love and to
show mercy, to forgive and to bless. For God so loved the world
He gave His only begotten Son, and whosoever believeth in Him
shall not perish, but have everlasting life. God's love shed abroad
in the heart of His people will grow in love. And love is a fruit. It's a fruit of the Spirit. It's
a fruit in His Spirit, in His people, and the evidence of salvation. Love is an evidence of salvation. Listen to this. By this shall
all men know you are my disciples, that you love one another." And
then love is proof that we're born of God. That's what the
scripture says. Hereby we know that God dwells
in us and we dwell in God because he has given us the gift of his
Holy Spirit of love. Yes sir, love will grow. because
God is love. Love will grow because it's the
fruit of His Spirit, and love will grow because it's the proof
that we're born of God. John wrote this, if a man says
he loves God and hates his brother, he's a liar. Love and hate cannot
dwell in the same heart. Can't be. John wrote, if we love
one another, God dwells in us, and God's love is perfected.
God's love grows. God's love increases in us. Why? Because He has given us
His Spirit. Yes, sir, love will grow. Faith will grow, and love will
grow, and love will mature. Here's the third thing. How does a believer grow? He grows in peace. He grows in
contentment. Listen to the Scriptures. Paul
said this, Not that I speak in respect of want. I have learned. I have learned in whatsoever
state I am that I went to be content. It requires learning. It requires growth. And it will
lead to contentment. Listen to this scripture. Let
your conversation be without covetousness and be content. Be content with such things as
you have. Because God said, I'll never
leave you. I'll never forsake you. Yes,
sir. His love grows, faith grows,
and peace and contentment will grow in the heart of God's people. Here's our prayer. Let my character
and let my conduct be free from the love of money. Let my conduct
and character be free from craving worldly possessions. Let it be
free from greed and lust for material things. Let me be content. Let me dwell in peace and contentment. Let me be content with such things
as the Lord has given me. because the Lord is my shepherd
and I shall not want. God's people grow in grace, faith
will grow, love will grow, peace and contentment will grow, and
last of all, humility will grow and pride will be abased. God wrote in his word, these
six things does God hate. And you know the first one, a
proud look. The second one, a lying tongue. These two things usually go together,
a proud look and a lying tongue. And then Proverbs wrote this,
pride goes before destruction and a holy spirit before a fall. So be content and be clothed
with humility. God resists the proud, and He
gives grace to the humble. So humble yourselves under the
mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time. My friends, the Lord rewards
the humble person. Blessed are the meek, they shall
inherit the earth. And the Lord gives grace He gives
grace, he said, God resisteth the proud, but he gives grace
to the humble. So humble yourselves in the sight
of God and he will lift you up. In Psalms chapter 1, the Word
of God declares the people of God will be like a tree, a tree
planted by the rivers of water that bringeth forth his fruit
in his season. and his leaf shall not wither,
and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." How does a tree grow? Well, a tree grows downward. A tree grows downward, the roots
deeper and deeper and deeper. The roots have planted deeply
in the Word of God, in the waters of life, in Christ Jesus. And
the trees of God, they grow upward in faith, reaching towards God. trees of righteousness, the planting
of the Lord, that God may be glorified. And a tree not only
grows downward, planting its roots deep into the water and
the Word of God, it not only grows upward, reaching toward
God in faith, but the trees of God grow outward on either side
to give shade to the weary traveler. A shady tree says to the pilgrim,
and find rest and shade and fruit under my branches. Oh, David
says, I'm like a tree, planted by the waters, and I shall not
be moved, for my hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood
and His righteousness. And I dare not trust the sweetest
frame, I wholly lean on Jesus' name. And His oath, His covenant,
His blood will support me in the whelming flood when in every
high and stormy gale my anchor holds within the veil. On Christ,
the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand. all other
ground is sinking sand. God's people will grow in grace
and they'll grow in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Join
us again next Sunday morning at this same time and until then
I bid you a very pleasant good day.